“T. I. A. MEANS, THIS IS AFRICA! ...AND SO IT IS!” (May 30, 2018 update)

We are winding down now, putting finishing touches on things. We are eager to come home, but it is so hard to leave our children and the team here. It has been an incredible experience, as usual.  There is an expression Africans use...it is called “T.I.A. “ which means, “This Is Africa!” There are wonders, marvels, discoveries, incredible experiences, people that take your heart away. God has been so good.  

We are in a bustling city called Nelspruit.  All around town there are dust bins with these really inspiring/positive quotes on them.  It has hit me how so many of them are true to our experiences here. 

There are so many times here that we are required to risk and not let fear of making a mistake paralyze us. Sometimes you have to go forward in the dark to discover the light. This quote helped us go step forward when the way was not always clear. 

This one is really important when working with “the Village Way.”  Things like doors and windows being straight are not essential to some of our workers.  So what we expect and the reality of what we will get are two different things.

The painting of the Palace of Mercy was not precision, a lot of paint on windows, floors and doors, and much was not completed.  We were discussing this as our housekeeper, Rejoice was cleaning our chalet.  She gently mentioned that her husband, Patrick was a professional painter (we introduced him to you in a previous blog).
Here is the latest update on that project.  Patrick is nearing the end of this one project we hired him to do, and he did it with great pride and excellence!  He patched up all the places inside and out that needed touched up, painted around all the doors and windows, and door frames.  His own personal standard of quality is the signature of his work.

Patrick’s work is flawless.  The Palace is standing tall under his talented hands.

The happy ending is that we will for sure hire Patrick again.  He has been without work for a long time and this will give him employment which will help his family. 

Albert is a well driller whom we have used in the past. He came with his divining rod.  I always wondered about those things, haven’t you?  Well, Albert walked around with that Mopani fork and suddenly it dramatically rolled down toward the ground. 

Being skeptical, I asked him to let me walk with him.  When we came to where he said the water was, the fork twisted straight down to the ground and I could not stop it!

I tried it alone, so did Janco and Wayne with the same results. 

Now!... this fellow, Joseph, is a different story.  Another technique for finding water is holding a large bottle of water on the palm of your hand and when there is water, the bottle will start vibrating and eventually fall off of your hand. 

Joseph’s little “water jig” was more than I could swallow.”  There MAY be water where he did his little dance.. I’m just sayin’...  (but it was not confirmed by two other sources as Albert’s spot was).
This is what the JoJo tank will look like when it is completed. 

Our plan is to have a brick stand built to make it safer for the children.  It will be a dual purpose stand. Not only will it hold the JoJo tank, but it will be a small storage room with a door, a floor and small window.  Lawn equipment, gardening implements and maintenance tools will be stored in it. So we can’t wait to see this project completed. Such generous contributions like Dr. Hamouda made go a very long way to provide necessities for the orphan children. We are truly grateful for  this generous gift. We want to get these poorest of the poor, vulnerable children into a safe place that they can call home. 

“NOW, FOR ANOTHER HAPPY EVENT”

Below is one of the security people at the Awelani Lodge where we stay. 

His name is Albert and he is the pastor for the small Church HHTH donated concrete to so they could have a floor, and plaster the outside and inside. 

Albert told us they needed a door they could lock to avoid theft and break-ins. 

We picked up a door in Musina and Janco carried it to them during services. They were so appreciative and happy to get that door!

The congregation  started singing and dancing. It was so powerful.

 

These Venda people have no problem with showing their feelings and expressing themselves with song and dancing. 

Until next time... with great expectations...  from the Bush.   Love ❤️,

Sidney

“LEARNERS’ BIG DAY VENDA STYLE” (May 24, 2018 update)

HHTH has made it possible for the Fethani High School Learners to have their Achievements Recognition Day in their traditional Venda way. It starts with selecting the beasts that will provide the meals for about 800 people. While it is a great day for the Learners and Teachers, it is not the same for the cows and chickens.  Two of these beasts below provided the beef, and several chickens provided the rest of the food needed.  It is a festive affair the night before with the cutting up of the meat and preparing the chicken. Ladies in the Villages and Learners come to the school to do all the preparation with radios blaring out music to pluck chickens by.

Clark and Karen Sanford donated money to buy one of our orphans a bicycle.   Many walk over 4 kilometers one way to get to school.   HHTH

brought the bicycle to the celebration for the winning child.

Dancers entertained the crowd with their precision interpretations.

Honors were bestowed upon the achieving Learners.  We are proud to report that “Given,” one of our orphans received the honor for most brilliant Learner in grade 11. Each recognized Learner also received R500 (about $42.) from sponsors in the community.

Munyai Gumani won the coveted bicycle and he was overcome with emotions.   Orphans do not expect much in the community because they have no one.  Our sponsors have changed their lives and these children now feel wanted and cared for by someone. Gumani struggled not to cry at this
amazing good fortune.

Seven orphans were given the chance to win the bicycle.   Seven pieces of paper were put in the box.  Six of them had the word “no”  on them and one had the word “yes” on it.  That “yes” was chosen by Gumani.   And he could not believe what happened for him.

After all the dances, speeches, and awards presentations, we were escorted to rooms with all the food.
After all the tummies were full, the celebration was complete.  Exciting memories will live in the hearts and minds of all those who attended.

Until next time... with glowing love from the Bush

Sidney

“QUALIFYING THE PALACE OF MERCY FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE AID FOR OUR ORPHANS” (May 24, 2018 update)

HHTH has to meet government requirements for the buildings and surrounding environment before we can receive orphans into the Palace of Mercy.  We first must receive our NPO (non-profit organization), then meet certain physical requirements. One is to have the POM painted at a certain quality.  Our housekeeper at Awelani, Rejoice, heard us and told us about her husband, Patrick.

Patrick used to work at Tshikondeni Mine. When it closed down many people lost their only source of income.

To help the community, we hired Patrick to paint all the window trims and door frames in the Palace of Mercy.

To get a real quality job without paint ending up all over the floor and on the windows and doors, we needed a professional. Patrick’s job at the mine was to keep all the Miner’s houses painted in tip top shape. He is doing an incredible job.  His Mother, Esther also helps him with the finer work.

We will send photos when he has finished.

“FEED THE HUNGRY, CLOTHE THE NAKED, TAKE CARE OF WIDOWS AND ORPHANS” (May 23, 2018 update)

With the loving generosity of our sponsors, HHTH is able to provide food, clothing, shoes, etc. to the 31 precious orphan pchildren at Fethani High School.

Adolph was just recently sponsored by Marlin and Cindy Turbett. They also got Adolph a backpack filled with surprises.  The children yearn for a backpack to carry their books and supplies.

Hungwani was delighted to get brand new shoes!

All children got the 3 month supply of their staple foods.

They wanted to show off their new clothes. The

The girls all got bright, sparkly headbands and the boys all got underwear.

CJ met with 36 girls and one of their teachers explained about the reusable pads for a girl’s monthly. 

CJ handed out pads; each girl got 3 pads each so they can wash and use the pads over and over again.  The great thing about getting these reusable pads, is that now the girls don’t have to miss school every month.

The guardians are very poor and their clothes are badly worn.  Sidney sews  over 100 wrap skirt and headdress sets to give all our guardians. It seems to change their whole energy level.  These women were so excited and proud to get new clothes.

Most of the children wrote thank you letters to their sponsors.  The letter below is from Mudzanani Mdivhonisani, a girl of 20.  It is written below for your ease of reading.


Her sponsor is Patty Laskowsky and Dan Aessel.

Dear Patty and Dan:
I am Mudzanani Ndivhonisani and I am writing this letter to thank you for your generosity.  You have been good to us ever since you heard a about us.  The groceries that you give are real  nutritious.   I don’t sleep with hunger no more.

I myself wish that you can do this forever and please add sanitary towels too,   Because it is really hard to get them when we are ovulating.   I would be  very happy if you would consider this.
Thank you so much for the love and support. I really appreciate you. May God bless you and your family.
Yours sincerely,
Mudzanani Ndivhonisani

Ndivhonisani received 3 reusable sanitary towels
Just after she wrote this letter.  This is a work we hope to expand on with donations from the children’s sponsors. It is a problem and causes the girls to miss school.
Memory, our seamstress in Zimbabwe, makes them for us at $2.00 per pad.  This provides employment and provides a vital need for all our orphan girls who are of age.

Until next time... 

“THE ENTRANCE TO THE PALACE” (May 23, 2018 update)

Wayne and Sidney donated this beautiful front door to the Palace of Mercy as a grand entrance into this home for the vulnerable.  The engraved, solid wood decoration is the symbol for the African Sunset.  To guard against the cruelty of the punishing sun and the ravaging African ants, all wood must be routinely treated.  Sidney and Wayne painted 3 coats of varnish on the front door to preserve it.

The interior doors only needed one coat.   But now all the doors are standing tall and shine brightly.

“HOW TO BECOME A LAND BARONESS IN BENDE MUTELLE “ (May 23, 2018 update)



CJ wanted to buy land in one of our villages and build a small house to stay in when we work in our 5 Venda Villages.  So there is a procedure to follow in doing Village business.

First you have to go to that particular villages’ Headman, in this case, Nelson. All Headmen are a member of the royal family and carry on duties like a town mayor.  Land is never actually sold, only paid to use. But it can pass from one generation to the next as long as it is used.

It always involves a gift. CJ gave Nelson a suit and he was thrilled. Then a handshake sealed the deal.

So, the papers were in order. CJ already had 3 stands which is about 3 acres.  Then she saw this incredible piece of land.



To experience the African sunrise and sunset is like magic. The Mutelle River flows beneath the glow of the magnificent star filled sky. It is a place of peace and beauty.



Our Aussie Friends came to celebrate this new piece of heaven with us. Angela and John dramatically helped with our 52 orphans in Zimbabwe. Then came to visit us in South Africa. This is a hard corner of the world to leave.

Until the next time... with love, peacefully 🌈 from the Bush.