DEAR READERS: I AM BACK

DECEMBER 22, 2008
DEAR READERS: DID YOU MISS ME? WELL…I MISSED YOU

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAVE POSTED A BLOG. BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT THIS WAS NOT INTENDED TO LEAVE YOU IN THE DUST. UNFORTUNATELY I HAD NO MONEY FOR MY WIRELESS INTERNET SO I HAD TO RELY ON INTERNET CAFÉ. FACT: WIRELESS INTERNET AIRTIME IS EXPENSIVE. NOTE: IF YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA, THE INTERNET CAFE ARE VERY NICE AND CHEAPER. YOU COULD FIND THEM ANYWHERE. THAT MEANS: I COULD NOT POST MY BLOGS BECAUSE ALL THE JUICY READINGS WAS ON MY COMPUTER. YES! THIS MEANS I DID NOT FORGET YOU. EVEN IN MY ABSENCE, I HAVE BEEN WRITING. I MIGHT JUST START A LITTLE FUNDRAISER FOR PEOPLE TO HELP ME KEEP THIS BLOG GOING…..JUST JOKING OR MAYBE NOT

DECEMBER 22, 2008
MONDAY 2:00PM
DEAR READERS: WHEN YOU’RE FED UP BEING BROKE

When you’re truly fed up of being broke, the ideas start to run easily. How do I know this? Well…I just walked an hour and a half for internet café and I am going to count my pennies for 7.50R for the ride back. This walk took me a longer time today because the heat was actually unbearable. As I walked by the people blocking the sun with their umbrellas, I was sweating like crazy. I kind of understood why some people steal because I must admit the thought of grabbing the umbrella for my self had come across my mind. But hey I am not trying to complain because this torture was actually a blessing in disguise.

As my flesh was suffering, I started to rack up ideas on the future. I started thinking to myself: “how I going to make it big one day?” Then it hit me. I got to start somewhere. So I started to think of ideas of taking more action toward my goal. In case you’re not reading my blogs by date, I got a bigger goal now and it will be my company.

I have to keep my mind on success and health because those are the two things I strive for. If I doubt myself for a moment, I will get off track. So even if I am fed up being broke, this will be my mind set.

NEWS BREAK: What’s happening in SA? From ENEWS channel

-SA HAS A BIG WIN IN CRICKET AGAINST AUSTRILA

-ITS HOT

- SA HAS DONATED MONEY TO ZIMBABWE

-ITS HOT

-THE TWO POLITICAL PARITES COPE AND ANC ARE AT IT AGAIN.
-COPE is the new political party in South Africa and ANC (African National Congress). These two parities are becoming like rivals at a high school basketball game. Hey! Its politics. When I get more information, I will post it up.

DID I MENTION ITS HOT


NOW BACK TO ELSIE’S INNER EMOTIONS

Speaking of Zimbabwe, most of you probably do not know but my parents and most of my family are from there. I actually was planning to go there for Christmas to see my Grandma, Aunts, Cousins, and Uncles. Yea! It was not my plan to spend Christmas by my self but if you are not completely cut off from world. You will know that I could not possible visit Zimbabwe right now.

Does it kill my emotions? Of course it does. Especially being so close and I could not do anything about the current situation. I just pray that my family over there will be ok. I pray because I have not heard from them. So I just put it all in God’s hands.


DECEMBER 21, 2008
SUNDAY 8:20PM
DEAR READERS: PRAYER WORKS

If you read my last blog entry just below, you will read about my prayer to GOD of wanting to go to church this morning. Well Readers….he answered my prayer. After I wrote my blog entries, I went for a walk. It was a rather long walk and as I was about to turn around. I had seen a church, Rosebank Union Church. It was beautiful and inviting.

I walked in shouting: “Thank you Lord for answering my prayers” I walked even more into the church and I knew this was the church for me. I have been to many churches in South Africa and it was always something not right. I am a member of the Salvation Army Church but it was too far for me. But….the Rosebank Union Church has happened to be walking distance.

Ok! Back to my story, the church just happened to be having a carol service. It was filled with loads of Christmas songs. After the program, they ended in a teaching about Jesus’ gifts and what does he want from us.

I related to this teaching because this was my first Christmas that I finally got it. Being this was my first Christmas away from my family and friends. I did not worry about the gifts receiving or giving because they were no one to give gifts to or the other way around.

But it did not bother me that I was not getting gifts. It was because all I wanted for Christmas was to be in a church worshiping Jesus. I wanted to thank him for saving my life. Truly that was all I wanted for Christmas and I got my Christmas gift. On December 25, 2008 at 8:00am, I will be in church at Rosebank Union Church worshiping my savior.

