AFRICAN EXPOSURE

NOW THAT WE HAVE RETURNED FROM ANOTHER BLESSED TRIP, KUDOS HAVE TO GO OUT TO A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE AFRICAN ORPHANS MISSION. WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE TEAM AT AFRICAN EXPOSURE, OUR TRIPS TO SOUTH AFRICA WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. SHOWN IN THE PICTURE ARE THE GENTLEMEN THAT MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT--CARL, BOB, ALF AND GAVIN. THEY ALL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR NORMAL DUTIES OF TOUR GUIDES AND HAVE BECOME INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHONGWENI COMMUNITY WHETHER WE ARE THERE WITH THEM OR WHEN WE ARE BACK IN THE STATES AND NEEDS ARISE. THEY PLAN OUT OUR STAY FROM THE ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS, SHOPPING AND SIDE TRIPS WITHIN THE COUNTRY. THEY MAKE THE ADVENTURE ENJOYABLE AND KEEP US ON TRACK TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS ALWAYS WITH A SMILE. THEIR WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA FROM PLANTS TO ANIMALS TO THE CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE IS APPRECIATED BY ALL. HOW CAN SOMEONE HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD KNOW ABOUT OUR SHERIFF--JOE ARPAIO (ALF). ENJOY YOUR PINK UNDERWEAR!!

THANKS AFRICAN EXPOSURE FOR ALL THE LAUGHS ALONG THE WAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A CONTINUING ASSOCIATION. IF ANYONE IS READING THIS AND IS INTERESTED IN A TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND AFRICAN EXPOSURE.

SUNDAY BEST

SHARA AND JULIA SHOWED UP TODAY IN THEIR SUNDAY BEST AND ARE SHOWN HERE WITH THE DAUGHTER OF HANS BEIER. THEY WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES DRESSED IN THEIR HERITAGE CLOTHING. MANY CAME WITH BEADS AND TRADITIONAL ZULU SKIRTS, HATS AND JEWELRY BOTH YOUNG AND OLD. OUR ESTIMATES WERE SPOT ON, AS BOB RICKARDS WOULD SAY FOR THERE MUST HAVE BEEN FROM 300 TO 400 ATTENDING THE CHURCH SERVICE AND THE DEDICATION OF THE CRECHE. MANY PASTORS FROM ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA, PENNSYLVANIA USA AND OF COURSE PHOENIX USA TOOK PART IN THE CHURCH SERVICE THAT INCLUDED 2 BAPTISMS AND 2 CONFIRMATIONS. IT WAS THEN OFF TO THE CENTER WHERE THE GRANITE PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED AND SEVERAL SPEAKERS WISHED THE PROJECT WELL AND SPOKE ABOUT THE FUTURE IMPORTANCE OF THE CENTER. WE WERE ALSO BLESSED WITH NATIVE DANCING AND SINGING FROM THE CHILDREN.
THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS PACKED AND THE CROWD EXTENDED OUTSIDE AS IT DID DURING THE CHURCH SERVICE. COMMUNION WAS ALSO GIVEN DURING THE CHURCH SERVICE AND EVERY TIME THAT I WITNESS THE COMBINED SERVICE OF WHITE AND BLACK, I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ONLY A SHORT 17 YEARS AGO THIS WAS NEVER POSSIBLE.
AFTER THE FORMALITIES, EVERYONE WENT BACK UP TO THE CHURCH WHERE THE LADIES HAD PREPARED LUNCH AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF DISTRIBUTING THE FOOD TO THIS LARGE GROUP. THE CHURCH WAS USED AS A DINING HALL FOR EVERYONE.
ANOTHER TEAM HAS LEFT ITS MARK IN SOUTH AFRICA AND PREPARED A CENTER WHERE CHILDREN CAN BE SHELTERED, EDUCATED AND FED WITH NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND THE WORD OF THE LORD. WE HAVE TOUCHED MANY LIVES BUT STILL ONLY A SMALL PART OF THIS LARGE COUNTRY. OUR WORK HERE IS FAR FROM OVER AND WE WILL HAVE TO RELY ON THE LORD TO LEAD US IN 2011 AS WE PREPARE THE TEAMS TO TRAVEL TO SHONGWENI.
TOMORROW BEGINS OUR TRAVEL HOME, FIRST TO JO-BERG THEN ON TO DAKAR TO DULLES TO DENVER TO PHOENIX. WHAT A JOURNEY THIS HAS BEEN. HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED KEEPING UP WITH US. THE BLOG WILL CONTINUE WITH UPDATES.

