First things first, I would like to say sorry for being so rubbish at updating this. Its been quite a hectice few weeks as you are probably used to me saying!
Well the thursday just after my last blog, I went down with a high fever and feeling very unwell. Luckily the next day I managed to get taken to the doctors, who was really helpful and only cost 200 Rand (Just short of 20 pound) and gave me antibiotics and other drugs because I had gone down with another bad throat infection.
So after a couple days rest by the sunday I was back on my feet again. By this time Saskia, my roommate, and the other volunteer from Holand had to say goodbye to us all. As she drove off in the car, the children just all had sad, blank faces!
Then the week after Amy's boyfriend came to visit here for a week and now they are spending a week in Cape Town. So it was nice to have another face at the meal table and the older boys loved playing with an older guy.
Last friday was my day off and went for a run on the farm, and all of a sudden an Ostriche comes out the bush running at me, then froze and ran the other way.Considering they are meant to be very quick, they look hilarious when they run. On my day off I also did lots of cleaning my bathroom, and washing - not so fun! But I got to speak to my whole family on skype!
It was so lovely, they were having a big barbeque for my baby cousin who just turned one years old! It makes me very sad to think I missed out, and got quick emotional, but they are all well and healthy and was lovely to talk!
But sadly after telling my parents that i was finally back to good health, I then went down ill again on monday. So have spent yet again another 3 days in bed, and on some more antibiotics. Sadly because of the glandular fever my immune system is completely wiped, but Mark and Chris keep assuring me when the summer comes and its less dry and dusty it will be much better.
Its quite crazy to think it has only rained here once so far, in my 6 weeks of being here!
But unfortunately it was the worst week for me to have a couple days in bad, because we now only have 2 volunteers and myself (Amy is on holiday for a week in Cape town). So it means you are alone for 2 hours at a time with 6 children, and sometimes even the 4 babies (though we do have a staff work monday to friday to take care off the 4 babies).
Today has been very hot, you really notice the heat in the day now. Its getting into late 20's early 30's, but everyone keeps assuring me this is only winter - wait for summer. So Im getting a little cold feet (excuse the pun!) but it lovely to be in the sunshine everyday. Although saying that, two weeks ago we had a bad couple days full of storms and lightening. One evening there was an incredible storm and the lightening filled the sky - I even crept into Kirstins bed because I was a little nervous which is very unlike me! But they are very different out here as you can imagine. But Mark tells me they get 3 times worse, and one time lightening hit a tree just outside the fence and has killed many animals and cattle before.
But it meant we lost power for a day, so that was fun trying to feed everybody because we had no microwaves or anything so couldnt even make a sandwich because we keep stocked up on bread in the freezer so couldn't even defrost the bread to eat! Im told summer this is a common occurance. But the thunderstorms are mesmerizing!
Ermmm, what else has happened... oh...
Last night we got the chance to go on a night game drive! The gentleman on a farm across the road called Derek runs a lodging and restaurant, and does game drives around the local farms. Me and Kirstin went for free! (Kirstin is Mark and Chris adoptive daughter) She herself has never been so that just shows how rare it is to get the chance!
So we hoped on his big safari truck, in the freezing night air and Nhlanhla (one of the big boys) came with us. There was 3 other people who live on local reserves and another couple. It was amazing we left about 8.30pm and got back at 11pm. We saw virtually everything but Rhino's!!
Wildabeasts, Impalas, Jackals, Zebras, and beautiful baby boy giraffe! He was beautiful and so elegant as he walked through the bush at night. We just each held a huge torchlight to search for them ourselves, so we had to shout 'Stop!' if we saw some eyes. Derek even stopped over a local river, and we all sat and drank hot coffee, which was so nice as it was so cold! The dry dusty weather makes your nose and throat so dry its horrible.
Today we had some local visitors from the Prestige School, which is the same school the big boys go to. A class are taking it in turns to ceom in small groups and visit for a few hours. Its nice to have them to play with the children, but it also makes thing a lot harder because they children go crazy, we had Koki sleeping in the lounge, Kamo falling asleep on someones lap, Lebo (8 months) was crying his eyes out anytime anoyone came over because he doesnt like strangers so you had to hold him all day. So made our work a little harder!
Its only me and Kirstin in the cottage and the moment, and we were warned yesterday by Mark and Derek that Derek and another farm opposite had a break in. Intruders trying to cut the electric fence. Though Im told they didnt go in the house, just stole things off the property that they could sell. So we are being extra cautious to put things away and lock the door at night. Especially when my bedroom window is 10 metres from the fence!
