SwaziCompanions of Iowa

Nutrition Wrap-up

2011-10-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

This is intended as a bit of a wrap-up on the nutrition part of the healthcare mission – again from the perspective of the theoretical mathematician (and old man of the trip).

Mary Jane conducted a total of 12 mini-workshops (about two hours each) over a period of nine days (M-F of week one and M-Th of week two). Seven of these were oriented primarily to volunteers who feed orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), three were primarily for volunteers who do home-based care, and two were a combination of the two groups. My role was to take notes, take pictures, and occasionally ask if she intended to talk about some particular topic and to sometimes assist with making changes in the slides for the next presentation.

These workshops were sometimes for as few as three volunteers, more frequently for six to eight volunteers, and occasionally for quite a few more. Each day we were driven by either Rosemary or Andrew+ Symonds and accompanied by two members of the Diocesan HIV/AIDS staff. Philile, Thulie, and Lungile took turns translating for us – Mary Jane’s method of teaching them. By the second week they were frequently getting ahead of her. They particularly liked Mary Jane’s statement that working men need energy (calories) but their need for protein is not higher than that of children and young women of child-bearing age. They could push that statement in cultural ways that always got the women laughing at the thought that they now had a reason to pursue change at home.

It was hard for us to judge just how successful these sessions were, but the staff kept assuring us that the volunteers were grateful. Good questions were raised in several of the workshops. Most of the sessions were held in a church or school, but in Mpandesane (site of the second dental clinic), the workshop was held under a tree (and the computer was quickly put aside since the sun was too bright). After all, “when two or three are gathered (under a tree) Jesus will be there”, we were reminded.

In addition to the workshops, we observed children eating their meals and also made four home visits with volunteer care providers to have a better idea of what is involved. After one of those visits we left the volunteer at the clinic where she was to pick up medicine for one of the patients. While we headed to our next workshop, she would be walking the three kilometers back to his home along the dirt track, through the rain. At one parish the 15 care providers have 12 critically ill patients whom they visit both morning and afternoon.

Forty volunteers from across Swaziland were invited to participate in a Friday night, Saturday workshop at the Thokoza Centre at the end of our stay. Thirty-eight came along with ten Iowans, the three staff from the HIV/AIDS office, and Rosemary and Andrew Symonds. Friday night was probably a bit too long for everyone – the dental team got back about 1 pm so had little time to recuperate before 4 pm tea. The participants came from all over the country – mostly by “kombie” – so were also tired.However, interaction was good.

Saturday morning was the “teaching” portion of the workshop with presentations on Palliative Care (Kendra), Oral Health (Terry), and Nutrition (Mary Jane+). Iowans participated in table discussions as listeners and recorders and were impressed with the stories they heard about the work of these volunteers.

The power-point presentations were left with the staff. It is our hope that they will translate the slides into SiSwati to be more useful for them to continue teaching.

It was a tiring experience, a humbling experience, and a joyous experience as we saw the work these people do with so little resources.

How far would you walk?

2011-10-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

Throughout our clinic on Wednesday, October 5th, we saw a constant stream of patients. Mainly adults from the community and teachers from the school where the clinic was set. But October 5th will always remain in my mind.....Sabusiswa (Stevie Shively) SiSwati for "blessed"

Each time I peeked out the door of our operatory (head-mistresses office) to the "waiting room," which was a line of about a dozen chairs set outdoors down to the next classroom, there were people patiently waiting. The last couple of hours of the afternoon, I checked to see that we were almost through the line, then I would look again and the chairs would be full! As we finished what we thought would be our very last patient, there appeared a little girl, eleven years old whom I will NEVER forget. Fr. Gregory (priest in charge of several churches in his parish in the south) had announced a week or so ago to those in the congregation that our oral health clinic was coming. The gogo (grannie) of a young girl learned this through a friend and shared with her granddaughter. Nolwazi arrived at the mission clinic site early that Wednesday morning. She checked in with our nurse, Kendra and interpreter Manla. She learned that the "Minister of Health" of Swaziland required all children to have signed permission forms to be seen in the mission clinic. This may have discouraged some, especially a child, but not Nolwazi! Fr. Carl and Fr. Gregory heared her story and gave her a ride to a bus stop where she caught a bus to get closer to her home. She walked the rest of the way to her home where her gogo signed her permission form, then she walked back to the bus stop to patiently wait for Fr. Carl and Gregory to return from their other mission they were completing. They returned to the Mpandesane Anglican School where Dr. Terry removed decay, restored several teeth, and she was then referred to the Swazi hygienists (from the government clinic) who extracted several teeth for her. She planned to walk back to the bus stop, but we gave her a ride at the end of our day. We pray for Nolwazi, that she will have many opprtunities to develop her strong will and indomitable spirit! Nkulunkulu agubusise, Nolwazi...(God bless you, Nolwazi)

Final Days in Swaziland

2011-10-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Our team had an incredible experience throughout our journey. We saw over 1000 children and adults through the dental clinics and nutritional assessments. We were treated to wonderful food, fellowship, and new friendships. Each of our experiences were different, but we shared a common bond as a team. The Swazi people take the best care of their guests, we could not have asked for better hospitality. Throughout the three weeks in the beautiful Kingdom of Swaziland, our team was able to truly witness the day to day challenges the people of rural and urban Swaziland face. Whether it's the shortage of food, shelter, and drinkable water in the rural areas, or for the people throughout the country faced with HIV/AIDS and lack of medicine to treat the variety of diseases and infections. As Americans, we struggled with daily showers and the shortage of Internet availability; such an insignificant problem when you look at all they face on a day to day basis. We will never forget the beautiful songs, the way they worship and dance throughout their church services, and the welcoming hugs and handshakes from everyone we met. Springtime in Swaziland is a definite "must see" along with the winding red dirt pathways that veer of into the distance from the main roads leading to a quaint homestead where a Gogo (grannie) and her grandson or granddaughter live in a one room thatched hut. In the morning that child will walk possibly 1-3 miles to school for their potential one meal per day. Again, as Americans, we take so much for granted and do we truly appreciate what we have? These scenes will remain in our hearts and minds until we meet again. Salakahle...Gugu (Elizabeth)

