week 18

Jane’s friend Rosy came to visit for the week. Good fun to have her and show her around nkhoma. Monday we went to the village of Nguluwe where a school is being built with donations and sponsorship from some dutch friends and from the charity that Jane and Rosy started called Positive Steps. The building had started—at least the foundation but they were having an official groundbreaking ceremony. Many speeches by abusa, orphan project, and village heads and Mark and Jane and Maralise…I was asked to come as photographer and they did try to get me to say a few words but I didn’t know enough about what was going on…The school now is being held under a tree nearby and the school will be simple but there will be protection from the rains and more extreme weather. hopefully this will be the start that has been needed to really get the construction going.
Tuesday we climbed the mountain. Left early to escape the heat and we did that…even in the sun the breeze was pretty cool. But it was beautiful and we enjoyed our climb. I came down for 11 because I was going to go with a South African group to distribute bibles with the youth department and was tole that was when they would leave. I called when I got down and was told that they had already left…the only time things are on time (or early) in Africa…oh well.
Wed and Thursday I went to Ebenezer to say hello. They were getting ready for their closing day activities and finishing up the year. (next week) read a story in the first grade class. Things seem to be going very well.
The official opening for the Burns and Surgical Wards were on Friday. Some speeches in which it was emphasized that we have these new buildings and we need to keep them clean and give good care in them or there is no reason for having them. New buildings won’t heal people but it is good to work well in them and that the combination in much better for the patients. Ribbon cutting and tour of the wards and more speeches. Jan and Trudi who had been here for 5 years working on the hospital reconstruction had sent a video with their sentiments of wishing they could be there for the opening and their hopes for the good use of the facility.