A TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

OUR TIME HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA IS JUST ABOUT OVER AND TODAY WAS A DAY OF SHOPPING AND SIGHTSEEING. OUR DAY BEGAN WITH A TRIP TO AN OUTSIDE MARKET WITH STANDS OF FOOD AND ITEMS FROM PLANTS TO CATCHMENT EQUIPMENT TO JEWELRY AND TOYS AND NATIVE WARE. PLENTY OF THINGS TO LOOK AT AND PEOPLE TO WATCH. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS MARKET IS WATCHING ALL THE DOGS THAT PEOPLE BRING OUT TO MINGLE WITH OTHER DOGS AND FOR PEOPLE TO OOGLE OVER. I HAVEN'T SEEN A DOG FIGHT YET BUT ENJOYED THE GREAT COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE MUFFINS--YUMMY!

IT WAS THEN OFF TO THE INDIAN MARKET IN DURBAN BY WAY OF A FEW AREAS SUCH AS THE CATO DISTRICT. THIS IS AN AREA OF POVERTY WITH SHACKS AND A CONTINUOUS SEA OF ROOFS. ANYTHING FROM CORRIGATED TIN TO CARDBOARD. SOUTH AFRICA IS IN THE PROCESS OF A CENSUS AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY COULD POSSIBLY COUNT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THIS AREA.

AFTER A VISIT TO THE INDIAN MARKET IT WAS A WALKING TOUR OF THE MUHTI-MEDICINE-MARKET SO THAT THE NEWBEES CAN GET AN IDEA OF THE REAL AFRICA, BOTH IN SIGHT AND SMELL. WE EXTENDED OUR WALK TO OTHER AREAS OF THE MARKET THAT I HAD NOT VISITED BEFORE. PLENTY OF SANGOMOS-MEDICINE MEN-IN THE MARKET TO CURE ANY DISEASE YOU MAY HAVE. I AM GLAD I FELT WELL!!

OUR AFTERNOON CONCLUDED WITH A TRIP TO THE INDIAN OCEAN TO WIGGLE YOUR TOES IN AND ENJOY THE BREEZES. PLENTY OF SWIMMERS AND SURFERS TODAY. THERE IS ALWAYS A FEW CONTAINER SHIPS WAITING OR ON THEIR WAY IN TO THE HARBOR AFTER ALL THIS IS THE BUSIEST PORT IN ALL OF AFRICA.

TOMORROW WE WILL BE CATCHING OUR FLIGHT AT AROUND 5:00 AND THEN BACK TO THE STATES.

IT HAS BEEN ANOTHER WONDERFUL AND REWARDING TRIP HAD BY ALL WITH MORE FRIENDS MADE AND OTHERS REVISITED.

VISITING DAY

TODAY WAS THE ONE DAY THAT EVERY YEAR WE LOOK FORWARD TO AND THAT IS A VISIT TO ONE OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA OF SHONGWENI. THIS YEAR WE RETURNED TO CHARLES PRIMARY SCHOOL AND WERE GREETED BY THE PRINIPAL WITH ALL THE STUDENTS OUTSIDE IN THE COURTYARD WELCOMING US WITH SONG. AFTER AN INTRODUCTION BY THE PRINCIPAL AND EACH ONE OF US STANDING UP, TELLING OUR NAME AND THEN BEING GIVEN A HELLO IN ZULU WE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT EACH CLASSROOM. DISCIPLINE IS NEVER A PROBLEM AT ANY OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE VISITED. WE DID TALK TO SEVERAL STUDENTS AT CHARLES SCHOOL THAT LIVER IN OUR HOMES INCLUDING A BOY NAMED SABU THAT WE HAVE BECOME ATTACHED TO. PART OF THE TEAM REMAINED AT THE SCHOOL TO PAINT SOME DECORATIVE PAINTING IN 2 OF THE CLASSROOMS WHILE THE REST OF US RETURNED TO THE CRECHE.
WORK CONTINUED ON THE STORAGE BUILDING AND THE WALLS SHOULD BE COMPLETED TOMORROW WITH FANI FINISHING THE ROOF NEXT WEEK.
THE SOCCER BOYS STARTED SHOWING UP AT THE CENTER AROUND 4:00 AND THEY KEPT COMING IN UNTIL THERE WERE OVER 60 AT AND AROUND THE FIELD. PASTOR THWALA CALLED EVERYONE TO THE CENTER AT 5:00 WHERE WE HAD THE NEW UNIFORMS AND TALKED TO THE BOYS ABOUT WHY WE WERE THERE. HE INTRODUCED SEVERAL OF THE COACHES AND THEN IT WAS PASSING OUT THE UNIFORMS SO THAT WE COULD TAKE PICTURES ON THE FIELD. THE COACH DIVIDED THE BOYS INTO 3 GROUPS-13 AND UNDER, 13-15 AND 15-17 AND PLENTY OF PICTURES WERE TAKEN. THEN ALL THE BOYS GATHERED FOR ONE PICTURE OF THE GROUP. THE BOYS REURNED TO THE CENTER AND TURNED THE SHIRTS BACK IN. THE BOYS WILL RECEIVE THEIR UNIFORMS BEFORE EACH GAME AND THE SHOES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED NEXT WEEK.
WE HAD SONGS FROM THE BOYS AND MANY THANKS ALONG WITH A GROUP OF GIRLS SHOWING US THEIR DANCING SKILLS. AFTER A DINNER PREPARED BY THE WOMEN OF THE COMMUNITY IT WAS BACK TO PINETOWN. THESE ARE ALWAYS DAYS TO REMEMBER AND MEMORIES SECOND TO NONE.

ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING

BACK AGAIN THIS MORNING UNDER SUNNY SKIES AND WARM TEMPS. PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON OUR STORAGE BUILDING NOW THAT WE ARE EXPERTS AT LAYING BLOCK AFTER ONE DAY OF TRAINING. OUR SUPERVISOR, FANI, IS VERY PATIENT WITH US. IT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO WORK OFF OF SCAFFOLDING TODAY AS WE APPROACH 12 BLOCK HIGH.
THE PAINTING CREW FINISHED BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE DLUDA HOUSE WITH A BEAUTIFUL LIGHT CREAM COLOR ON THE OUTSIDE. THE ENTIRE TEAM MADE A STOP BEFORE LEAVING THE COMMUNITY AT HER HOUSE TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE INSIDE AND HAVE THE TEAM PICTURE TAKEN OUTSIDE. TO SAY THAT SHE WAS HAPPY ABOUT HER NEW HOUSE WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT AS SHE WWENT AROUND AND HUGGED EVERYONE. AFTER THE TEAM LEAVES, WE WILL HAVE FANI BUILD HER A PATIO SO THAT SHE CAN SIT OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND ENJOY THE OUSTANDING VIEWS OF THE VALLEY FROM SHONGWENI MOUNTAIN IN THE DISTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER BELOW.
A YOUNG MEMBER OF OUR TEAM, MALIK, IS GOING TO GIVE A TALK AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THIS MORNING AND WE WILL BE VISITING THE PRIMARY SCHOOL TOMORROW.
THE PICTURE TODAY IS DURING PLAYTIME AT THE CRECHE WITH HIS "MICHELIN" TIRE. THE LOVE TO PLAY WITH THE TIRES AND THE JUNGLE GYM THAT WE CONSTRUCTED LAST YEAR AND WAS ADDED ON DURING THE JULY TEAM'S VISIT, REALLY GETS A LOT OF USE. I STOOD AT THE DOOR OF ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS YESTERDAY AND WATCHED AS THE TEACHER READ TO 20 YOUNGSTERS AND COULD NOT GET OVER HOW THEIR EYES NEVER LEFT THAT TEACHER WHILE SHE READ AND NEVER GLANCED AT ME. THEIR MINDS ARE SO OPEN TO LEARNING.
WELL, IT'S OFF TO WORK.

THANK YOU LORD

WE ARE AGAIN HERE IN SHONGWENI AND HERE ARE SEVERAL OF THE YOUNG GIRLS GIVING THANKS FOR OUR RETURN AND OUR SAFE STAY IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARRIVED WITH SONGS FROM THE NEARLY 80 CHLDREN IN THE CRECHE AND THEN IT WAS OFF TO WORK.
BLOCK LAYING BEGAN ON A NEW STORAGE BUILDING WHILE SOME OF THE TEAM WENT UP THE HILL TO PAINT THE LAST HOUSE THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED BY DREW'S TEAM IN JULY.
THE SOCCER BOYS WILL BE THRILLED WITH THE OVER 200LBS OF UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADD TO OUR LUGGAGE. THEY WILL BE GATHERING ON THURSDAY TO DISTRIBUTE THE GOODIES.
CHARLES SCHOOL WILL RECEIVE US THIS WEEK AS WE RETURN TO COMPLETE A COUPLE OF CLASSROOMS THAT ARE IN NEED OF HELP. QUITE A FEW OF THE CHILDREN FROM OUR PROJECT ATTEND THE SCHOOL. WE MADE A STOP AT THE HOUSES ON OUR WAY OUT TONIGHT AND TALKED TO SKUMBUZO--HE IS NOW 8 YEARS OLD AND WE HAVE SEEN HIM GROW UP OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS.
BOTH SHARA AND JULIA WILL BE LEAVING NEXT YEAR, OUR MISSIONARIES AT THE CRECHE AND ALREADY WE HAVE 2 NEW LADIES THAT WILL TAKE THEIR PLACE--GINGER AND ZEAL, SO THE TEACHERS AT THE CRECHE HAVE SOME EXCELLENT ASSISTANCE WITH THE CHILDREN.

