About 70 kids were lined up from
smallest to largest beside a bright blue building. It was time for
soccer jersey distribution at Thuwane Care Point. I started
attempting to get jerseys over the little guys heads, which was not
as easy as it sounds! Getting the small neck openings over the kids
large heads was actually quite a feat. First, I had to stretch each
jersey, then pull them down hard over the children’s faces. I kept
praying I wouldn’t make a kid cry but they seemed used to it and
submitted to my klutzy attempts to get the shirts on.
After getting about 10 kids their
jerseys I decided to take a break and noticed a vivacious Gogo next
to me. “You are just too slow, look at me, I am the most fast,�
she joked in a singsongy Swazi lilt, while throwing jerseys on
children two at a time and rushing them through with a loving pat.
She was stunning! Her smooth coffee colored skin had just enough
deeply etched lines to speak of hard fought wisdom and her wide set
eyes held a playful glint. A bright red dress wrapped around her
motherly body and a matching scarf was tied around her head. It was unmistakable, she was the one in charge!
jerseys I decided to take a break and noticed a vivacious Gogo next
to me. “You are just too slow, look at me, I am the most fast,�
she joked in a singsongy Swazi lilt, while throwing jerseys on
children two at a time and rushing them through with a loving pat.
She was stunning! Her smooth coffee colored skin had just enough
deeply etched lines to speak of hard fought wisdom and her wide set
eyes held a playful glint. A bright red dress wrapped around her
motherly body and a matching scarf was tied around her head. It was unmistakable, she was the one in charge!
After all the jerseys were handed out
we finally had a chance to talk. “What is your name?� I
asked,
enunciating each word individually.
we finally had a chance to talk. “What is your name?� I
asked,enunciating each word individually.
“I am Nomsu.�
“It’s nice to meet you, may I take
your picture.â€� I couldn’t resist attempting to capture some of her
spunk with my lens.
your picture.â€� I couldn’t resist attempting to capture some of her
spunk with my lens.
“Oh, yes.� She replied without
hesitation and begin striking playful poses.
hesitation and begin striking playful poses.
I shot a few photos and turned the
camera around to show her what I had captured, “Eesh, I am
BEAUTIFUL,� she practically sang. No confidence issues here! She
moved on and begin to tell older the kids that it was time to leave
with a hug and a light swat. I sat down near the van and a little
preschool aged guy crawled into my lap. I showed him how to take
pictures with my small camera and he started shooting away, while
Nomsu made faces at him.
camera around to show her what I had captured, “Eesh, I am
BEAUTIFUL,� she practically sang. No confidence issues here! She
moved on and begin to tell older the kids that it was time to leave
with a hug and a light swat. I sat down near the van and a little
preschool aged guy crawled into my lap. I showed him how to take
pictures with my small camera and he started shooting away, while
Nomsu made faces at him.
The van begin to pull away so I set thelittle guy down and went to give Nomsu a hug.
“What is your name?� She asked me.
“I’m Morgan.â€�
“No, you are Nomsu!� I was
confused for a moment, then realized that she was giving me a Swazi
name which is quite an honor. “It means grace or mercy. My
parents called me Nomsu because they were happy to have a girl after
my brothers.� All Swazi names have a meaning. I was honored to
share a name with such a magnificent woman and very grateful that it
didn’t include the clicking sound found in many Sis’wati words!
confused for a moment, then realized that she was giving me a Swazi
name which is quite an honor. “It means grace or mercy. My
parents called me Nomsu because they were happy to have a girl after
my brothers.� All Swazi names have a meaning. I was honored to
share a name with such a magnificent woman and very grateful that it
didn’t include the clicking sound found in many Sis’wati words!
“I am Nomsu!� I stated as we
hugged one last time before I hopped into the van.
hugged one last time before I hopped into the van.