October 6, 2011

2011-10-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

This is the last day of the dental clinic and there are four days until we return home. I am anxious to see my husband, family and friends, yet there is so much that pulls at my heart to stay. I pass through the gate on my way to the "toilet" and I wonder, "am I really here?" The country is so beautiful, but the disparity of the people is heart breaking. The children run by and wave at Father Carl, they are so beautiful. Their smiles are genuine and their eyes tell such stories. Their beautiful skin soaks up the African sun deepening their rich color. The children wear clothes that do not fit or are ragged and torn. Their shoes are too small, too big, worn to a frazzle, or they have none at all. As they pass by they may ask for a sweet, but mostly they want just a smile or some affection. To celebrate our last day they treated us to a feast. We were served rice, sweet beans, chicken, (fried and boiled) coleslaw, pasta salad, green salad, and beets. It was hard to eat so much food when so many of the children do not get the food they need. They also presented us with a goat, this is a great honor. They drug the goat into the classroom which was our dining room, so we could see what a wonderful specimen he was. Knowing that they were now going to slaughter it, sent Kaelly over the edge and she could not shut off the tears for hours. I wish it would not offend the people if we could give it back to the children. As the day wound to a close, the children entertained us with traditional song and dance. What a beautiful display of their culture. The tent comes down, the equipment is packed, the trailer is loaded and we say "Good-bye," leaving behind pieces of our lives and hearts; hopefully enough love and hope to last them a time. Holly

October 5, 2011

2011-10-09T11:12:00.001-07:00

Today was like many others this week. Up around 5:30AM, take a very quick shower and then off to the kitchen to see what's to eat...aaaahhh a bowl of cornflakes, my favorite and of course Swazi bananas! After setting up our equipment at the school, we decided to get started with Part 2 of the Wall of Memories project. Elizabeth, Kaelly and I chose a color and painted the children's hands with a paintbrush. They all stood in line by class to receive their "painted hand" to place on the wall. Manla and Thando helped guide the children and placed their hands in various places on the wall. Grade 1-7 all got to participate along with the teachers. When we were all done they were full of smiles. That made all of us so happy. It was one of many things we did this week for them that they will remember us all from Iowa (and Minnesota) and we will remember them.
Jabulani (Evan)...SiSwati for Happy

October 4, 2011

2011-10-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

Today is the second day of our dental clinic at Phandesane School. We are starting to get used to the hour car ride to and from Pasture Valley Farms where we are staying to the school each day. Yesterday when we arrived, one of the teachers approached me and asked me to give a presentation to the kids about the history of the American Indians and the United States. So Father Carl helped me out and we gave a 30 minute presentation to the students. At the end they were all smiles and asked a lot of questions. It showed that something so little can change their day! After lunch and "recess" we started a new project. We had asked the Head Mistress (principal) if we could paint a wall outside ad have the kids decorate it with us. Kaelly and I painted a 10 x 10 foot square on the end wall of the school building with two coats of white paint. My mom (Elizabeth) then wrote "Nkhulu Nkhulu Agubusise" but then was told it was misspelled...so we repainted it correctly in the Zulu form, since this part of the country spoke a different version of the language...all was fine once fixed!

Homecare/OVC

2011-10-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

Just a bit about the nutrition part of this from the resident mathematician.

Tuesday was spent driving to Mpandesane, holding a workshop under the tree, visiting with the dental team, being involved in some problem-diagnosis where prayers are needed for a young one, and driving back to Mbabane. The workshop there involved care-givers from both Mpandesane and Matsanjeni where the 2008 group had supper in the very small church with cardboard stuffing the spaces between the "logs". Some of the women who prepared that meal were at the workshop - which meant a lot to Mary Jane.

Today it was to Lomahasha in the northeast corner of the country. I was there in 2004 for the dedication of St Thomas's new church that some other Iowans had helped to build. There was a group of 11 caregivers this morning who asked lots of good questions and very clearly are doing God's work in visiting the sick -- sometimes in the morning and again in the afternoon. "This is our Christian sacrifice," we were told. This group gets some coordination and training from another friend of Iowans, Clementine Mashwama, widow of the late Rev. George M, who along with the Noahs started much of this exchange.

Tomorrow we head back south -- about halfway -- for our final mini-workshop. Friday morning the dental team will be returning, and Friday afternoon we will have 40 of the Neighborhood Care Point volunteers and Home Based Care volunteers here at Thokoza for a workshop. Hopefully, we will be ready for that -- there won't be all those "freebies" that some expect at workshops and conferences, but there will be singing and sharing.

Thanks to all for your prayers and words of encouragement! We look forward to seeing you soon.

Dave

Elizabeth on Monday

2011-10-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

Our first day of our second dental clinic is where we travelled to three years ago, when I handed out my children's clothes in Matsanjeni. So this area of Swaziland is very dear to my heart. The clinic is located at Mpandensane Primary School and is run by the Anglican Church. We left at 7:15 AM to travel 1 hour 15 minutes to set up -- finding out we were without electricity to begin. We finally got everything situated and began seeing students after they ate their lunch. We saw 90 children and were amazed at their dental health. Due to the lack of food and money their diet does not have the sugar that normally is seen so their teeth are healthier, but that's not the case for their overall health.

As the children waited today, Evan and I twirled the ropes that we brought for them to jump with, they loved it. I read them some stories, and blew some bubbles. They are so well behaved and are so anxious to be seen by the nurse and dentist! I am even learning SiSwati!

