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.