Sat, 12 Aug 2006 05:51:22 -0500

Hi to all,

I tried to send an email earlier this morning, but I believe I lost the internet connection before it went through, but in case, this is a repeat, that's why I am going to send this in short emails just to be sure I get something through before I lose the internet connection. We arrived in Twasana on Thursday evening, but have not been able to to get the email working until this morning.  This is an absolutely gorgeous location; they are about an hour's drive from the town of Vryheid.  The last 5-10 miles of the drive was on rock roads into the mountains until we came to this location that seems to be very isolated.  However, they have a primary and secondary school here and there are 500 students in the secondary school (250 of the girls are boarders). I haven't figured out where these students come from but they appear between 7 and 8 in the morning, all walking, no cars.  They also have a clinic here that 3 of their sisters who are nurses run and they serve many people, too. Many of these are AIDs patients.

Love to all,
Rosie

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Sat, 12 Aug 2006 06:03:28 -0500 

Hi again,

I think the first part went through so I will try again.  Our bus ride on Thursday from 
Johannesburg to Vryheid was 7 hours, then another hour by car to Twasana.  A long 

day. The sisters here, about 30 live here, speak Zulu (this is part of Zululand). They pray 

their prayers in Zulu one week and English the next week, since some of the sisters 

still have trouble with the English language.  When we did our first session with them 

yesterday afternoon on the Rule and finances, one of the sisters had to interpret for us, 
but it was a good session.  Today we will begin working with them on bookkeeping 

and budgeting. Their music is unbelievable; they break into song in the dining room, 

during the meetings, etc.  And when they sing, it is always in harmony.  They should 
make a record to sell. This community seems to be in a better financial position than 
Namibia; however, we weren’t at the motherhouse in Namibia; it was their generalate 
and scholasticate only and that may have made a difference.  They have many 
buildings here, the convent, the chapel which is also used as the parish church.  The 
chapel has a choir chapel area with stalls facing each other as well as an area for the 
regular pews. They have many gardens and fruit trees.  We had our first papaya fruit 
yesterday; much like melon.  Also had fresh avocado; yummy. We are both doing well; 
did some laundry the old fashioned way this morning, washing it out in pans and then 
hanging it outside to dry.  They have a rest time each afternoon, so that is what I’m 
supposed to be doing now.  We begin our class with them at 2:30-5:00 today.  
Couldn’t meet this morning as many of them had to attend a meeting with parents of 
boarders.  They are busy with many things. We feel your prayers and appreciate your 
emails. Love to all,

Rosie

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Greetings to all,

Computers in South Africa are very frustrating; I think I'm in the dark 
ages. Internet connection comes and goes, so I'm praying it holds till I 
finish this letter.
We finished our work with the group yesterday; had about 30 present for 
2 sessions on bookkeeping and about 40 for the sessions on the Rule.  
Today its time to work with the bursar and prioress and any individuals who are
interested on using an Excel spreadsheet and getting some forms set up 
to help them with the bookkeeping.  They seem to be quite pleased with what we
offering.  The comment is usually that this is so much easier than the 
way they have been taught to keep records in the past, but more useful and 
helpful. We did a little work with them analyzing their end of the year 
financial report and discussing how they could use the report to make some 
decisions, etc.
It's been windy and partly cloudy the past few days; so no star gazing.  
The sky in Namibia was very clear and the stars at night were fabulous.  I saw 
the southern cross with the assistance of the Mother Irmgard and the 
Archbishop. Bet none of you have had a prioress and archbishop point out stars to 
you!
I went with Sister Charity yesterday to briefly visit her elderly 
father.  He was out walking around his very small home, so we visited outside.  I 
did not get to see the inside of a home, but all the homes are very, very 
small.  Many are only one room and extremely simple living.
Yesterday we had a full church for the Sunday liturgy, mostly students 
and sisters.  They filled the church with their voices, too, and all in 
harmony and with no books in front of them.  Beautiful.
I am doing well, getting long nights to rest; I usually go to bad early 
and sleep til I awake. Morning prayer is at 5:30

Love to all

Rosie

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