As Kendra said Jeremiah 29:11 is "our verse" for this journey. Whenever a situation arises that brings that verse to our minds, she and I can exchange a glance and we know He has a plan for us -- we are at His mercy. Thank you to all who have been praying for us back home -- we miss you all --

Nkhulu, Nkhulu Akubusise
(God Bless you)
GuGu (Elizabeth)

Kendra's Sunday

2011-10-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning our team attended church at Mhloshene Parish for the Western Archdeaconry of Swaziland family and fundraising day. Church was held in a large tent and over flowing with people. The Holy Spirit was strong and mighty during praise and worship. Once back at the Thakoza Center it was a quick lunch and packing for travel to our next dental clinic in Mpandesane and Matsanjeni, a 4 hour trip from Mbabane. We are being housed an hour away from our clinic at Pasture Valley Farm that has an orphanage. The beauty of the area and the children are amazing.

We are being housed tn their education and training center. There are 12 of us with our mats in one room. The most interesting part is trying to keep it quiet when the early birds are ready for bed. God on multiple occasions has spoken the following: "For I know the plans I have for you ... Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Love and Blessing to all. I will see you soon.

Nolwazi (Kendra)

Nkhaba Home Based Care

2011-10-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings One and All!
Tomorrow David and I will head south with Fr. Andrew and two members of the Diocesan HIV/AIDS office. The Staff from the HIV/AIDS office translate for me, and they are learning what I am teaching. We will be presenting two more workshop presentations tomorrow (I think), and take some additional supplies to the dental team at their worksite. We are anxious to see how the dental team are doing in this second location, and will be better able to report tomorrow night.

There have been many metanoia/turning around/conversion of the heart experiences here in Swaziland, but none more powerful than today. We drove out northwest this morning, and picked up a woman waiting for us. Sandra climbed into the SUV with us, and then onto to some even more rural roads to see one of her success cases - a 27 year old mother of two who has AIDS and TB. Through Sandra's efforts and the care of her uncle and his wife, she is regularly receiving drugs for both diseases. Sandra and the aunt kept telling us how well the young woman was doing. She is still very thin with obvious muscle wasting- and walking is difficult for her. The aunt told me, "She was so sick, I thought she was dying. But, this woman came and said, "Don't worry. I will help you, and we will get the help she needs. And by God's grace now she is better." Much of the activity of the morning was to keep the large, guard rooster out of the house, who was not sure we should be in the house. I don't think Dave realized that shooing the rooster, as well as a hen and her chicks out of the house would be part of the day's job description.
Then around to the second place on even more challenging roads/trails. Rosemary Symounds was driving today, and she did a masterful job on difficult roads and conditions. This patient was a 40 year old male, who had been in denial for a long time, and only started on ARV's for full-blown AIDS last week. This two room house was constructed of tree branches, and red clay ( not bricks) filling in between the branch poles. Sandra marched in and talked to the man, and a relative who was cleaning the house this morning. I was glad to see that the woman who was cleaning was wearing gloves, and one could smell the chlorox. When I was outside with Sandra, I asked if she had training as a nurse. "No, but I am Christian, and have taken all the training the Diocese has offered. I think I have a gift for this work, and it is my calling." Sandra heated water over an open fire outside, and then when she had adjusted the temperature of the water, she added a little chlorox, and a bar of soap, and I helped her bathe the man. I am in awe of her gentleness and strength - her courage and persistance. Her patient needed some medication for a urinary tract infection, and so after our training session, we drove her to the clinic to get the medicine, and then she would walk back to the man's house with the antibiotics. Yes, Sandra, has indeed responded to God's call to visit and care for the sick in her isolated, rural community! What an example! I started working in hospitals at 19, and have met a number of very talented and gifted health professionals over these many years, but Sandra is right up there at the top! Tonight I know myself as a coddled American, and will spend the rest of my days praying for Sandra, and others, for their works of mercy with AIDS patients here in Swaziland.
As we are Enfolded in God's Love,
Mary Jane+

Sunday in Swaziland

2011-10-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

Just a bit about the weekend and where we are.

Yesterday was "fishing with Fr. Charles" for Three Guys from St. Alban's and Swazi Candles (and area shops) and Ezulwini Market for the others.

Today we were off at 8:30 for the Western Region Family Gathering at which Fr. Charles was the preacher. We had to leave early but did receive communion before departing. Lots of singing with Fr. "Victor", who drove us around in 1998, leading the singing with his beautiful voice.

The dental team got on its way south -- later than hoped. They were going directly to where they will stay while Thando and Fr. Charles and three youth from Ezulwini were to set up the tent at the clinic grounds before Charles returned with the youth. The team will be cooking their own breakfasts before beginning their 40 km commute to the clinic each day.

Mary Jane and I met with Fr. Andrew and Rosemary this afternoon to do some more planning for next weekend's workshop. Then walked to town to see if we could get on the wireless at Pablo's before dinner -- only to find at 5:30 pm that they close at 4 pm on Sunday. I'm still hoping to get there to try to add a few more pictures to some of these posts but don't know when/if that will happen.

The nutrition mini-workshops this week will be close by on Monday and Wednesday. We go south on Tuesday with two workshops plus checking in with the dental team. On Thursday we go to the northeast corner of the country to do a workshop in Lomahasha. It has been an interesting and inspiring and heart-string-pulling experience.

Greetings to all of you!
Dave

Terry on the 1st week

2011-10-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Sawubona (Greetings) to All

You that have been reading this blog are sensing an experience unfolding - with the rich details of our travel and clinic - and all that is going on with it.

In this segment, please allow me to give you a bit of a different side.

The SwaziHealthcareTeam2011 is truly experiencing, I believe, the aura of the Holy Spirit. That is to say, as I have a few moments to observe each member in our travel and clinic, it becomes clear how dedicated, committed and loving they are with their brothers and sisters in Christ. It is practically beyond words for me to describe.

As a team leader (for those who "Have been there") you will appreciate that each "has got the others back". Truly in the Body of Christ we are a family following our Lord's call.

We are very blessed and thankful for your prayers.

Sala Kahle (be well),
T.R. Shively

Shop til We Drop!

2011-09-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

We arrived at Thokoza last night at 8pm after a long, dark drive from Maphungwane. We were served dinner and we bolted to the long awaited hot showers. We all had a great night's sleep and were totally refreshed in the morning. We spent the morning cleaning and reorganizing our equipment for next weeks clinic, which will be in the southern part of the country. After lunch we travelled to Ngwenya Glass Factory where we toured and saw how the figurines and glasses were made by hand out of recycled glass. Little did we know that the speed limit was 80km/hr, when our guide...Carl+ was going 96km/hr. Ask him about when you see him! Then we were off to the market, it started to rain and the "boys" were getting antsy...imagine that! So we will be off again tomorrow to get more shopping done and to visit the Swazi Candle Factory. We returned to Thokosa Center for more food and fellowship in the thunder. Now I am blogging with Nolwazi (Kendra) and Sabusiswa (Stevie), everyone else in playing cribbage. Hi to Emma and Chris, and my Make Vera. Love, Gugu (Elizabeth)

Thursday by Kaelly

2011-09-30T11:03:00.002-07:00

This morning we said "Good-bye" to our families. It was sad for my "Make" (magay=mom) and me to leave our new family because we felt so close in such a short time. The ride to meet the others was quite funny. Peter+ tried to tell us he had a ten year old sister, when he had to be in his fifties. He asked,"Why do you always laugh at me?" I told him because, "You are too funny," I said. Later Father Charles explained to us that cousins, nieces, and nephews in a America are called brothers and sisters in Swaziland. So what Peter+ was telling was true for him :-).
Our long, bumpy journey to the clinic felt shorter than usual. When we arrived at 8AM, there were many older women already waiting for Dr. Terry. There were less children seen today, but more restorative dental work was done from previous exams earlier in the week.
Bhekani (Begani) greeted us in his native dress and the smile that he always brings to our faces. Carl+ and Elizabeth traveled with Thokosa to two primary schools to hand out dental pouches. They were greeted with warm smiles by the children and given tours by the principal. They gave over 500 children toothbrushes that morning.
Lunch was served again by the ladies taking such good care of us. We had the remainder of the goat, which I did not eat, due to seeing it before butchering! We were also served pumpkin, beets, cabbage slaw, and a trifle...which was really yummy.
Father Charles and Thando showed up with the trailer, than the "good-byes' started to come faster. It was hard to say good-bye to the nursing staff because we had become so close. We packed up the trailer with all of our equipment and off to Thokosa we went. We learned many things from Father Charles on our ride home. It was another amazing day in Swaziland. Love, Nothando(Kaelly)

Clinic Update by Holly

2011-09-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

It is the third of the dental clinic the things are going smoothly, but at a much slower pace than the first two days. The group of preschoolers that came on Monday with no permission slips, came again with slips today. As they waited for Dr. Terry we were treated to several songs. They may be little in form, but mighty in voice. During our slow times, Evan keeps us entertained as Charity and Mpumi teach him Siswati. He is a willing student, and is doing quite well. I am so thankful for his presence, he gives me the lift I need. On our way back to our homes we learn that we would be leaving our homes after Thursday morning. This news made Kaelly and me sad. We have enjoyed our stay with our family and wish we could spend more time getting to know them. They will always be in my heart. We do look forward to a flushing toilet and a shower though. Kaelly did better than I thought she would with our toilet "accomodations!" So as I sit here Thursday morning writing, I realize I will even miss those (bleep) roosters that start crowing at a an ungodly hour...before 3am. From now on when I hear a rooster crow it will bring me home to Swaziland. God does have a plan for me. My heart has become hardened at home and here God has broken it and turned it into clay so that He can reshape it and provide me with a heart that is filled with passion and joy, one that can receive love, as well as one that can give love. He has broken my heart open so that it may be filled with joy. Blessings to all...Nokuthula (Holly)

2011-09-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

St. Thomas Parish

2011-09-30T08:42:00.001-07:00

Photo of youth at one of Father Charles' Parish...they were all over Evan and Kaelly for Facebook addresses! This was taken on Sunday after our wonderful service that Father Carl presided with Father Charles.

Clinic Update

2011-09-30T02:33:00.000-07:00

We are at the mercy of the Swazi wireless...so here are words from Stevie Shively from our week at the first healthcare clinic:
Prayer partners have been essential to our time here, "I cannot thank those you who did this for us enough! Your support and prayers are so important to us all! Matthew 6:25-34 "But strive for the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." How small our contribution seemed compared to what we received from all those who touched our lives during the clinic!
Our days started EARLY with our alarms (roosters) going off anywhere from 1:30-5:00 AM. Kendra and Elizabeth stayed with one family, Evan and Carl+ another, they were close in proximity, and Holly and Kaelly were with another, while Terry and I stayed closer to town with Nezzie and Ethel...the same family Bishop Alan stayed with while he was here. We ate breakfast each morning with our "family" then were on the road to Maphungwane with Carl+ and Father Peter (The Rock) by 7:15AM each day. The drive took us 30 minutes down a a road that looked and felt like a dried river bed. The clinic was very close to the Mozambique border. We passed many rural home and children walking to school in their uniforms and back packs, some over two miles away.
The clinic consists of a "waiting/reception" area outside the building on wooden benches where the children sit until their names are called. The teachers bring the students with their "Parent Permission" forms which are required by the Minister of Health in Swaziland before they are allowed to be seen by the doctor. One by one they come to Kendra. She and the nurse evaluate their health before sending them to Dr. Terry for treatment. Three nursing students help us each day, Francis started the week and and then Charity, Sibosiso, and Mpumi continued from a local hospital called the Good Shepherd where they had just finished their two year training. Some patients are given the "green light" to go on their way, as their teeth are healthy. Kaelly and Evan are in charge of keeping the children occupied with songs, books, crafts (friendship bracelets) and/or games. Evan's soccer ball was a hit, as were the bubbles that Kaelly blew. Charity and Elizabeth maintained a smooth flow of patients while Sibosiso assisted Dr. T and Stevie in the "operatory." Holly made sure all instruments, etc. were sanitized and sterile throughout the day. Carl+ was our "mann" with many hats! He either repaired a dental chair, kept us happy and hydrated, or was the "go to guy" when we needed something! Mostof all, he was always praying...
Lunch was served each day around 2pm, by the women from Fr. Peter's parish. They delivered wonderful food, filling two six foot tables with meat, vegetables, salad, dessert, and soft drinks each day. We were serve goat the first day, a total honor here in Swaziland. We worked until 5PM each day due to darkness falling so early. We saw 119 patients Monday, 160 Tuesday and more to come.
Our families were waiting for us each evening with dinner being served shortly there after. Many memories were shared and information exchanged at the dinner table with our new found friends. We each were given a bucket of water to wash up in, and it was time for bed...ready for the next day...what a priviledge it is to serve the people we are working with....Stevie

Carl+ -Tuesday, 27Sept

2011-09-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Sanibonani,

Usually I'm not at a loss of words, but after only three days I'm not sure of what to talk about.

On Sunday we went to St. Thomas Parish outside of Mbabane, which is on of Fr. Charles' four congregations. Fr. Charles had asked me earlier in the month if I would preach, for which I was prepared, but when I arrived he also informed me that I was celebrant too!

The whole service was a combination of SiSwati and English including my sermon which was translated sentence by sentence. After communion Fr. Charles had me bless the children who had not received the Holy Sacrament and there were about fifty of them, one by one. All during this time the congregation was singing, and it was truly one of the most blessed and holy moments of my priesthood to date.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this mission and I look forward to coming home and sharing more moments such as these. Someone please say hello to my wife and let her know I miss her.

Blessings,
Carl+

Kendra--Sunday 9/25

2011-09-28T10:34:00.000-07:00

[MJ and I did see the team this afternoon; they also have not got wireless working so sent some posts back with us]

This morning we attended Fr. Charles' church, St Thomas, west from Mbabane. It is a very young and lovely congregation. After church it was back to the Thakoza Center for lunch and to pack for our first clinic near Siteki. The trip to Siteki took about two hours, this allowed time for the goats and cows to move off the road. Once in Siteki we set up the clinic, had tea and were dropped off at our host families homes for an evening of conversation and preparing for our first day in clinic.

Kendra

Wednesday am

2011-09-27T23:41:00.000-07:00

Just a brief note -- expect to have more to post tonight.

MJ and I are off to Mpaka (that is approximately "ba-ga") where she will do another mini-workshop at Christ Church/school. We will then go on to see what the rest of the team is doing. We will be taking another jug of Sidex for sterilizing equipment and some diet coke for those who need that "fix" along with a few more supplies.

Rosemarie just drove up; not sure if she or Andrew will be going with us today but we will also be joined again by Philile and Thulie.

Nice and cool this morning but did get hot yesterday -- mostly 60s and 70s here at Thokoza.

Faithfully,

Dave

Memo to families of team

2011-09-26T23:35:00.001-07:00

Yesterday after our first mini-workshop I went downtown to access an ATM, activate the phone the Rockwells had sent with us, and find a place to access wireless. I was successful on only the first task. Mary Jane and I can access her gmail and the blog (but can't post pictures) from the Thokoza computer, but the version of Microsoft Explorer is apparently too old to speak to the Microsoft Outlook that would access my email account. Fr. Charles has his computer with the dental team but I don't know yet how their access has been. We will know more tonight.

Fr. Andrew Symonds spent yesterday with the dental team while his wife Rosemarie took MJ, Philile, Thulie and me to our first clinic in the mountains between Mbabane and Piggs Peak. Today Fr. Andrew will be with us while Rosemarie will be with the dental team.

Thando, who helped move the team on Sunday reported that the set-up went well. We understand there was some delay Monday morning with consent forms, but that the dental clinic was in operation at least by afternoon. We should know more by tonight how their work is progressing. Once I get the phone working we should be able to check in more easily; once I have wireless access we should be able to post some pictures; once Elizabeth gets Fr. Charles' computer communicating, she will also be posting.

Thank you again for your interest and support. Your prayers sustain us especially when we can't talk face to face. Your prayers for the people of Swaziland and for the Anglican Church in Swaziland also give our companions hope and encouragement in an uncertain time.

We are well and about to head our for Day 2.

