Destination Africa

10 Things I Love About Living In Africa

2011-12-19T00:53:00.000-08:00

1. The richness of the culture and the traditions.

2. How loving and welcoming the people are.

3. Listening to and learning different languages and meeting people from different tribes and countries.

4. The different tribal names that I have been given:

Shaka - Zulu name after King Shaka who united the Zulus

Naaserian - a Maasai name which means peaceful

Ishara - Swahili name meaning sign

5. That each day brings something different. There is never a dull moment.

6. That I don't look different from the local people and they treat me like one of them. They always speak the local language to me.

7. How amazing the singing is. Everyone sings beautifully and with passion.

8. The local food is very good and I have eaten so many different things. In South Africa my favorite thing is steamed bread; in Kenya chapati is my favorite thing.

9. The beautiful and intriquite beadwork of the Zulus and Maasai people.

10. The importance of the relationships and taking the time to develop them.

Getting my face painted and wearing traditional Zulu beads....

Standing with my Maasai friends Evangelists Lazurus on my left and William on the right

Standing with friends from Uganda (Enoch & Frank) who are studying at the seminary in Pretoria

Laboring in love....A look back at Aug/Sept/Oct

2011-10-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

“ The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord to send out laborers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2

We were blessed to have several teams from the USA serving with us in Ntshongweni throughout the past few months. They were the hands, heart and feet of God as they labored in love to help the people in Ntshongweni. The August group came ﬁlled with lots of energy and enthusiasm ready to serve wherever they were needed. Their project was to help refurbish some classrooms at one of the local primary schools. The classrooms were in very bad shape and we felt that it was important for the teachers and students to have a clean and healthy environment to learn in. For a week we were covered in dust after trying our best to remove the many layers that built up over the years. We repainted the rooms, cleaned the windows and did a few minor repairs. The team members enjoyed taking breaks to play with the children and talk to the staff. The teachers and students

were so excited to see the rooms. They sang, danced and praised God for such a wonderful blessing.

(Working hard dusting and scraping)

(The students and staff thank the team for a job well done)

Pastor Thwala, Julia and I welcomed our new co-worker in Christ, deaconess intern Katelyn Hiett. She will serve with us for 6 months. Pastor Thwala will supervise her, showing her the role of a deaconess in an African context. Julia and I were able to join them for home visits with members of the congregation and the families from the orphan project. It is a wonderful way to strengthen the relationships that we have developed thus far during our time in Ntshongweni.

(The Ntshongweni crew: Shara, Katelyn, Pastor Thwala, Julia)

The team from October brought friends from my home church in Arizona. It is always nice to see familiar faces. The team was happy to see the creche in full swing. They had the opportunity to spend time with the children and teachers. They labored in love by helping to put the finishing touches on the house that was built for an orphan family in July. The team also helped to construct a much needed storage unit for the creche. Those that came for the first time got to use their hands mixing dagga (cement), moving blocks and pushing wheel barrows.

(The team from Arizona working on the new storage unit)

I am thankful to the Lord for sending out laborers into his harvest. He has blessed us with new GEO missionaries Ginger Taff-Lagergren and Zeal Beale. They will be transitioning into service in Ntshongweni as Julia and my service will come to and end in 2012. They arrived in South Africa in September and will be spending some time in Pretoria serving at the Lutheran seminary before starting full time in Ntshongweni.

Ginger and Zeal joined us for 2 weeks in October to get a glimpse of what was ahead for them. They assisted us with VBS and was able to meet some of the children that they will get to see on a regular basis. The ladies attended the Women'''s League Conference with us and they were so excited to be there with their sisters in Christ. Lastly, they worked side by side with the group from Arizona. It was good for them to be there with a short term team and to experience that dynamic. The ladies will start working more closely with us in December. We will have several months to introduce them to the community and to transition them into the mission and ministry in Ntshongweni.

(GEO Missionary Ginger)

(GEO Missionary Zeal with the kids at VBS)

The harvest is indeed plentiful. All praise and thanks to God for the many laborers he has sent to Ntshongweni. I pray for God's continued wisdom, guidance and strength as I serve in South Africa.

Christmas in July

2011-07-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

In South Africa we are currently experiencing the cold of winter. Sometimes I feel like there should be snow on the ground, lights on all of the houses and a tree all nicely decorated. Julia and I have even joked about singing Christmas songs.

We had our second team of the year with us from Christ Church Lutheran (my home church) in Phoenix, Arizona. There were 21 eager hearts ready to serve in Ntshongweni. For me it was like Christmas receiving the gift of getting to see many friends who were part of the team. It was wonderful having them around for a week. The “big” project was building a home for an orphan family. Nomusa, the caregiver and the children were able to meet the team at church the first Sunday they were with us. She spent time with them on the build site and shared her story with them. One of the children, Ndumiso worked side by side with them moving blocks, mixing dagga (the stuff that holds the blocks together), laying blocks as they labored in love to get the house to roof height. Way to go team! It has definitely been Christmas in July for the Dludla family. They will be moving into their new home in a few weeks.

The team also constructed the new playground for the creche. This group was made up of some of the first timers on the group. They were a very enthusiastic group and had fun with the children that came to the center for VBS. It warmed my heart to see all of the new friendships between the children and the group, that helped to make the trip even more special for them. The children gave the playground their seal of approval, we could not get them off when it was time for them to leave at the end of the day. Kudos to the group for an awesome new playground.

There were two very special ladies in the group. This was their second time being back in Ntshongweni. Their speciality is counseling. They held a group for the women in the community where they taught them how to deal with grief and trauma, parenting skills and self-esteem. The ladies also did home visits throughout the community and Nomusa translated for them. She is still talking about the wonderful time she shared with them. They were such a valuable resource. Julia and I along with Pastor Thwala will be continuing the group. Thank you for opening your hearts to the ladies.

Yes....did I forget to mention that in addition to the team being there, Julia and I were entering the second week of VBS for the winter holiday break. Since the start of VBS we had about 90 kids attending. Three of the ladies on the team, also first timers worked with us. They planned the crafts and were kind enough to bring all of the supplies that we needed. By the end of the week they fit right in, playing with the kids and teaching them games. They also made some very special friends that I am sure they will remember for years to come. One of the ladies is a very talented artist. She designed a mural that was painted on the chicken run. Ladies you were amazing!

Thank you to the team from Arizona. You were the hands, heart and feet of God as you served with us in Ntshongweni. You have been a wonderful example of Christ, sharing the love of God with the children and even among yourselves.

(The team with Nomusa and the children)

(The team held devotions in the house before starting work for the day)

(Awesome mural painted by Laura, Rhiannon & Randi)

(Some of the team members on the new playground)

Funny How Time Flies...A Look Back at the Past Few Months

2011-07-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

Where has the time gone, I just came back to South Africa in March and here it is the middle of July already. The end of the July makes 2 years in South Africa for me. It seemed like yesterday when I arrived. This place has become my home and I am enjoying being fully immersed in the culture.

The past few months have whizzed by. April... had it’s share of ups and downs. Julia and I went to several funerals. That is one of the hard things about life here in SA. There is too much death. I think that I have attended more funerals in one month than I have attended in the past 10 years. It was a sad time because two of the funeral were for mothers that passed for children that are very special to me and it broke my heart to see them cry. They made me think of my dad who went home to be with Jesus only 6 months ago. I miss him very much, but am filled with joy knowing that he is with our Father in heaven. One of the highlights of April for me was getting to be special guests along with Julia via Skype for a volunteer lunch at the LCMS International Center. I always the opportunity to share about the work that I am doing in SA. I also got to travel to a new place..Empangeni in Richard’s Bay with our sewing instructor Gori. I am going places..woo! hoo! The creche also had it’s final inspection from the Dept. of Social Development. It went very well and we got some good feedback. Even so, it’s still a waiting game. It’s all in God’s hands.

(The children at the creche during playtime)

April showers bring May flowers....not in South Africa. The weather is getting cooler as winter approaches. We are looking forward to the first team of the year from Pittsburgh and New Jersey. The team will be installing rain catchment systems of two of the orphan project houses. This will enable them to use the water from the rain as we are still waiting for water to be connected to some of the houses from the local municipality. They will also build a chicken run. The chicken run will enable us to move forward with the chicken project. The hope is to use some of the eggs for the creche and to see others throughout the community. We will start with 15 chickens. It was wonderful serving side by side with them. Pastor Jamison Hardy led devotions at the creche and shared a message using John 3:16. Deaconess Jenny shared a lesson from 1 Kings about the prophets of Baal with about 40 kids that came to hangout at the center. Afterwards they had to write or draw about the ways God provides or shows Himself to them. I enjoy working with teams, it reminds me of my days going on short-term mission trips. Both projects were successfully completed and the team had a great time getting to know the children at the creche. The social workers from Christian Social Services received some funding that enabled them to have a 3 week course that would train and certify a person to be a security guard. Twenty youth from the orphan project and throughout the community enrolled. They were able to use the church. Julia, Pastor Thwala and I attended the graduation. They all did very well and had a new confidence after a job well done. We pray that God will provide jobs for them.

There may not have been many showers (we did have a little rain) but there were opportunities to share about the ministry in Ntshongweni. Julia and I video skyped with a school in Ohio. We got to answer question from the kindergarten class. They were so cute and asked good questions. I think my favorite was....” Is there a Mc Donald’s where I live?” Julia and I visited the town of Piet Retief with Pastor Thwala. It is where he grew up. We spent time with his family and heard lots of great stories about him as he was growing up. It was nice getting to see him with his family. During our time in Piet Retief we took a day trip to Swaziland. We visited Pastor Thwala’s family and they spent the day showing us around. It is a beautiful country. I am still amazed by the fact that Swaziland is it’s own country inside of South Africa. We finished our time in Piet Retief by attending a mission festival at the Lutheran church in Salaam. There were folks from Lutheran churches from the provinces in South Africa and also from Botswana. The body of Christ in action.

(Some of the team members with our chickens)

(In Piet Retief with Pastor Thwala and his family)

The moon in June....There was a total eclipse of the moon on June 15th and I totally missed it. How often does one get to see that, not very often at all. We had a very important meeting at the Hillcrest AIDS Center Trust with Gogo Cwengi. She has been instrumental in putting together support groups for grandmothers (gogos) and she works with 27 in the Valley of 1000 Hills. We told her about the support group that we have in Ntshongweni and she was going to join us for the upcoming meeting on June 27th. We were blessed to have the Harrison family from Jacksonville, Florida join us for week in Ntshongweni. They came with hearts, hands and feet ready to serve. It was a busy week but awesome at the same time. They helped out at the creche, helped to dig and pour the footings for an upcoming house build and we were able to visit many families. Thanks to donations from Bethlehem Lutheran church we were able to help provide food to some families in need. It was a blessing to be able to share God’s love with them and the smiles on their faces were priceless. One of the families that we visited is made up of 4 orphans who have been on their own since their mother passed away 2 years ago. As we talked with them and they shared that, I could feel the tears welling up.... it just broke my heart. The children are 19, 18, 16 and 12 years and the amazing thing is that they all go to school. The 16 year old plays soccer for the team at our Lutheran church. We will do all that we can to continue to help them.

We had a support group meeting on the 27th and Gogo Cwengi attended along with some friends that assist her with her groups. They were very pleased with all that has been going on in Ntshongweni. Gogo Cwengi shared with the ladies the importance of supporting each other and good health/keeping fit. She led them in a round of singing and dancing. What joy it brought to my heart to see the gogos dancing. The school winter holiday break will start on June 24th so Julia and I have been planning and preparing for VBS that will start on June 29th and end on July 14th. We have been asking for volunteers from the church and community and God blessed us far more than we could have imagined. At our planning meeting they very excited about it and came up with songs and activities for the kids. The topics for VBS will be the 10 commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer. We will use stories from the Bible to talk about our Triune God. VBS started with a bang on June 29th and there were 90 kids on day one. YAY!!!!! God is good!

(Gogo Cwengi and her friends visit Ntshongweni)

(Some of the kids from Day 1 of VBS)

A Look back at March in Ntshongweni...

2011-04-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

It was so great being back in the USA and spending time with family and friends and most importantly sharing about my ministry in South Africa. But the time came for me to return to South Africa. I arrived back on March 9th and was excited to be in Ntshongweni again. I missed my home in South Africa. It was an easy readjustment since I was staying in the same apartment and all of my stuff was there. It took a few days for the jet lag to wear off so that I could get back to work. Then it was full speed ahead. There was much to catch up on. The creche now had 80 children enrolled and at some point I would need to visit with the teachers to assess the needs of the creche. Pastor Thwala, Julia and I met to discuss two new orphan families that needed our help. In the first family, the children lost their mother only 3 weeks prior to our visit and they were now being cared for by their uncle. These 4 children are now living with 5 others in one house. The eldest boy has epilepsy and stays home, the other three are attending school. The only source of income is the disability grant that the eldest boy is receiving from the government. We were able to help them with some food and toiletries. Their greatest need is a home for the 4 children. The second family will be receiving a new home in July. A team is coming from the USA to build it. There are 3 orphaned girls who lost their mother to AIDS a few years ago. The youngest, age 3 is attending our creche. The caregiver is struggling to provide for them and the current house is falling apart. When we visited them and told her that they would be getting help with a new home she was so happy, I was almost in tears. She said that “God is looking after them.”

In addition to visits with these families we had meetings with the sewing teacher to get back on track with the sewing group, the social workers to schedule a time to start groups again and we visited some of the project families. During our visit many of the caregivers greeted us with hugs and told us that they were happy to have us back. It felt good to know that the relationships that we have developed remained strong. One of our big meetings was with the ECD (early childhood development) coordinator for the Department of Social Development. We wanted to follow up with him on the process for funding and to help us track the NPO (non-profit) certificate for the creche. He made some calls and it was returned to the office in Pretoria. He then informed us that the business plan for funding for 2011-2012 was due the next day. Yikes!!! So Julia, Pastor Thwala and I spent the day in his office filling in as much as we could. Julia and I stayed up until 3 am doing even more. The following day we had to open a bank account and get affidavits from the police department in addition to what seemed like a 101 other things. God blessed us with a few days extension. So we were able to finalize it and get it turned in. Now we wait and pray that we get funded.

The highlight of March for me was finding out that the soccer team has been doing so well. Last October the some of the boys came to Pastor Thwala and said that they wanted to form a team and they needed help with uniforms. Little did they know that their request would be granted. The team from Arizona brought uniforms for the boys. There are currently 3 teams: the under 13, under 15 and under 17 all coached by Sandile Mzobe, the lay pastor at the Ntshongweni Lutheran Church. A few weeks ago there was a tournament and the boys 15 and under made it to the finals and were the tournament champions. It was a very exciting game that went to penalty kicks. So far they have only lost two games. I asked two of the boys and the coach what the soccer team has meant to them:

Simphiwe Cele - Defender: “I have learned a lot from other people and and I am learning more about being a better soccer player.” He is currently in confirmation class.

Menzi Mzobe - Defender: “I have learned how to play with other people and have made new friends.” He is currently in confirmation class.

Sandile Mzobe - Coach: “The soccer team is very important. It keeps the boys out of trouble and keeps them fit. The boys are coming to church.”

There are only 8 teams in the soccer association in Ntshongweni and there are usually 15 teams in an association. Coach Mzobe hopes that in the future there will be more teams and that they can play some away games. The soccer team has been such a positive activity for the boys. You can see that the friendships are strong and most importantly they are attending church. God continues to pours His blessings on this ministry in Ntshongweni.

Thank you for your prayers, love, support and encouragement as I serve in Ntshongweni.

Salani kahle (stay well)

Love in Christ,

Shara

The kids at the creche are praying before lunch

I am having fun dancing with the kids.

Me and Nomonde... one of the orphans who will be receiving a new home

The Dludla family (Nana, gogo, Gugu, Nomusa & Nomonde): they will be receiving a new home

This is where the Dludla family currently lives

The soccer team after winning the tournament....smiles all around

Proudly receiving the trophy....we are the champions

I am standing with Simphiwe and Menzi... both defenders on the soccer team

A Dream Come True....a look back at October

2010-11-23T09:45:00.000-08:00

The Ntshongweni Center and Creche was the dream of Pastor Senzo Majola, the previous pastor of the orphan project. Before his passing in May of 2008, he dreamed of having a place near the church where the little ones could be cared for during the day and a center where the youth and young adults could attend workshops to learn new skills. Construction for the center began in August of 2008 with volunteers from the United States and South Africa.

As many people got involved with the project the dream got bigger. They worked very hard in the USA talking about the project, encouraging people to go to South Africa on teams and holding fundraisers to be able to support the project. The project also received support from partner churches in South Africa. The pastor and many of the youth and members of the congregation of the German Lutheran Church have participated in programs for the children in addition to helping with the orphans homes. The Indian Lutheran Church has donated food and clothing for the orphans.

In May of 2010 a team from Jacksonville put the finishing touches on the buildings. Julia, Pastor Thwala and I were very happy and we started using them for VBS and other programs. The kids enjoy coming to the center. It is a place where they can have fun, learn and be safe. The ladies from the sewing group were happy to have a new place to meet.

As we looked toward the future there was the task of getting the pre-school registered as a NPO (non-profit organization). Julia, Pastor Thwala and I prayed daily for guidance. God lay the path for us which took us to the Department of Social Development, then to the director of the pre-school association. With the help and support of many in the community things were coming together.

Friends from Phoenix, Arizona joined us the week of October 11th - 17th. They worked alongside partners from South Africa to finish the playground and to equip the creche so the buildings would be ready for the dedication. The floors were painted, decorative art painted on the walls of the creche, curtains were hung, they wanted everything to be perfect and so it was. They also had a very special surprise for the soccer team. The boys were gifted soccer uniforms and gear. The look on their faces were priceless as they received them. Their dream had come true.

The dream of a community center and creche has come true. The Ntshongweni center and creche were dedicated on October 17th by the bishop of the LCSA ( Lutheran Church in Southern Africa). There were over 300 people in attendance including guests from the USA, Pretoria, the community and throughout KwaZulu-Natal. It was amazing to see everyone and to be a part of the ceremony. On October 26th, the application for NPO status for the creche was approved and the creche opened on November 1st with 36 children. Thanks be to God.

Pastor Straueli joins Pastor Frank, Ken and John to finish the playground

Julia, Pastor Thwala and I with the team from Arizona

Kat is surrounded by new friends in the creche after painting the wall

Mrs. Zulu the cook, Hlengiwe the principal and I cook up a batch of food from Feed My Starving Children

The soccer team all dressed in their new gear that Ken brought. Don't they look good....

I am getting my face painted in preparation for church and the dedication

Julia and I with Ken and Pastor Frank. We are dressed in traditional Zulu attire.

With over 300 people in attendance, the church in Ntshongweni is packed.

Jim Wolf and Bob Funk unveil the plaque on the newly dedicated Ntshongweni center and creche.

Bishop Weber of the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa blesses the buildings.

The kids eating lunch on opening day of the Ntshongweni Creche.

Hlengiwe the principal teaching the kids.

Many prayers have been answered and God has been faithful. He has blessed us with more than we could have ever imagined. I continue to be thankful for the blessing of serving Him in Ntshongweni.

Yours in Christ (Owakho eNkosini)

Shara

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

A Look back at September

2010-10-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thanks be to God for the many blessings he has bestowed upon us. September has been a great month. We are very much in preparation mode to get the creche (pre-school) opened in November. In addition to that we had our third session of VBS but only for 4 days. One of the major things that we had to do was to spend time at a few of the local creches. This helped us to see how things operated on a day to day basis. Since this is all new territory, it really helped me get a good picture of what to do.

During my day at the Khulakahle (grow up well) Creche I decided to help out in the kitchen. It was fun but also quite hectic. There were about 200 kids to feed and I was on rice duty.

I had the privilege of observing and assisting in the Grade R (kindergarten) class. The kids were very excited to have me there and asked lots of questions. They also enjoyed posing for the camera.

Getting to take pictures like this is part of what makes me love serving in Ntshongweni. This is one of the students from the Isiduduzo (to comfort) Creche.

I am standing with the principal (Thuleleni) and former principal ( Gloria) of the Isiduduzo Creche. Also pictured is Hlengiwe, she will be the principal of the Ntshongweni Creche. I spent the day observing and learning a lot from the ladies. They have been a great resource for me.

This is the 3-4 year old class at the Isidudzi Creche. They welcomed me with open arms. I really enjoyed my time with them.

The caregiver support group is coming together nicely. Julia, me and the social workers from the Christian Social Services have formed a great team. The ladies are beginning to support each other. During the last meeting they decided on a name for the group. It is called “ Tholokahle” meaning, we have found a good thing.

We had our third session of VBS. I am happy to say that we were blessed with 70 to 80 kids daily and with lots of new faces. In this picture the kids are starting the morning with a few songs and prayers before breaking into their groups.

This is the 2-7 year old group led by Rejoice. She will be one of the teachers for our creche. She worked alongside the other two teachers and they will be a good team. The ladies taught the lessons and my part was simple, I helped with the crafts. A far cry from the first time that we did VBS when I had to do much more. I am glad they were there and the kids enjoyed their time at VBS.

This is the 8-15 year old group led by Hlengiwe. She will be the principal at the creche. She taught the kids about the seasons and nature so for their craft they did leaf painting.