MY PRAYER: Oh Lord! I feel that I am not worthy. But you have saved me from so much in this life showing that you love me more than I love myself. My flesh has been weak and I have giving into many temptations on Earth. But I do know that way of life does not serve me. As I walk on your path, I know it will sometimes be hard to tear away from old temptations. But I do pray that I will hold my shield against all temptations. To tell them, I will not be taking that easily because I know this path with you DOES SERVE ME BETTER. Now I am not perfect but I am holding you at my center. I am living this life that you have given me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN

AND SHE WILL HAVE A SON, AND YOU ARE TO NAME HIM JESUS, FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS. ~Matthew 1:21

DECEMBER 21, 2008
SUNDAY 2:00PM
DEAR READERS: PATIENCE

Hello Readers! Many of you know that I had come to South Africa to fulfill my dream of dancing internationally. But my true intention was self discovery. Well I have found myself. God has put me through the storm so I could see my purpose right here on Earth.

All my life, I have been giving everything a person could ever ask for. When I got to South Africa, I was stripped from physical items and I was left with myself, my faith, and my GOD. It was all I needed.

Recently I had a power shortage and my electronics was cut off. I HAD NO TELEVISION, COMPUTER, WASHER, AND ON TOP OF THAT MY PHONE GOT STOLEN. This was a big deal to me because I have no close family here. So my electronics was my way to the outside world.

However I did not fear. BECAUSE…..I put FAITH at fear’s door.

Instead I choose patience. I continued my fast and I took my silence time to read my Bible. As I read my Bible, I found fascinating stories in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. I did not need television because these books in the Bible were my soap operas. What better soap opera than these two books? The two books included stories about David and Jonathan’s friendship surpassing family conflict and many other obstacles. The family conflict: Saul, Jonathan’s father, was trying to kill David. The reason why Saul tried to kill David was because of his developed jealousy. When people started giving acknowledgment to David, Saul developed jealousy. They had given acknowledgment to him because of David’s faith in God. With David’s faith, David killed Goliath, a fighting Philistines champion from Gath. Goliath was like twice David’s size. The books were also filled with adultery and many wars. It was better than any movie on television.

Then I revisited my favorite book ECCLESIASTES. I love this book because of the purpose to spare future generations the bitterness of learning through their experiences that life is meaningless apart from GOD (My Student’s Life Application Study Bible). While you have god in your center, “People should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts form GOD.: (Eccles 3:13)

The next morning I read the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews was about the spiritual growth of a Christian. It has explained to me by asking: Are you a Baby Christian?

What does it mean by being a baby Christian? Simply a baby Christian has stayed at just drinking milk and they never allow themselves to GROW UP.

NO…. I DO NOT HAVE A NEED TO JUST DRINK MILK ALL MY LIFE.

I could stand. I could walk. I could see with both eyes. I could talk. I have a place to live. I have food. I have a great family. I have experienced REAL LOVE. I have LOVE. I have friends like David and Jonathan in the Bible. HEY DEB! I have a strong will. On top of that, I HAVE FAITH.

With that faith, I will be a mature Christian. A mature Christian has put GOD first in everything they do.

When I woke up this morning, I prayed to go to church. While my dance company has been off until January, I am low on my money income. So I do not have money for transportation to church. As I was reading my Bible this morning, I kept on coming across scriptures about going to church and worshiping with other Christians. Well….I hold in my heart faith and GOD answered my prayers.

After my electronics have been off for a week; they all turned on. So I had the opportunity to have television church. The first teaching was on fasting and miracles.

This had come to a blissful surprise to me because these teachings were exactly on mind. I am fasting at the moment and I have been praying for a MIRACLE.

My miracle has been to accomplish my dream that I had in the shower on November 26, 2008. I have taking that dream and I have put it into writing. On top of that, I have made a life board of how I picture my future. On my life board, I have posted all things that WILL come true.

In my exile to South Africa, I have found that until I respected myself fully. I could accomplish anything with my GOD at my center. It has taking me 22 years of patience to get to this point and I just feel at peace. I feel at peace because my relationship with GOD has a strong center. And I just know that he has been putting me through this storm so when I see the sunshine. It will all be worth it and I will have a great testimony to help my other Christian brothers and sisters.

This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:3

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY BIBLE, STUDENT’S LIFE APPLICATION BIBLE NEW LIVING TRANSLATION 2ND EDITION.


DECEMBER 19, 2008 FRIDAY 7:00PM
DEAR READERS: SOME MEN OF THE WORLD

I have traveled quite a few places such as European countries, Mozambique, the South of America, the North of America, the West of America, Mexico, and of course South Africa. In all the places, I have traveled. Some men are still the same.

