The country is beautiful, saw wild monkeys today, rolling hills of sugar cane (filled with Black Momba snakes) and awesome weather. Some major challenges are that Aparthied ended 15 years ago and there are generations of native Africans that have no education. Also, the province here has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world resulting in an enormous orphan population. Thus brings the need for this ministry. Shongweni has 180 orphan children that live in the area to be served by the Church, Creche (preschool) and community center you see here. Pastor Thwala lives onsite serving the community. Shara lives very close and is in the village every day. She goes to the children's schools to look out for their best interest, she orgainized our VBS (it was Mexico today in honor of World Cup as well as the story of Jonah). Also, the kids got some awesome time to play on the future site of the soccer field. They had a blast! Please keep Pastor Thwala, the team at African Exposure (Gavin, Bob and Carl) and Shara Cunningham in your prayers. The work they do for these 180 children is nothing short of a miracle. We are blessed as a mission team and a congregation to participate. Look at some of the faces in these photos, without this ministry I'm not sure they would be as bright.
Bill, Pastor K, Shara and Stan with the Community Center behind them. Wonder about progress, page down and look at this one year ago from the 2009 team photos. These guys don't mess around!
Stan and Scott working on the retaining wall for the playground sand...
Here's Anna with one of our VBS kids...
Stella was the hugmaster for these kids, they loved it...
Karen and her team did a great job painting the interior of the Creche (preschool). The African Orphans project and their major benefactor (Hans, who owns a huge shoe manufacturing company in SA) are working with the government to make this a certified preschool that will earn government funding and give these orphans a shot at early education.
Carl and Pastor Thwala evaluating the outdoor teams work. We built a frame that will become the playground for the kids. Seeing them play today on the incomplete soccer field, they'll have a blast with this! We're finishing the tire tower, balance beam and some tire climing stuff. A local Lutheran church youth group will add a full blown swingset and slide in the very near future. All orchestrated by our hosts, African Exposure.
Gavin taking the lead, Cheerio!
Group of children standing around playing and another group running by. The soccer field awaits grass, however it's winter here so not a good time to plant it.
Playing catch with the kids. Mount Shongweni in the background (kind of a butte).
Playing catch with the kids. Mount Shongweni in the background (kind of a butte).
The kids are in "mid-flight" doing jumps and flips down the hill. They are having so much fun.
Virginia taking pictures of the kids...needless to say another picture is being taken without their knowing.
Virginia taking pictures of the kids...needless to say another picture is being taken without their knowing.