Blessings!
Dave

First Sunday in Swaziland

2011-09-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful, sunny spring day! We all were driven up the mountains to St. Thomas, one of several to many churches served by Fr. Charles Kunene. Fr. Charles admits to still dreaming "in Iowa", and what a delight to worship this morning with Fr. Charles and Thulie. Fr. Carl Mann of St. Albans, Spirit Lake was the preacher/presider. Young people from the congregation read the lessons in English and Saswati. We sat next to the Sunday School Superintendent who shared her hymnal to "encourage our singing". They sang the refrain to "O Come All Ye Faithful" within the eucharistic prayer. At announcement time Fr. Charles introduced us, and told all of us that the green frontal was a gift from St. Paul's Cathedral. And in the back of the church is a clock from Shenandoah, affectionately reminding him of Bud Ferrel, his sermon time-keeper. After getting acquanted it was back through the hills to Thokoza Center for the dental team to pack, eat, and head east to move in with host families and to set up the space where they will start screening and treating school children tomorrow. Yesterday a government official spent a long time with Terry and Fr. Andrew to finish the credentialing process which was a lengthy process of sticky government control. But, at the end she became excited to see what actually would be done, and will be sending several of her para-professionals to the eastern dental clinic for training with Terry. This is very positive and excitin! Dave and Mary Jane enjoyed a leisurely lunch with Fr. Andrew and Rosemary with much conversation about the Neighborhood Care Pointes, and our schedule for tomorrow. We will meet with the women working in the HIV/AIDS office and then off to Ekufikeni to begin program assessment, gather input from all I meet, and then do a mini-workshop for those who prepare the food and care for the children there. We feel so supported by your prayers - and we are grateful! Know that you are in our prayers. Sahle Kahle! (Stay well!) MJ+

In Swaziland

2011-09-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

(written Saturday evening; posted Sunday evening)

We arrived at the Thokoza Centre around 3:30 Friday afternoon and got most of the dental team supplies sorted and ready for the next two weeks before our Welcome Dinner. We were joined by Bishop Meshack and Lucy Mabuza, Archdeacon Bheki Magongo, Rev. Orma Mavimbela, Rev. Charles Kunene, Rev. Andrew and Rosemarie Symonds, Thando Mnisi (driver and soon-to-be electrical engineer), and the HIV/AIDS office staff: Philile Ndlela-Hlatswayo, Thulie Ncongwane, and Lungile Shongwe.

Saturday morning we left Dr. Terry Shively and Fr. Andrew in Mbabane to negotiate with the official from the Health Ministry. The rest of us traveled to Hlane Royal Game Park to get energized for the next two weeks of work. Only one lion (male) posed for us this time and no leopards or zebra, but we saw quite a few elephants, white rhinos, hippos, impala and other antelope, giraffes, warthogs, wildebeest, and many interesting birds.

Thanks for all of your prayers for this mission.

Blessings from springtime!
Dave

We are here!!!!

2011-09-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

We have safely arrived in South Africa...all 10 team members, 24 pieces of checked luggage and 20 carry on bags! Father Charles Kunene and Thando greeted us at the airport and made sure we were safely tucked into the Life Hotel in Kempton Park, South Africa. We are very tired after our 15 hour journey from Atlanta, and ready for a shower and a good night's rest before we continue on to the Kingdom of Swaziland in the morning.

Days to Departure...

2011-09-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

The Health Care Ministry team is on the threshold of our travel to do God's work. We have been updated on our accommodations for our first clinic in Siteki. We will be divided into four groups of two, staying with four lovely families about 20-30 minutes drive from our clinic site in Maphungwane. We are excited to hear that we will be staying with these families and be enjoying breakfast each morning with our host family before our departure to the clinic site by 7:30AM each day. Our site will be a school where we are scheduled to care for 500 students throughout the four day clinic. Stay tuned for weekend posts of updates from both the dental and nutrition teams. The grace of God will keep us where the will of God has called us.

2011 Iowa Episcopal Health Care Ministry Visit to Swaziland ~ September 21 -- October 11, 2011

2011-07-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

"To support a lifetime of health & wellbeing for the next generations of faith in Swaziland" ~

On September 21, 2011, ten Iowans will embark on a journey; to Swaziland, Africa, to work with and provide an educational workshop for local health care givers and neighborhood care point volunteers who form the Anglican lifeline for orphans and other vulnerable children in Swaziland.

During two full weeks in-country, eight team members led by Dr. T.R. Shively will hold dental clinics in villages near Siteki (east) and Nhlangano (south). As the dental clinics progress, Rev. Mary Jane Oakland, retired ISUnutrition professor, and David Oakland will survey nutritional needs and opportunities at Anglican feeding centers/care points throughout the Diocese of Swaziland. After the completion of the clinics and nutritional assessment, the whole team will offer a health care workshop at the Anglican Thokoza Center in Mbabane for 55 caregivers of the 14 Neighborhood Care Points.

2011 Health Care Ministry Team members in photo from top left: David Oakland, Ames; Evan Ward, Ceylon, Minnesota; Dr. Terry Shively, dentist & team leader, Spencer; Rev. Carl Mann, Spirit Lake; Kaelly Scherff, Ft. Dodge; (bottom left) Stevie Shively, dental assistant, Spencer; Rev. Mary Jane Oakland, team nutritionist, Ames; Elizabeth Ward, Ceylon, Minnesota; Kendra Thilges, registered nurse, Spirit Lake, and Holly Scherff, dental assistant, Fort Dodge.

Fundraising efforts continue across the diocese to raise $5,000 for oral health supplies and critically needed medicines/vitamins for children served at the Neighborhood Care Points, and the $5,150 required to transport the 55 volunteers from the outlying neighborhood care points to the Thokoza Center, as well as provide food, lodging and workshop materials for the health care workshop participants. The team happily reports that as of July 15, 2011, it has raised a little more than half of the $10,000.

Prayers & donations are genuinely appreciated to support this 2011 health care endeavor for orphans and other vulnerable children with our partners in Swaziland. Donations can be given to: Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, 225 37th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50312-4305: Attn: Bob Joy - Swaziland Health Care Ministry.

Celebration! +Dedication+ Christ Church, Mpaka, Swaziland ~~ Saturday, April 9, 2011

2011-07-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

In 2004, a team of Iowans in Swaziland were invited to enter into a dream to build a school for orphans and other vulnerable children in Mpaka, an impoverished, drought-stricken area in Swaziland.

