Some photos

Our sympathies to the Schlachter family and friends.  Rev. Barbara is remembered fondly by those who met her in 2004 when she preached at that first ordination of women priests in Swaziland.

Mostly photos this time. This is Revd. Orma Mavimbela at St. Matthias Church last Saturday, looking at some of the fabric we brought for her sewing group from an Ames parishoner.

Monday we were at Luve and Ekukhenyeni Care Points. The first two pictures are from Luve;

Luve children singing.

Luve garden in need of planting.

the next two from Ekukhenyeni.

 

Main building at Ekukhanyeni

Lunch time.

On Wednesday we made the long trip to the southeast (about 480 km round trip) to see the care points at Mpandesane:

Water carried from the river at the foot of the mountain.

The blocks are still there.  No building; no food.

and also Mantsanjeni:

She was a baby in arms in Nov. 2012. Playground is recent; extremely dry.

This is the area that is hardest hit by the drought.  We have had rain both Wed and Thur in Mbabane; the area around Luve has had some rain in recent weeks.  However, the cattle in the south looked better than those in the middle of the country.  This was a hard day because of the distance, driving through rain part of the time and the emotional toll of the southeast.  However, it was probably hardest on Thandi who had never been to these two Care Points.

The new Social Development Board which will oversee the department had its first meeting on Wednesday.  It looks like an impressive group of mainly young professionals.  That gives us hope for meaningful programming.  But I forgot to take the camera!