SKUMBUSO IS GROWING UP

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS MISSION OVER THE YEARS, THE NAME OF ONE BOY IS FAMILIAR. SKUMBUSO WAS ONLY AROUND 2 YEARS OLD WHEN THE PROJECT BEGAN AND AROUND 3 WHEN I FIRST MET HIM AND HIS SHOE SKATE THAT HE PUSHED FROM ONE END OF THE PROJECT TO THE OTHER. THE PICTURE OF SKUMBUSO AND PASTOR ARNIE USED IN OUR FIRST PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE WOULD BE FAMILIAR TO MOST OF US. WE SAW HIM AND QUITE A FEW OF SOME OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE EARLY YEARS ON FRIDAY BEFORE WE LEFT. ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT HELPED US MIX CONCRETE AND CARRY BLOCK WHEN WE WERE BUILDING IS NOW OUT OF SCHOOL AND WORKING A FULL TIME JOB. WE ALSO GOT TO SEE MAVIS IN HER HOME. SHE IS THE LADY THAT CAME TO THE FIRST SEWING CLASSES WITH HER OWN SEWING MACHINE--CARRIED ON HER HEAD. WE THEN SENT HER MACHINE TO PINETOWN AND HAD IT REFURBISHED. SHE WAS HAPPY TO SEE US ALL.

ON FRIDAY WE COOKED UP A BATCH OF THE FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN FOOD AND SERVED IT TO A GROUP OF THE CHILDREN. I MADE AN ERROR AND PASSED OUT FORKS BUT WAS TOLD QUICKLY BY SHARA THAT THEY DO NOT USE FORKS BUT SPOONS ARE THE CULTURAL EATING UTENSIL. MOST OF THE TIME I SEE THEM JUST USING THEIR FINGERS. THEY STILL ATE EVERYTHING. WE HAD THE LADY THAT WILL BE THE COOK AND ALSO THE PRINCIPAL IN THE KITCHEN WITH ME. THE BALANCE OF THE FIRST SHIPMENT OF FOOD WILL BE AROUND NOVEMBER 18TH.

ON FRIDAY EVENING, WE HAD A BRING AND BRAAI AT THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN WESTVILLE--THIS WAS A LOCAL BAR B QUE BUT BRING YOUR OWN MEAT. THERE WAS A LOT OF GERMAN SPEAKING GOING ON.

TOMORROW WILL BE A BIG DAY WITH THE DEDICATION OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE SERVICE WILL INCLUDE 2 BAPTISMS AND COMMUNION. IT WILL BE STANDING ROOM ONLY IF THE 300 PEOPLE THAT WE EXPECT SHOW UP.

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ALONG THIS WEEK AND THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME.

ALMOST THERE

YES, WE ARE ALMOST AT THE FINISH LINE COMPLETING THE CRECHE. I HAVE INCLUDED 2 PICTURES TODAY INSTEAD OF JUST ONE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE INSIDE LOOKS LIKE. REMEMBER THAT THIS CRECHE IS NOT JUST A PLACE TO DROP OFF THE CHILDREN FOR THE DAY, BUT A CHRIST CENTERED LEARNING CENTER TO GIVE THEM A HEAD START ON SCHOOL. A FEW MINOR TASKS TOMORROW AND A CLEANING AND WE WILL BE READY TO OPEN THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER AND BE PREPARED FOR THE DEDICATION ON SUNDAY. WE WILL BE OPEN FOR A MONTH AND THEN JULIA AND SHARA WILL BE COMING TO THE STATES AND THE SCHOOLS HERE ARE OFF FOR JANUARY BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR SUMMER.

OUR FIRST STOP THIS MORNING WAS A VISIT TO THE HILLCREST AIDS CENTRE IN HILLCREST. A WONDERFUL FACILITY THAT THE METHODIST CHURCH SUPPORTS. THERE ARE 25 BEDS AND ALWAYS FULL AND SOMETIMES WITH A COUPLE MORE. THEIR WORK IS NOT ONLY WITHIIN THIS FACILITY BUT THEY GO OUT TO THE HOMES TO PROVIDE IN HOME CARE. THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN THE GARDEN OUT BACK WITH ALL THE NAMES OF THE ONES WHO HAVE DIED FROM AIDS--MANY, MANY. THEY HAVE A PLANT NURSERY WITH PLANTS THAT CAN BE PURCHASED AND A GIFT SHOP WITH ARTICLES MADE BY THE LOCALS WITH ALL THE PROCEEDS SUPPORTING THE CLINIC. ONE OF THE DIRECTORS SPOKE WITH US AND GAVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THEIR WORK. SHE ALSO IS A GO-GO (GRANDMOTHER) AND WHAT ENTHUSIASM SHE HAD ABOUT HER WORK. SHE MENTIONED ONE OF THE AIDS WORKERS THAT HAS LOST 9 CHILDREN!!

