Reflection...

Well, after another 20+ hours of flying, I have arrived back home to Phoenix and was greeted with 109*F temperature when getting off the plane. Already I am missing the smiles and laughter of the children of Shongweni.

This was my fourth trip back to Shongweni. Over the years, I have made and lost friends due to the AIDS pandemic. You know, you can read about articles, donate or purchase items, such as Product (RED) that will benefit the AIDS cause. When you actually hug and play with the children, shake hands and meet the adults in this tiny South African community, it all brings this disease to reality.

I hope and pray for a cure to this terrible virus. But for now, at least, the children of Shongweni will have a place to learn a new skill, eat a warm meal, or just hang out in a safe environment.

My friend Shara has also been to Shongweni many times and has accepted a calling for two year missionary work in Shongweni. She leaves the States in late July. You can follow her blog at: shara4africa.blogspot.com

Good luck to you, Shara. We will miss you as you do God's work. Peace.
Jen

Friday Farewells

For our last build day, we experienced another cold, windy day. We arrived early to finish painting the building. The inside community center has white walls with terra cotta trim. The outside has been painted with a terra cotta color.

Through out the day, we were greeted by familiar faces both young and old. I was surprised when Pastor Thwala said, "Jenny Sithandwa ("sithandwa" is Zulu for "love"), you have a telephone call." Pastor Thwala handed me his cell phone and I was surprised to be speaking with Sbu, an old friend to the community. He was unable to visit us during the week due to his work schedule. He wished the team well and for a safe journey back home.

One last stop was made to play with the orphans in their homes. We passed out beach balls, bracelets and stickers. Gogo Cekwane came out to visit with us. Her leg appeared to be better and was walking with a cane. We wished everyone well and waved good-bye.

It has been fun sharing this experience with Pastor Thwala, Pastor Mike, Pastor Keith, Adam, Sid, Diana, Rob, Trisha, Pat and of course, our "better-than-great" team leader Drew. We couldn't have done any of this without the help of Alf, Bob, Carl and Gavin of African Exposure. Many thanks!

Until next time,
Jen

"When you see the Southern Cross for the first time..."

Today's build started with prayer by Pastor Mike. We began painting the exterior walls of the community center as there was no wind today. We were given a new color of terra cotta, instead of the plain, white primer. We were able to apply two coats to the entire building.

During lunch, the local women of the village brought their handmade items to be purchased. The Zulus are known for their bead work and there was a great variety to choose from. I was glad to visit with Mrs. Eunice Zuma again who weaves amazing place mats and basketry items using the tan, golden grasses near the church. I first met her four years ago as we were building the Parsonage.

We finished work at 4pm and our team performed a play about the book of Genesis to the children at the Church. It was nice to hear the laughter of the children especially when Pastor Keith would hold up his "Good" sign. After the play, we passed out bracelets and stickers to the children. We visited with the children and said goodbye.

For dinner, we enjoyed a South African braai at Stonehaven Castle. In the States, we call it a BBQ. A cat named "Bubbles" is laying on my leg now and is swatting my hand as I am blogging. The night is clear and I am able to see the Southern Cross constellation. I will close tonight by saying... "When you see the Southern Cross for the first time, you understand NOW why you came this way....."
Jen

("Southern Cross"-Crosby, Stills and Nash)

Wonderful, wacky Wednesday!

Another sunny day, along with Pastor Thwala's warm smile, greeted us at the Shongweni Lutheran Church. Everyone finished painting primer on the interior walls. Two other team members left to help finish hanging gutters at a local school. Soon, it was time for lunch and we were greeted by Gavin, of African Exposure, and his one year old son, Bryce.

At the end of lunch, a concrete mixing truck had arrived. The concrete was dumped on a tarp and piled on the ground. We had to shovel the concrete into wheel barrows and lift the concrete on to platforms. Next, we shoveled the concrete from the platforms to another platform high over our heads. Needless to say, our hair, neck, back and face was full of dakka (concrete)! It was like a step-ladder process. Drew, our team leader, and I were on the highest platform shoveling the concrete into a trough that filled 9ft concrete pillar forms that were made from the previous last two days. It was kind of a four person job. Two people on the bottom of the platforms, Pastor Keith and Rob, were throwing the concrete up, and Drew and I filled the pillars. At the end of the job, Rob, Pastor Keith, Drew and I had a little bit, actually a lot, of a "throwing of the dakka contest!" Drew and I won! We had the gravity!

On the way back to the hotel, we visited the orphans on top of the hill and passed out stickers. I was able to see Sbongile. Sbongile helped us last year build a home with the Concordia University-Irvine students. She said to tell everyone "Sawubona and that she misses everyone." Sbongile walked me down to Gogo Cekwane's house. Gogo is a 94 year old great-grandmother taking care of her great-grandchildren as the parents have died of AIDS. Our team from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada helped build her home in 2007. Sbongile helped translate from English to Zulu my conversation with Gogo. Gogo said that she had been napping a lot and she had a swollen leg. She has been using her cane a lot. She looked quite alert and always had a warm smile. I told her that everyone asks about her and prays for her.

After reluctantly saying "sala gashle" (good-bye) to the children, we headed back to the hotel to shower and change. The evening ended with dinner at various restaurants at our leisure. A very wonderful Wednesday indeed.
Jen

"A wind of laughter and fun!"