WE ARE READY

HERE IS BOB FUNK REVIEWING THE OCTOBER TRIP TO THE NEWBIES-KIM, RENE AND ANNA, AND OLD TIMERS AT THE GOING

AWAY LUNCHEON BEFORE THE TEAM LEAVES ON OCTOBER 5TH. TO THE LEFT ARE THE EXTRA SUITCASES FILLED WITH SOCCER UNIFORMS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT WILL BRING A LOT OF SMILES TO THE CHILDREN IN SHONGWENI. AFTER BOB WAS FINISHED GOING OVER THE PLANS FOR THE WEEK, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE TRIP IS 3 WEEKS THIS TIME ( ACTUALLY ONLY 10 DAYS). THE WEEK WILL BE FULL WITH WORK AT THE CRECHE AND CHARLES SCHOOL ALONG WITH THE BUILDING OF A STORAGE AREA AND HELP IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE WILL BE VISITS TO AN AIDS CLINIC, HELP WITH VBS ALONG WITH SHARA AND JULIA. THIS YEAR THERE WILL BE 3 TEAM MEMBERS JOINING THE PHOENIX CONTINGENT IN WASHINGTON DULLES FROM THE EAST COAST. HARD TO BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN 5 YEARS ALREADY SINCE THE FIRST TEAM TRAVELED TO SOUTH AFRICA. THANKS AGAIN TO THE SCOTTSDALE BLACKHAWKS FOR ALL THE SOCCER UNIFORMS THIS YEAR. GOD SPEED OCTOBER TEAM.

COLLECTION TIME

PREPARING FOR THE OCTOBER TEAM THAT WILL BE LEAVING ON THE 7TH, KEN AND LAURELL HAD THEIR COLLECTION TABLE SET UP AT THE NEW SOCCER FIELDS LOCATED AT PIMA AND INDIAN BEND--HOME OF THE TRAINING FACILITIES OF THE AZ DIAMONDBACKS AND COLORADO ROCKIES. FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR THE SCOTTSDALE BLACKHAWK SOCCER LEAGUE INVITED THEM TO COLLECT USED UNIFORMS TO SEND TO SHONGWENI. MANY THANKS GO OUT TO THE LEAGUE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR EMAIL BLASTS COMPLETE WITH PICTURES OF THE SHONGWENI TEAM WEARING THE BLACKHAWK UNIFORMS. BECAUSE OF THE TWO SATURDAY COLLECTIONS, MANY UNIFORMS WERE GATHERED INCLUDING SHOES, SOCKS, SHORTS AND SHIRTS. THESE WILL BE CAREFULLY PACKED IN THE LUGGAGE OF THE OCTOBER TEAM AND THE SOCCER BOYS WILL BE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE NEW SUPPLY.

THOSE OF US THAT ARE STAYING BEHIND THIS YEAR WILL BE AWAITING PICTURES AND REPORTS OF THEIR MISSION THIS YEAR. THE JULY TEAM COMPLETED 90% OF THE NEW HOME AND IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED SINCE THEY LEFT AND THE OCT. TEAM WILL BE DEDICATING IT WITH THE NEW FAMILY. THERE WILL ALSO BE PLENTY OF OTHER TASKS AROUND THE COMMUNITY WHILE THEY ARE THERE. THE WORK CONTINUES WITH SOME BOLD PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

3RD ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

BLUE SKIES, PERFECT TEMPERATURE, GOOD FRIENDS AND GOLF, WHAT COULD BE MORE PERFECT THAN THAT? WELL, IF IT IS FOR A GOOD CAUSE AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAD ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF MAY. THIRTEEN TEAMS SET OFF FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A NEW MUSTANG AND HELP BUILD A NEW HOUSE IN SHONGWENI. THE SETTING WAS AGAIN AT LEISURE WORLD ON THE COYOTE COURSE AND THE SHOTGUN START BEGAN AT ONE O'CLOCK SHARP. THE VOLUNTEERS FROM CHRIST CHURCH AND LOVE OF CHRIST HAD THE CARTS IN THEIR PLACES AND REGISTRATION WAS HANDLED SMOOTHLY.

