Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Helping Others


The children here are taught Bible principles to live by and they really eat it up! Today Okuhle (a-cuth-lay) came up to me and asked if I had any jobs to do. I asked why and she explained that the younger kids at The Pines "had to stay here all the time and never get away except for church on Sunday." She wanted to throw a "picnic" for the younger kids on Saturday and she needed 10 rand (about $1.50) to buy some food items to share. It didn't take me long to find a job for her helping me clean a window that really needed it. Here she is standing in front of the 6 foot by 6 foot window that she helped clean. You can't see it but she has 10 rand in her pocket.

Louis is currently at the Bible study with the boys. I am amazed every day how God's Word penetrates the lives of these children.

Today a 15 year old girl came up to me and asked if I would come back for her wedding. A little shocked I said "Yes, when are you getting married?" We then had a discussion about marriage and things she had learned from the BIble about marriage. She finished by saying that Uncle Brian told her that she had to bring the boy that wants to marry her to him so he could ask him many questions! She wants to make sure he is a believer and that he is a good person! She was concerned about men she has known who beat their wives. Wow, what a dedicated girl! She has learned much in her short time here.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Where have you been?




That is the question you are asking. Would you believe that I was going to post an update but the internet was down and then we all left on a 4 day "holiday?" Yeah, right... Well, true enough. We lost internet sometime on Thursday and we left on Friday for the Indian Ocean near Durban in the South African state of Kwa Zulu Natal. We had to brush up on our Zulu language and sharpen our brush cutters (like a machete) Ok, some of Louis is rubbing off on me! While the people speak Zulu and the brush is so thick you can't see past 3 or 4 feet they speak English and have paved roads. Our "self-catering" condo did not have towels or soap, we enjoyed our stay and family time together this past weekend.

Some of the tropical sight seeing included a visit to a banana farm and lunch at their cafe--banana "pancakes". Pancakes here are really crepes and this time there were about 3 bananas stuffed inside each one! We thought we were eating the whole farm! That was yesterday and I am ready for 3 more bananas today! We visited a crocodile farm (really) and saw about 50 crocks that were 30 years old--about 10 to 12 feet long each and about 1000 lbs. They fed those beasts while we were there--Wow!

We were a short boat ride from Madagascar but never made it!

Along the way we saw a little boy (about 6) who was begging at the gas station when we took a break. Brian & Lois gave him a banana and some carrots. He went over to the grassy area and immediately ate the food. We wondered what his story was--is he an orphan? neglected? Everywhere you go in this country you are faced with reality if you take time to open your eyes. When Christ said "the fields are white unto harvest" He must have been talking about places like South Africa where sin has had such a devastating effect on people that many open their hearts to God's Word and the truth of the gospel. They are ready to listen and eagerly accept Christ. If only there were more to tell them...

Pictures today are obvious and it is Brian. Lois & Liam on the swinging bridge.

Long blog today...sorry but had some catching up to do.