Anyway its time for my break to end, earlier I was just sat outside in the sunshine listening to music but could only stay for 10 minutes as its so humid and the sun is blazing! You have to be very careful!
Apart from that the children are fine and enjoying the walks and sunshines, we are still trying to get one of them to walk - he's a lazy boy!
P.S. We hope to get the swimming pool up and running in a couple weeks - cant wait!!
P.S.S Just realised I haven't updated you on my visit to Mama Catherines and explaining all about what she does. Will do that hopefully in the next few days - and show you a couple pictures if I can get it to work!
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Monday, 8 August 2011
Microflights and more!
Hi all!
So its already monday, time seems to fly here! Already commencing week 4 of my time her!
Last time I updated you was on wednesday, and Im not sure if I told you or not but later that dayw e had another little 6 month olf girl dropped off! She was absolutely beautiful, her mother and father were seperated and couldn't work out an agreement so decided for adoption. That evening I got to give her lots of cuddles to settle her in, but it turns out the next day her parents came back to pick her up. Somehow they must have come to an arrangement and decided to take her back!
So that was quite a whirlwind!
Thursday was my day of and I went for a big long walk for over 2 hours in the big wide bush. Got a little lost I must admit but saw lots of animals. When I saw imapala I was trying to follow them, although they are so quick they kept running off, somehow they led me back to our plot so I could find my way! Managed to also get qwuite sunburnt in the process, the African sun is beautiful!
Later that day Saskia and I were going on the microlight! So we left at around 4pm and drove over to the place. The guy who runs it is actually a believe, so during the whole flight we were having a great conversation about the bible, and our testemonies!
The flight itself lasted about 20 mintues and we were flying witht he sun in our eyes! I saw baby Giraffes, lots of Impala and Kudo, loads of Zebra and even 2 lots of Rhinos! There were 4 Rhino and as we went closer to ground they started to stampede! Then we later saw 2 Rhinos a mum and its baby sat sleeping on the ground! Incredible! And it only cost 300 Rand, which is around £30! Im hoping to do it again before I leave!
Friday was spent again with the children. But it was a lovely day as we had a Dutch family come to visit all afternoon who had recently adopted 2 girls from Tsepho Ya Bana! They were a lovely family and helped out with the children, and the toddlers were so enthrawled to see the two girls back they were playing and having loads of fun!
Saturday was a great day. I did the early shift so had a nice break off in the morning, so popped to Hammanskraal with Mark to pick up some bits. Then in the evening the older boys ahd put the tent up! So Kagiso, Tom, Nglanclan, Saskia and myself decided we would stay in the tent that night! Us volunteers chilled in the cottage for a bit then Saskia went out and joined the boys!
It was so much fun, I felt like a little kid again having a sleepover! I get on really well with the older boys, since getting the guitar started again Kagiso has started to learn some songs with me including 'The Lazy Song' by Bruno Mars because he absolutely loves that song! We were giggling and laughing for about an hour before finally dropping off to sleep!
Sunday I was up early for morning shift (trying to creep out of the tent without waking everyone didn't work so well!) then went to the African Church which is where Mama Joy (one of the cleaners that is employed by Tshepo Ya Bana) attends.
It was what some may call a 'real south african church'! We arrived around 9.30am and we commenced by going around and hugging every individual in the room before starting in song worship. It was such an incredible experience, the people are so loving and friendly. As some of you may know I am not the 'hugging' type!! But it is so normal in this land to greet people with a huge hug! Maybe I will come back a changed girl!
3 girls then moved to the front and began to sing, some were in Africanse and some were in England, and some even combined both! But the different voices and harmonies were beautiful, everybody lifting their arms and hearts praising God! The only instruments were people who had brought their own tambourines!
Then they took an offering and then we were led in a sermon. The preaching was fantastic, and the congregation are such a family, people start almost joining in and one elderly lady came up at the end to say somehting. She was speaking in Africanse and the preacher tried to translate, but I didnt understand a word of it! Thought he congregationg were in histerics!
The rest fo the day I was back on shift wiht the children. When I had an hour break, I joined in witht he older boys and Uncle Hans as they wer eplaying football, or should I say 'soccer'. It was great fun!
