This is her daughter, Thandiwe, and now , along with her 12 year
brother. We just discovered Thandani has diabetes. Shirley was taking her to the
village Sangoma (medicine man). The child was in serious trouble so we took her
to clinic. When we saw Shirley’s circumstances, we knew we must help her. She
has no one. Husband, Mother, Father and Grandmother are all dead.
We took them them clothes and food. Also she had no water, and must
travel a long way to get it. With her handicaps, it leaves it to the little girl
who can only haul a little at a time. We brought her many gallons.
This is her hut, which is only about 10’ X 6’ with dirt floor. Never
had window panes. The roof is full of holes and when a storm comes she gets very
afraid. The water rushes in to make mud, and she has to stand against wall wall
in one small part to escape the mud and rain.
We took her a lot of food and she was very worried about it being
stolen. Her old brother is not right in the head and when he runs out of food
comes, breaks into her house to get hers. He is too big for her to stop. We
gave him food and he left her alone until we can secure her house.
Here you see her left leg. She wears a sock to cushion her toes. She
walks just on her toe tips.
Our Aussie friend Angela and John Saussehrd, who come from Australia to
help us. They were Helping us problem solve on how to secure her hut and make it
more human.
Janco took measurements, we talked with Headman Mpalapaulm about getting
people there to put on new roof, cement floor and solid wood door. We purchased
all supplies and returned the next day. The builder, his helper and Mpalapaulm
were waiting.
They had already removed all her belongings so they could do the work. She
sleeps on bare springs because She doesn’t have a mattress.
This is Shirley’s kitchen. We will use the old zinc to shield the
kitchen.
She received light weight rake and broom. She was ecstatic.
Mpalapaulm carried the door down from where we had to park our trailer.
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