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.

AFRICAN EXPOSURE

NOW THAT WE HAVE RETURNED FROM ANOTHER BLESSED TRIP, KUDOS HAVE TO GO OUT TO A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE AFRICAN ORPHANS MISSION. WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE TEAM AT AFRICAN EXPOSURE, OUR TRIPS TO SOUTH AFRICA WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. SHOWN IN THE PICTURE ARE THE GENTLEMEN THAT MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT--CARL, BOB, ALF AND GAVIN. THEY ALL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR NORMAL DUTIES OF TOUR GUIDES AND HAVE BECOME INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHONGWENI COMMUNITY WHETHER WE ARE THERE WITH THEM OR WHEN WE ARE BACK IN THE STATES AND NEEDS ARISE. THEY PLAN OUT OUR STAY FROM THE ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS, SHOPPING AND SIDE TRIPS WITHIN THE COUNTRY. THEY MAKE THE ADVENTURE ENJOYABLE AND KEEP US ON TRACK TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS ALWAYS WITH A SMILE. THEIR WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA FROM PLANTS TO ANIMALS TO THE CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE IS APPRECIATED BY ALL. HOW CAN SOMEONE HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD KNOW ABOUT OUR SHERIFF--JOE ARPAIO (ALF). ENJOY YOUR PINK UNDERWEAR!!

THANKS AFRICAN EXPOSURE FOR ALL THE LAUGHS ALONG THE WAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A CONTINUING ASSOCIATION. IF ANYONE IS READING THIS AND IS INTERESTED IN A TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND AFRICAN EXPOSURE.

SUNDAY BEST

SHARA AND JULIA SHOWED UP TODAY IN THEIR SUNDAY BEST AND ARE SHOWN HERE WITH THE DAUGHTER OF HANS BEIER. THEY WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES DRESSED IN THEIR HERITAGE CLOTHING. MANY CAME WITH BEADS AND TRADITIONAL ZULU SKIRTS, HATS AND JEWELRY BOTH YOUNG AND OLD. OUR ESTIMATES WERE SPOT ON, AS BOB RICKARDS WOULD SAY FOR THERE MUST HAVE BEEN FROM 300 TO 400 ATTENDING THE CHURCH SERVICE AND THE DEDICATION OF THE CRECHE. MANY PASTORS FROM ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA, PENNSYLVANIA USA AND OF COURSE PHOENIX USA TOOK PART IN THE CHURCH SERVICE THAT INCLUDED 2 BAPTISMS AND 2 CONFIRMATIONS. IT WAS THEN OFF TO THE CENTER WHERE THE GRANITE PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED AND SEVERAL SPEAKERS WISHED THE PROJECT WELL AND SPOKE ABOUT THE FUTURE IMPORTANCE OF THE CENTER. WE WERE ALSO BLESSED WITH NATIVE DANCING AND SINGING FROM THE CHILDREN.
THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS PACKED AND THE CROWD EXTENDED OUTSIDE AS IT DID DURING THE CHURCH SERVICE. COMMUNION WAS ALSO GIVEN DURING THE CHURCH SERVICE AND EVERY TIME THAT I WITNESS THE COMBINED SERVICE OF WHITE AND BLACK, I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ONLY A SHORT 17 YEARS AGO THIS WAS NEVER POSSIBLE.
AFTER THE FORMALITIES, EVERYONE WENT BACK UP TO THE CHURCH WHERE THE LADIES HAD PREPARED LUNCH AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF DISTRIBUTING THE FOOD TO THIS LARGE GROUP. THE CHURCH WAS USED AS A DINING HALL FOR EVERYONE.
ANOTHER TEAM HAS LEFT ITS MARK IN SOUTH AFRICA AND PREPARED A CENTER WHERE CHILDREN CAN BE SHELTERED, EDUCATED AND FED WITH NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND THE WORD OF THE LORD. WE HAVE TOUCHED MANY LIVES BUT STILL ONLY A SMALL PART OF THIS LARGE COUNTRY. OUR WORK HERE IS FAR FROM OVER AND WE WILL HAVE TO RELY ON THE LORD TO LEAD US IN 2011 AS WE PREPARE THE TEAMS TO TRAVEL TO SHONGWENI.
TOMORROW BEGINS OUR TRAVEL HOME, FIRST TO JO-BERG THEN ON TO DAKAR TO DULLES TO DENVER TO PHOENIX. WHAT A JOURNEY THIS HAS BEEN. HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED KEEPING UP WITH US. THE BLOG WILL CONTINUE WITH UPDATES.

SKUMBUSO IS GROWING UP

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS MISSION OVER THE YEARS, THE NAME OF ONE BOY IS FAMILIAR. SKUMBUSO WAS ONLY AROUND 2 YEARS OLD WHEN THE PROJECT BEGAN AND AROUND 3 WHEN I FIRST MET HIM AND HIS SHOE SKATE THAT HE PUSHED FROM ONE END OF THE PROJECT TO THE OTHER. THE PICTURE OF SKUMBUSO AND PASTOR ARNIE USED IN OUR FIRST PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE WOULD BE FAMILIAR TO MOST OF US. WE SAW HIM AND QUITE A FEW OF SOME OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE EARLY YEARS ON FRIDAY BEFORE WE LEFT. ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT HELPED US MIX CONCRETE AND CARRY BLOCK WHEN WE WERE BUILDING IS NOW OUT OF SCHOOL AND WORKING A FULL TIME JOB. WE ALSO GOT TO SEE MAVIS IN HER HOME. SHE IS THE LADY THAT CAME TO THE FIRST SEWING CLASSES WITH HER OWN SEWING MACHINE--CARRIED ON HER HEAD. WE THEN SENT HER MACHINE TO PINETOWN AND HAD IT REFURBISHED. SHE WAS HAPPY TO SEE US ALL.

ON FRIDAY WE COOKED UP A BATCH OF THE FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN FOOD AND SERVED IT TO A GROUP OF THE CHILDREN. I MADE AN ERROR AND PASSED OUT FORKS BUT WAS TOLD QUICKLY BY SHARA THAT THEY DO NOT USE FORKS BUT SPOONS ARE THE CULTURAL EATING UTENSIL. MOST OF THE TIME I SEE THEM JUST USING THEIR FINGERS. THEY STILL ATE EVERYTHING. WE HAD THE LADY THAT WILL BE THE COOK AND ALSO THE PRINCIPAL IN THE KITCHEN WITH ME. THE BALANCE OF THE FIRST SHIPMENT OF FOOD WILL BE AROUND NOVEMBER 18TH.

ON FRIDAY EVENING, WE HAD A BRING AND BRAAI AT THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN WESTVILLE--THIS WAS A LOCAL BAR B QUE BUT BRING YOUR OWN MEAT. THERE WAS A LOT OF GERMAN SPEAKING GOING ON.

TOMORROW WILL BE A BIG DAY WITH THE DEDICATION OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE SERVICE WILL INCLUDE 2 BAPTISMS AND COMMUNION. IT WILL BE STANDING ROOM ONLY IF THE 300 PEOPLE THAT WE EXPECT SHOW UP.

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ALONG THIS WEEK AND THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME.