Boulders

Boulders (can you guess why it is so called?), South Africa is the home of the African Penguin or are also known as the Jackass Penguin. When we first visited with JMR the little creatures stood around moulting and did nothing else. Maybe it hurts to moult or they had to concentrate to do it properly, anyway it wasn't too exciting for the tourists.
We visited again in April and the place was alive with action, sounds and plenty to keep us interested. We saw little to big baby penguins and heard why they live up to their nickname. Play the movie and you'll understand as quickly as we did. Enjoy--we did.

A time to close...

We have been so busy lately with all of our projects and have recently closed six with six more to follow. Thought we would share a few pictures from a few of them. At Lefara High School- tables, chairs, shelves and books were donated for the library and a borehole was finished so they could actually use the water. Now they have three taps where the kids can drink or wash their hands and poor in the community will be able to grow gardens on school property. Elder R stood to speak to the student body and faculty at the hand-over ceremony and I stood up next to him and put my arm around his waist, so he put his arm around my shoulder and the whole crowd of kids hooted and hollered. The show of affection in public is very rare in their society and so the reaction was understandable.

The Katha Day Care Center received mattresses, tables and chairs and lots of Family Health Supplements. The children were so cute in posing for their pictures on the new mattresses, all saying, "Cheese".

The Onyose Trust is a day care center for mentally challenged young people. Books, tables and chairs, educational games and paint were donated. The missionaries in Windhoek, Namibia helped paint the rooms and also did an underwater mural for the dining room...they didn't feel comfortable about painting the mermaid so the worker that requested it ended up painting her. The missionaries are great and love to serve!!

Pink little blessing

See how well you do in taking the quiz of "Quess who is not Seaira Kristine". Hope you are good at detecting imposters!! We are so thrilled with our new baby granddaughter that it almost hurts not to be able to hold and love her in person. What a great blessing our family has been given in this pink little new person! Glad you are here Seaira.

Only a few days over four months to go and we are scrambling to get ten humanitarian projects closed, work on details in ten open projects and write up ten new ones. Some days our heads are spinning trying to keep up will everything. It's all very good for our aging brains to be used so much and we just can't imagine having more fun than we are right here in Africa. Everyday there is something that happens that makes us giggle and say, "Where else, than in Africa". The other day Elder R was taking pictures around the office and over at the mall across the street so they would help us to remember our experience. He walked into the grocery store, Pik and Pay, and took the picture of the bakery girl handing me some rolls. There were other workers that immediately came over and told him that it was against the rules to take pictures in their store. Upon which, the supervisor came over to see what was going on and Elder R said, "We are going home to the United States soon and we just wanted a few pictures to help us remember." So you know what's coming, don't you?? The supervisor and a bakery worker posed for another picture so we could remember them. Forget about the 'rules'!!

Watching for signs....

Thought it might be fun to share some signs from Africa. We are still wondering what is meant by 'Hazardous Objects', but think it has to do with all the pedestrians crossing the road!

The one that was the funniest of all was the one on the outside wall of Baragwanath Hospital about 'caring'!!

Sushi cat's initials, almost, in the first picture. Some day she may have an inspiring brand too.

Brighten the corner where you are

We had so much fun in Grahamstown shopping for an organization that helps mentally challenged young people.

After graduating from high school these kids had no place to go so this organization was formed to teach them how to knit, sew and make beads. In the future they are hoping to have a facility where they can expand and teach other life skills. Enjoy their song about brightening the corners. Elder R thought they were singing in Zulu or Xhosa, when in reality they were singing in English! The Church donated many bags full of material, thread, batting, etc.

Lesotho Tornado Relief

There have been so many projects that have kept us hopping lately. There was a tornado that destroyed many homes in Lesotho including the one on the right. The people have so little to begin and then to loose the roof over their heads was very hard. A make-shift shelter was built next to this crumbled house which housed seven people. The little six year old boy pictured above suffered a stroke not too long ago leaving him with paralysis in his right leg and arm and he can't speak any more. A heartbreaker for all concerned. He did have a great laugh and large smile, though.
The neighbors opened their doors to those who lost their homes and have been sheltering and feeding them since. Even some who were enemies before are now living under the same roof!
The humanitarian aid the Church donated was 2000 blankets, 1000 hygiene kits, 15 bales of bedding and some infant and children's clothing. The Church also bought 5 big tents for the Red Cross to use in such emergencies.