In 2005, Bishop Meshack Mabuza, Anglican Diocese of Swaziland, presented plans to construct a multi-purpose facility to serve as a school, a church, a clinic & a community center in Mpaka, and gave his blessing for this cooperative companions project to proceed. Episcopal parishes and individuals across the dioceses of Iowa and Brechin, Scotland, responded generously with funds to help make the dream come true.

In 2006, a team of Iowans contributed sweat equity to the dream... making concrete building blocks with Swazis for the school ~ church ~ clinic ~ community center at Mpaka.

By 2008, steel girders were in place and a steel roof had been purchased. In 2009 & 2010, work progressed on the building foundation and walls. In 2011, the roof was added & the facilty was ready to be dedicated during Bishop Alan Scarfe's six-week sojourn in the Diocese of Swaziland.

Now, we celebrate the completion of the dream of building & the beginning of creating a school for the children of Mpaka! Christ Church dedication ~ April 9, 2011 ~ Mpaka, Swaziland!

Graduation! The Swaziland Safe Water Ministries Team is launched with the Bishop Mabuza's blessings ~~ by Melody Rockwell

2009-11-04T06:58:00.000-08:00

Swaziland Safe Water Ministry Team

Graduation Day ~ October 23, 2009

Left to right: graduates Mthunzi Ndlovu, Dumsani Matsebula;

Rev. Dube, graduate Jabu Mnisi, Bishop Mabuza,

graduate Nothemba Khoza, Melody Rockwell,

Alfred Sipho Dlamini & Dan Rockwell

(not in photo, but vitally present on graduation day: Greg Stout)

Swaziland Safe Water Project -- sponsored with substantial grants from the Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Gift and Trust Fund and the Episcopal Waters of Hope with generous gifts from the Iowa Safe Water International Ministires and the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, parishes and individuals...

The team's intense engagement with rural communities in Swaziland continued apace right up to the day before graduation. Nothemba, Dumsani, Jabu, Mthunzi and Alfred Sipho's work in making and demonstrating chlorinators continued in its excellence. Even when a green mamba snake slithered into the underbelly of our van at the Luyengo school (two days before graduation), police and fire trucks arrived and the snake was eventually snagged and unceremoniously dispatched, they kept their cool and remained professional throughout the demonstration!

The team had worked diligently and well together for five weeks; one week of training and four weeks (Monday through Thursday) traveling to remote areas to bring the good news of why and how to disinfect contaminated water. Five weeks of long days together.... bonding on rutted roads and hilltops and churches and under council trees, and yet it seemed that graduation day came upon us impossibly soon.

The springtime sun shone brightly on the greening grass and vivid blossoms that morning, Friday, October 23, 2009. Bishop Meshack Mabuza celebrated Holy Eucharist and thoroughly, prayerfully and beautifully blessed each of the graduates before they received their certificates and congratulations from Alfred Sipho Dlamini and Dan Rockwell "with great appreciation for their exemplary work in training and in the field implementing the use of chlorine production units to provide safe water in rural communities in Swaziland."

A high tea with fancy cakes and sandwiches was given in honor of the graduates, Bishop Meshack Mabuza and Social Development Officer Alfred Sipho Dlamini and other Swazi friends who had assisted the process and joined in celebrating the day.

Luve Praise by Melody Rockwell

2009-10-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

The outer gate was locked when we arrived at St. Andrew's, Luve. The church yard is fenced in to keep out wandering cattle and goats, but there was also no sign of any people gathering for the team's presentation. An elderly woman appeared in the church doorway, then slowly came to open the gate. Inside the church were three elderly women -- one of whom had not come for the chlorinator demonstration, but decided to stay. The parish priest was absent. After a few calls (cell phones are so vital in these rural areas), we found that Rev. Mandla Dlamini was in Manzini making funeral arrangements for his grandmother, who had passed away the previous evening. He said he would come as soon as possible. A call to a nearby community parish nurse, who had indicated there would be a sizable group of people coming from a few kilometers away to the meeting, garnered the report that only one woman was planning to attend. At that point, the team considered cancelling the session. Out of courtesy, we waited for Fr. Dlamini to arrive from Manzini.

Come he did in a swirl of apologies and a suggestion that he go to a Roman Catholic church down the road a ways and see if the women attending the Mother's Union meeting there would be willing to come to the chlorinator demonstration. The chlorinator demonstration session was supposed to start at 10 a.m. and it was nearing noon by this time. Fr. Dlamini called with an affirmative and the team van was enlisted to bring some of the women over with the rest riding in the back of the priest's pickup. I was sitting in the back of the dimly lighted church... biding my time... waiting when suddenly the air was filled with a Siswati song of praise and women began marching in, dancing, singing exhuberantly, clapping hands... Anglicans, Lutherans, Zionists, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Evangelicals... It was an awesome beginning... and an energetic session throughout... that lasted until 3 p.m. It was well worth the wait!

Heartening Moments in Maphungwane by Melody Rockwell

2009-10-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

Lomahasha Water Shortage by Nothemba Khoza

2009-10-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

Slow gathering of seepage from a spring in rural Lomahasha.

Canon Donald Ndlovu with team at dry borehole

next to seeping springwater hole.

Greetings,
It has been a busy two weeks..the work is getting more and more intense for the team. However, it has been a most wonderful experience and a major eye opener. To think that there are people in my own country who are not able to get the basic necessity like water is hard to swallow. I have learnt our country is in dire need of water and this is a national emergency. Today we went to Lomahasha and the situation there is heartbreaking. People wait for hours for water to come out from a small spring which at the end of the day gives out a minimum of five litres per serving. I was particularly shocked by such a discovery. I realised that even though people need to clean their water, there is a great need for the water itself and most of the boreholes that have been built in this area are all dry now. But I feel there is a lot of work to be done and people have to have clean water to drink. So with these words I say, PRESS ON SSWM!
Nothemba.