The kids in the community came together to do a fundraiser to celebrate Heritage Day. In this picture they are practicing one of the Zulu dances that they will perform.

My supervisor Cindy Rodewald and her son Jacob (in the orange t-shirt) came down from Pretoria to spend a few days with Julia and I. They joined us at VBS and helped out with the kids. The boys really liked having Jacob around.

Cindy is helping Mrs. Maduna (one of the teachers) trace some fish shapes for the craft of the day. Since we don’t have a copy machine, we had to make copies the old fashioned way by tracing.

Cindy and Pastor Thwala are spending time catching up.

Julia, Cindy and I are watching the girls take part in a friendly dance competition in preparation for their Heritage Day performance. It was so much fun and they can dance very well.

This was taken on the last day of VBS. The kids are standing with the craft that they made after hearing the story of Joseph.

They are great kids and it is such a joy to spend time with them.

Thank you all for your continued love, support and prayers. Please pray for the children as they are back in school.

Love in Christ,

Shara

A Look back at August

2010-09-17T02:31:00.001-07:00

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

August was a bit of a hectic month with trying to get the NPO (non-proﬁt organization) application for the creche ﬁnished and submitted. We have been working hand in hand with the folks at the local Department of Social Development. I was able to submit the application during my time in Pretoria. One of the highlights of the month was the visit that we received from Mrs. Nokuthula Zulu, the director of the pre-school associations. Once the creche is operational, we will have to be associated with them. She was very pleased with the buildings (both the creche and center) and the playground.

*Pastor Thwala, Mrs. Zulu, Shara, Gloria & Hlengiwe (principal of the creche)*

*I am standing with Eldah and Primrose from CSS*

In collaboration with the social workers from the Christian Social Services (CSS) we have planned to start doing workshops/support groups with the caregivers both from the orphan project and throughout the community. We had the first caregiver support group and it was a success with 31 caregivers attending. Julia, myself and the social workers were filled with joy to see them. The session started with an ice-breaker that talked about the importance of communication and how we are all connected. The group decided on the topics for future meetings. They include parenting skills, budgeting and issues affecting the children. For the second meeting the social workers talked about how to become a foster parent. The ladies have been very excited about the group thus far.

*The caregivers during the ice-breaker*

*I am standing outside of the Dept. of Social Development in Pretoria*

*I am presenting my Bible study to the ladies, part of the deaconess course*

*The deaconess class*

Julia and I were invited to the deaconess course at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Pretoria. We were part of a class of 9 ladies. The women came from South Africa, Botswana and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Deaconess Grace Rao from LCMS World Relief and Human Care was the instructor. A deaconess is a servant of the Lord who teaches the faith through Bible study and catechism, does spiritual care by means of counseling, visitation and mentoring and performs acts of mercy by working with the youth, orphanages and even battered women.This course was a great opportunity for me to continue learning.

*Me and Mama Sheila (from Botswana)*

Since the course was held at the seminary, I had the opportunity to get to know many of the seminarians who have come from all across Africa (Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda) to study. One of the fun parts of the day was getting to play volleyball and just talking to them about life in their countries. It is such a blessing to be in fellowship with the body of Christ.

*I am standing with Minka (Germany), Noxy (South Africa) and Julia*

PartyLite Fundraiser

2010-09-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

In an effort to continue raising support for my service in South Africa I will be participating in the PartyLite Fundraising Program. How the program works is that I will receive 50% of the total sales. Those funds will go toward my ﬁnancial support for my term of service. I will be working with my dear friend and PartyLite consultant Virginia Handrich. To receive the brochure, email me at shara004@gmail.com. Please consider supporting me. Check out PartyLite at www.partylite.biz/vhandrich

Sala kahle (stay well)

Yours in Christ,

-Shara-

VBS Round 2

2010-07-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

Since the schools were on holiday for the world cup, Julia and I planned another round of VBS. We asked for volunteers from the church and school to help us. The teachers were excited the we had something for the kids to do. The overall theme was the trinity and we used Bible stories to answer the question who is God, follow the life of Jesus and talk about the Holy Spirit. The volunteers picked out the stories and planned the lessons and Julia and I supported them by putting together crafts and supplying the resources for them. We were also there to assist them.

Julia and I didnʼt know what to expect. We prayed that the kids would come and that they would enjoy what we had planned for them. On the ﬁrst day we had 70 kids and day 2 we had 100 kids. WOW!!!! As the weeks went on we average about 60 kids per day. We were very happy to have such a great turn out. The day was suppose to start at 9:30am but when Julia and I arrived at 8:00am there were always kids there waiting to play. The kids ranged in age from 2 yrs to 14 yrs. We broke them into two groups.... ages 2-7 and ages 8-14. I was brave enough to take on the older group. The day started by gathering the kids together for singing and prayer, then we split the groups, the Bible story and lesson, craft time, snack time, play time or movie then a ﬁnal prayer before leaving. Some of the older boys always stayed behind to play soccer or to help us lock up.

We were blessed to have volunteers from the German Lutheran Church. The pastor, the vicar and some of the youth came on twice to lend a hand. One of our colleagues from Pretoria spent 3 days with us and a good friend who is a Mormon came out to see what we were doing on one of the days. One of the pastors from the seminary was with us as well and he taught the kids a worship song in English. I had the opportunity to teach many of the lessons. The volunteer who initially did it had to take some time off for medical reasons. So with the help of my dear friend Ntokozo, who translated for me, I was able to pull it off. We did stories like the Good Samaritan, David and Goliath and the life and Miracles of Jesus. The kids even acted out the stories and did a great job at it. One of the things that I did was to give ten spelling words in English from each of the stories we did and rewarded those that got 10 out of 10 with sweets. I also found word ﬁnds for them to do focused on each of the stories. The kids got into groups of 4 and they loved...loved...loved doing the word ﬁnds. On one of days we went through the

Salvation Story and then made the bracelet. That day my Mormon friend came to volunteer and he was great with helping the kids put the bracelets together and even made one for himself. He also spent time with the boys playing soccer and getting to know them.

It was an amazing 3 weeks and I feel more connected to the kids. One of my boys, Nhalhla invited me to come and see his home and I am looking forward to the visit. Another of my boys, Mlondi said that I needed a Zulu name and so called me Shaka after the great King Shaka of the Zulus. God blessed us with wonderful volunteers and children. We look forward to planning another round of VBS for the next school holiday.

Pastor Eboro from the seminary spends quality time with one of the kids

Sanele the student becomes the teacher and shows Nhlanhla and his friend the rules of chess

The kids with the lions they made from the Daniel and the Lions Den lesson

Me and my boys after a soccer game. They let me play and showed me a thing or two

Shara, Coral and Julia on the last day of VBS...

Sewing in the new center

2010-06-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

The sewing project continues and the ladies are happy to be in the new community center. Even though the class was small today the room was filled with the excitement of being in a new place. We started the class with a prayer and the ladies set up their machines and were ready to sew. The task for today was to make a cosmetic purse. It may sound easy but there was a zipper involved and they are not that easy to put on. As usual there were a few mishaps with needles breaking and needing to be replaced, the bobbins not being wound tightly enough and having to unpick the zipper because it was not sewn on properly. After all was said and done the ladies surprised me with some lovely cosmetic purses and they were very proud of their work and so was I. They will continue to make the cosmetic purses and other items in hopes of generating an income for themselves. Please keep these wonderful ladies in your prayers.

The ladies hard at work

The ladies standing with the finished products (Daphne, Bongi, Sbongile, Zama & Phatheleni)

Team Jacksonville... you were awesome!!!

2010-05-31T10:18:00.000-07:00

Team Jacksonville worked very hard for the remainder of the week to get all the painting finished on the inside of the creche. They were also able to finish installing the Sonke. The Sonke is a developmental playground with a series of tires and a balance beam. In the afternoons they continued to interact with the children and help with the lessons on the USA and South Africa. It warmed my heart to see the team members hugging the children. Scott tried to teach them American football and he had a blast. Pastor Kaster could be seen with kids climbing all over him. Stella and Virginia jumped in and ran the craft table. Bill was the master builder helping the little ones with the blocks.

On Thursday the team visited the Ntshongweni Primary School. Upon arrival we were greeted by 100's of smiling faces. The school choir sang for us and we returned the favor by singing our national anthem. We didn't sound too bad and received a round of applause. We were able to visit the first and second grade classrooms and the children were very excited to have us. I had a few moments of fun dancing with the kids. It feels good to hear the kids calling out "hello Shara" as I walk past their classrooms. After the school visit, some of the team members walked back to the center with Pastor Thwala, Julia and myself. They were able to see more of the community.

Friday came quickly and we started the day at the Hillcrest AIDS Center Trust. We wanted the team to see some of the programs that have been successful. The staff has been very gracious to share their ideas with us. Following the visit to the center the team wanted to get South Africa soccer jerseys since it was indeed "soccer jersey Friday." All over the country people wear their soccer jerseys in support of the World Cup and to support the South African team. I thought that it was very cool of them to take part in it. That afternoon we talked about South Africa and the kids sang and did a bit of Zulu dancing for the team. Stella and Karen did a bit of dancing and showed the kids how to do the "Hokey Pokey." The Sonke and tire tower were finished and it was great to see the kids playing on them. In the final moments we were able to get the team and all the kids together for a picture. As the team walked to the church the kids were very sad to see them go.

Team Jacksonville, thank you for all of your hard work and for the love that you shared with the children. God's blessings to you. Please keep the children of Ntshongweni in your prayers.

Bill helps the kids build the great wall of China

Stan and Scott painting the tires for the Sonke

Stella and Virginia help the kids paint their prayer rocks

Pastor Thwala, Pastor Kaster & Bill work on the tire tower

The team stands with the staff and choir of the Ntshongweni Primary School

Julia, Bill & Pastor Thwala painting the tire tower... it's looking good

Pastor Kaster takes a break to play with the kids... "High five"

Scott shows Spha his wrestling moves

Stan & Karen did a great job with the landscaping

The kids having a blast on the new playground...woo hoo!!

The tire tower was fun for these girls

Bill is showing his support by getting the South African flag painted on his face

Pastor Kaster with his buddy Sifiso on his shoulders

The team and the kids waving good-bye.....

Day 2 & 3 for team Jacksonville

2010-05-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

Virginia sits with some of the kids.

Scott pushing the kids in a wheelbarrow.

Things have been going great with the team. They have been working very hard at painting the creche and the playground is coming together. One of the fun things that we are doing in the afternoons with the kids is talking about different countries. The kids have passports where they put a picture of the country's flag and write notes as we talk about things from the country. They are really enjoying it. Day 2 we featured China and day 3 the USA. Julia and I sang a fairly good version of "Take me out to the ballgame." Scott sat with some of the kids who were there for the first time to help them fill in their passports for Mexico (day 1). The week has been going well and the team is getting more attached to the kids. Keep up the great work team Jacksonville.

