Final day with our friends

Goals have been accomplished and lives were touched and we have made a difference. Today was our final day of work in the Shongweni community. We have been blessed by the wonderful weather this week with temps in the 70s and 80s and usually a breeze in the afternoon and today the rain held off until our dedication ceremony at 3:00. Although we did not complete Margaret's house, most of the work was finished with just a slight bit more to work on and that will be done next week. She will be able to move in before the end of the month and then work will be started on tearing her old home down and grading of the soccer field. The children have so much energy they need a soccer field to burn off some of the excess. A Zulu bible was given to Margaret as a house warming present and we all met for pictures and ceremony outside and inside of her new home. She was at the job site all day working on the outside yard with a hoe, leveling the ground.

The picture I included today was taken inside the community center during the dedication. It took place after school so there were many children in attendance. The entire team was impressed by the gratification & joy for what we have done. Our work crossed multi-generational lines. Please hold Pastor Thwala and Shara up in your prayers.

The participation of the children for the day school we held increased every day to where it was around 20 in the afternoon today. Songs were sung with the older children, there were lots of hugs all around. Books were being read, children playing with toys and hula hoops and some making items with beads. All of us encouraged the children to work hard in school and know that Jesus loves them.

I had a chance to visit the home of Dorothy--the chicken lady. She is starting an egg business and now has 10 chickens. One of the last teams purchased a pen and feed and also the first chickens. She eventually wants to have 30 chickens and sell that number of eggs per day. This is a project of the ladies of the church and Dorothy and Pastor T. want to move the operation closer to the church. We will have to see how that will work out. This is a project that we can also encourage our children to help raise funds to keep this going. Several of us followed Dorothy to her home, down the road from the church, off the road from the church and followed many paths to her home. Going down the hill to her home was one thing but coming back up was tough. No wonder she is usually late for Sunday service.
Tomorrow will be a day to visit the Indian and Muthi market in Durban. This is always an experience for the first timers. This is where they get to see and smell the real sights and smells of where we are. Then in the afternoon we are off the St. Lucia, up the coast to a game preserve and some R&R. Probably no internet there so until we return home.....
Submitted by Glenda Haug