We actually have past volunteer here for one week caleld Auntie Melissa, she is here with her brother from Holand. She was here about 2 months ago, and has been travelling around SA and has come back fr one week. It has really thrown the children off and they are a bit misbehaving and things because I think it is hard for them to understand why she has come back when she said goodbye.
Its so sad, whenever we hear an aeroplane the children go crazy (they love them!) But they relate any aeroplane to past volunteers, they believe that thats where the go to for the rest of their lives. Sot hey will look up and see an aeroplane and shout 'Auntie Wendy!' or 'Auntie Melissa!' and they keep saying to Saskia - 'You go in aeroplane'.
Its so sad, and makes me want to stay longer, although I am here for 6 months Saskia has only been ehr 6 weeks and leaving already!
Last night we had a great night, since its a Public holiday on tuesday the boys dont have school today or tomorrow. So we decided that we would doa pizza and movie night with them at the Volunteer cottage. So there were us volunteers, the 4 boys and Auntie Melissa and her brother. It was greta fun, and nice for boys too! We even tried pizza with Banana on it!
Today is my day off as I plan to go to visit another orphanage near by. The lady who runs it is Mama Kathrine, so thats what we call it. I will be going with a local couple who have just emigrated here from the USA, they are a lovely fmaily and waiting to start a business here to in the meantime they visit local orphanages and help with the children etc. They are due to pick me up in about 40 minutes so I will elt you know how I get on!
Im told Mama Kathrines is a lot more basic tha Tsepho Ya Bana, Im not sure they even have running water.....
Speak to you shortly!!!!
Gemma
So its already monday, time seems to fly here! Already commencing week 4 of my time her!
Last time I updated you was on wednesday, and Im not sure if I told you or not but later that dayw e had another little 6 month olf girl dropped off! She was absolutely beautiful, her mother and father were seperated and couldn't work out an agreement so decided for adoption. That evening I got to give her lots of cuddles to settle her in, but it turns out the next day her parents came back to pick her up. Somehow they must have come to an arrangement and decided to take her back!
So that was quite a whirlwind!
Thursday was my day of and I went for a big long walk for over 2 hours in the big wide bush. Got a little lost I must admit but saw lots of animals. When I saw imapala I was trying to follow them, although they are so quick they kept running off, somehow they led me back to our plot so I could find my way! Managed to also get qwuite sunburnt in the process, the African sun is beautiful!
Later that day Saskia and I were going on the microlight! So we left at around 4pm and drove over to the place. The guy who runs it is actually a believe, so during the whole flight we were having a great conversation about the bible, and our testemonies!
The flight itself lasted about 20 mintues and we were flying witht he sun in our eyes! I saw baby Giraffes, lots of Impala and Kudo, loads of Zebra and even 2 lots of Rhinos! There were 4 Rhino and as we went closer to ground they started to stampede! Then we later saw 2 Rhinos a mum and its baby sat sleeping on the ground! Incredible! And it only cost 300 Rand, which is around £30! Im hoping to do it again before I leave!
Friday was spent again with the children. But it was a lovely day as we had a Dutch family come to visit all afternoon who had recently adopted 2 girls from Tsepho Ya Bana! They were a lovely family and helped out with the children, and the toddlers were so enthrawled to see the two girls back they were playing and having loads of fun!
Saturday was a great day. I did the early shift so had a nice break off in the morning, so popped to Hammanskraal with Mark to pick up some bits. Then in the evening the older boys ahd put the tent up! So Kagiso, Tom, Nglanclan, Saskia and myself decided we would stay in the tent that night! Us volunteers chilled in the cottage for a bit then Saskia went out and joined the boys!
It was so much fun, I felt like a little kid again having a sleepover! I get on really well with the older boys, since getting the guitar started again Kagiso has started to learn some songs with me including 'The Lazy Song' by Bruno Mars because he absolutely loves that song! We were giggling and laughing for about an hour before finally dropping off to sleep!
Sunday I was up early for morning shift (trying to creep out of the tent without waking everyone didn't work so well!) then went to the African Church which is where Mama Joy (one of the cleaners that is employed by Tshepo Ya Bana) attends.
It was what some may call a 'real south african church'! We arrived around 9.30am and we commenced by going around and hugging every individual in the room before starting in song worship. It was such an incredible experience, the people are so loving and friendly. As some of you may know I am not the 'hugging' type!! But it is so normal in this land to greet people with a huge hug! Maybe I will come back a changed girl!
