Last day at St. Augustine's
Yesterday we began the departure stage of our trip. We made our last trip to Mpaka. Even on the trip out, it was very tough.
The big event was Terry’s program on dental hygiene, conducted for all of the childen at Fr Mbatha’s. Stevie, Margaret and Sue assisted and Fr Charles translated. The children listened attentively and then responded enthusiastically. You must ask Stevie to perform her “song and dance” for you! Later each child was given a kit including a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss.
The class was held outside at Father Mbatha’s because the St. Augustine’s too small for all the children to be in. The pre-schoolers are taught inside, while the older children in grades 1 - 3 take their instruction on benches under some “trees” along the back of the property. They face the trees, with their backs to the road so that they will not be distracted by cars, cows, goats, and other assorted passers-by. On our first day at Mpaka, Lucy Mabuza held a math class with the older children. She used a blackboard propped against a tree to drill them in multiplication tables, giving praise and correcting the mistakes in both siSwati and English. She sets a mean pace, I will tell you. I don’t know how the report card came out, but the teachers do, because she met with them briefly before we went to Fr Mbatha’s place.
Yesterday Gene, Holly, Keith, Carla, Andy, Meghan, Ron, Cheryl, Hayley and Terry spent most of their time mixing cement and making blocks. I think they worked through three double batches of mix, our best day. There was constant wheelbarrow traffic at the mix pile and the block forms were really flying. They were assisted by a Swazi crew, including Jack in his Oxford shirt, who has been with us each day. They also stacked the blocks we made last week.
The actual ground breaking for St Augustine’s school will happen when the grant from the UK arrives. Bishop Mabuza explained the goal of the project is to cater to the educational needs of about 70 orphans aged between 5-13 whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS. Te otesHeHhe children will also be fed and clothed. This will benefit the community because orphans who might grow up to be a burden to society are given love and hope and a future by the teachers at the school.
They have architectural plans for a steel frame structure, drawn by a volunteer who has designed and constructed several large projects, and who donated his services. Larger blocks for the outside of the building will be made or purchased and then the whole skin will be plastered. I recommend supporting two blockyards we drive past every day. One advertises “sturdy and affordable blocks”. The other company promises strength, security and passion. The 9-inch blocks we have made will be used to divide the rooms. They will need a great many more to complete the school, but we hope our blocks will be scattered through the classrooms, in the heart of the school, where the children will be taught.
We have learned a lot about what it takes to staff and run a school and feeding program like this one. The Chairman of the Board of Education was at the site yesterday. He gave many details about how to apply to register the school. Feeding programs must also be registered in order to receive government support. When registration is complete, teachers will be chosen by the Diocese, but paid by the government. The completion of this plan is likely more than a year out. The superintendent told me that there will be a wonderful pre-school and feeding program at St. Augustine’s soon and thanked us for the part we have played in getting it started.
The older grades spend the late morning in a “Practical Skills” class in the garden, while the pre-schoolers come into the homestead to play and sing. On Friday and yesterday, Margaret, Sue and Stevie made a peanut butter sandwich snack for the children. We all take turns singing and playing with them, but the afore-mentioned three, and Lydia, Holly, Hayley, Carla and Meghan are the regulars. They have gotten to know many of the children and their stories.
The women prepared a marvelous feast for our last day. A goat was killed and roasted and the rest of the meal prepared under the unfortunate goat’s skin, which was hung in a tree near the cooking fires. We had jello salad, potato salad and a wonderful cooked cabbage, onion and carrot side-dish. We had chicken, mashed pumpkin and cauliflower. The trees and the round house were strewn with bouganvillea flowers. It was quite a party.
After the meal, the children sang for us and we sang for them (we figured it was safe since it was our last day). Then the presentations started. In addition to our mission team, ArchDeacon Lonorosa and Fr Charles, the members of Fr Mbatha’s household, the lay minister, the teachers, the fellow from the Board of Education, and three members of the house of Malindza, including the Chief’s father, were in attendance. School supplies, books and other gifts than many of you sent along with us were presented in a wheeled duffel bag. Rice, beans, and fresh vegetables meant to supplement the children’s meals for the next week were presented. Each child received the toothbrush kit and an orange. Many thanks, hugs and final prayers were shared. Then we began to say good-bye to our new friends. In the midst of this, the most extraordinary thing happened. A rainbow appeared in the sky over the Lubombo Mts to the south. There in drought stricken Mpaka, in the middle of the dry season, a rainbow appeared.
Last night, here in Mbabane, the skies broke open. Thunder and lightning, followed by drenching rains washed down the hills around the centre. Today part of our group will hike at Malahlotja Preserve. They hope to see more big game, but whether they are successful in achieving that or not, they are sure to see the famous Malahlotja Falls. Just today, even though it is the dry season, the falls will be flowing mightily, a gushing fountain of water, a symbol of the life giving energy available to us in the southern Africa landscape as everywhere else.
