Patti has arrived

We were very excited to pick up Patti from the airport on Thursday.  She is from our sending church and will be helping mainly in the Care Home- helping right now with the cleaning and stocking, helping in a few weeks with the training, and helping in the future as we model compassionate care and oversee the workers.
This takes a huge burden off me and allows for me to continue home schooling the girls and focus on the Care Home administration and Bible studies with the workers and patients.
We are very blessed!

A little gift from God

Monday was our last day of interviewing women to work at the Calvary Care Home.  It was actually almost an after thought- asking Pastor Clement if there were any willing ladies from his church.  But, we know it was the prodding of the Holy Spirit.

We really only needed one more lady and desired a committed Christian with a good work ethic and compassionate spirit.  Well, we got that lady just a few minutes after arriving!  Clement said that he and his wife Thuli had talked the night before and because of her desire to work with sick people, she would like to interview for the position.  My jaw dropped open!  I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.  Thuli is amazing- a dedicated pastor's wife with a burden for people to know the Lord, sweet personality, incredible work ethic and a good friend.

We hired her on the spot and I felt like I had just been given a gift wrapped package from my Heavenly Father!

Interviewing

Thursday was such a fun day!  We had the opportunity to interview 6 women from Enseleni Baptist Church for potential employment at the Care Home.  It was great to see the women's excitement about the job, yet sad to hear how HIV has personally touched their families and friends.  Most of them have cared for dying family members (AIDS) and described even tending to the body after they had passed.  You could see the compassion for these situations on their faces.
Now comes the difficulty of choosing the right people.  Please pray that God would give us guidance and discernment.  We are excited to start training the workers and have a chance to build into their lives!

Warmer Weather

Warmer weather is upon us and the girls get creative with their outdoor play.  Nothing like the older child convincing the younger one to pull her with the dog harness!
Warmer weather brings more meals ate outside, lots of play time, quick drying laundry, mold, flies, sweating, swimming and the heat.  The dreaded heat!  The bad months (end of Dec- March) can get miserable.  There were times last year when the girls and I gave up on doing school and went to the air-conditioned mall.  It was just too hot to even think :)

Coronation of a new Induna

A Zulu Induna is an area leader, advisor or headman. They usually have great respect within their community and events, ministries, etc a lot of times need their permission to operate.

This is why the event on Sunday was such an honor to attend. A coronation ceremony was being held for a new Induna in Pastor Clement's area (a Zulu pastor and good friend). Since Clement was organizing the event, he asked Kyle to participate in the ceremony, sharing from the Word for about 10 minutes. A few years back, Kyle spoke at a celebration ceremony for the local king (Inkosi, head chief), this same king would also be at the ceremony.

Clement explained that having Kyle come and preach from God's Work would continue to validate what Clement is preaching out in the community. God is shining His favor on Clement and raising him up in the eyes of the people. Pastors are coming from hours away to talk with him and ask questions. Clement is being faithful to present God's Word and stand fast on the truth! It was an honor to help Clement gain favor in the eyes of the leadership by coming to speak.

We arrived at the event at 11am. I waited with Clement's wife Thuli for an hour in a "waiting" tent while Kyle sat with the local pastor's and ate meat that had been slaughtered the night before. It was great having Thuli with me the entire day because everything was in Zulu and she could help fill in the parts I didn't understand.

At noon, we were all seat in the church which was elaborately decorated. The seating arraignments were very specific! Then started about 30-45 minutes of introductions, were people stood when their names were mentioned.

Then speeches, then Zulu dancing, then more speeches, more dancing.

Then gift giving, live sheep, blankets, towels, money, a bible.

More dancing.

(By this time, I'm starving and feeling light headed)

Then Kyle's turn. The MC (a big name radio personality) introduced him (laughing) saying that Kyle would preach to them in Zulu. Everybody straightened up in their chairs and pulled out their cell phones to take pics or video :)

He first went through the greetings using the proper praise names. This always elicits cheers and laughter (respectfully). Then he brought a challenge on leadership from God's Word.

Then comes my embarrassing moment: When Kyle was finished and making his way bake to sit, the MC took over and went on a little speech. Everybody started laughing and was looking at me. I started listening closely and caught that he was talking about me, but couldn't figure out much more. Thuli was laughing so hard she couldn't tell me what he said. Finally, she gained composure and told me that he had noticed me at the beginning of the ceremony and thought that someone should take me as his wife (he even considered it), but now he realizes that I'm already taken. There was more to his little speech, but Thuli started laughing again and I couldn't understand the rest. I'm probably glad that I don't know!

Then the food- around 3:30pm- rice, stewed beef, coleslaw, beans, soda, pasta salad.

4:30pm- We decided we really needed to go and pick up the kids. Passing through the crowd to leave takes a bit of time, stopping to greet people and shake hands. Then we waited outside for while because the Induna's wife wanted to bring us a little cake to take home.

All in all, we got back home a few minutes before 6pm, so very glad to have taken part in such a special ceremony!

Abby's 9th Birthday

Abby's 9th birthday fell right in the middle of us working at Junior Youth Camp. This worked out well because one of her friends lives on the camp property and offered to "host" the party in her home. So, we took down a cake and presents and celebrated away from home. What a blessing she is to us and a joy to raise!

The first pic is of her waiting to receive a gift. That gift is the next pic- her rhythmic gymnastics hoop. She was so excited because the friend sitting beside her is also in rhythmic and could show her some of the things she will be learning with the hoop.

Working at Junior Youth Camp

Natalie napping in her little tent.
Emily helping in the snack shop.
Sorting the med kit.
Games
Kyle overseeing the games.

Junior Youth Camp- a highlight of our year. Every year kids from about 10 different churches gather for 3 days of camp. Bible messages, games, food, late nights and lots of craziness fill those days. This year, Kyle was camp director and I was camp nurse.

Abby and Emily LOVE the time down there, running around, hanging out with the "big kids", watching the games, and helping out. Emily found her place in the snack shop handing out items.
Abby has a friend who lives on the camp property, so they spent every waking moment together, catching up and talking about rhythmic gymnastics!

Natalie, well, she was cold, but enjoyed the commotion and stayed quite entertained by everyone.