3 girls then moved to the front and began to sing, some were in Africanse and some were in England, and some even combined both! But the different voices and harmonies were beautiful, everybody lifting their arms and hearts praising God! The only instruments were people who had brought their own tambourines!
Then they took an offering and then we were led in a sermon. The preaching was fantastic, and the congregation are such a family, people start almost joining in and one elderly lady came up at the end to say somehting. She was speaking in Africanse and the preacher tried to translate, but I didnt understand a word of it! Thought he congregationg were in histerics!
The rest fo the day I was back on shift wiht the children. When I had an hour break, I joined in witht he older boys and Uncle Hans as they wer eplaying football, or should I say 'soccer'. It was great fun!
We actually have past volunteer here for one week caleld Auntie Melissa, she is here with her brother from Holand. She was here about 2 months ago, and has been travelling around SA and has come back fr one week. It has really thrown the children off and they are a bit misbehaving and things because I think it is hard for them to understand why she has come back when she said goodbye.
Its so sad, whenever we hear an aeroplane the children go crazy (they love them!) But they relate any aeroplane to past volunteers, they believe that thats where the go to for the rest of their lives. Sot hey will look up and see an aeroplane and shout 'Auntie Wendy!' or 'Auntie Melissa!' and they keep saying to Saskia - 'You go in aeroplane'.
Its so sad, and makes me want to stay longer, although I am here for 6 months Saskia has only been ehr 6 weeks and leaving already!
Last night we had a great night, since its a Public holiday on tuesday the boys dont have school today or tomorrow. So we decided that we would doa pizza and movie night with them at the Volunteer cottage. So there were us volunteers, the 4 boys and Auntie Melissa and her brother. It was greta fun, and nice for boys too! We even tried pizza with Banana on it!
Today is my day off as I plan to go to visit another orphanage near by. The lady who runs it is Mama Kathrine, so thats what we call it. I will be going with a local couple who have just emigrated here from the USA, they are a lovely fmaily and waiting to start a business here to in the meantime they visit local orphanages and help with the children etc. They are due to pick me up in about 40 minutes so I will elt you know how I get on!
Im told Mama Kathrines is a lot more basic tha Tsepho Ya Bana, Im not sure they even have running water.....
Speak to you shortly!!!!
Gemma
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Trying to Upload Pictures
Ahhh sorry everybody, I just spent 1 hour this morning uploading about 20 pictures, and then the internet went :(
I dont have time to try again, but tomorrow is my day off so shall try again tomorrow!!
Might as well update you on my last few days while Im here! So yesterday after I updated my blog we all went and made pancakes for lunch! Special treat - my profile picture is a picture taken yesterday with 4 of the boys!
Then this morning, after making their breakfast I took the four toddlers out for a big long walk. Its great because at the moment on the game reserve we can roam around as much as we like. They are soon to be putting elephants and lions within the game reserve which is sweet and sour. It means obviously we could have elephants on our doorstep and lions too - but we will no longer be able to go for walks beyond our electric fence! Which will be such as shame.
This morning on our walk we saw a very big ostriche, a very quick impala running away from us (I told the boys they had to be quiet - they wouldn't listen!! ha) and we also saw some really cute wathogs walk past... ugly but cute things they are.
Friends have also been asking me lots about what the food is like here! I have to say it is great! We all share a meal every evening with around 15 of us. Chris is a great cook, and because she has to make the food stretch she's always cooking stews and large dishes. We had a lovely buttnersquash curry the other day that was delicious. They have a lot of butternut squash and pumpkin. In South Africa we also have a ridiculous amount of peanut butter, the kids request it almost every lunchtime and Chris made a Western dish which was like peanut butter chicken stew! Very bizzarre.
I eat my own lunch and breakfast in my cottage, so its simply cornflakes or oats for breakfast, and then just bread for lunch. Gets a bit boring!!
As I told you yesterday we have a new baby boy here so in total we have 13 boys and just one girl. I will go throught heir names for you:
Our 5 big boys:
Kagiso,
Tshepo,
Tom (the only easy name!)
Nglanglan,
Fetsi,
Our Toddlers:
Tshepang,
Koketso (or Koki as we call him),
Tshepo David, (Or Tshepo Didi, or Didi)
Kamo
Then our 1-year olds:
Orebelle (our only girl!)
