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.

GETTING READY

Well here it is, less than 2 weeks before we leave and received 2 bits of good news today. First is that United has allowed us to take 4 extra bags at no cost. Since we only have 10 members going this time, our luggage capacity was only 2 bags each of 50 lbs. Now between the 10 of us, when you include the carry on, we can take almost 1500 lbs. The picture I have included shows some of the soccer uniforms collected from Scottsdale Soccer League. Thanks to all that donated. We will be able to outfit a team--pictures to follow. Among other items is fabric for our sewing ladies, by the way we have approved purchase of 3 more machines, also learning materials from Lakeshore Learning and other items. The 2nd good news is that the South African gov't has approved our importing 5500 lbs of Feed My Starving Children Food ( see previous article) during the next year. We will be releasing the first pallet for shipment containing over 7000 meals in the next few days.

I am not sure whether or not I will be able to keep up with the blog during our stay this time. We will be staying at a new place and I have been told that it does not have internet. I may be able to use Gavin's laptop to keep you informed of our progress.

Still have bags to pack and be sent off with the blessings of the congregation on the 3rd. Keep us in your prayers.

FOOD FOR THE CRECHE

One of the important issues to resolve as we prepare to open the creche this October is how we are going to feed the children. The picture to the left is an answer to our problem. This is a MannaPack from an organization called Feed My Starving Children. It is a package weighing 13.6oz and containing fortified rice and soy protein along with other ingedients including potatoes and carrots and will serve 6 meals. Love of Christ Church has been involved with FMSC for several years in that we host packing events for 3 days and volunteers package these meals. Last fall LOC with 2 other congregations in Phoenix packaged over 1 million meals in those 3 days and plans are underway for another event this November.
I have been working with FMSC over the past several months to become a recipient of this food for the creche and to provide a hot meal for the children on their way to school. Laurell and I attended the grand opening of their new packing facility in Tempe and the Lord led us to meet and talk to the president/CEO of FMSC and discuss our needs in Shongweni. Although FMSC is still working on requests from 2009 approval was just granted to have 2 pallets of this meal shipped to Shongweni. 2 pallets contain over 14,000 meals and it will be a good start to our program since we could be serving over 1000 meals a week. This food will replace the porridge that the children usually eat and contain more nutrition. Plans are being worked out to ship the pallets to Durban where they will be picked up and trucked to the container on site at the church before we arrive in October. FMSC does not charge for the food but it is our responsibility to pay for the shipping.
It is now 3 months before our team leaves on October 5th and we will return on the 19th. There is a team from Pennsylvania that will be going in September. While we are there we will be able to worship with the congregations in Westville and Durban and have a dedication ceremony at the nursery and community center with the new bishop of South Africa. Our plans include working with the community and primary school in Shongweni.

2nd Annual golf Tournament

NICE HAT!! Loren Olson and Del Lawrence slaved over hot grills in the afternoon in order to provide enough food for the hungry golfers upon their return from the links. Our postponed golf tournament was a huge success without any rain and especially without any temps in the triple digits. With a field of 36 golfers and wind gusts in the 40mph range, the shotgun start began at 1:00 at the Leisure World, Coyote Run Course in Mesa. After months of meetings and phone calls, all of us were anxious to finally see the results of our labor.
The planning was the key with the help of Matt Weatherly, Paul Schuldt,
Gary Dana and me. A loud shout out to Tom Osterman with his acquisition of brats, drinks and of course Dreyer's ice cream. These items along with BBQ chicken, beans, cole slaw and potato salad were the menu for dinner. Leisure World provided an indoor dinning room complete with kitchen and podium.
Tom Osterman was also responsible for the guest speaker, Bill Lewis from the Arizona Cardinals, who not only spoke about the future team but also played in Tom's foursome. Prizes were awarded and a drawing was held for various gifts. Top prize went to Paul's team and Paul also won the grand prize of a vacation at Torreon, for collecting the most donations, but turned it back in to be auctioned off. Dr. Pete Gariboldi won the auction with a bid of $750 that added to our total donations for the day. Dave Goodnight won closest to the hole--two feet--if it would have gone in he would have also taken home a new Lexus.
Many thanks to all the volunteers and Leisure World including those home owners that donated their carts for the day. The donations from the tournament will go a long way to continue our work in Shongweni.

GOING ONCE--GOING TWICE

Another fund raising auction has come and gone with many thanks to all the volunteers and the many hours of planning accomplished by Linda Funk. Here is a picture of one of LOC's team members, Norma Holen, hob-nobbing with Representative John Shaddeg-R-Arizona and his wife as Norma sells raffle tickets for a case of South African wine. Way to go Norma--it is a long way from the Onamia, MN jet set to Arizona. In spite of the economy, this year's auction turned out to be the most successful. Trips to Branson, MO, Carlsbad, CA, Colorado and Washington, DC were auctioned off with much interest. There was plenty of South African art and crafts auctioned in silent bidding that went home with happy winners. Included in the bidding was a signed football by Kurt Warner and a tour of the capital with John Shaddeg. All proceeds will go a long way to continue our efforts in Shongweni.
Who says it does not rain in Arizona. Our golf tournament, that was scheduled for March 7th, has been postponed and rescheduled for May 2nd. A call was made on the Friday before and with an 80% chance forecast for Sunday, it was the correct call. It rained most of the day on Sunday. We have had our yearly rainfall amount in only 3 months. Plans will continue to have as successful a fund raiser as the auction.
Shara now has a helper in Shongweni that will be with her for a year. Many activities are taking place including vacation bible school and preparations for the team that will be arriving in May. That team will probably be involved in painting of the nursery to complete the work for opening this fall.

No, this is not a picture from our team in South Africa but it is a picture of some members of our project serving lunch in Phoenix. This is a Habitat for Humanity Home that is in the last stages of completion, built by volunteers of the Lutheran Coalition of Phoenix. Our church, Love of Christ, is a member of this group and this is the 7th home we have been a part of building. Some members of the African Orphans Project have not only built homes in South Africa but also have been a part of the building projects here in the valley. Every week different groups volunteer to serve the lunch for the workers and this week our team chose to do the cooking. The picture shows members Gary and Judy Dana, Laurell Ondrejko and Norma Holen. Also pictured is Roy Sakorsky, a member of Christ Church Lutheran, a team member of the African Orphan Project and an intergral part of the Phoenix building program.

The home you see in the picture is the result of thirteen Saturdays of building with volunteers and the dedication will be held on February 20th. If you have not been involved in a Habitat build, do yourself a favor and find one in your area. Just like our project in Africa, a high skill level is not necessary just a desire to work with your hands--remember " God's work, our hands."