IT IS AMAZING HOW THE WORD GETS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT US WORKING AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. EVERY DAY MORE AND MORE CHILDREN SHOW UP AFTER SCHOOL. TODAY FRAN HAD ABOUT 50 CHILDREN IN THE CENTER TO GIVE A DEMONSTRATION ON DENTAL HYGENE AND HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH PROPERLY. WE BROUGHT TOOTHPASTE AND BRUSHES WITH US.

TOMORROW IS FRIDAY AND WE STILL HAVE PLENTY TO DO.

SALA GASHLE (STAY WELL)

UNIFORM DAY

HERE IT IS WEDNESDAY ALREADY AND WE HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS ON THE CRECHE. YESTERDAY WE HAD A SPRINKLING OF RAIN BUT WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE WORK ON THE JUNGLE GYM AND WITH TODAY'S BETTER WEATHER IT IS NOW 95% COMPLETED. DURING THE TIME THAT WE WERE PICKING UP OUR TOOLS AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE TURNED AROUND AND THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 20 OF THE CHILDREN ON THE TOP PLATFORM, MORE ON THE LADDER AND CLIMBING RAMP AND SOME ON THE SLIDE. IT PERFORMED WELL FOR ALL THE ACTIVITY.
KATHRYN AND STEPHANIE HAVE BEEN ADDING SOME HAPPY AND BRIGHT PAINTING TO THE CLASSROOM WALLS INSIDE THE CRECHE. THERE ARE 3 TOTAL ROOMS PLUS THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, SMALL BUT SUFFICIENT. WE HAVE PAINTED THE FLOORS AND BEGUN TO PLACE THE TABLES AND CHAIRS AND SHELVES IN THE ROOMS.
FIRST THING THIS MORNING WE VISITED THE CHARLES PRIMARY SCHOOL. I HAVE BEEN TO THE OTHER 2 PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE AREA BUT MY FIRST VISIT TO THIS ONE. WE PRESENTED THE PRINCIPAL WITH 4 BOXES OF BOOKS AND SOME OTHER TEACHING MATERIAL AND WE WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE STUDENTS WITH SONG AND ALSO THE TEACHERS--17 OF THEM--BLESSED US WITH SONGS OF GRATITUDE. THEY HAD SOME OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED HOUSING FOR, COME TO THE FRONT TO THANK US. 468 CHILDREN IN THIS SCHOOL. A FEW TEARS WERE SHED DURING THE SINGING. EVERYONE WAVES WITH SMILING FACES. THIS SCHOOL IS IN NEED OF THE MOST WORK OUT OF THE 3 THAT I HAVE VISITED--BROKEN WINDOWS--BROKEN WALKWAYS AND MINIMUM SUPPLIES.
JOHN AND DONNA ALONG WITH LINDA AND BOB VISITED A CLINIC YESTERDAY AND IT OPENED THEIR EYES TO THE HOSPITAL CONDITIONS IN SA. JOHN IS A RETIRED PHARMISIST AND DONNA IS AN RN. HALLWAYS LINED WITH PEOPLE TO SEE ONE DOCTOR. BEDS LINED UP CONTAINING BABIES OR ADULTS. SAD BUT REALITY.
THE BOYS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN PLAYING SOCCER CAME AFTER SCHOOL AND WE ALLOWED THEM TO DRESS OUT IN THE SOCCER UNIFORMS THAT WE BROUGHT WITH US FROM THE SCOTTSDALE, AZ BLACKHAWK LEAGUE. WE TOOK THE REQUIRED PICTURES AND THEN THEY SCRIMAGED ON THE FIELD. IT WAS A JOY TO SEE THEM LINE UP TO RECEIVE A SHIRT AND PANTS AND THEN FOR THE OLDER BOYS TO PICK OUT A PAIR OF SHOES AND SOCKS AND THEN TO WATCH THEM LOOK AT THEIR OWN TRACKS ON THE GROUND FROM THE CLEATS.
RAIN IS AGAIN PREDICTED FOR TOMORROW BUT WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH WORK TO DO INSIDE AND I BELIEVE WE WILL ALL HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT A CLINIC IN THE AREA.
GOT TO CLOSE, GETTING LATE