Team USA

2010-05-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

The first team for 2010 arrived on Saturday night. They come from Celebration Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Of the 8 team members, 3 have been here before and worked on the community center & creche (daycare) in the early stages, the other 5 are first-timers. It was great to hear the thoughts from the 3 that were back for a second time. Virginia commented that the kitchen gave them a bit of trouble and that they worked hard in certain corners in the center. As a ritual, Virginia asked Bill to do the first roller of paint on the interior of the creche.

The team attended church in Ntshongweni on Sunday and was able to see 3 ladies being confirmed, 3 children being baptized and a new member added to the family in Ntshongweni. The team presented a beautiful chalice to the congregation of the Ntshongweni Lutheran Church. The team leader Bill Magill read a message in Zulu on behalf of their congregation. I along with the congregation was very impressed. After the service there was wonderful fellowship. It is so amazing to see brothers and sisters in Christ loving each other as Christ asked us to.

Day 1.....There was painting to be done, a playground to construct, mini creche in the morning and VBS/After-school session in the afternoon. Whew! Sounds like a full day and indeed it was. The ladies took on the task of painting the interior of the creche while the men started laying the foundation for the playground. I had the task of playing with the younger children. They are such a joy. For part of the after-school session we are highlighting different countries since the World Cup is only 17 days away. Today we talked about Mexico. Since South Africa plays Mexico in the first game, it was a great introduction. We had passports for the children where they can put flags from the different countries and write fun facts. For the craft we made maracas from paper plates and macaroni. They really enjoyed that. Afterwards they flocked to the soccer field. The kids are very happy to have a safe place to play and it definitely showed.

Overall I give day 1 two thumbs up. The team worked hard and got to spend some quality time with the children. I feel safe in saying they will be good friends with many of the kids by the end of the week. Team Jacksonville.... YOU ROCK!!!!! Thank you for the awesome job today. Looking forward to tomorrow.

The days are going by....

2010-04-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

It seems like lately the days have been flying by. I barely blinked and April is almost over. It feels like I've been here for years now and in actuality the end of April will be the 9 month mark. The end of March through the first 2 weeks of April was very busy with VBS. It was a first for Ntshongweni and the kids were amazing and lots of fun. Because of the VBS the children are now very familiar with me and my ministry partner Julia. Just yesterday some of the kids were on their way home from school and as they saw Julia and I, called out our names to say hello and give us hugs. What a good feeling to know that we are becoming part of the community.

Last week we visited all of the project families to finalize introducing Julia and to check on any needs and he general well being of the families. They welcomed Julia with open arms and they very impressed with my limited use of Zulu when I said hello. On the Saturday following the visit we went back to show some visitors from the USA life in Ntshongweni. The children were playing, ladies were braiding hair, the youth were playing music. Julia and I joined in with a group of young ladies who were dancing. They were impressed and so was I. It feels good to know that we are part of their lives now.

This week we visited all of the schools in Ntshongweni to schedule visits with the teachers of the orphans. We would like to know about how they are doing in school and try to be of help if there are issues. We also did a follow-up visit to the clinic. There is a group of ladies who do support and outreach in the community for those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. We expressed our interest in attending the meetings and being a part of the group. Pastor Thwala will be able to provide spiritual support. The nurse that we talked to was very happy to hear that. We were also informed of a workshop on "How to Live a Healthy Lifestyle" that will be hosted by the teachers, social workers, police and members of the municipality. We will be attending.

The next few months will be packed with activities. We are scheduled at all of the schools, we will start planning for VBS for the school holiday in June & July, the community center and creche (daycare center) will be completed the end of April so we need to get those registered and operational. Hopefully somewhere between all of that we will be able to enjoy some of the activities of the World Cup.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Soccer Fever!!!

2010-04-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

Went to a soccer game at the new Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. It is spectacular. As we arrived there was a sea of black and gold for the Kaiser Chiefs and black, white and red for the Orlando Pirates. There has been a long rivalry between these teams with most of the games ending 0-0. One of the most amazing things about the game are the Vuvuzelas. They are made of plastic and look like elongated trumpets without the keys. When 20,000 plus are blown at the same time....man it's crazy. The fans were jumping up and down and many were in elaborate outfits in support of their teams. The game was quite exciting and went into overtime without either team scoring. It came down to penalty kicks where the Chiefs won 3-0. Soccer fever is in the air as South Africa gets ready for the World Cup.

Happy Easter!!

2010-04-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

Christ our Lord is risen today. Alleluia!!! I have celebrated another first. This is my first Easter away from home. It was a wonderful day. I went to church in Ntshongweni to start the day. After church I went to a friend's house for a braai with his family. It was a lovely afternoon filled with laughter. We did something really cool in the evening. There is a group that meets at a nature conservation to look for chameleons. So we joined them. Even though it was raining we saw 4 chameleons. I heard that up to 45 have been spotted in the area. They are quite amazing and were a bit hard to see since they were green like the leaves. We used flashlights to look for them. Never thought that I would do such a thing. I did have fun and hope to do it again when it's sunny.

www.why-did-I-have-problems-with-my-internet.com

2010-03-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up and Julia says..."I think that our internet is out." Unfortunately, we don't have unlimited internet access here. It's a bit expensive. So I only get 3GB per month. I don't even know how much that is in internet language. I went online as I usually do to top up with another 1GB. After trying several times I could not for the life of me get on. I had to do the unthinkable.....call tech support. After being on hold for what seemed like a lifetime, the person gave me another www.page to try. Woo! Hoo!..... NOT! After filling out all of the information to top up, I got a RESTRICTED CARD error message. So I tried again, same message. Changed cards, had Julia try her card and still the same message. So, yes I had to call tech support again. This time it didn't take too long to get someone. I explained the problem and he says, "Please hold while I check to see what the problem is." Finally he comes back and says, "Unfortunately the system is down so I will give you an 800 number to call and they can help you." Arrrrgghh!!! Why is this happening, am I in the twilight zone?

I call the 800 number at 7:30am and get the message, "the office is currently closed, please call back at 8:00am." Didn't have too long to wait, so I listened to Michael Jackson songs to pass the time. I called back at 8:00, 8:01 and got the office is currently closed message. I let a few minutes pass and called at 8:05. It finally rang and yes, I had to wait. About 10 minutes later, a lady answered, I explained the problem, and she says, "Unfortunately our system is down, please call back at 9:00am." By that time, Julia and I decided to head out since we had to do some shopping before heading to Ntshongweni.

We got back home around 5:00pm and I decided to try one last time to get internet access. I called the 800 number and was told that my wait time was going to be 20 minutes. Yikes!!! So I waited, and waited, and waited. Finally I get someone and he said that I can help you, but I have to give you a temporary username and password and then you have to reset the modem. At this point I said, sure and he walked me through the process. After all is said and done, I have internet access again. Oh, the "simple" pleasures of life.

The Body of Christ....

2010-03-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

As I reflect on the events of today and try to find the words to share it with you, these words come to mind. "And they'll know we are Christians by our love by our love, Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love." (Jars of Clay) Those words sum up the awesome experience I had this morning. Julia and I accompanied Pastor Thwala, members of the Ntshongweni Lutheran church, the Roman Catholic church and the Ethopian Holy Church of Zion to visit 74 year old Gogo Ndlovu. She resides in Ntshongweni but due to illness she is currently living with her daughter in the rural community of KwaNyuswa. Pastor Thwala visited Gogo Ndlovu to give her Holy Communion.

As we arrived and began greeting Gogo Ndlovu, tears of joy ran down her face to see us there. It made my heart smile especially when Gogo Jali, Dube and Mhkize embraced her. We sat down and started singing. Even thought I am still struggling with learning Zulu, I was able to sing the songs. Pastor Thwala gave a wonderful sermon using John 4:10-15 as the text, then we all received Holy Communion. It was a wonderful feeling worshipping together as the Body of Christ. One of the most amazing things about being here in South Africa is getting to worship with Christians from different cultures.

After the service we spent some time in fellowship and Gogo Ndlovu was very happy. The other gogos sat with her and continued to talk while Julia and I spent time getting to know the ladies from the church in Ntshongweni a little better. It soon came time to leave and we all hugged Gogo Ndlovu and sang as we walked out. As we walked back to the taxi Gogo Jali said to me ngiyakuthando ( I love you in Zulu ). It amazing how your presence can touch the lives of others. It was a wonderful way to start my day.

"And they'll know we are Christians by our love by our love, Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love"

Sew, sew, sew....

2010-03-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday I taught the sewing class with help from Julia. On Monday we went to Gori's shop (she is the lady that usually teaches the class) for a lesson. She had to prepare for a craft show this week and so Julia and I were up for the challenge of teaching class. Our task was to sew small purses which included putting on a zipper. Yikes!!!! What was I thinking. Not the sort of thing I learned in home economics ages ago.

Wednesday arrived and we had the room set up with the machines and all the sewing notions. The ladies arrived and were very excited when I showed them what they would be making this lesson. They choose their patterns, pinned the zippers in place and were ready to sew, sew, sew. What a rocky start it was. My mind went blank and I could not remember how to get started. What side of the material was supposed to face up, was the zipper supposed to be face down? Help!!! So I picked up the phone and called Gori for a quick reminder. At this point I was so mad at myself for not being able to remember. I apologized to the ladies and asked for their patience. This was not going to defeat me. I reminded Constance (one of the ladies in the class) that she forgot to pray and so we stopped what we were doing and she led us in prayer. After that it all came back to me and we went full speed ahead. We had so much fun and the ladies were all pleased with their purses. Whew!!!! I'm glad that it all turned out well in the end.

Alone no more......

2010-03-01T06:35:00.000-08:00

The new missionary Julia Wehrenberg arrived in South Africa on January 27th from Illinois. I had been looking forward to her arrival with joy. Finally, I would be alone no more. It will be great having someone to talk to rather than talking to myself (I really don't talk to myself). She spent part of February in Middleburg getting an introduction to the Zulu language and culture. I joined here in Midlleburg during her last week there getting to know a little about her. Julia will be here for 1 year so I have time to know her better. We had the opportunity to be on the radio where we were able to share about the work we will be doing in South Africa, why we felt called and shared our love for Christ. It was a good experience. We headed back to Pretoria where we stayed with the Rodewald family before heading down to Durban. I have spent the past few days helping to get Julia settled and showing her around Hillcrest and Pinetown. We attended church in Ntshongweni on Sunday and today she was able to meet some of the families. I am glad to have Julia here and look forward to serving with her.

Happy Birthday!!!!