Now! What do I mean by this statement? Well…..in all these places, some men are still the same on their approach to women. The approach may be in different languages but the intent of the approach has stayed the same.

As I am walking on the streets of South Africa, I go through the daily men hollering at me. I hear Kungungan, Salobia, hey sweetheart, the whistling, and the constant talking to me till I answer. In all truth, I go through the same thing in every other place that I have traveled to.

By the way, Kunganen means “hello” in Zula and Salobian means “hello” in Suto. They say both because they are not aware of what tribe that I come from.

Now! My mind has started to wonder. What are the intentions of these men? It could not possible be that they desire a date from me. If they respect themselves enough to have a descent woman in their life; they will definitely not deserve her by shouting at her. To put it in a better prospective, if you really get serious with this woman and you introduce her to your mom. Will the conversation go with you mom like this: hey mom! I will like you to meet the girl I beeped at with my car horn and now we are going to get married. That will sound really good.

NOT

Of course! These approaches do not only happen to women just taking a walk outside. Some of these men will rudely approach woman in stores or worse during exercising. Do you really think they will give you their number while their on the treadmill?

I THINK NOT.

Now! I know the approach to this issue of some men has a funny address to it. On a REAL NOTE, I am writing this because I am personally truly tried of being treating like a piece of meat. We are in a time of independent women and this does not mean that we do not have a need of marriage. Simply, we demand respect.

Unfortunately, we are being treated like meat. Now! I meant what I said about some men of the world. BUT….I must admit some men of South Africa are bolder according to my experiences.

Being bolder, this statement was not a compliment because the boldness could be quite creepy at times. THE MESSAGE TO MEN: just think if some one treated your little sister or mother like that. How will you feel?

Now! Of course I am admitting all the good men in South Africa because these men are actually the most polite men that I have meet. Unfortunately, the bad seeds of some men in South Africa are drowning out all the good dread lock guys, the business executives, the momma boys, the men I dance with in the industry, the good baby daddies, and of course the Christians that all treat their women as the Queens of the World.

SINCE some of you men decided to have taking the bolder approach. I have decided to have taking a bolder approach to protect myself. You may call me mean but I rather be mean then give into your rude approaches.

So as I continue my daily routine through South Africa, I have my ear plugs on blocking off all the Kunganes, Salobonia, the hey sweetheart, the car beeping, and etc. They are nothing but irritating sounds to me. In the end, I respect myself and I pray for you to respect yourself to.

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5

DECEMBER 11, 2008
DEAR READERS: FAITH

On May 5, 2008, I remember sitting in Hartsville, SC at my Bachelor of Arts graduation ceremony. In my mind, I began thinking to my self: “Ummmmmmmmm what is next for me?” I remember talking to my dad about attending grad school after my BA. During the conversation, we both take a look at each other and came to a realization. I am not ready to extend my education yet. After completing two Bachelor of Arts degrees, I came to be burnt out in my mind and I came in need to go seek a re-self discovery of myself. So I decide to go pursue my dream and see what happens.

As I came to the opportunity to seek my dream of being an international dancer and finding my roots in South Africa, I am also gaining so much more. I am becoming a woman and my dream is enhancing to a bigger dream.

It is becoming evident to me that the universe is already choosing my outcome. Leaving me with two choices, I can go with the universe or go against it. I decide to go with it.

Currently I am not dancing with Ntsoana because it is December. In December of South Africa, everything shouts down. It is holiday time. Personally I do not like not doing anything but I am actually seeing a positive side to this.





WHAT AM I DOING DURING MY FREE TIME?
1) RELEASE TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP WITH BENJAMIN FROM BELGIUM
-This is a workshop for professional dancers to keep training on the off season. The workshop includes yoga, release technique class, and rehearsals for shows on the weekends. I am having the opportunity to meet people in my profession even some circus artists.

-BUT! I am taking myself out of the workshop because I am watching my money. Yea! The transport money became too much for me.

-On top of that, I came to a set back because someone has talking my phone and money. Yea! I got robbed but I was not aware of it happening (what a blessing that I did not know it). SO MOM DO NOT WORRY

-Hey! It happens when you are in the city.

TO MY READERS WHO KNOW ME: Can you believe I am actually not a drama queen about this?
-When you go through a lot, some things are just more important.

2) CONTEMPORARY CLASS WITH LOCIA-CORENERGY
-For 3 months, I have been taking this class. I call it DANCE CHURCH. Locia’s is the messenger. Before ever class, the dancers and I state our value. What is value? Value is our worth. For example, if you’re an inpatient person, your value will be patient. Then you take this value and translate it through your dancing. We do this because dancing is an expression of our emotion inside.

- On some days people go through a breakthrough and they will be just crying. I go through a breakthrough everyday. This class is giving me an opportunity to really be real with myself. It also is giving me an opportunity to include positive people in my life. After ever class, I go with two of my closet friends and we discuss life. My value this week: SELF HONESTY.

3) MY BIGGER DREAM
-I am now having time to develop my own company. I am using my time off to do research on starting a small business. I promise my readers when I get my idea stable. I will share my dream of my company with you. Trust me this company is like nothing you ever heard of. It will be a good service to the world.
“THINK BIG”

So for the past weeks, I am on my active self HONESTY. I am taking the time to be the person I want to be. At the same time, I am enjoying the ride.

Today I woke up and I did my running and yoga. Then I walked up the hill by the dance company so I could go to the internet café to email my parents and work on my market research for my company. On my walk back, I had come across this girl who looked exactly like my old college roommate LaTonja. She even wore LaTonja’s favorite color, RED. I walked even more and I stopped at my old massage lady’s business, HB Health and Beauty Shop.

This lady has my religious beliefs and I enjoy talking to her. Simply she holds positive energy. She also has been making her dream into reality by starting her own business. Do I need to say more? Well…I will. When things come together in the universe, they come together. As I said before, this time I am going with it.

My discussion with HB today was about treating your body as a temple. I also mentioned to her about this free arts administration class that I am trying to get into. GUESS WHAT? By faith her sister has happened to be the Co-Executive Director of the program. Was it luck? Of course not!

I PRAYED FOR THIS. THANK YOU MY CREATOR.

On top of all this, we talked about self dedication. We covered a lot of things and I needed it. I told her “see you later” and I walked back to my place with this feeling of taking on the world.

TO MY MOM: “everything always works out” ~me

“LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE”~ THE SECRET

THE LORD ANSWERED, “IF YOU HAD FAITH EVEN AS SMALL AS A MUSTARD SEED, YOU COULD SAY TO THIS MULBERRY TREE. ‘MAY YOU BE UPROOTED AND THROWN INTO THE SEA,’ AND IT WOULD OBEY YOU! ~Luke 17:6


DECEMBER 2, 2008
APARTHEID MUSEUM

On this date, I went to The Apartheid Museum- a museum to remember the history of the past separation in South Africa. It is located in Cnr Northern Parkway and Good Reef Road, Ormonde, Johannesburg. You may email infor@apartheidmuseum.org.

I went to this museum by the request of this Belgium choreographer Benjamin. Currently I am working on a dance project with him and he brought the rest of the dancers and me to this museum to inspire choreography out of us.

As I walk through the museum, I wrote down some notes. The first thing that had caught my eye was Miriam Makeba, Mama Africa. It was her in her younger days and she made me feel a sense of hope of this life. Immediately, I saw a picture of white shirts swaying in the wind. This symbolized purity to me. In a deeper description, it was a sign of pure innocence in life.

I walked deeper into the museum as I discovered about the history about the street I am currently living on in South Africa. My street was named after a man named Jan Smuts. He was a white prime minister that was involved in inter war years 1918-1939. His history actually shocked me because my ignorance did not realize that the street I live on represented a man’s belief against my skin color.

A fraction of one of his quotes: “If there was to equal manhood suffrage the whites would be swamped all over South Africa by the blacks and the whole position for which the whites have striven for two hundred years or more would be given up.”

I walked even deeper into the museum. I saw pictures of starving children sleeping in the streets. I read quotes like:

“When the Europeans came, they had the Bible and we had the land. Now we have the Bible, and they have our land.”

As I walked even deeper into the museum, I could not help but feel pain. I could not help but feel struggle. I continue to feel this struggle and pain throughout my ENTIRE body. Even more so I felt the separation. As a nation, I still feel that separation within us to this day.

Yet in my belief, we are one people that come from one creator. We all come from one father. This father has the only power to judge us. I wondered what made some people think they had that power to judge blacks. WE ARE ONE PEOPLE. WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE SAME FORCE.

I walked deeper into the ending of the museum. I was left with one quote:

“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” ~ Nelson Mandela



DECEMBER 6, 2008
YOU CONTROL YOUR OWN DESTINY

I am going to be working at this place, “BUSH.” Get this! Bush is a Rhodesian PUB/RESTAURANT.

FACT: When Zimbabwe was colonized by the British, they called it Rhodesia.

