The vision and the fire

At the end of training, we all took an oath in a ceremony to mark our transition from Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) to becoming official Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). Huzzah. The Group 4 PCT’s voted for Mar (Nothando, or I guess she goes by Thandi now) and me to give the speeches at the Swearing-In Ceremony. Here’s mine:

Speech given Thursday, August 10, 2006
Royal Swazi Sun Hotel
Mbabane, Swaziland

Sanibonani bonkhosi [Good day, people of the King]. Greetings Inkhosikati La Matsebula [Queen Mother], Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Minister of the Registry Development and Youth Affairs, esteemed Swazis, fellow Americans, members of the press. Ligama lami ngu Mark Weng, kodwva ninganibite nga Wandile Dlamini Masuku. My name is Mark Weng, but you can call me Wandile Dlamini Masuku. It is a great honor to have been chosen by my colleagues to represent our fourth group of U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers. Ngiyajabula kuba lapha namuhla.[I am happy to be here today].

We arrived in Swaziland two months ago to begin training. Since then, I have been impressed by Swaziland’s immense potential. We have traversed Swaziland’s almost surreal mountain landscapes, seen lumber yards that stretch for many kilometres, partaken of the fruits of its fertile soil, and interacted with friendly, hospitable people. It hasn’t always been easy to have left our former lives and loved ones behind. As we attempt to bridge this transition, we appreciate the leadership of Peace Corps Country Director Patricia Austin and the patience of the wonderful Peace Corps Training Staff. Swaziland has a great many resources at its disposal.

Today, I would like to tell you two stories. The first I read of during On-The-Job training near Mankanyane. It was a history of the Swazi people. I am told that Form 3 students have to read it to pass their Certificate examinations.
In this story, I learned of a certain King Sobhuza I, the great early leader of the Swazis, long before any Europeans had set foot near Swaziland. Sobhuza I defeated Swaziland’s enemies and united the Swazis. Caring deeply for his people, he treated them well. At the end of his prosperous reign, he lay on his deathbed and spoke of a dream he had the night before. Foreigners would come, he predicted. They would come offering two things – gold and books. Sobhuza foretold that if the Swazis took the books and refused the gold, Swaziland would remain successful for many years to come. If they took the gold, then the nation would fail.

For this reason, it is with great optimism that all 22 of us come as HIV Educators to work WITH Swazis in the fight against an epidemic that grips this region. But I am learning that it is a more complicated issue. Things are not always as they first appear. In America, I trained as a biomedical engineer. This is a lot of math and science – naturally, I always liked concise, elegant solutions to problems. HIV is spread only via blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast-milk. NOT by mosquitoes, NOT through tears and saliva, NOT through hugging or living with someone who is HIV positive. I wondered why is America’s HIV infection rate less than 1%, while Swaziland’s HIV infection rate hovers near 43%? I still believe the answer to the HIV problem is simple, at the heart of it. To prevent HIV infection, simply abstain, or if you cannot, use a condom. But we volunteers learned and are still learning of the factors that muddy and exacerbate this crisis– issues such as socio-economic status, government policies, cultural traditions, women’s empowerment, etc.

Many Swazis are God-fearing folk. But there are some that say, “I don’t need ARVs or science, all I need is my faith in God. We are all going to die anyway, so what’s the point?” And they liken HIV to leprosy and how Jesus cured the lepers in the Gospels. I say to them, yes, it is important to keep your faith in God, but also to mke sure you keep your earthly end of the deal. Part of that faith is the duty to maintain the body that God has given. This is HIV, not leprosy, and there is something can be done here and now. From Ephesians chapter 5, verse 29: “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but he nourishes and carefully protects it, just as Christ treats the church.” And another verse from I Corinthians chapter 7, verse 6: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you do not belong to yourselves?”

So things are not always as they first appear. Some of you probably say to yourselves, “These two talking, these are not Americans! These are Chinese!” It’s ok, some Swazi children have already stopped us as we walk home from training, asking us if we know karate like the Asians they see in ninja movies on TV. Actually, I don’t, but Nothando, from whom you’ve just heard, does, so you’ll be safe if she walks you home.