WITH ALL THE GOLFERS ON THE COURSE, IT WAS A TIME TO RELAX AND PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE DINNER TO BE SERVED AT 5:30. WORK SOON BEGAN IN THE KITCHEN AND ON THE GRILL WHERE DEL AND LOREN AGAIN WERE ASKED TO PREPARE THE CHICKEN. LAURELL AND PAT ALONG WITH RUTH AND LYNNE HANDLED THE CHORES IN THE KITCHEN AND THE SERVING LINE LATER IN THE DAY. THE GOLFERS BEGAN ARRIVING BEFORE 5 AND SOME OF THE TEAMS, BECAUSE OF THE GOOD FELLOWSHIP, DID NOT COME IN UNTIL RIGHT AT DINNER. OVER 125 GOLFERS AND GUESTS ENJOYED A GREAT DINNER AND THERE WAS PLENTY FOR SECONDS.

EVERYONE WAS BROUGHT UP TO DATE WITH THE PROGRESS IN SOUTH AFRICA BY BOTH A VIDEO AND SLIDES. AWARDS WERE HANDED OUT WITH PAUL SCHULDT'S TEAM TAKING THE TOP HONORS AGAIN. MANY RAFFLE PRIZES WERE GIVEN AND EVERYONE LEFT WITH A SENSE OF PARTICIPATION IN THE SHONGWENI MISSION. THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPANTS AND DONORS TO PROVIDE THE MATERIALS FOR A NEW HOUSE FOR THE DLUDLA FAMILY. DREW WEST AND THE TEAM HE IS LEADING IN JULY, WILL BEGIN THE WORK AND THE OCTOBER TEAM WILL COMPLETE AND DEDICATE THE HOUSE. BY THE WAY, NO ONE WON THE CAR THIS YEAR--MAYBE NEXT.

AND THE WINNERS ARE................................

YES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE SHONGWENI SOCCER BOYS PLAYED IN THEIR FIRST TOURNAMENT LAST WEEKEND AND CAME HOME WITH THE TROPHY. THEY WON THEIR GAMES OVER THE WEEKEND AND WOUND UP IN A TIE. THE TIE BREAKER WAS PLAYED ON MONDAY AND THE BOYS PLAYED TO A TIE AND THEN WON ON A PENALTY KICK. THEY LOOK GOOD IN THEIR SCOTTSDALE UNIFORMS. HOPEFULLY MORE UNIFORMS WILL BE DELIVERED TO THEM WITH THE MISSION TEAMS TRAVELING THIS YEAR. KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE WERE BOYS THAT DID NOT HAVE A FIELD TO PLAY ON AND MOST OF THEM NEVER HAD A PAIR OF LACE-UP SHOES BEFORE LAST FALL. CONGRATS BOYS AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. LOOKS LIKE AN ADDITION WILL HAVE TO BE MADE TO THE CRECHE BECAUSE OF THE REPORT WE JUST RECEIVED FROM SHARA. THERE ARE NOW 88 CHILDREN IN THE CRECHE--WOW. SHARA AND JULIA ARE WORKING HARD TO OBTAIN GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR THE CRECHE. WITH THIS HELP, THE CRECHE CAN BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. WHAT A MODEL THE CRECHE, THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE CHURCH IS TO THE REGION. IF ONLY ALL THE SUPPORTERS COULD SEE HOW THE ORIGINAL PLANS OF PROVIDING DECENT HOUSING FOR THE ORPHANS HAS DEVELOPED INTO A PLACE FOR ALL TO WORSHIP, LEARN, PLAY AND DEVELOP INTO A PRODUCTIVE CHILD OF GOD FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

WELCOME HOME SHARA

Shara Cunningham, one of our two missionaries in Shongweni, visited Love of Christ this past Sunday. Shara is from Phoenix and has been traveling in the states in order to raise funds to continue her work. She spent time in Florida with her family and visited several churches there along with Iowa and Phoenix. All three services at Love of Christ were planned around Shara's work and what a day it was. After enjoying Saturday evening with Kathryn Schusters family's hospitality, since they are close to LOC, she began the day at the 7:50 service. There was special singing at all three services with African music, an overview of the work Shara is doing and a sermon with a missionary theme from Pastor Liles. It was a quick trip to the Center of Compassion for the 9:00 service and we were joined by many team members from LOC and from Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix. The picture today shows Shara joining Pastor Liles during the children's message. A video was shown at this service along with Shara's special message. Bob Funk surprised us by presenting Love of Christ with a plaque and thanks for the participation in the project. The service ended just in time for us to return to the sanctuary for the 10:30 service. Soon it was 12:00 and we had to bid Shara farewell. The African Orphan Golf Committee presented Shara with a financial gift during her stay with some of the surplus funds from last year's tournament. This year's tournament will be held on May 1st at Leisure World and the proceeds will fund the building of another home in Shongweni. We are in need of golfers and prizes along with donations.
God bless you in your work, Shara and Julia.