THANKSGIVING IN SHONGWENI

I am writing this with one week until Justin Milan and I along with 12 other team members leave on our building trip to South Africa.  When we decided to join the fall team, November seemed so far away.  The second suitcase that all team members are allowed to carry has been packed with baby dolls, crèche supplies, books, soccer uniforms and equipment.  700 lbs of much needed, duty-free items for our families in Shongweni.  We will be on a flight from Phoenix to Dulles,

Dakar, Johannesburg, Durbin and then one hour of ground travel to our home away from home.

Our first Sunday will be spent at the Shongweni Lutheran Church to celebrate their 25th anniversary.  A luncheon provided by the ladies of the church will be enjoyed by all after worshiping and communing together.  It is not only in the U.S. that the Lutherans enjoy a good potluck!  I recall that on the first trip to this village seven years ago, the team communed with the locals, and that was the very first time that Blacks and Whites joined together at the Lord's table in Shongweni.  Much has changed but much has remained the same. 

On our second Sunday, we will join the congregation at Westville Lutheran Church.  This church partners with us in the Shongweni community.  We will participate and commune in a liturgy of both English and German.  During the time that we do not have a team in South Africa, the Westville Church reaches out to the Shongweni community with assistance.

Between the two Sundays there will be plenty of work to keep us busy building another home for a needy family and orphans.  We will be visiting a local school and of course spending time with the children. 

Due to the Thanksgiving school break, we are blessed to have three teens (along with their parents) accompanying us on our journey.  What an experience for the entire Johnsen family.

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.

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.