Tshwarelo
Our babies:
Lebo
Lehtlogonolo
Neo (pronounced Nao)
As you notice we only have one girl, Im told that that is quite usual in Africa, or near here anyway. When girls are given to husbands, the husband has to pay the family, or in effect buy her as a wife. So families, particularly in the townships are more likely to want to keep the baby girls as it will later provide some sort of income. Whereas boys would not. Its bizarre because in England and many other countries it always seems to be the opposite, historically boys were more wanted to carry on the family name!
But it just shows what these families living in poverty have to deal with.
We cherish Orebelle our little girl here, shes beautiful and has the best sense of humour out of all of them! I hope to attatch a video soon of her laugh. It is great, she has this sily giggle!! She is a bit of a flirt though... going up to all the boys to kiss them!
Uncle Hans (One of our other volunteers) is our handyman, he is here with his wife and she hels with the children. He has made little tools for the boys and things for them to play this! Brooms, sweeping equipment and even a wheelbarrow! The children always watch the Papa's as they garden and clean the premises and always want to join in and help! So Hans has made some great toys so that they can feel they are helping!
As I said, I will try again another day to upload some photos - sadly the internet connect is quite bad so it takes so long, please bare with me.
Hope your are all well, Im told its been lovely weather! Enjoy!
I dont have time to try again, but tomorrow is my day off so shall try again tomorrow!!
Might as well update you on my last few days while Im here! So yesterday after I updated my blog we all went and made pancakes for lunch! Special treat - my profile picture is a picture taken yesterday with 4 of the boys!
Then this morning, after making their breakfast I took the four toddlers out for a big long walk. Its great because at the moment on the game reserve we can roam around as much as we like. They are soon to be putting elephants and lions within the game reserve which is sweet and sour. It means obviously we could have elephants on our doorstep and lions too - but we will no longer be able to go for walks beyond our electric fence! Which will be such as shame.
This morning on our walk we saw a very big ostriche, a very quick impala running away from us (I told the boys they had to be quiet - they wouldn't listen!! ha) and we also saw some really cute wathogs walk past... ugly but cute things they are.
Friends have also been asking me lots about what the food is like here! I have to say it is great! We all share a meal every evening with around 15 of us. Chris is a great cook, and because she has to make the food stretch she's always cooking stews and large dishes. We had a lovely buttnersquash curry the other day that was delicious. They have a lot of butternut squash and pumpkin. In South Africa we also have a ridiculous amount of peanut butter, the kids request it almost every lunchtime and Chris made a Western dish which was like peanut butter chicken stew! Very bizzarre.
I eat my own lunch and breakfast in my cottage, so its simply cornflakes or oats for breakfast, and then just bread for lunch. Gets a bit boring!!
As I told you yesterday we have a new baby boy here so in total we have 13 boys and just one girl. I will go throught heir names for you:
Our 5 big boys:
Kagiso,
Tshepo,
Tom (the only easy name!)
Nglanglan,
Fetsi,
Our Toddlers:
Tshepang,
Koketso (or Koki as we call him),
Tshepo David, (Or Tshepo Didi, or Didi)
Kamo
Then our 1-year olds:
Orebelle (our only girl!)
Tshwarelo
Our babies:
Lebo
Lehtlogonolo
Neo (pronounced Nao)
As you notice we only have one girl, Im told that that is quite usual in Africa, or near here anyway. When girls are given to husbands, the husband has to pay the family, or in effect buy her as a wife. So families, particularly in the townships are more likely to want to keep the baby girls as it will later provide some sort of income. Whereas boys would not. Its bizarre because in England and many other countries it always seems to be the opposite, historically boys were more wanted to carry on the family name!
But it just shows what these families living in poverty have to deal with.
We cherish Orebelle our little girl here, shes beautiful and has the best sense of humour out of all of them! I hope to attatch a video soon of her laugh. It is great, she has this sily giggle!! She is a bit of a flirt though... going up to all the boys to kiss them!
Uncle Hans (One of our other volunteers) is our handyman, he is here with his wife and she hels with the children. He has made little tools for the boys and things for them to play this! Brooms, sweeping equipment and even a wheelbarrow! The children always watch the Papa's as they garden and clean the premises and always want to join in and help! So Hans has made some great toys so that they can feel they are helping!
As I said, I will try again another day to upload some photos - sadly the internet connect is quite bad so it takes so long, please bare with me.
Hope your are all well, Im told its been lovely weather! Enjoy!
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Week Two's Tales
Hello again everybody!
Sorry for the delay in updating my blog! I'll take you through my past week if thats ok!
