Rodwell, I am a Child of God

Wednesday night we said 'good-bye' to our little seven year old friend from Zimbabwe. If you asked him his name he would answer, "My name is Rodwell, and I am a child of God". He and his mother were sponsored by the church to come to South Africa so he could have open heart surgery. When he arrived, he was very thin, didn't even have energy enough to smile and had infection in his lungs. All the couple missionaries had a special fast and many prayers were given to enable him to have the needed operation. His lungs cleared so the doctors operated. It was a touch and go situation for a few days when his heart stopped two different times. As you can see in the picture he now has energy to get up and dance for us!! It's a rare occasion when he doesn't have a smile on his face.

Get a Donkey or Use your Head

Here are some pictures of the food distribution in the mountains of Lesotho that the First Presidency requested be done to help the drought victims in that country. It was loads of fun to interact with the people waiting to recieve their bags of Mealie Meal, beans and a bottle of oil. Very basic food stuff that will help them until their gardens start producing. They loved having their pictures taken and laughed and laughed when we showed them what they looked like. It was probably the only time they have ever seen a picture of themselves.

friends

We have been so busy we haven't had time to write about all our doings until today!! On September 26th, we loaded up the VW van with quilts, hygiene kits and school kits and a box of bath soap to deliver to the new home purchased for the children from Ficksburg. Remember the 32 kids who lived in a shack? Well, a home was purchased by a wonderful woman from Canada and the children were to be brought 'home' on the 28th. With some money Sister Parmley gave us from her foundation (rich friends), we bought a refrigerator, a set of cooking pans and some food for the children. We unloaded everything from the van and were so excited to see the home and property that will be conducive to help the children thrive. We stopped by to see them on Saturday and they had smiles on their faces, light in their eyes and were excited to show us their rooms.

helping hands

We have had a good week in helping a couple organizations and in having three of our projects approved by the Area Presidency. Monday, we met the truck from Baragwanath Hospital at our warehouse to give away 144 boxes of newborn kits. The maternity department staff will give them to mothers who have nothing in which to take their babies home. I received a phone call from one of the directors the next day and she was so happy and touched that there are people who are so willing to give to help others.
While at the warehouse, we loaded the Area's VW van with quilts and school kits and took them to a shelter for street boys. (The pictures are of them.) Then we took one of the workers to a clothing store where she picked out clothes and shoes to use at the shelter. Usually the boys only have the clothes on their backs when they are brought to the shelter. The church paid about $800 dollars for these items. Next, there will be a shipment of gardening equipment and seeds delivered to them so they can grow their own food and be self-sustaining.
It is so rewarding to be part of such a great work.

bday seuss

A birthday card for Sister Mom

Here's the list we need to fix:
Bowl of Kix
Twenty licks
Brownie mix
Top 10 picks
One hundred six
2 wood ticks
Bottle of Vicks
3 lamp wicks
Pick-up-sticks
4 chick flicks
Shop at Clicks
Wall of bricks
Nix
Nix
At the top of the list
(and we're not playing tricks)
must be the wonderful
marvelous sweet Kristine <>!"

Did you realize that there are so many words that ryhme with (you know our name)?? It sounds a
lot like Dr. Seuss.

We went across the street to the mall and had a bowl of chicken fettuccine last
night for our anniversary, yummy.

Roaring in the night

We had a great time at the unfenced Thadaku River Camp in Madikwe Game Reserve. The price of lodging included breakfast, dinner and snacks and two game drives. Our tent was one I wouldn't mind living in. It was beautiful with polished wooden floors, indoor plumbing facilities and a deck overlooking the river. We sat on the deck and had monkeys climbing in the trees to entertain us for a couple hours. By 3:30 we were loaded on the open-air vehicle for our first ever game drive. We had our own driver and spotter who made sure we saw as many animals as possible. Ten minutes into the drive we were face to face with two male lions who had killed a eland near by and were very full and quite tired. (That night they were awake and made sure we were too, as they roared to discourage any hyiena or African dog from eating their kill. Awesome sound!!) It was dark by the time we returned to camp 4 hours later but we had seen cape buffalo, elephants, impalas, giraffes, one beautiful gemsbok, zebras, springbok, many colorful birds, one hyiena, jack rabbits and a African cat (the size of a regular house cat).
The next day we saw a sight that not too many get to see in the wild. It was a leopard sleeping in a tree with its kill 15 feet above it. It would have been great to have seen it carry the impala up to the highest branch.
The whole two days were so enjoyable...Saturday, we had to make up for the fun and spent the day at the office. Two more of our projects were approved. One is to provide clothing, shoes and garden equipment to a boys shelter and the other is to donate 1000 patient gowns and 845 sheets to the huge hospital in Soweto. We have many more in the works.
Enjoy the pictures.

On Monday, on our way home to Johannesburg we stopped in a little town by the name of Clocolan to visit a Youth Center that is a home for 24 orphans or vulnerable children (which usually means they are neglected or abused). We were very impressed by the woman,Marieta, who was instrumental in acquiring and running the home. They have trainers that teach the children different styles of jewerly that they then make and market in the U.S. or other places. With the proceeds the children learn to save money and also to help in their own upkeep. We then followed her to another town, Ficksburg, where she took us to a shack in which 36 children are living. It was incredible to think that they could all fit inside at one time. Some have to sleep on the dirt floor in one small room while the rest are crammed into another room about 10'x15'. We met about eight of the children and the 'mother' who cares for them. They were so sweet. Marieta said she has a friend coming from Canada on Aug. 31st to purchase a house in Clocolan to put these children in and get them out of such mean circumstances.When we were leaving, (had to climb a hill back to the car), we found out that there was no food in the shack to give to children so we emptied out our stash of food and sent it back down to them. At least they could have a lunch. There are so many good people trying to help others however they can. What a privilege to get to know them. We will be traveling back to Lesotho in the next week or two and will take quilts, school and hygiene kits with us to give to Marieta for the children.I'll send you a few pictures on the next email.Love you,Kris