2010-02-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me!!!! Wow, I can't believe that I am celebrating my birthday in South Africa. Not something that I would have ever imagined. In the weeks leading up to my birthday I was a little sad because I didn't know how the day was going to be. Usually I celebrate with my friends. We go to dinner and have a grand time. A very good friend said to me, "how awesome it is to celebrate your birthday in the mission field by serving God." That gave me a new perspective on things. Even though my family and friends were not here, I knew that God would make my day special. It was a very happy birthday indeed. A very dear friend had a birthday breakfast in my honor and I was deeply touched by her kindness. In the afternoon I went for tea and cake with another friend. Thanks to Facebook and email, I received birthday wishes from family and friends. I was truly blessed today.

Check mate......

2010-01-28T08:54:00.000-08:00

In an effort to broaden the minds of students, the first chess class was given at the Charles Memorial Primary School. Mr. Mdu Msoni taught the basics of chess to 12 students and 6 of their teachers. The students come from grades 5 through 7 and they were all very eager to learn. They listened and looked attentively along with their teacher as Mr. Msoni showed then the various elements involved. They repeated enthusiastically the different pieces, "rook, bishop, knight, queen." It was very exciting to be there with them. By the end of the class they were able to set up the chess board, identify all the pieces and move them around the board. I asked the students if they enjoyed the lesson and they all said with smiles a very big "yes". I wonder what will be on their minds tonight.

In addition to Charles Memorial Primary School, chess will be introduced to La Lelani and the Ntshongweni Primary Schools. It think that this will be wonderful for the students as it will allow their minds to think in a new way and have some fun at the same time. Keep the students and Mr. Msoni in your prayers.

Zama's story

2010-01-20T07:18:00.000-08:00

This past Friday Pastor Thwala found out about a young girl who is orphaned. Her name is Zama. One of the ladies in the sewing class brought it to his attention. So he asked Zama to come to the church to meet him and so that he could hear her story. At a young age she was given away to a lady who lived in Ntshongweni. Her mother did it because she was heavily into drugs and alcohol and she does not know who her father is. Zama grew up in Ntshongweni in the home of the lady she was given to and was verbally abused by the family. The lady who she was given to recently died and she went to live with a family member of that lady. The verbal abuse has continued in this new household. Zama is 17 years old and in grade 10 and has a baby. The father of the child matriculated last year and has moved to Johannesburg. When he asked if there was a way to find any family members she said that she did not know any of them and heard that her mother had passed away sometime ago. I met her at church on Sunday and she is very humble young lady.

Please keep Zama in your prayers.

School supplies.....

2010-01-14T10:02:00.000-08:00

I want to send a big "THANK YOU" to all the teams that brought school supplies last year. I was able to give them to the children to help in getting them back to school. It's funny how sometimes we take things for granted. This afternoon as I was on my way to the homes I saw children coming from school and it made me sad to see that instead of a school bag all some of them had was a plastic bag and they were carrying their pencils and other things in their hand. I also saw a small boy, probably about 5 or 6 years old just crying his eyes out. I asked someone to find out what was wrong and someone stole his shoes at school so he had to walk home barefoot. It is only the second day of school.

Please keep the children in your prayers.

Happy New Year...... back to school

2010-01-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! The year has started off with a bang for me and I am ready to dig my heels in. Last week Pastor Thwala and I spent a few days meeting with the orphan families to get school information for the children. There are 92 children that will be going back to school on Wednesday. Today Pastor Thwala and I met with the caregivers in Pinetown to go shopping for school uniforms. I thought that it would go by quickly since folks would have already done all of their shopping. Not!!!!! The store was packed and it was sheer madness with folks grabbing pants, shoes, skirts, backpacks. After a long 6 hours we got most of what we needed to get the children off to a good start.

Please keep the children in your prayers as they head back to school. Pray for a good year for them and that they will get good marks. I ask this because the recent matric results across the country were not very positive. There were 18 schools that had a zero percent pass rate and across the country the pass rate was very low. Education is key to their future.

Christmas Eve...

2009-12-24T09:15:00.000-08:00

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room

The words of this song are in my heart and mind as I sit alone on Christmas Eve. Christmas time is indeed a joyful time because of the gift of Jesus to mankind. May each of our hearts prepare room for Jesus since he was sent to us out of love and to reconcile us to God the Father. I am thankful for Jesus since this year I am away from my family and friends. Today I am filled with joy and sadness. Joyful because I am blessed to be here in answer to God's call to serve him in South Africa and sad to be away from home. I don't feel alone because Jesus is with me and that makes me happy.

Christmas time in South Africa has been very different. There is no winter wonderland filled with snow. Instead it is summer time, so everyone is on holiday and people are having fun at the beach. There are Christmas trees in the malls and stores but there aren't very many lights. In Phoenix and around the U.S. there are towns decorated like Christmas villages, zoos are covered in lights and I miss that. I love Christmas songs and I used to listen to the radio everyday to hear them. There haven't been many songs on the radio, so I am glad for iTunes. There was no Charlie Brown Christmas, or the Christmas Story with Ralphie shooting his eye out. I did see the Grinch that Stole Christmas today. I am thankful for all of the blessings and it will be a good Christmas because of Jesus.

To my family and friends a blessed Christmas to you.

Invictus

2009-12-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

I saw the movie "Invictus" today and in my opinion it was a very powerful story. Of course the critics can always have something negative to say. I highly recommend seeing it. The angle that Clint Eastwood took and the story that it told was perfect. Nelson Mandela after being released from prison after 26 yrs became president of South Africa. Now as the leader of a country divided he looked to the captain of a rugby team to unite the nation. Many opposed him, but he did what was necessary and he saw his country come together. In spite of the evils of apartheid which kept him imprisoned for so long, he approached his presidency with a forgiving heart. The message that I got was that if we seek vengeance against those who harm us them we are no better than they are. Instead we should forgive.

The movie got it's title from the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley. The word Invictus comes from the latin word meaning unconquerable. Nelson Mandela first discovered this poem when he was locked in a very small cell during his time on Robbin Island. In the movie he said that it gave him the strength to stand when all he wanted to do was fall. Mandela shared this poem with the captain of the rugby team, Francois Pineaar before the start of the world cup where 43 million South Africans stood in support of their team the Spring Boks. I share this poem with you.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate

I am the captain of my soul.

World AIDS Day.....

2009-12-01T04:52:00.000-08:00

Today is World AIDS Day and all over the world people are showing their support by wearing RED ribbons. I don't know if any of you have lost a friend or a loved one to AIDS. I lost my Uncle David to AIDS many years ago. I didn't understand the far reaching effects that the disease would have. I happened at a time in the U.S.A. when people thought it was only the homosexuals who got it. But HIV/AIDS is much more than that. It knows no boundaries affecting people of all ages, gender and nationalities. It is crippling our world.

In 2008 there were 22.4 million people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, more than two thirds of world's total. In South Africa there were an estimated 5.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS, more than any other country and there are 1.4 million AIDS orphans. I am in a country surrounded by people who are living with HIV and many don't even know it. On this day South Africa's message is three-fold: (1) I am responsible - calling on everyone to know their HIV status, (2) We are responsible - encouraging couples to protect each other and remaining faithful and (3) South Africa is taking responsibility - the government is providing leadership to ensure that every South African can prevent HIV.

So today on World AIDS Day, I first ask that you pray for all of those infected and affected and for God's healing and peace. Go for a HIV test, wear a RED ribbon to show your personal commitment to stopping new HIV infections and to support people living with HIV, talk to family, friends and co-workers about what they can do to stop the spread of HIV and be educated on how to prevent HIV, how to manage it and how to help others cope with it.

Thanksgiving Day

2009-11-26T02:17:00.000-08:00

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because he's given Jesus Christ, His Son.....(by Don Moen)

As Thanksgiving Day approached those words keep coming to mind. For the first time I am away from family and friends on Thanksgiving Day. I wondered how I was going to spend the day, would I be alone, would I have turkey, will it be a sad day for me. But God is good and gracious. I will be spending the day with two American missionary families in Pretoria and we will have a traditional Thanksgiving Day. I am very happy for such a wonderful blessing. So today I give thanks to God for the many blessings he has bestowed upon me and for the opportunity to serve Him in South Africa. I give thanks for my family and friends and for all of their love and support, I miss you all very much. I also give thanks for the new friends that I have made here in South Africa and for the families I will be with today.

All praise glory and honor to you my Father in heaven always and forever.

I read a devotion yesterday that was titled "True Thanksgiving". It talked about a man named Horatio Spafford who lost everything including his family and rather than be angry he gave thanks for all that he had left and he wrote the song "It is Well With My Soul." I leave you with this verse and the words to this song..... "Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!!!

Needles, thread & bobbins.....

2009-11-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

When the team from Phoenix was here a few weeks ago, they gave sewing classes to the ladies in the community. There were about 16 that attended. For the majority of them it was the first time that they used a sewing machine. Linda Funk and Norma aka gogo worked everyday with them. By week's end the ladies had made small bags, aprons and lampshades.

On Wednesday sewing classes resumed. A local lady named Gori will be working with the ladies in the coming months to get their sewing skills refined. There were 12 ladies in the class. Some were new and the others had attended with Linda and gogo. Gori along with Thandeka, a young lady from the community that has a sewing certificate instructed the ladies on how to thread the machines, fill the bobbins and the basics of sewing. By the end of the day they all learned how to make a book cover.

Since some of the ladies were new and still a bit nervous when using the machines so Thandeka and I had a follow up class on Friday. This time when making the book covers they used batting and did a design in the material. They turned out really well. There is a gogo named Regina who is determined to be tops in the class and considering that her vision is not the best, she is leading the way. I had not touched a sewing machine in years, so I had to search my memory banks to remember how to thread the machine, etc. Luckily Thandeka was there. By the end of the day there were needles, thread and bobbins all over the tables as we cleaned up.

It was a wonderful week and the ladies were very excited. Gori was very pleased with how it all turned out. Keep the ladies in your prayers as they progress with their sewing.

Pretoria in Springtime.....

2009-11-01T11:17:00.000-08:00

I spent last week in Pretoria and it was wonderful. It was a time to debrief with my supervisor Cindy about how I feel about being here, if I'm adjusting, what challenges I may have, that sort of thing. We talked for a long time about lots of things and it is great to know that I have her support and her friendship. I also got some well needed R & R and caught up on some work.

Now the great thing about Pretoria especially in Springtime are the Jakarander trees. The streets are lined with them and they have beautiful purple flowers. Just looking down the streets all you can see are rows and rows of purple. Absolutely amazing! There are Jakaranders in Hillcrest, but they are scattered here and there. I got to spend time with one of the other missionaries as well. It was a good trip. I got back to Hillcrest Saturday afternoon. Yes, Saturday was Halloween. It's not that big of a thing here in South Africa like it is in the U.S. I pray that everyone had a safe time trick-or-treating. Have a few pieces of candy for me.

A day to relax....

