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.

READY FOR NEXT YEAR

2010 IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE AND IT IS TIME TO PLAN FOR 2011. THIS YEAR HAS EXPERIENCED GOD'S HAND IN REMARKABLE WAYS WITH THE OPENING OF THE CRECHE AND COMMUNITY CENTER, THE WORK OF THE TRINITY IN SHONGWENI--PASTOR THWALA, SHARA AND JULIA AND THE IMPACT OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN SHONGWENI. THE PICTURE PLACED IN THIS MESSAGE IS ONE OF THE 36 HOMES ON THE HILL DURING CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE NEXT YEAR WILL SEE ONE OR POSSIBLY TWO HOUSES BUILT IN THE AREA BUT OFF-SITE. DREW WEST WILL BE LEADING A TEAM IN JULY TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON ONE OF THE HOUSES. THERE ALSO WILL BE TEAMS BEFORE DREW TO WORK ON CATCHMENT TANKS AT THE HOUSES AND TEAMS AFTER DREW. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE FUNDS TO BUILD THIS HOUSE, LOVE OF CHRIST WILL BE HOSTING ITS 3RD ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT ON MAY 1ST AT LEISURE WORLD IN MESA, AZ. THE PROCEEDS FROM THIS TOURNAMENT WILL PAY FOR THE BUILDING MATERIALS AND OTHER EXPENSES IN THE COMMUNITY. IF YOU ARE A GOLFER AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS REWARDING MISSION, PLEASE CONTACT US--KEN@602-692-7492. WE ARE IN NEED OF GOLFERS, SPONSORS AND PRIZES TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL.

SHARA HAS RETURNED TO PHOENIX FOR A SHORT VISIT AND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HER EXPENSES. SHE WILL BE RETURNING TO FLORIDA TO SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH HER FAMILY, THEN TO IOWA AND BACK TO PHOENIX UNTIL SHE LEAVES FOR S.A. IN FEBRUARY. AN EVENING IN HER HONOR WAS HELD ON DEC 11TH AND A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.

MORE INFORMATION TO COME ON OUR FUTURE PLANS BUT MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE AUCTION IN MARCH, THE GOLF EVENT IN MAY AND EVEN CONSIDER JOINING US IN 2011 ON A TRIP YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.

CHICKEN-VEGIES-SOY AND RICE...

... THOSE ARE THE INGREDIENTS OF THE FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN FOOD PACKETS. WITH HAIR NETS IN PLACE AND RED TEAM SHIRTS ON, MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN ORPHANS PROJECT MET AT LOVE OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHURCH'S THIRD YEAR PACKING EVENT. THIS EVENT TOOK PLACE OVER THREE DAYS AND WHEN FINISHED ON SATURDAY EVENING, THE CHURCH'S VOLUNTEERS WILL HAVE PACKED OVER 550,000 MEALS DURING THE THREE YEARS.
THESE ARE THE SAME MEALS THAT ARE ON THE WAY TO OUR CRECHE IN SHONGWENI AND WILL BE AT THE DOCK NEXT THURSDAY, THE 18TH OF NOVEMBER. FROM THERE THE PALLET WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO THE CONTAINER ON SITE AND USED DAILY FOR THE CHILDREN'S MEALS.
MEMBERS OF LOC WERE JOINED BY TEAM MEMBERS FROM CHRIST CHURCH LUTHERAN INCLUDING PASTOR ARNIE FRANK. EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME AND MOVED PRETTY WELL IN TIME TO THE MUSIC INSPITE OF THEIR AGE DURING THE TWO HOURS. THE MEMBERS SPLIT INTO TWO GROUPS AND WITH THE ONE GROUP PACKING 29 BOXES THAT EQUALS 6264 MEALS AND THE SECOND GROUP, WE MORE THAN PACKED THE AMOUNT OF THE FOOD THAT WAS SENT TO SHONGWENI--7128 MEALS. MILLIONS OF THESE NUTRITIOUS MEALS HAVE BEEN SENT TO NEEDY CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD AND HAVE BROUGHT THEM BACK TO GOOD HEALTH.
MANY THANKS GO OUT TO THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT HELPED AND ESPECIALLY TO WALTER SCOTT FROM LOC WITHOUT WHO THIS PACKING EVENT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AND OF COURSE THE STAFF FROM FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN FOR THEIR DEVOTION TO THE HUNGRY OF THE WORLD AND THEIR CHRIST CENTERED ORGANIZATION.

GRAND OPENING

WE JUST RECEIVED WORD THAT THE CRECHE OPENED TODAY. THE NPO APPROVAL WAS GRANTED AND THE NURSERY OPENED WITH 36 CHILDREN AND THERE WILL BE MORE ATTENDING IN THE COMING WEEKS. WHAT WAS A DREAM JUST A FEW YEARS AGO HAS BECOME A REALITY. THE SHONGWENI LUTHERAN CHURCH AND ITS FACILITIES WILL BECOME THE CENTER OF ACTIVITY FOR THE COMMUNITY. NOW THE CENTER OF COMPASSION COMMUNITY CENTER PREVIOUSLY DEDICATED, WILL BE USED AS A KITCHEN FOR THE NURSERY AS WELL AS A TRAINING CENTER FOR THE WOMEN TO PERFECT THEIR CRAFTS. THE MOTHERS NOW CAN LEAVE THEIR LITTLE ONES IN THE CARE OF COMPETENT TEACHERS THAT WILL GIVE THE CHILDREN A SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION AS WELL AS A HEAD START IN SCHOOL.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WENT ON TODAY WHEN THE CHILDREN EXPERIENCED ALL THE LEARNING TOOLS IN THE BRIGHT ROOMS THAT WERE JUST COMPLETED. THANKS GO OUT TO LAKESHORE LEARNING CENTER FOR THEIR HELP WITH MANY OF THE ITEMS IN THE CLASSROOMS. ALONG WITH THE DAILY EDUCATION, A HOT MEAL WILL BE PROVIDED. THE FOOD SHIPPED FROM FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN WILL SUPPLIMENT THEIR DIETS AND IS ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY FROM ARRIVING.
WITH THE PASSING OF HER FATHER LAST WEEK, SHARA WILL REMAIN IN THE STATES UNTIL JANUARY AND DURING THIS TIME SHE WILL BE WITH HER FAMILY AND THEN TRAVELING TO SOME OF OUR SISTER CHURCHES AROUND THE COUNTRY. JULIA HAS HER HANDS FULL AND PLEASE INCLUDE HER IN YOUR PRAYERS AS SHE OVERSEES THE DAILY TASKS OF THE CRECHE AND CENTER.
GRASS WILL BE PLANTED ON THE SOCCER FIELD AND BEHIND THE COMMUNITY CENTER THANKS TO THE DONATIONS FROM OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT HELD LAST SPRING. THIS EVENT ALSO PAID FOR THE GRADING AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOCCER FIELD AND WHEN COMPLETED IT WILL GIVE THE BOYS MANY HOURS OF ENJOYMENT.