Tuesday was another day of fun witht he children, in the evening we had our usual Bible Study. Except yet again it was quite eventful! Mark got a call from a local guy 5 minutes before commencing our study. He called to say that one the families employed at the local 'childrens village' (it hold about 60 children, and is a large complex ranging from young babies to 20 year olds - just shows how much there is a need for children care), the family had been evicted.
I wont go into too much detail into what had happened, but basically it was a man called Christian, his wife and young child aged 4. They are a christian family, and had a disagreement with the owner of the children's village and one of the children there had made false claims against them. The problems that orphanages face is that children can make claims against workers, so we have to be very careful. Unfortunately this family had been told they must leave by the owner and needed a place to stay.
So they were driven here as we had a small room in one fo the cottages fro them, and Mark and Chris told them they can stay as long as they need. An absolutely horrific situation they are under, but praise the Lord because they arrived just as Mark was leading out bible study. And the Lord was present with us in a miraculous way, we had a great time of study and prayer for them. Though they had just been forced to leave not only their job, but home too, they were full of faith. Amen.
So Christian and his famnily were given a bed for the night, they managed to then make arrangements for the next day to go and stay with someone they new. Sadly, Christian actually managed to overturn their car on the journey, they were all rushed to A&E but were all fine. Please pray for them, they are going through such a horrific ordeal it is hard to comprehend or understand.
Wednesday was my day off, I spent it relaxing, went into the Prestige College to pick one of the older boys up who had been complaining of stomach cramps, and I also managed to get their old, unused guitar up and running! Its was such a blessing to sit outside in the sun with the guitar and sing praises, with the children mesmerized and wanting to join in. We are hoping to maybe spend some evenings singing together which will be so great, one of the older boys wants to learn too - so that may be another role here for me!!
Thursday evening, Kirstin (Mark and Chris's daughter) had to be taken to her sisters house who lives in Pretoria because she is spending a week in Durban with her Auntie. Mark, Saskia and myself travelled in the car that everning to give Mark some company. One thing about the roads here is that they are absolutely dead straight, but some are also very badly lit, some have no lights at all. So it is incredibly easy for people to fall asleep at the wheel, so Mark was grateful for our compan.y. It also meant I got to see a little more of Pretoria, and saw Mark and Chris' daughter's home. Which, again, was lovely.
Friday, sadly, I started to feel a bit unwell. My throat was awfully sore and I started to get a thumping headache. I spoke to Chris and said I would just go home to my cottage to sleep, so dont worry about making portions for me for dinner. Her and Mark looked at me and just said, 'would you like to go now' and so I had to put Baby Nolo and his bottle down and go straight to my cottage for a big sobbing session and sleep. I was frustrated because I couldnt do the work I was meant to be doing, and hate being ill away from home.
I was so pleased I managed to get hold of my mum on the telephone for the first time. It was lovely to be able to talk to her and she reassured me that if I am ill, I must concentrate on staying in bed and getting better. So all saturday and sunday was spent in bed. I didnt move. Sadly I did vomit a couple times during the night. But it turned out to be ANOTHER case of tonsillitus.
(If you know me well - you will know that whenever I am ill it will always be tonsillitus!)
Mark and Chris didnt particularly want to take me to the doctors so she gave me some herbal tablets, and some strong aspirin which cleared up my fever.
Yesterday I managed to get back on my feet a little and worked about 5 or 6 hours with the children, and today I am also back on my feet as yesterday I went to bed around 6 oclock to get some good rest for today.
Yesterday we also had a social worker come by to see one of the babies called Lebo. At the same time they dropped off another baby. I dont know if you remember, but when I arrived we had a little baby girl called Neo (pronounced Nao) who was adopted to an africanse family. Well this new baby is also caleld Neo - this time a little baby boy.... he is 6 weeks old! So sad to hear that only 6 weeks ago his mother gave birth to him, and yet was found on his grandmothers doorstep a few weeks later and consequently put into our care. He is beautiful.
One of the volunteers I share a room with, called Saskia, she sadly leaves next Wednesday (It will be very emotional I can tell!) Me and her hope to get the chance to go on a Microlight on my day off on thursday!!!! So very excited! We also plan to all go for a meal before she leaves, and have the older boys up to our cottage one night to make pancakes and watch movies!!
Again my love to you all,
Any questions email me at glhayward11@gmail.com
Gemma
Sorry for the delay in updating my blog! I'll take you through my past week if thats ok!