2009-10-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

Today I had the opportunity to relax and get caught up on emails and downloading pictures, updating software, you name it. All the things that I couldn't do because I didn't have internet access at home. It is so amazing to finally have it. Oh the simple pleasures of life.

It was a bit overcast and I sat in the living room looking out the window at the hills with a light mist falling, God spoke to me. I heard what has become a very important scripture in my life. Pastor Arnie used it as he blessed me during my installation. It reads...I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth - Psalm 121:1-2 It fit the mood as I spent some time with God during my morning devotion. Days like this are so important. God knew that I needed it and like always his timing is always perfect.

Home away from home...

2009-10-20T11:12:00.002-07:00

Last week the team from Phoenix arrived and it was nice to greet them all at the airport. There were many familiar faces and some new ones. They came just at the right time, as I continue to get settled here in South Africa I was surrounded by a reminder of home. On Sunday I was installed as a missionary to Ntshongweni by Pastor Arnie and I was surrounded by the team and Pastor Thwala, Pastor Erickson, Pastor Arnie, Pastor Schroder and Pastor Thompson. I was filled with so much joy and I knew that God was there, I could feel it. Afterwards there was fellowship with folks from the community, Phoenix Lutheran Church, Westville Lutheran Church and many friends that were made from previous trips. What an amazing day, I will never forget it.

The week was filled with many things. Finishing Margaret's house was top priority. The team brought sewing machines and Linda F. and Norma taught sewing to about 16 of the ladies in the community. They were thrilled and enjoyed making aprons, lamp shades and bags. Some of the ladies held pre-school in the Center of Compassion. On Monday there were only a few children but by Friday many came and it was bustling with activity. It gave a great snapshot of what the creche (nursery school) will look like once it is opened. Heidi and Lisa did a wonderful job adding special touches to the Center of Compassion. Pastor Thwala asked if they could paint a scripture on the wall and he chose "God is Love." Carpentry tools were purchased to help teach the men in the community. The week went by quickly and on Friday the house was dedicated to Margaret and she was presented a Bible that the team signed. Unfortunately the house was not finished, all it needs is the roof and that should be completed this week. So Margaret will have a moving day very soon.

The weekend came and the team headed to the Victoria Street Market for some quick shopping before heading up to St. Lucia. When we arrived in St. Lucia our first event was a boat trip on the estuary where we saw birds and lots of hippos. It was amazing how many they were and they were quite playful, so we got lots of great photos. The next day we headed to the first game reserve founded in the 1800's. We has a 6.5hr game drive ahead of us and we were all excited to see the animals. So what did we see....hmmmmm We saw elephants, zebra, giraffe, impala, nyala, wildebeest, warthog, cape buffalo, rhino. Unfortunately we did not see the lion or leopard. Maybe next time. It was a wonderful week and it was hard to say good-bye to the team. I know that God called me here to South Africa to do his work and to be his hands and feet. So that is where my focus must be. God will give me all that I need and I will continue to trust him.

To my family and friends I love you and miss you. Thank you for the prayers.

Sala kahle

Getting settled....

2009-10-01T03:25:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I have been here for a little over 2 months now. I suppose it's okay to say that South Africa is my home for the next 2 years. I don't feel separated from my family and friends due to being able to email them and text them. Once I get al settled in my apartment and hooked up with the internet I can Skype. The wonders of technology and how it keeps people together when they are mile apart.

It was great meeting the team from PA during their time here building a house for Margaret. I know that she is very happy. I am expecting a team from AZ very soon and looking forward to seeing many friends. God is good.

Rainy days....

2009-09-18T04:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the start of rainy weather. It was misty all day, like something you would see in a horror movie. Today was a bit more of a down pour but is now very grey. Yes, it is cold, cold, cold. I think that we will have sunny days on the weekend. Yeah for me since I love the heat.

I spent the week looking for a place to live. Since things are a bit different it has been a bit of a challenge. But last night I saw a place that I love and I am praying that God will help me to decide if this is the one. It is in a good location and I liked everything about it. So prayerfully this is the one. Everything is so different and will take some getting used to. Cell phone services and internet is a world apart from what I am used to. For example, in the U.S. we have unlimited internet usage and we pay one standard fee per month. In South Africa there is a cap, which means that you buy a package with 1 or 2 GIG for a standard fee and if you use it in a month then you can buy more GIG's as you need. I think that you can get an unlimited package but it may be very expensive. No worries, I will have to adjust. I am taking it all in stride.

A team from Pittsburg arrives tomorrow. I am excited to meet them all and get to work with them. They will be building a house for an elderly lady name Margaret. So please keep the team in your prayers as they travel and as they work.

Sala kahle

Trying to get settled....

2009-09-15T03:15:00.000-07:00

I made it safely to Durban. Even though the bus ride was long it got to see a lot of the country and it is beautiful. The weather has been absolutely wonderful. Not to hot, not to cold and with a light breeze. I am staying at a lovely Bed & Breakfast for now while I am looking for a place to live. That will be quite an adventure considering I am getting acclimated to the area.

I went out to Shongweni on Saturday with a friend to visit Pastor Thwala. We had a nice visit considering this was the first meeting with him. I went to visit another friend and saw a few of the orphans. They remembered me and that was nice to be greeted by their smiles. I will have lots of work to do but with God's help I will get it done. After all this is not about me, it's about what God called me to do. I am truly blessed.

On the road again...

2009-09-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

Well I'm back in Pretoria but only to get packed. I am heading to Durban in the morning. Middleburg was great and I made so many new friends. On my last day they had a surprise braai (barbeque) for me which was quite unexpected. It was a nice time and they had so many nice things to say.

Zulu culture focuses on relationships and I definitely have made some very good relationships in Middleburg. I will have to go back to visit. My Zulu lessons were awesome and I learned so much. I'm not fluent yet but slowly getting there.

Durban here I come. I will be taking a rather long bus ride but excited to see some of the country as I travel. I will look for a place to live next week and get some things sorted out. Then the team from the U.S.A. arrives on the 19th. I look forward to going to Ntshongweni and seeing old friends.

Sala kalhe

Springtime in S.A.

2009-09-01T04:22:00.000-07:00

Today the 1st of September is the start of Spring and everyone has Spring fever. The children get to wear regular clothes today. They all are ready to go the pool, play soccer and netball, have braai's (barbeques). It is a fun day.

The weather is warmer and hopefully my cold will be gone soon. It is getting better. My Zulu lessons are going well and I am learning a lot. So to all of my family and friends Happy Spring Day!!!!

Sala kahle (stay well)

Middleburg (Mhluzi..in Zulu)

2009-08-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

Sawubona (hello)!!! It's been 2 weeks and I do apologize for not updating my blog. I have been in Middleburg and internet access is limited. I have to go into town a few days a week just to check emails. I did have access to a dial-up connection but it was not working the past week. I am doing well and yes, I have been taking Zulu lessons....Ngifunda isiZulu ( I am learning Zulu). It will take lots of repetition. I am staying in the township with Rev. and Mrs. Khumalo. They have been wonderful host and have opened their home and hearts to me. The township is a mixture of big houses with squatter homes scattered throughout.

My first week I spent time with a group call Caring Friends. They are a group of women who do home care for those infected with HIV/AIDS as well as other chronic illnesses. They also look after OVC (orphans & vulnerable children). They also do outreach in the community. I was able to go with them to hand out condoms one day. They are a wonderful group of women.

My second week was spent with LoveLife, which is a HIV/AIDS campaign that changes the behavior and attitude of young people. We spent a week at the Manyano Primary School and did some lessons in the classrooms. I have met so many wonderful people in Middleburg and they are helping to make it a great experience.

I am trying lots of new foods. One of the main things that they eat is called PAP. It is a hard porridge and is eaten with meat and would take the place of rice or potatoes in the U.S. It will take some getting used to. Vegetables are a main staple, especially beet root. I am trying.

I was surprised to see that almost everyone has a cell phone. Many people even have satellite on their houses. So I am able to watch U.S. shows. So Things are going very well. Thank you for all of the prayers.

Sala kahle (stay well)

Settling in

2009-08-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

It's 4:25pm in the afternoon here in South Africa and many of my friends are still in bed and some are getting ready for church. It's a bit weird that when I'm getting ready for bed they are enjoying the day and when I'm getting up they are winding down for the day. But such is life...it's different for now and exciting. Today is another cold day but without the rain and hail from yesterday.

So the big question is what have I been doing so far. On Friday I went to the mall with Cindy Rodewald (LCMS Regional director's wife). I will have no problems getting the things I need. There was even an iStore so I can take my Macbook in if I have any issues. Yes there is even a movie theater with all the current movies even Bruno. So I will have fun things to do on the weekend. Saturday I stayed in doors due to the rain. Today I attended church with the Rodewalds at the Lutheran Seminary. It was good but I miss Pastor Jeff's sermons. I will have to catch up with them on via podcast.

After church a group of Liberian seminary students and friends of the Rodewalds came over for a visit. It was nice getting to meet new people and hear about Liberia. Will have to visit one day. Next week I go to Middleberg to start my Zulu language and culture training. Excited....yes, nervous...a bit. Well that's all for now as I am settling in.

I'm here!!!

2009-07-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

I'm here!!!! After a very long flight I landed safely in Joburg. After waiting what seemed liked forever I found the driver that was waiting for me and was on my way to Pretoria. I will be staying here with the Regional Director Mike Rodewald and his family as I get my plans together. The weather is cold here and I will have to adjust after coming from 113 degrees in Phoenix. All is well and I am excited to see how God will use me. To my family and friends thank you for all of your continued prayers. I know that I will need them. I miss you all.

When Are You Leaving?

2009-07-12T22:06:00.000-07:00

When are you leaving? I have been asked this question for the last 2 weeks and rightly so. I hoped to be in South Africa by now, but I am still here in Arizona. There has been some delay due to a request for an FBI background check. The background check came back to me this past Thursday and was sent to the consulate. It is in their hands now. This has been a lesson in patience and in trusting in God and his timing. I am taking it one day at a time and when the time is right, I will leave for South Africa. I must still have something that I need to do here in Arizona. It has allowed me to spend a little more time with friends and to do some catching up. This verse has brought me comfort during this time of waiting...Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Time for Good-bye's

2009-06-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

The time has come to start saying good-bye to family and friends. Today at church was the sending service. I had the opportunity to speak about my ministry in South Africa and to ask for prayers in all four services. The choir sang together one more time and it was wonderful. I have the best church home in the world with such supportive brothers and sisters in Christ. I am glad to go but sad to say good-bye. So I will not say good-bye, instead I will say see you later. I will miss everyone very, very much. God has blessed me with so many wonderful friends and even though it will be hard being away, I know that God will take care of all of us. See you later.