The big event was Terry’s program on dental hygiene, conducted for all of the childen at Fr Mbatha’s. Stevie, Margaret and Sue assisted and Fr Charles translated. The children listened attentively and then responded enthusiastically. You must ask Stevie to perform her “song and dance” for you! Later each child was given a kit including a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss.
The class was held outside at Father Mbatha’s because the St. Augustine’s too small for all the children to be in. The pre-schoolers are taught inside, while the older children in grades 1 - 3 take their instruction on benches under some “trees” along the back of the property. They face the trees, with their backs to the road so that they will not be distracted by cars, cows, goats, and other assorted passers-by. On our first day at Mpaka, Lucy Mabuza held a math class with the older children. She used a blackboard propped against a tree to drill them in multiplication tables, giving praise and correcting the mistakes in both siSwati and English. She sets a mean pace, I will tell you. I don’t know how the report card came out, but the teachers do, because she met with them briefly before we went to Fr Mbatha’s place.
Yesterday Gene, Holly, Keith, Carla, Andy, Meghan, Ron, Cheryl, Hayley and Terry spent most of their time mixing cement and making blocks. I think they worked through three double batches of mix, our best day. There was constant wheelbarrow traffic at the mix pile and the block forms were really flying. They were assisted by a Swazi crew, including Jack in his Oxford shirt, who has been with us each day. They also stacked the blocks we made last week.
The actual ground breaking for St Augustine’s school will happen when the grant from the UK arrives. Bishop Mabuza explained the goal of the project is to cater to the educational needs of about 70 orphans aged between 5-13 whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS. Te otesHeHhe children will also be fed and clothed. This will benefit the community because orphans who might grow up to be a burden to society are given love and hope and a future by the teachers at the school.
They have architectural plans for a steel frame structure, drawn by a volunteer who has designed and constructed several large projects, and who donated his services. Larger blocks for the outside of the building will be made or purchased and then the whole skin will be plastered. I recommend supporting two blockyards we drive past every day. One advertises “sturdy and affordable blocks”. The other company promises strength, security and passion. The 9-inch blocks we have made will be used to divide the rooms. They will need a great many more to complete the school, but we hope our blocks will be scattered through the classrooms, in the heart of the school, where the children will be taught.
We have learned a lot about what it takes to staff and run a school and feeding program like this one. The Chairman of the Board of Education was at the site yesterday. He gave many details about how to apply to register the school. Feeding programs must also be registered in order to receive government support. When registration is complete, teachers will be chosen by the Diocese, but paid by the government. The completion of this plan is likely more than a year out. The superintendent told me that there will be a wonderful pre-school and feeding program at St. Augustine’s soon and thanked us for the part we have played in getting it started.
The older grades spend the late morning in a “Practical Skills” class in the garden, while the pre-schoolers come into the homestead to play and sing. On Friday and yesterday, Margaret, Sue and Stevie made a peanut butter sandwich snack for the children. We all take turns singing and playing with them, but the afore-mentioned three, and Lydia, Holly, Hayley, Carla and Meghan are the regulars. They have gotten to know many of the children and their stories.
The women prepared a marvelous feast for our last day. A goat was killed and roasted and the rest of the meal prepared under the unfortunate goat’s skin, which was hung in a tree near the cooking fires. We had jello salad, potato salad and a wonderful cooked cabbage, onion and carrot side-dish. We had chicken, mashed pumpkin and cauliflower. The trees and the round house were strewn with bouganvillea flowers. It was quite a party.
After the meal, the children sang for us and we sang for them (we figured it was safe since it was our last day). Then the presentations started. In addition to our mission team, ArchDeacon Lonorosa and Fr Charles, the members of Fr Mbatha’s household, the lay minister, the teachers, the fellow from the Board of Education, and three members of the house of Malindza, including the Chief’s father, were in attendance. School supplies, books and other gifts than many of you sent along with us were presented in a wheeled duffel bag. Rice, beans, and fresh vegetables meant to supplement the children’s meals for the next week were presented. Each child received the toothbrush kit and an orange. Many thanks, hugs and final prayers were shared. Then we began to say good-bye to our new friends. In the midst of this, the most extraordinary thing happened. A rainbow appeared in the sky over the Lubombo Mts to the south. There in drought stricken Mpaka, in the middle of the dry season, a rainbow appeared.
Last night, here in Mbabane, the skies broke open. Thunder and lightning, followed by drenching rains washed down the hills around the centre. Today part of our group will hike at Malahlotja Preserve. They hope to see more big game, but whether they are successful in achieving that or not, they are sure to see the famous Malahlotja Falls. Just today, even though it is the dry season, the falls will be flowing mightily, a gushing fountain of water, a symbol of the life giving energy available to us in the southern Africa landscape as everywhere else.
posted by Mission Team ~ Iowa at
6:26 AM
1 Comments:
All being well, you'll all be on the way back to Iowa. It's gone so quickly for us and I bet even more swiftly for you. But the memories and the relationships will last for ever. Isn't it wonderful to realise that Companions are REAL!!
Peter
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Anonymous, at 7:10 AM
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