ALMOST THERE

YES, WE ARE ALMOST AT THE FINISH LINE COMPLETING THE CRECHE. I HAVE INCLUDED 2 PICTURES TODAY INSTEAD OF JUST ONE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE INSIDE LOOKS LIKE. REMEMBER THAT THIS CRECHE IS NOT JUST A PLACE TO DROP OFF THE CHILDREN FOR THE DAY, BUT A CHRIST CENTERED LEARNING CENTER TO GIVE THEM A HEAD START ON SCHOOL. A FEW MINOR TASKS TOMORROW AND A CLEANING AND WE WILL BE READY TO OPEN THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER AND BE PREPARED FOR THE DEDICATION ON SUNDAY. WE WILL BE OPEN FOR A MONTH AND THEN JULIA AND SHARA WILL BE COMING TO THE STATES AND THE SCHOOLS HERE ARE OFF FOR JANUARY BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR SUMMER.

OUR FIRST STOP THIS MORNING WAS A VISIT TO THE HILLCREST AIDS CENTRE IN HILLCREST. A WONDERFUL FACILITY THAT THE METHODIST CHURCH SUPPORTS. THERE ARE 25 BEDS AND ALWAYS FULL AND SOMETIMES WITH A COUPLE MORE. THEIR WORK IS NOT ONLY WITHIIN THIS FACILITY BUT THEY GO OUT TO THE HOMES TO PROVIDE IN HOME CARE. THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN THE GARDEN OUT BACK WITH ALL THE NAMES OF THE ONES WHO HAVE DIED FROM AIDS--MANY, MANY. THEY HAVE A PLANT NURSERY WITH PLANTS THAT CAN BE PURCHASED AND A GIFT SHOP WITH ARTICLES MADE BY THE LOCALS WITH ALL THE PROCEEDS SUPPORTING THE CLINIC. ONE OF THE DIRECTORS SPOKE WITH US AND GAVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THEIR WORK. SHE ALSO IS A GO-GO (GRANDMOTHER) AND WHAT ENTHUSIASM SHE HAD ABOUT HER WORK. SHE MENTIONED ONE OF THE AIDS WORKERS THAT HAS LOST 9 CHILDREN!!

IT IS AMAZING HOW THE WORD GETS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT US WORKING AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. EVERY DAY MORE AND MORE CHILDREN SHOW UP AFTER SCHOOL. TODAY FRAN HAD ABOUT 50 CHILDREN IN THE CENTER TO GIVE A DEMONSTRATION ON DENTAL HYGENE AND HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH PROPERLY. WE BROUGHT TOOTHPASTE AND BRUSHES WITH US.

TOMORROW IS FRIDAY AND WE STILL HAVE PLENTY TO DO.

SALA GASHLE (STAY WELL)

UNIFORM DAY

HERE IT IS WEDNESDAY ALREADY AND WE HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS ON THE CRECHE. YESTERDAY WE HAD A SPRINKLING OF RAIN BUT WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE WORK ON THE JUNGLE GYM AND WITH TODAY'S BETTER WEATHER IT IS NOW 95% COMPLETED. DURING THE TIME THAT WE WERE PICKING UP OUR TOOLS AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE TURNED AROUND AND THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 20 OF THE CHILDREN ON THE TOP PLATFORM, MORE ON THE LADDER AND CLIMBING RAMP AND SOME ON THE SLIDE. IT PERFORMED WELL FOR ALL THE ACTIVITY.
KATHRYN AND STEPHANIE HAVE BEEN ADDING SOME HAPPY AND BRIGHT PAINTING TO THE CLASSROOM WALLS INSIDE THE CRECHE. THERE ARE 3 TOTAL ROOMS PLUS THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, SMALL BUT SUFFICIENT. WE HAVE PAINTED THE FLOORS AND BEGUN TO PLACE THE TABLES AND CHAIRS AND SHELVES IN THE ROOMS.
FIRST THING THIS MORNING WE VISITED THE CHARLES PRIMARY SCHOOL. I HAVE BEEN TO THE OTHER 2 PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE AREA BUT MY FIRST VISIT TO THIS ONE. WE PRESENTED THE PRINCIPAL WITH 4 BOXES OF BOOKS AND SOME OTHER TEACHING MATERIAL AND WE WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE STUDENTS WITH SONG AND ALSO THE TEACHERS--17 OF THEM--BLESSED US WITH SONGS OF GRATITUDE. THEY HAD SOME OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED HOUSING FOR, COME TO THE FRONT TO THANK US. 468 CHILDREN IN THIS SCHOOL. A FEW TEARS WERE SHED DURING THE SINGING. EVERYONE WAVES WITH SMILING FACES. THIS SCHOOL IS IN NEED OF THE MOST WORK OUT OF THE 3 THAT I HAVE VISITED--BROKEN WINDOWS--BROKEN WALKWAYS AND MINIMUM SUPPLIES.
JOHN AND DONNA ALONG WITH LINDA AND BOB VISITED A CLINIC YESTERDAY AND IT OPENED THEIR EYES TO THE HOSPITAL CONDITIONS IN SA. JOHN IS A RETIRED PHARMISIST AND DONNA IS AN RN. HALLWAYS LINED WITH PEOPLE TO SEE ONE DOCTOR. BEDS LINED UP CONTAINING BABIES OR ADULTS. SAD BUT REALITY.
THE BOYS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN PLAYING SOCCER CAME AFTER SCHOOL AND WE ALLOWED THEM TO DRESS OUT IN THE SOCCER UNIFORMS THAT WE BROUGHT WITH US FROM THE SCOTTSDALE, AZ BLACKHAWK LEAGUE. WE TOOK THE REQUIRED PICTURES AND THEN THEY SCRIMAGED ON THE FIELD. IT WAS A JOY TO SEE THEM LINE UP TO RECEIVE A SHIRT AND PANTS AND THEN FOR THE OLDER BOYS TO PICK OUT A PAIR OF SHOES AND SOCKS AND THEN TO WATCH THEM LOOK AT THEIR OWN TRACKS ON THE GROUND FROM THE CLEATS.
RAIN IS AGAIN PREDICTED FOR TOMORROW BUT WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH WORK TO DO INSIDE AND I BELIEVE WE WILL ALL HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT A CLINIC IN THE AREA.
GOT TO CLOSE, GETTING LATE

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.