Nothando is of Filipino descent. My parents were born in Taiwan. There are 20 other new Volunteers here today from all different parts of America and draw on their different backgrounds to aid in this multisectoral effort to fight HIV/AIDS. I consider a significant part of myself as culturally Chinese. When I first got here I was struck by some of the obvious similarities between the Chinese and the Swazis. They both eat chicken feet and intestines, for one thing. They respect the elders very much and place great importance on family. In addition, they struggle to extract the best out of the Western influences, the things that will help their people the most, while trying to retain core traditional values. It is not an easy balance to strike, but life-and-death stakes hang on the line.
We are first and foremost Americans, but this is not what is important. You have seen the ninja movies, and you know that it is the silent, sneaky ninja that is the most dangerous because you never see it coming. You cannot tell with your eyes if a person has HIV. This virus isn’t even the direct killer, but merely that first crucial, evil rogue ninja that sneaks into your home in the cover of night, silences all the good ninjas who are on watch, murders all your guard dogs, unlocks the gate from the INSIDE and allows all the other rapists, thugs and killers in to violate your sanctuary. And what’s more, this rogue ninja does not discriminate – Swazis, American, Chinese, Filipinos. In the end we are not Americans helping Swazis, but merely PEOPLE providing a different perspective to their fellow humans in hopes of mitigating this problem. Sorry if I got a little carried away with my ninja analogy.

Please, remind ALL your friends and loved ones to get HIV-tested. Some are afraid to test and think it better not to know their status. Yes, I know it can be nerve-wracking to wait for the results. But would you rather die needlessly, or merely be nervous for a few hours? HIV testing costs nothing and it is anonymous. HIV is NOT a death sentence -- you can live a long and healthy life AS LONG AS you know your status. From Proverbs 19:8, “He who gains wisdom loves his own life; he who maintains insight finds success.” We should not fear the truth, because once we have information then we can act, and we can live. Without the facts we are powerless.

But I promised you two stories, and I try to make good on my promises. This story was told to me by my Siswati teacher, Thembumenzi Zikalala, during a difficult time in training. We were just beginning to appreciate the challenges that our older and wiser Volunteers, some of whom are here with us in this room today, face and are facing still. Some of you remember our good friend Sean Harris. He had just departed for America after returning from on-the-job training, for personal reasons. Our numbers were dwindling, and the Siswati lesson was getting difficult. In hopes of cheering us up, Menzi ended the class early to tell us the story of the bird and the lion.

Long ago, there was a large forest fire, and the animals’ home was being destroyed. A small bird was valiantly attempting to put out the fire. She would fly to the river on the other side of the mountain, fill her tiny beak with water, and make the long journey back to her blazing home. A lion was sitting some distance from the rapidly increasing flames, observing the whole thing. After seeing the bird make many trips, the lion yawned and asked the bird, “Why are you working so hard? What good are you, as one little bird, going to do?” The bird replied, “True, I am one bird but at least I am doing my part.” Menzi stopped. I asked, “So how does the story end? Does the bird put out the fire?” He said, “No, that’s the end of the story.” Gee thanks, Menzi.

My apologies for having to tell you two unfinished stories, but maybe that’s just as well. My hope is that more birds will join to put out the fire, and perhaps soon even the lion may be persuaded to use his enormous strength to help accomplish this goal.
But it’s not important whether it is a lion or a bird or a rabbit, or a swallow or an eagle or a chicken, or American or Chinese or Swazi, but that the fire is extinguished. I am encouraged, because I see that we are given this chance to overcome this HIV crisis and fulfil Sobhuza’s dream of a great Swazi nation. Everyone has a role in this, from the highest policy-setting levels down to the youngest Swazi girl who convinces her brothers, sisters and parents to get tested. We can, and we must, avoid a tragic ending to this national emergency. Congratulations on Swearing-in. Thank you for listening to me today. Siyabonga kakulu. [Thank you very much].