Tuesday was another day of fun witht he children, in the evening we had our usual Bible Study. Except yet again it was quite eventful! Mark got a call from a local guy 5 minutes before commencing our study. He called to say that one the families employed at the local 'childrens village' (it hold about 60 children, and is a large complex ranging from young babies to 20 year olds - just shows how much there is a need for children care), the family had been evicted.
I wont go into too much detail into what had happened, but basically it was a man called Christian, his wife and young child aged 4. They are a christian family, and had a disagreement with the owner of the children's village and one of the children there had made false claims against them. The problems that orphanages face is that children can make claims against workers, so we have to be very careful. Unfortunately this family had been told they must leave by the owner and needed a place to stay.
So they were driven here as we had a small room in one fo the cottages fro them, and Mark and Chris told them they can stay as long as they need. An absolutely horrific situation they are under, but praise the Lord because they arrived just as Mark was leading out bible study. And the Lord was present with us in a miraculous way, we had a great time of study and prayer for them. Though they had just been forced to leave not only their job, but home too, they were full of faith. Amen.
So Christian and his famnily were given a bed for the night, they managed to then make arrangements for the next day to go and stay with someone they new. Sadly, Christian actually managed to overturn their car on the journey, they were all rushed to A&E but were all fine. Please pray for them, they are going through such a horrific ordeal it is hard to comprehend or understand.
Wednesday was my day off, I spent it relaxing, went into the Prestige College to pick one of the older boys up who had been complaining of stomach cramps, and I also managed to get their old, unused guitar up and running! Its was such a blessing to sit outside in the sun with the guitar and sing praises, with the children mesmerized and wanting to join in. We are hoping to maybe spend some evenings singing together which will be so great, one of the older boys wants to learn too - so that may be another role here for me!!
Thursday evening, Kirstin (Mark and Chris's daughter) had to be taken to her sisters house who lives in Pretoria because she is spending a week in Durban with her Auntie. Mark, Saskia and myself travelled in the car that everning to give Mark some company. One thing about the roads here is that they are absolutely dead straight, but some are also very badly lit, some have no lights at all. So it is incredibly easy for people to fall asleep at the wheel, so Mark was grateful for our compan.y. It also meant I got to see a little more of Pretoria, and saw Mark and Chris' daughter's home. Which, again, was lovely.
Friday, sadly, I started to feel a bit unwell. My throat was awfully sore and I started to get a thumping headache. I spoke to Chris and said I would just go home to my cottage to sleep, so dont worry about making portions for me for dinner. Her and Mark looked at me and just said, 'would you like to go now' and so I had to put Baby Nolo and his bottle down and go straight to my cottage for a big sobbing session and sleep. I was frustrated because I couldnt do the work I was meant to be doing, and hate being ill away from home.
I was so pleased I managed to get hold of my mum on the telephone for the first time. It was lovely to be able to talk to her and she reassured me that if I am ill, I must concentrate on staying in bed and getting better. So all saturday and sunday was spent in bed. I didnt move. Sadly I did vomit a couple times during the night. But it turned out to be ANOTHER case of tonsillitus.
(If you know me well - you will know that whenever I am ill it will always be tonsillitus!)
Mark and Chris didnt particularly want to take me to the doctors so she gave me some herbal tablets, and some strong aspirin which cleared up my fever.
Yesterday I managed to get back on my feet a little and worked about 5 or 6 hours with the children, and today I am also back on my feet as yesterday I went to bed around 6 oclock to get some good rest for today.
Yesterday we also had a social worker come by to see one of the babies called Lebo. At the same time they dropped off another baby. I dont know if you remember, but when I arrived we had a little baby girl called Neo (pronounced Nao) who was adopted to an africanse family. Well this new baby is also caleld Neo - this time a little baby boy.... he is 6 weeks old! So sad to hear that only 6 weeks ago his mother gave birth to him, and yet was found on his grandmothers doorstep a few weeks later and consequently put into our care. He is beautiful.
One of the volunteers I share a room with, called Saskia, she sadly leaves next Wednesday (It will be very emotional I can tell!) Me and her hope to get the chance to go on a Microlight on my day off on thursday!!!! So very excited! We also plan to all go for a meal before she leaves, and have the older boys up to our cottage one night to make pancakes and watch movies!!
Again my love to you all,
Any questions email me at glhayward11@gmail.com
Gemma
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