A GOOD START FOR THE WEEK

SUNNY AND BLUE SKIES MET US AS THE TEAM ENTERED SHONGWENI AND PAST THE MANY HOMES THAT WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED IN PAST YEARS. ANYONE THAT IS OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES WAVE TO OUR VAN AS WE RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE CAREGIVERS. PAST THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WE VISITED LAST YEAR, AND THEN TURN LEFT TO THE LUTHERAN CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTER. OUR FIRST TASK WAS TO UNLOAD ALL THE SUITCASES CONTAINING THE MANY ITEMS WE BROUGHT FOR THE CRECHE AND CHILDREN. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON THE JUNGLE GYM AND WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS TODAY WITH THE DIGGING OF THE POST HOLES, MIXING AND POURING THE CONCRETE FOR THE POSTS---DAGA, DAGA, DAGA---OY, OY, OY. HERE IS A PICTURE OF KATHRYN SCHUSTER AND MLONDI PHUNGULA AS THE PLATFORM WENT UP. PRETTY HANDY WITH THAT DRILL KATHRYN. WITH ANY LUCK WE CAN FINISH THIS PROJECT TOMORROW.
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF THE CRECHE--HLENGIWE MZOBE AND ONE OF THE TEACHERS--REJOICE NDLOUU. YES HER NAME IS REJOICE. PAINTING A PARTITION WALL BETWEEN TWO OF THE CLASSROOMS WAS NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST OF INSIDE WORK. ONE COAT OF PRIMER AND TWO COATS OF WHITE PAINT AND WHAT A SMELL!! IT WAS THEN TIME TO SEAL THE FLOORS. MOST OF THE FLOORS WILL HAVE RUGS FOR THE CHILDREN BUT WITH SPILLS AND ACCIDENTS, THE SEALING WAS NECESSARY.
SOME OF THE BOYS FROM SOCCER CAME BY AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE THEM ON WEDNESDAY ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT. THEY DID FIND THE CASES FULL OF UNIFORMS AND SHOES AND WERE EXCITED ABOUT THEM.
WHAT A JOY TO HAVE SHARA AND JULIA HERE WITH THE CHILDREN. THEY JUST RADIATE PATIENCE AND COMPASSION, SOMETHING THAT MOST OF THESE CHILDREN NEVER EXPERIENCED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF A REAL HOME LIFE.
TIME TO TURN IN. MORE TO COME. JUST TO MENTION TO ADD 9 HOURS ON THE TIME OF EACH POST BECAUSE THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICAN AND PHOENIX TIME.

WE HAVE RETURNED

HOW COULD A YEAR GO BY SO FAST? WE ARE NOW BACK IN SOUTH AFRICA AND OUR TEAM OF TEN WILL BE ON THE SHONGWENI SITE TOMORROW MORNING. TODAY WE WORSHIPPED TOGETHER WITH THE CONGREGATION OF WESTVILLE LUTHERAN CHURCH, A GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE TOWN OF WESTVILLE. SOME OF THE YOUNG ADULT ZULU GIRLS HAD BEEN TO MORE PLACES IN THE U.S. THAN I HAVE. THEY WERE DELIGHTFUL. PASTOR ARNIE FRANK GAVE THE SERMON AND WAS GLAD TO CONVERSE WITH SOME OF THE OLDER LADIES AFTER THE SERVICE IN GERMAN. WE THEN WENT TO OUR FAVORITE LUNCH AT THE POT AND KETTLE. WE ALL LOVE TO HEAR THE SOUTH AFRICANS PRONOUNCE THE NAME OF THE POT AND KETTLE. THE DAY WAS SUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL WITH THE VALLEY OF THE THOUSAND HILLS IN THE BACKGROUND AND A MUSICIAN PROVIDING THE WONDERFUL MUSIC. THERE WAS SOME SHOPPING AND THEN TOMORROW WILL START OUR WEEK OF WORK.
SOME OF THE PROJECTS ON OUR LIST FOR THE WEEK INCLUDE BUILDING A JUNGLE GYM, PAINTING IN THE CRECHE AND SETTING UP THE CRECHE, PLANTING SOME START UP GARDENS AND OTHER PROJECTS. IT WILL BE LIKE CHRISTMAS OPENING UP ALL THE SUITCASES WE BROUGHT. WE HAD SUCH A CONCERN ABOUT THE EXTRA BAGGAGE BUT EVERYTHING CAME THRU AS WE PLANNED AND WILL PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH EVERYTHING FROM CLOTHING, SOCCER CLOTHES AND FABRIC FOR THE SEWING COMMUNITY.
I WILL TRY TO KEEP THIS BLOG CURRENT ON A DAILY BASIS BUT PLEASE REALIZE WHERE WE ARE AT AND KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS.