“TRYNOS’S MID-DAY DREAM” (May 23, 2018 update)

One day, Trynos (our Zim boy with the bike) asked CJ if he could share something with her. So he told this story.  In the lull of the mid-day sun, Trynos was cooking his meal outside his hut at the fire, and he just happened to look up into the clouds.  There he  saw his Dad at the gates. This is when Trynos knew his Dad was giving him his blessings and that he didn’t have to worry about him anymore. His Dad looked at him with great peace and relief in his eyes. It was as if he now  knew Trynos was going to be OK and his Dad could let him go.  So his Dad turned around and walked through  the gates.  And a quiet calm fell over Trynos’ heart.  He felt a comfort and peace he had never felt before. 

Trynos said, “My life has forever changed since I met up with HHTH and have their kindness in my life.”’

“THE PASSING OF AN HONORABLE AND WISE CHIEF” (May 16, 2018 update)

Chief Willian was 93 years old and had led his people well.  On April 26, 2018, he peacefully passed over to the other realm. 

HHTH has worked with Chief William for over5 years. He was a leader who listened patiently to each side of a story and strove for fairness.  He was a man of integrity and as a good leader he “showed up.” His presence heightened the importance of any occasion.  Chief William was always supportive of our work in the Venda Villages and more than once helped us get through some sticky situations.  So, it was our privilege to be invited to his Memorial Services. 

The Venda are steeped in tradition and we had no idea what to expect or how to act. 

Our housekeepers helped us out. They said that the respectful way was to wear some of their traditional fabric. Not having any, we took the protectors off the foot of our beds and used them as skirts. Now we were acceptable.

Three huge tents kept the scorching sun at bay, and we were escorted to the tent where a massive, tall, royal blue throne, trimmed in gold, dominated the space. Reclining there was the revered King of all the Venda people.  The awe in which the people held the King and his elegant bearing was rather daunting. 

There were many dancers telling the good chief’s story with the joy of their dance. 

The men dramatically played out the Venda Story through their powerful dance.  I decided that tradition was good; it allows the story of their lives to elegantly unfold in its fullness to keep their history alive and fresh in their minds.  We were humbled by their love and respect of their beloved Chief. 

“YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE WHAT A CHOCOLATE CAKE CAN BUY!!” (May 14, 2018 update)

Well... there is more to the Septic Tank story.  Our friend John ( the Aussie) happens construction expertise and when he say the septic hole he said it was much too far away from the Palace of Mercy building and made it open to real problems.  He said we would be better off digging another hole and filling the old one in.
 
So, with “hat in hand,” Janco took me to see Derrick, who took Pieter’s place, and Pieter was the one who kindly dug the first hole for us pro bono.

I briefly explained our situation and asked him for another hole.  Derrick said, “You ate the worm 🐛 and we gave you a hole, so we are even.”  My heart sunk... But he went on, “so, I am just wondering what we should require you to do for another hole.”  I asked him to please think in terms of a hamburger 🍔 or something similar. He said, “it must be something big, like a chocolate cake.”  I grabbed his hand to shake on the deal before he changed his mind!!  Derrick sent the operator with machine and Riian, the construction boss.

The hole was dug in no time, plus Riian had his guy dig the trench and drainage field as well...AND, they filled in the old hole!!

They even lowered the tank into the new hole for us and filled in around it.

Sedzani, the plumber was very happy about the change.

Willy,  the chef for Awelani, agreed to bake two chocolate cakes for us. One for Derrick and one for Riian.  

By the time it was all done, Ruwacom actually dug 4 holes for us.  WE GOT A LOT FOR 2 CAKES, WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?! 

We are very grateful for the generosity of the Ruwacom guys. Some times this old world can be pretty tough. But then guys like Derrick and Riian come along and do the extraordinary! 

Until next time... gratefully, from the Bush, with love,

Sidney

“HOW DO YOU HANG A MOSQUITO NET WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE A SKY HOOK?” (May 9, 2018 update)

Just wanted to share my latest invention with y’all.

To protect against malaria, I use a mosquito net.  However, at Awelani, where we work in South Africa, the thatched roof is over 15 foot high. There is no way to hang my net.

Wrestling with many tries at solving this problem,  it was obvious we had to use what we had on hand.  There is no Lowe’s in Musina (nearest town)  much less in the Bush!

Tonight inspiration struck, and the idea politely presented itself to me. We have shipping boxes!  So, I cut slots in the back of a box to fit it over my bed frame, then cut away the front of the box.  Wayne cut the sides on a slant to keep me from being boxed in,” so to speak.

AND, IT REALLY WORKS!  The mosquitos may wish for a tasty bite, but I am safe and snug inside my little cocoon .

More to come on “SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY SAVES THE DAY!”

Until next time...  Mosquitolessly 😎 from the Bush...
with Love 💕, Sidney

“SHELLY’S EXTREME MAKEOVER COMPLETED!” (May8, 2018 udpate)

Ngwenya started the Makeover on Shelly’s house by taking off the old roof since it was full of holes. This zinc was set aside and new zinc was installed. 

The next step was to put in a legitimate floor over the dirt floor Shelly had lived with. 

Notice all the holes in the house and missing bricks. All walls were repaired.

With treated poles and the old zinc, Mr. Ngwenya and his nephew, Livingstone, repaired Shelly’s outside kitchen.

She is now sheltered from the sun and the wind when she cooks.

Next step was to plaster inside and outside of the little house.

This was Shelly’s bed, which she covered with their clothes before HHTH bought a door to put over the frame, then put a mattress on top.

Trynos came each day to help transform her home.  Because he had been helped, Trynos wanted to give back and help someone else. 

So, this is how Shelly’s house looked before the Extreme Makeover...

How it looks now!  Blue door and all.  Janco installed glass in the one window and we had Memory, our seamstress, make her curtains.

How the inside of the house and her bed looked

BEFORE...

AFTER!!!  What a totally rewarding project!  Now Shelly feels safe and good about her home. She shares this with her two children. 

Thank you again Don Burton for sharing Linda’s legacy and truly making a difference in the lives of other fellow human beings. 

Until next time... Contentedly, 💕from the Bush...

Sidney

“TRYNOS AND THE BICYCLE BUILT BY TWO!” (May 5, 2018 update)

This is a fable about the stuff dreams are made of, and how there are many Fairy God Fathers and God Mothers waiting with their hearts of compassion and the magic wand in their hands. 

You will remember, Janco, our African Guide came to Michigan in January/February.  We held a wonderful Tea Party so people could meet and experience the wild and unique spirit of this great man.  Janco told many stories, one being about the young man named Trynos.  His sponsor is Ginny Wisely who also pays his school fees; we have worked with Trynos for 4 years. 

At age 11, his Mother married another man who did not wish to take Trynos in. His Father died when he was a baby. So, with no one else to care for him, his mother left him in a mud hut to fend for himself. He is now 16 as of April 1st and has survived 5 years on his own. He lives in Zimbabwe where his Mother left him and she now lives in South Africa.  She is critically

ill. 

At the Tea Party, Janco told Trynos’ story and that he must walk 7 kilometers each day to school and 7 kilometers back home. The food furnished by HHTH through his sponsor has kept him alive. 

John and Tracy heard this story and ask me if they could buy him a bicycle and made the  $400. donation, HHTH bought one and took it to Zim. 

Janco told Trynos (who wants to be a mechanic) that he needed him to help assemble a bicycle for one of our carvers. He was thrilled to do so.

Still not knowing it was HIS bike, he timidly asked to test drive it.  Then we told him it was his bicycle!!

Janco telling Trynos about John and Tracy. 

Trynos’ reaction. 

Proud as punch!!! AND he helped assemble his own gift.  Thank you John and Tracy, and Ginny for your unbelievable kindness to this boy who thought he had no one.  There is more to this story that you will love hearing about. 

Until next time... Love from the Bush, 

Sidney

“MEMORY’S REAL FAIRYTALE” (May 3, 2018 update)

Let’s go back to the saga of Mashonga and Memory. Directly because of the Chicken Project that HHTH helped Mashonga with, he said it opened his mind into believing he could actually create a better life for he snd his family.  He earned his unfinished high school diploma with Chicken profits before our team returned to Zimbabwe.  He and Memory also used the rest of the profits to get tutoring help for Simeon and Shalom which has put them at the top level in their classes.

Then Angela Saussehrd gave Memory the professional serger, which Memory put to immediate use in her business as a seamstress for the public. That gave CJ the component we needed for a project she has been wanting to accomplish for a long time.

Many girls, like Ntando, who have started their monthly period, have to miss school because they do not have access, nor money to buy feminine pads.  CJ wanted us to make the girls reusable pads, so they could go to school. And teach them how to take care of themselves and the pads.

We have 30 of our orphan girls in Zim affected by this. Some are Sandra Ncube

and Babongile, to name a few.

With all the gifts of fabric given to HHTH, we approached Memory about her sewing 100 pads.  For the inside part, we  gave her all the 3x T- Shirts that would not fit people here.  She eagerly said “yes” to sewing the pads for $2. each.  With a second order for 200 more.

On our way out of Victoria Falls, we stopped by to pick up the pads.  And Memory proudly  handed over 112 reusable feminine pads that fold up and snap to make it very small for the girls to carry. These will be given to our 30 or so girls in South Africa.  The other 200 will be used for the girls in Zimbabwe. 

With this small assistance from HHTH, and our team solving another big issue in education, Memory’s life has drastically changed as will the life of our girls.  It also allowed HHTH to help another person to earn an income.

And that is not the end of the fairytale either!   Memory got an order for 2 dresses for a wedding and she was able to use her new serger to “finish” all seams professionally!  How’s that for a “dream come true” ending?

Until the next time... Delightedly, from the Bush with Love 💕, 

 Sidney