Our morning drive to Shongweni started with a short stop to Gillitts to purchase a few last minute items at the local hardware store. I think mostly the stop was made to enjoy some of their delicious coffee! Also, right next door to the hardware store is the local Harley Davidson dealership, Valley of 1000 Hills. I, along with other team members, bought souvenir Harley Davidson South Africa t-shirts. It was nice visiting with John, the owner, and telling him about this year's project.

The drive to Shongweni was noticeably cooler as a cold front had blown in and made for an extremely windy day. With all the wind, all painting was done on the inside of the community center. We painted all day applying several coats of white paint over the white primer paint in the center. Other members also made more concrete forms that were needed.

During lunch, I had the privilege of speaking with Pastor Thwala as he was helping me learn and translate more Zulu words. I can understand some of the phonetics of the language, but not all. I am still learning the "clicks" that are made with some of the words. It is a fun language to learn and the locals get a kick out of hearing us try to speak their language!

Word seems to be out that we are in the village as more and more locals and children are coming to the site. One of our team members, Adam, is 14 and loves to play soccer. He played soccer with the local children today for over four hours and made new friends.

The evening is quiet as we are all tired and are eating at the hotel. Peace.
Jen

No "Monday morning" blues here!

For most people, Monday mornings are not a favorite day of a work week. But, for our team, Monday was a day that was greatly anticipated and filled with smiles.

After breakfast and devotions, the team headed out to Shongweni for the first day at the work site. Upon arrival into the community, we were greeted by warm, colorful looking homes that house over 50 orphan children. Six of the team members, including myself, have returned many times over the past 4 years and are amazed at the growth that now occurs in the community. We turned down a gravel road to the Shongweni Lutheran Church and was met by the warm smile of Pastor Thwala.

Pastor Thwala led us down to the Center of Compassion Community/Nursery work site and introduced us to the local contractor. Members of the team painted primer on the exterior and interior walls, made concrete forms and slapped on stucco. The work day ended around 4pm. Some of the local school children stopped by on their way home from school to visit with us.

A previous contractor and an old friend, Fanni, stopped by to say "Sawubona" (hello) to everyone. Some of us have known Fanni for over four years and it was nice to see him again. I asked Fanni if he could help translate, from Zulu to English, one of my favorite African songs called "Avulekile Amasango." I pulled out my Ipod and we listened to the song. Thank goodness for the "stop" button as he translated the song saying that "Avulekile Amasango" means "The gate is open." The rest of the song was translated by him saying that "They have suffered much hardship. They now have freedom all due to the blood shed by Jesus Christ." I had no idea what the catchy-little song full of Zulu words meant, let alone know the importance of the song. I thanked Fanni and waved good bye.

Back to the hotel to shower and change and eat a local Indian restaurant. Not bad for a Monday, huh?
Jen

Father's Day in South Africa

After a good night's rest, our team left the hotel at 7am and drove for about two hours to Karkloof for a zip-line canopy tour. Six of the team members zipped down eight different lines in the foothills of the second largest indigenous forest in South Africa. Sometimes, we were zipping 115ft high up in the air! The remaining four team members went on a nature hike.

Lunch soon followed at the Rawdons Country Estate and then shopping and sight-seeing around the Midland's Meander Valley.

Later, we were briefed about Monday's first team build day and what to expect. Everyone is excited to meet with the children. An enjoyable dinner at the hotel completed the evening.
Jen

"Heel raises, ankle circles, stretch and flex!"

Well, after almost 20 hours of flying from Phoenix, AZ to Durban, South Africa, all is well. For the six Phoenix team members, our day started at 6am, Friday at the Phoenix Intl' Airport. Our flight left at 8am and arrived into Washington D.C.-Dulles 3 1/2 hours later. There, we met four other team members and flew seven hours to Dakar, Senegal, in west Africa. We were not allowed to disembark the plane for the 1 1/2 hour wait as we had to wait for new passengers and crew members to board the plane. While departing Dakar, we flew over small, condensed concrete-stucco housing which reminded me of photos I had seen of homes in the Middle East. Also, looking out the airplane window, I could see small wooden fishing boats leaving the beaches for the day's catch. Eight hours of flying from Dakar, we flew over Angola, Namibia and Botswana finally arriving into Johannesburg, South Africa. There, we disembarked and went through customs. The airport at Johannesburg has changed a lot from last year's visit as they are getting ready for the World Cup Soccer event in 2010. The airport looks new and modern. We then boarded our final one hour flight into Durban. After picking up our bags, we were met by Carl of African Exposure and then taken to our hotel in Pinetown, just outside of Durban. We are all enjoying a much needed rest this evening.
Jen

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go..."

Bible, passport, work boots, gloves, hat.

In a few short days, I, along with nine other members of our team, will be "leaving on a jet plane..." to Durban, South Africa, to help build a Community Center/Nursery called the "Center of Compassion Center." The Center of Compassion Center is located in Shongweni, South Africa and will provide a safe environment for the orphans of Shongweni. Most of the orphans have lost their parents to the AIDS pandemic and are being raised by their Aunts or Gogo's (grandmothers).

Now, imagine a place where a child can learn the Word of our Lord, have meals, learn a new skill for both child and adult, all in a safe, caring environment.

Share in our week long journey as I will post our day-by-day progress of the Center. We are ready to put "our faith in action" and help build the future, one child at a time!

Jen

("Leaving on a Jet Plane," John Denver, 1969).