It's time to start packing

2009-06-24T21:33:00.000-07:00

The time has finally come to start packing. In a week or two I will be heading to South Africa. A new chapter in my life will begin. There are lots of emotions....sadness, excitement, loss, joy. I am very happy to be blessed with such an opportunity, it is a gift from God. I am sad to leave my family and friends behind and I will carry them in my heart. My last day at the job that I held for 8 years was last Friday and it's been a bit weird. I know that I have a new adventure ahead of me. People have been asking me "are you nervous or scared?" To be honest yes, a little of both. I know that I will be okay and that God will bless me with all that I need to do what he has called me to do. I know that he will be by my side every step of the way.

To all of my family and friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your love and support. It is very hard to leave you all, but this is something I must do and I know that you understand. Know that I love you all very much. You will be with me during my time in South Africa.

Center for Compassion

2009-06-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

The Center for Compassion was the dream of Pastor Senzo Majola before he passed away in May of 2008. He was called to pastor the local Lutheran church and to be a part of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project with American partners. Pastor Majola became a father to most of the children. His passion for the orphan project grew from his own experience of being orphaned. Pastor Majola had a dream of having a creche (nursery school) and a community center next to his church. He was overjoyed to hear that the American volunteers were willing to build this facility. He wanted a place that the little ones in the community could be cared for during the day and center where the youth and young adults could attend workshops to learn new skills.

Construction for the Center of Compassion began in August of 2008 with volunteers from the United States and South Africa. Several teams are scheduled to complete the center in 2009. The center is a proper tribute to the life and passion of Pastor Majola.

During my time in South Africa I will be able to work with the teams as they finish construction and help to get the center up and running. **Pictured is a team from Love of Christ and Christ Church Lutheran as they continue the block work on the center in October 2008 **

Closer, closer, closer

2009-04-30T09:25:00.001-07:00

Time is flying by and I am getting closer to my departure in July. There's not much left to do and I don't want to forget anything. I am very excited to be going but also sad to be leaving my friends and family. I know that I will have their support and prayers. I am still in search for a renter for my condo and I pray that God will send the right person. As for the fundraising, it is going really well. I am getting closer, closer, closer to my goal. I have to raise 70% of the first year's total --$2o,102.88. I only need $4237.88 to reach that goal. Thanks be to God for all who have generously donated. I will still be fundraising while in the field and I give all my needs to God. My mom always says, if God brings you to it, then He will bring you through it.

Sold to the highest bidder!!!

2009-03-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Last weekend the African Orphan Project held it's 2nd annual auction to raise funds to help the orphans. It took a lot of work, but a hangar was transformed into a wonderful site of people, pictures, music, decorations and items for bid. The event was attended by 100 plus people who came out in support of the auction. A big thank you to Bob and Linda Funk for listening to the call of God to do something so powerful. The auction was also attended by Senator John Shadegg who donated a trip to the capital. The event was a huge success and almost all of the items were bid on or sold. **Pictured is one of the beautiful cakes that were sold to the highest bidder.**

Life-Changing Moments

2009-03-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

Life-changing moments, have you ever had these moments? I have had several throughout the course of my life. The one that stands out the most is what I like to call my miracle. God has called me to be a missionary. The spark was lit in me a few years ago on the first mission trip I took to Peru. I didn't know what to expect. When I got home, I knew that I wanted to do it again. I surrendered to God and asked him to show me my purpose because "I" didn't know what to do with my life and I felt lost. God sent me on many trips since then and opened the eyes of my heart to love those who are the least in the world. He placed a strong desire in my heart to be a missionary. I prayed for the opportunity to do it for more than a few weeks. My heart desires to do it for the rest of my life. I knew that God had to decided when I was ready and his timing is perfect. I heard God's call and answered it. I am so excited and overjoyed to serve God this way and in all the ways he asks me to. Thank you Father for my miracle.

Moving on out!!!!

2009-02-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

Boy 2009 is flying by and the time will soon come when I will be South Africa bound. There is lots going on in my world and it's only by God's grace that I have not come undone. Moving to another part of the world for 2 years....it's still WOW to me. So I have put most of my stuff in storage. Who knew that one person could have so much stuff. I am staying with my BFF and her family until I leave. God has blessed me with some awesome friends who have been so supportive and helpful during this part of the transition. I am almost completely moved out of my house and still looking for someone new to move in. I know that God is awesome and he will send the right person my way.

Gleaning, cleaning, packing....

2009-01-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

The time has come to start getting things together. Whatever will I take to be able to live in South Africa for 2 years. A good friend said, "South Africans are able to get all that they need, so you will too." Yes she is correct. I really don't need to stress about it. I was able to glean much of my home and donate some stuff to CCL's efforts to help the homeless, some to Weldon House and some to the Goodwill. It is quite an undertaking, but I am getting there. This brings a new meaning to Spring cleaning for me and it's not even Spring as yet.

The Journey Begins....

2008-12-30T21:13:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it finally happened. God has granted me a miracle. I received an email from South Africa in October asking if I was interested in a long-term missionary position. I was blown away. I have been praying about this for a few years now. Finally, my prayers have been answered. God has called me into serving him in the mission field. Wow!!!! I am so thrilled, I want to shout it from the roof top. The ball is rolling. I interviewed with the LCMS World Mission, I was officially offered the position in November, I had a mini orientation earlier this month and I have started fundraising. And so the journey begins.

It's been a while

2008-09-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

Well too much time has passed since I last wrote about the project in Shongweni. But alot is still going on. My friend Drew led a team in July and they started rebuilding a much needed classroom at the Lalelani School. They also put in some gardens in the Habitat houses that were built last year. In August Pastor Arnie and a faithful team of 4 worked diligently to finish the classroom. It was absolutely beautiful. Wish I was there to see it. Duane and his team are in Shonweni now. They were able to attend the dedication of the classroom. The students and the teachers were thrilled. They also presented a digital camera to the high school and it was well received. The big project is starting work on the community center. It was off to a slow start, but they are well on the way. I can't wait until it is finished.

Home again!!!

2008-07-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

We made it back safely yesterday. It seemed liked we would never get here. There was a stop in Dakkar for refueling, crew change, security check which took about 1 & 1/2 hours. It was nice landing in Washington D.C. and being back in the U.S.A. After another layover in Chicago we made it back to Phoenix by 2:00pm. Was it ever hot. After being in such wonderful cool winter weather for a week it was a shock to feel the heat.

On Sunday we attended church with the people in the community and the choirs were amazing. Hearing them sing always makes me cry. I could see Pastor Majola standing in the pulpit with a smile on his face. I know that he is happy that so many people are continuing to go to church. Much to my surprise I was asked to get up and speak. I didn't know what to say but God is good and blessed me with the words. I told the children that Pastor Majola would want them to continue going to school and that they should help one another. I told them that God loves them very much and that he would look after them. I also said that the team loved them and that we would continue to come back. After church I met the homeowner Patricia and her children and handed over the keys to her house. She was so happy. It was truly a happy ending to our week. As we were driving out of the community one last time we looked over towards the Shonweni game reserve to look for giraffes on last time. To our amazement we saw about 5 of them all in a row walking along. It was a wonderful sight to see.

Sala gashle(stay well) South Africa, until we meet again.

Homeward bound

2008-07-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

It is time to say goodbye to South Africa. What a wonderful expereince we had. The team was wonderful. We made so many new friends and reconnected with old ones. This morning we head back to the community one last time to go to church with the members of the community. It will be different not having Pastor Majola there. He is certainly missed.

Yesterday we had a day to relax and do some shopping. We went downtown Durban to the Victoria Street market. Shopping is always fun. We also went to the Muti market which is the local traditional medicine market. Lots of interesting things to see. Afterwards we headed to Ushaka, the beach. We had lunch and time to relax. Karli and Taylor went snorkeling. Later on we had our farwell dinner at Butcher Boys. What a great restaurant.

Farewell to South Africa until we meet again. You will be in my heart always.

It is finished.....Day #5

2008-07-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

Today was the last day in the community. We only had a few things left to do on the house....painting, hanging the doors and putting in the windows. So we jumped right in and worked diligently to get things finished on time. We had a treat today. Sue Johnson who works with Habitat for Humanity South Africa came by for a visit. It was wonderful to see her.

We finished up about 2:30 pm and got together with Fanie, Musa, Innocent and lots of the children for a group picture. It was a sad but also a happy time. We've made lots of new friends. We then headed up to the houses that were built last year to do a community clean up. All of the children jumped in to help, even Skhumbuzo. We played and worked and laughed one last time. We will see them once more at church on Sunday.

What a wonderful week this has been. The team was awesome and we worked hard to get the house finished. We had such great fellowship with the people of Shongweni.

Dance the night away.....Day #4

2008-07-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

Today was phenomenal. This morning we visited a daycare center (creche in zulu). The owner, Emelda was so happy to have us come. She takes care of 61 children from ages 9 months to 3 years old. The children were so wonderful. We all got to play with them and just have fun. Such amazing children and so full of joy. Emelda runs the center with 4 others. We took some coloring books and crayons for the children. They were very happy to have them. They even sang for us. It was amazing.

Then we headed to the site. Today we put on the roof.....woo! hoo! We also painted the outside a cream/yellow and sreeted the floor. So tomorrow we paint the inside, make a step and the house is finished. So great to be here for the finished product.

This evening we danced the night away. The kids in the community had a talent night for us. The youth choir and a few others sang for us. Such amazing voices, they bring tears to my eyes. We also had a few skits and then there was some zulu dancing. It is always a sight to see. And well the team joined in and danced with everyone. We had a braai (barbecue) and shared a meal with the kids. What awesome fellowship we had tonight. An evening that I will never forget.

Making progress....Day #3

2008-07-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

Today was absolutely fabulous. When we arrived the chlidren were there to greet us with hugs and kisses and they are so eager to help. They have learned our names and have been trying to speak to us in English. Lynne and Ruth continue on with their groups and when its time for the chlidren to go, they are excited. A few of the women came back to day even though there were no sessions scheduled. How wonderful.

We are making great progress on the house. Today we finished all of the back washing and the brick laying. Tomorrow we will do the floor and start painting and hopefully the roof. Almost there!!! The team's spirits are very high and I know that when Friday comes it will be diffucult to leave. I continue to ask for prayers.

In the jungle the mighty jungle.... Day #2

2008-07-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

Today was filled with sore muscles as we made our way to Shongweni. Everyone is having a wonderful experience. Those that are here for the first time can't stop talking about how loving the people are and how much fun the children are. I am so excited for them. We stopped off at the houses for a brief moment so I finally got my hugs from Skhumbuzo. He is such a bundle of joy. Everyone absolutely fell in love with him and he gave one of his special hugs to everyone on the team.