Well this is the place that I hang out at and I love it. Until hanging out there for a couple of days, I realize the foundation of BUSH being my Zimbabwean culture. Can you say my creator works in miraculous ways? I love it there because the people are just so nice to each other. It does not even matter the color of your skin, your income status, or even if you’re just UGLY according to who ever thinks that they are superior. All that that matters is the person you bring to the PUB/RESTAURANT. Believe it or not: there are NOT many places like this anymore.

“PEOPLE CRITIZE BECAUSE THEY CRITIZE THEMSELVES”

On one particular day, I began looking around “BUSH” and I began noticing people my age group. They include within themselves ambitions. But what are they doing to make those ambitions come true? Hell! What am I doing to make my ambitions come true?

Then I realize that I actually include a lot of ambitions in me. This can be dangerous. So I am finally starting to write my ambitions down.

1) Get closer to God
2) Create my own company
3) Learn different African Dance Styles
4) Get my masters degree
5) Be a healthier me

Then I ask myself how I am going to accomplish my ambitions. It will take work. But with my God at my center, I am focus on my main goal of creating my own company. Yes! I do know the universe is already in decision of my outcome.

But in the mean time, my creator is giving me the opportunity to figure it all out and I must instill the courage to listen for my way. When you are try to force things to happen, it becomes rough on the soul. So at least I am having some thing to drive me and I will just enjoy the ride for now.

“SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE ENGERY BY GOOD PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND PRAYER” ~me

As I am walking out of the BUSH, I take one good look around. I say to myself, “I will not sit around waiting for things to happen in my life and I will not blame anyone or anything for my failure.” The universe is holding a great purpose for me.

“YOU CONTROL YOUR OWN DESTINY”

What do I mean by that quote? It is simple. People’s thoughts can destroy or make their destiny. For example, Donald Trump’s main thought is wealth. Weather he realizes or not, his thought of wealth drives him to his destiny in life. He never questions it. When he lost it all, he still came back to his destiny in life. As I listen to some famous people’s stories on television, I notice that everything in their life lead them to their success. They actually allow themselves to go through life and just let the natural process happen. For me I am having no regrets in life; I know that things happen for a reason.
“In your past fuck up things happen to you, we are all just rebellion.” ~FROM SOME MOVIE


LET ALL WHO ARE SPIRTUALLY MATURE AGREE ON THESE THINGS. IF YOU DISAGREE ON SOME POINT, I BELIEVE GOD WILL MAKE IT PLAIN TO
MADE. ~Philippians 4:15




NOVEMER 25, 2008

DEAR READERS: WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SA? The highlights of SA right now!

*MIBIARM MAKEBA
For the past days, Africa has been morning for the late music icon Mibiarm Makeba also known as Mama Africa. Personally, Mama Africa has influenced me when I first heard her in Simon’s African concert video. Her voice literally shot through my soul because I could feel her realism. In fact I always listened to her when I was choreographing a piece.

Now my icon has passed away but I am even more inspired. Simply she lived a rich life. She did everything dreamt of.

HER BIO

Mibiarm Makeba was born on March 4, 1932 (my birthday month) in Johannesburg South Africa. She was banned into exile by South African government in 1960. After exile, she went to America. She did not even get to go to her mother’s funeral. In 1965, she was the 1st Black African to win a Grammy Award.

Mibiarm Makeba was named: “darling of the American public”

At the request of Nelson Mandela, she returned to South Africa in 1990. This occurred after 31 years of being out of her country.


*PRESIDENTAL ELECTION
Currently, South Africa is going through a presidential election. They are many political parities such as NP, PAC and ANC. All I know so far, Jacob Zuma, the running mate for ANC (African National Congress). His nickname, Jay Z was given by the young people that I know here.


RUGBY
It is kind of like football. Yes! I know by saying this will offend some fans of both sports but it’s the only example in my mind.

South Africa Springboks – the rugby team for South Africa

They won against England. This was a big win.

NOVEMBER 25, 2008

DEAR READERS: WHAT DID YOU SAY? AMERICAN TERMS-SOUTH AFRICAN TERMS

When I arrived to South Africa, I realized quickly my American way of speaking was completely different from South African way of speaking ENGLISH. So in the past few months, I have learned South African terminology of certain words/customs. On the flip side, my friends here have learned my way of speaking. Slowly we are eliminating the question: What did you say? Also my readers please remember I am a southern girl:


AMERICAN
SOUTH AFRICA

TEXT
SMS
W-A-E-R
water
DRAG OF A CIG
SKYFE
COOKIE
BISCUIT
BUTT
BUM
RESTROOM
TIOLET
WE LOVE FOOTBALL
THEY LOVE RUGBY
FRIES
CHIPS