THANKSGIVING DAY FOR THE NOVEMBER AFRICAN ORPHANS TEAM WAS SPECIAL , AS IT WAS SPENT IN SHONGWENI, SOUTH AFRICA.  NO TURKEY AND DRESSING THIS YEAR, BUT HARD WORK AND A LOT OF LOVE AND APPRECIATION.  ALONG WITH THEIR PERSONAL LUGGAGE, THEY CARRIED 300LBS OF SOCCER UNIFORMS INCLUDING SHOES, WARM-UPS AND PRACTICE CLOTHES.  THE BOYS IN SHONGWENI SEND THEIR THANKS TO THE SCOTTSDALE BLACKHAWKS SOCCER LEAGUE AND PROMISE TO HOLD THE BLACKHAWKS NAME HIGH IN ALL THEIR EFFORTS.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE SOCCER UNIFORMS WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE TRIP, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WAS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AOP'S 39TH HOME IN THE SHONGWENI COMMUNITY.  THE ATTACHED PICTURE SHOWS THE HOUSE(?) THAT THE SHABALA FAMILY WILL BE MOVING OUT OF AND INTO A NEW BLOCK HOME.  FIVE FULL DAYS WERE SPENT CARRYING BLOCK, MIXING MORTAR AND RAISING WALLS TO ROOF LEVEL, ALONG WITH INTERACTING WITH THE MANY CHILDREN IN THE AREA.  TO DATE THE AOP HAS HOUSED CLOSE TO 200 CHILDREN.
ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP WAS WITNESSING THE SEWING LADIES GRADUATING FROM THEIR ADVANCED SEWING CLASS.  THE AOP FUNDED 11 LADIES TO HONE THEIR SKILLS WITH 10 ADVANCED SEWING LESSONS BY EMBOCRAFT, HELD AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTER.  WITH THESE CLASSES, AND ANOTHER PROGRAM ALSO FUNDED BY THE AOP, THE LADIES WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE BOYS AND GIRLS SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND HAVE INCOMES FROM THEIR PRODUCTS. 
THE AOP IS ALREADY PLANNING TRIPS FOR 2013 AND EXTENDS A WELCOME INVITATION TO ANYONE WHO SHOULD LIKE TO EXPERIENCE A REWARDING ADVENTURE.  PLEASE MESSAGE AT KONDREJKO@YAHOO.COM FOR INFORMATION.

I had to include this picture showing a portion of the uniforms collected on Saturday, Aug 25th.  The collection included shirts, pants, socks, shoes, shin pads, soccer balls and back packs.  This collection will not only supply the boys in Shongweni but will be available for boys in other areas of South Africa that we may venture into.  Thanks to all the donors from the Scottsdale Blackhawks Soccer League.

For the past three years, the Scottsdale Blackhawks Soccer League has graciously invited the African Orphans Project (AOP) to participate in a collection of donated/used soccer uniforms and gear. Dave and Char Goodknight and Ken and Laurell Ondrejko hosted this year's event at the Salt River Fields Soccer Park on August 18 and 25.

Three years ago, proceeds from the LOC/AOP golf tournament provided the funding to build a soccer field adjacent to the community center and creche in Shongweni. Three soccer teams are now active and competing successfully. The boys were able to travel with their team to tournament play as far away as Johannesburg. This was quite an experience for children who have very limited transportation and little opportunity to travel. They also enjoyed an awards banquet at season's end.

Dave and Char will be representing Love of Christ on the November trip to Shongweni, South Africa to build our 39th home in the community.

God's blessings are abundant in Shongweni.

VISIT TO THE STATES

THE PARTICIPATING CONGREGATIONS IN THE U.S. ARE PREPARING TO WELCOME THE PASTOR FROM THE SHONGWENI LUTHERAN CHURCH.  THIS WILL BE PASTOR THWALA'S FIRST EXPERIENCE FLYING AND WHAT A WAY TO BE INTRODUCED--OVERSEAS!!  HE WILL BE VISITING CHURCHES IN DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, IOWA, PENNSYLVANIA, FLORIDA AND OF COURSE HERE IN ARIZONA.
PASTOR THWALA WILL BE TRAVELING WITH HIS WIFE  AND BE TRAVELING WITHIN THE STATES FOR ABOUT A MONTH.  PLANS HAVE BEEN MADE HERE IN PHOENIX TO HOST THEM AT A DINNER ON FRIDAY, JULY 20TH THEN HE WILL PREACH AT LOVE OF CHRIST LUTHERAN IN MESA ON SUNDAY AND ALSO AT CHRIST CHURCH LUTHERAN THE SAME MORNING.  BOB FUNK HAS TO DO SOME FANCY DRIVING TO MAKE IT TO BOTH SERVICES WITH OUR GUEST. 
ONE OF THE GREAT BITS OF NEWS THAT PASTOR THWALA WILL BE BRINGING WITH HIM IS THAT THE CRECHE HAS BEEN FINALLY FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA.  THIS MEANS THAT WITH THIS PER CHILD STIPEND, THE COMPLEX CAN BECOME PRETTY WELL SELF SUFFICIENT.  THIS HAS BEEN OUR GOAL FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.  WITH THE OTHER PROJECTS GOING ON INCLUDING THE SEWING LADIES,  THIS HAS BEEN A HAND UP ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
OUR NOVEMBER TEAM, LEAD BY DREW WEST, ARE MAKING THEIR PLANS.  THEY WILL BE SPENDING THANKSGIVING IN SHONGWENI AND WHAT A WAY TO GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THE MIRACLES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.  MORE TO COME ABOUT THEIR TRIP.

CONGRATULATIONS BOYS

THE SOCCER PROGRAM IN SHONGWENI CONTINUES TO PRODUCE WINNERS. HERE IS THE MOST RECENT RESULT OF SENDELAE'S HARD WORK. THE UNDER 13 SOCCER BOYS ARE PROUDLY DISPLAYING THE TROPHY THEY WON AT A TOURNAMENT.
MISSIONARY JULIE HAS NOW RETURNED TO THE STATES AND SHARA WILL BE LEAVING SOON. MISSIONARIES ZEAL AND GINGER ARE TAKING OVER AS PASTOR THWALA'S LEADERS. THEY HAVE BEEN SHARING THE GOSPEL THROUGH CHAPEL SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN AT THE CRECHE, DEVOTIONS AT THE LOCAL SCHOOLS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY. SHARA AND HER COLLEAGUES SHARED THE GOOD NEWS WITH THE YOUNG WOMEN OF SHONGWENI AT AN EVENT THEY HOSTED CALLED FOCUS ON BEING FEMALE. TWENTY LADIES AGES 12-25 ATTENDED. THE LADIES HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PAMPERED WITH MANICURES AND PEDICURES. THEY SHARED THE FACT THAT THEY ARE VALUABLE AND WORTHY BECAUSE GOD LOVES THEM.