I stopped in to see Gogo Toli and she was so happy to see me, she gave a shout of joy as we embraced. I gave her yet another picture that I took on my last trip in November. She was happy to meet the rest of the team. Next we went to the Madondo home to see the garden. It is just wonderful. They are growing quite a nice variety of vegetables. Many of the homes have cleared a small area in the front where some folks are planting flowers. The community looks great and I am so glad that God has blessed me to help make a difference in the lives of so many.

Finally we headed down to the house. Today we started on the roof and started back washing the interior walls. We always have lots of help. The therapists are doing a wonderful job as well. They had a womens group in the morning of 20 and a kids group of 25. They have also had the opportunity for home visits. The people inthe community are very receptive to them and have been sharing quite a bit. The all miss Pastor Majola.

Please pray for Pastor Majola's sister Entebeko. She is very sad because she doesn't know what her life will be like. Pastor Majola was everything to her. All in all another good day in Shongweni. We went on a game drive at the Tala Game Reserve. It is always amazing to see the animals in settings like that. We saw giraffe, impala, inyala, wildebeest and the white rhino. God is amazing! We ended the evening having dinner under the stars.

Sawubona.....Day #1

2008-06-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay, the internet in the hotel has been down. Well we made it finally. It was a very long trip. We left Washington DC late due to storms in the area, had a lay over in Dakaar, Senegal for re-fuel and finally made it to Joberg. And yes we missed our original flight so we were able to get on the last flight to Durban that left at 9:00pm getting us into Durban at 10:00pm.

Sunday was an awesome day. We went to the Karkloof forest and did a series of 7 ziplines across the forest. It was so awesome. Getting to see some of God's creations from so high above it. The team loved it and it help us to continue to bond.

Today was the first build day. As we headed to the community we could see the row of brightly painted houses that were built last year. When we got close enough we could see the children waving and saying hello. I did get to see Skhumbuzo but I haven't gotten any hugs as yet. We proceeded to the church. It was sad not seeing Pastor Majola, but good to be there to continue his legacy. His sister Entebeko was there and as we embraced she started to cry. I told her that it will all be okay. Dear Nelson and Alfred was there to greet us, and Fanie (our builder). Our task this week is to finish the house that Jen's team started. Today we finished the interior wall, back washed the outside. Alot for a day's work.

Many of the children came around to help and the team members who are there for the first time just embraced them with lots of hugs. It was a good day. Looking forward to tomorrow despite all of the aches and pains.

I'm leaving on an airplane...

2008-06-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

Well the time has come, the team leaves in the morning. By now all of our suitcases are packed, hopefully everyone is off to bed, but will be early to rise. We have a long flight ahead of us but it is well worth it. Thank you to everyone for your love and support. Please keep us all 10 of us in your prayers.

3 days and counting.....

2008-06-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

I am getting anxious but not in a bad way. I just want to get to Africa. I know that the rest of the team is probably experiencing the same thing. So please keep us in your prayers. I am almost packed, just a few more things to put in the suitcase and then I am ready. The excitement is mounting... can't wait to get on the plane, then I know for sure that we are on the way.

4 days and counting....

2008-06-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

I hope that the week goes by quickly. I am ready to go back and see everyone. I am actually almost packed, just a few more things and the suitcase is closed. I am so excited for the rest of the team, especially those going for the first time. What a blessing it has been to be able to lead such a wonderful team. As we prepare to serve, please keep all 10 of us in your prayers. 4 days and counting.....Woo! Hoo!

It's that time again!

2008-06-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

It's that time again.....I am headed to South Africa on the 27th of this month. So much has happened since my last trip. Just recently Pastor Senzo Majola who worked very closely with the Orphan care program passed away. So this trip will be a bit sad but there is a great joy of getting to see everyone that I have met and worked with again. I look forward to seeing the children and Gogo. I can't wait to get a hug from Skhumbuzo (one of the orphans who is 3 yrs. old). So time to start counting down. And yes that is Skhumbuzo with me.

Home again!!!

2007-12-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

I've been home now for 1 week and I wish that I was still in Ntshongweni. I wonder what the children are doing everyday and miss getting all of the hugs and seeing them running around. It was so wonderful to see everyone helping each other and supporting each other despite the sadness of losing one of the caregivers. It is my heart's desire to live and work in South Africa. Until that day comes I will keep each person in the community in my heart. Until 2008......

World AIDS Day!!

2007-12-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

The last day is always difficult because we have to say goodbye. There was lots going on with finishing up the block work and last minute painting. On of the houses was dedicated by a medical group called Netcare. We did a closing with the beneficiaries and a group came out and danced for us. The most exciting thing for me was a 3 yr old boy. He has elephantitis of the legs and is allergic to the sun so he has to stay in the shade. I would go to see him every morning and give him a hug. On the last day it was overcast and he came out and played and danced and sat with us. It was so amazing to see how strong he is. He didn't speak just simply smiled all week, but as I gave him the very last hug, he said goodbye to me. I would love to bring him home with me so that he could get the medical care that he needs. If I could have just one child for now, it would be him. I can't wait to show you all the pictures. Today is world AIDS day as people stand united in the fight against this disease. I encourage you all to join the fight.

Build day # 4

2007-11-29T20:22:00.000-08:00

The weather was perfect today not too hot and there was a nice breeze blowing all day. So we were able to get back on track. There was one house that needed to be painted, the garden posts put in place and continue laying block on the house. As usual, little Scomboze greeted us with lots of smiles and hugs. We got a treat yesterday as well. There was a baby born on site on the trip in May and his mother brought him to the site so that we could see him. He is so precious. His name is Njubolo (zulu for happiness). And the great news is that family is getting a home as well. It is almost finished and by the end of the year they will be moved in. God is good. The Bishop of the Lutheran church of Southern Africa was on site with us today and he is so pleased with all that has happened in a year. I agree. Only a year ago we came to South Africa and built one house, toady there is a community. A community filled with hope and joy. We can make a difference, changing lives one child, one family at a time.

Build day # 3

2007-11-28T20:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was better despite all of the sadness that still filled the air. The 6 yrs old Sibosiso was in much better spirits. He helped us to paint all day long and laughed with us. There is a 3 yrs old Scomboze (I probably spelled that wrong) who is so delightful and loving, I wish that I could bring him home. Every morning he greets us with smiles and hugs. Things are coming along. Some of the team is putting up fences around gardens to keep the cows and the goats out, while everyone else has been painting and doing finishing on one of the floors. The blocks were too wet to continue building. Hopefully day 4 will be better. We are going to a theater production called Umoja "the spirit of togetherness" this evening. Lokking forward to it. I wish that you all could see these beautiful children and be with these people. Continue to keep them in your prayers.

Build day #2...

2007-11-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

Today was an unusual day with it's ups and downs. Yesterday as we left the build site there was a terrible storm and one of the walls fell so we had to redo it. One of the beneficiaries was in the hospital and passed away last night. Pastor Majola asked the team to be with him as he told the family. It was a very hard situation as we prayed with them. She leaves behind 5 orphans. One of them a 6 yr. old boy clung to Pastor Majola's side after he heard the news and tears just streamed down his face. All I could do was to hug him for a while. Unfortunately, that is one of the harsh realities of Africa and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I am glad that many of them now have homes that kept them warm and dry from the storm last night. We ended the day on a drive through a game resreve. We saw impala, wildebeest, zebra, rhinos, hippos and a very rare sighting of the sable antelope. So all ended well.

Build day #1

2007-11-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

Wow it was so awesome to be back in the community again. It was great to see all of the homes painted in vibrant greens,blues, yellows and pinks. Seeing all the children simply melted my heart because they are one of the reasons why I do this. I met a 3 yr old boy today who just loves to hug and cuddle. I wish that I could bring him home. I took a photo of the 92 yr old gogo (we built her home in May) for her to hang on the wall of her new home. She said that when she passes on from this world, that the rest of her family will be able to remember her through the picture. That was true for the Madondo family who lost their caregiver in July. I took a photo for that family as well. She left behind 8 orphans two of which are HIV positive. It was very sad to hear the now 90% of pregnant women in Kwazulu Natal (the are that we are working in) is HIV positive and that 40% of South Africa's population is infected with HIV/AIDS. But because of these homes we are giving 51 orphans the hope of a better life.

Sawubona (Hello in Zulu)!!!

2007-11-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

The weather here has really been great. A bit overcast today but the rain held up. We started our day by going to church in Phoenix at St. Thomas Lutheran. It is a predominantly Indian population. Afterwards we toured the home and printing press of Mahatma Gandhi while he lived in Durban. For lunch we went to the beach in Umhlanga. It was a wonderful day. We are still waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. We will meet with our Habitat South Africa staff tonight and bright and early we will go to Shongweni to start building. It's great to be back in South Africa.

We made it!!

2007-11-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

After a really early flight (6:00am) and several layovers, we sat on a 15 hrs flight from Washington DC to Joberg. It wasn't too bad despite the moments of bad weather when the plane dropped quite a bit. Nevertheless we are here again in South Africa. The weather is really nice, warm with a bit of humidity and rain. Yes we were welcomed by the rain. So the team is relaxing before turning in for the evening. The other 7 members arrive tomorrow. So long from Durban.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2007-11-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!! On this day I give thanks to God with a grateful heart for all the blessings and all the people in my life. During this week I truly did think of how God has changed me over the years and without Him, I would be lost. So I am very thankful for all of the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I am thankful for my family and friends and for the way each person has helped me. I am truly blessed. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess 5:16 Tomorrow the team leaves for Africa.....the time has come and the count down has ended...we are Africa bound

Getting closer....

2007-11-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

Well the days have certainly flown by. I leave for Africa next week. Wow! Next week..... I am so excited to go back but equally excited to work with a new team. I enjoy seeing how people change as the days go by. I love seeing the look on their faces as they meet the children for the first time and how excited they are to see them everyday. In only a short week they become like family. The countdown continues....only 9 days before I leave.

Africa on my mind

2007-11-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

Well the days are zipping by and all I think about is getting back to Africa. I wish that you all could go with me. For those of you who have gone before you know the feeling. I absolutely love being there and it is hard to come back. Life there may not be as fast paced but to me it is peaceful. The count down continues.......only 16 days

Starting to pack.....

2007-11-05T20:27:00.000-08:00

The days are flying by and I decided that I should start laying out stuff to take to Africa. On my last trip I waited until the last minute. Not a great idea. So I did the next best thing.... I made a list. So now as I lay stuff out I can cross it off my list. I want to take so much but I know that I can't. I am soooo excited. The count down continues. Only 18 more days.

21 Days and Counting

2007-11-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

In 21 days I leave for South Africa for the second time this year. I am very excited since my team will be building house #15. Wow!!!! I still can't beleive it, 15 orphan families were the recipients of homes this year. With the growing pandemic of HIV/AIDS in Africa, we can make a difference. It starts with helping one person at a time. I can't wait to see the children in their homes and to hug all of them. 21 days and counting.