Two Gogos Making a Difference in Swaziland by Melody Rockwell

2009-10-06T23:23:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday (October 8), on the way to the demonstration at Mhlosheni (southern Swaziland), Dumsani Matsebula's home community, the Swaziland Safe Water Ministries team's van bumped slowly along the last few kilometers on a narrow dirt road. Before we arrived at the council tree, Dumsane directed the van down an even narrower road to a homestead some distance away from the main village and got out to open a gate to the compound. "You must meet the granny," he said, "who has given so much to make the Anglican Church a reality in this area."

Dumsani proudly introduced us to Gogo Miriam Zwane, who allows church meetings to take place in the small structure that is used by her children when they come home on visits. Dumsani is the lay minister, who serves this beginning parish. The church services are able to take place only when the children are not visiting, and so there is never assurance that the building will be available. It is very much appreciated whenever it can be used for Sunday services and mid-week Bible studies, but joyfully, the congregation is beginning to outgrow this facility.

Gogo Zwane has offered a generous remedy. She is giving a large field behind her home and near the entrance gate as land for building a new, good-sized church building. This 86-year old woman communicated her vitality and good will to the whole team. We were honored to be in her presence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gogo Siphiwe Fakudze at her homestead in Timbutini.

Today (October 11), my husband Dan and I were invited to visit a small beginning parish located some distance north of Manzini. Inhle Mdlalose, HIV/AIDS coordinator for the Diocese of Swaziland, had issued a special invitation for us to visit "a granny who has started a Neighborhood Care Point at her home." On the way to Timbutini, Inhle explained that Gogo Siphiwe Fakudze had worked in Manzini for many years. Incidentally, Gogo Fakudze is the actual great-grandmother of Swaziland Safe Water Ministries trainee, Nothemba Khoza. When she retired, she moved to the rural community of Timbutini and began providing a meal for orphans and vulnerable children in the area every Sunday after church. She offered her home as a place for an Anglican church service until the local chief donated a small building nearby.

When we arrived, we found the small, cement block building with a corrugated metal roof filled with people -- mostly children and teenagers. Gogo Fakudze came out to embrace us with welcome and invite us into the church and into the midst of voices welling in hymnful praise. Father Eric Mahlalela presided at the service and it was a joy to greet this man who had offered such generous hospitality at Luve when an Iowa team visited Swaziland in 2004.

After the service, Gogo Fakudze invited us out to see the girls perform a Swazi dance and then she joined in... another grandmother in her eighties... vital and giving; making a big difference in the lives of the children in her community. And speaking of the community, she has involved them in the Neighborhood Care Point project. She offers her 'kitchen,' pots and pans and water from her standpipe for volunteers to cook a meal for the children each day Monday through Saturday, while she still prepares the meal for the children after church each Sunday.

Gogo Fakudze expressed her thanks to the people of the Diocese of Iowa for their generous support of the Anglican Neighborhood Care Centers in Swaziland and especially for the children in Tibutini. "Thank you to Iowa!" she said. "Thank you for all you do," Dan and I responded.

For grace-filled grannies in Swaziland, we give thanks!

Info on Water Testing by SSWM -- Dan Rockwell

2009-10-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

Doing the WASH in Swaziland by Melody Rockwell

2009-10-06T05:39:00.001-07:00

A Warm Welcome in Cool Northern Highlands by Melody Rockwell

2009-10-05T23:48:00.000-07:00

Swaziland Safe Water Project -- sponsored by substantial grants from the Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Gift and Trust Fund and the Episcopal Waters of Hope with generous gifts from the Iowa Safe Water International Ministries and the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, parishes and individuals...

The Swaziland Safe Water Ministry team drank in splendid sun-drenched views of mountains and deep, deep valleys as we sped north from Mababane on the first day of October, 2009. We sped, that is, until we reached the turnoff to Ekufikeni where the road narrowed and twisted up, down and around... and experienced mighty slow and careful maneuvering with the van jouncing even under Thando Mnisi's skillful handling of potholes, rocks, washes and other road hazards. (Yes! Thando was home from the university he attends in South Africa and volunteered to drive three days last week. What a joy it was for us to reunite with him for a a few days before he headed back to school and exams.)

We arrived around 10:30 a.m. at a simple homestead where a woman was sweeping the yard in preparation for our coming with a long, thin freshly-cut tree limb with green-leaved branches on the sweeping end, and then finishing the tidying with a swatch of thatching grass. Two women man-handled a large iron kettle of soaking beans, draining it, then lugging it to an open air 'cook shack' to place alongside an iron kettle of rice on a blazing campfire. They were cooking a meal for the Neighborhood Care Point (NCP) children [orphans and other vulnerable children], who would be eating there in the afternoon.

Huge cabbages had been harvested from a fenced-in garden and were piled on dirt floor of the room in the small house located closest to the kitchen. A group of men were in a nearby field cutting roof thatching grass with machetes. We were warmly welcomed by the two women and a man whom Father Joel Dlamini introduced. No one seemed in a hurry to assemble for the chlorinator demonstration, so as we waited, the team did an assessment of the water sources and availability in the area.

Across the valley, I could see women in twos and threes bedecked in colorful dresses, shawls and scarves appearing to float toward the hilltop homestead as they walked through tall grass to where we waited. One woman came with a babe swaddled on her back and trailed by two children carrying large woven baskets made for roosting chickens. The baskets were almost as large as the children! Men began to leave the field and a few arrived in pickups. Each person called out a friendly Siswati greeting or an English phrase of welcome as they neared us. Many shook our hands in the respectful Swazi way. The prince of the region arrived, walking with long-legged strides into the compound, his traditional Swazi dress flowing, his fur loin cloth and the red feather in his hair marking his high rank. Immediately after the prince was seated, the people gathered in a circle -- most of the men in chairs or on log benches on one side and the women and children on shawls or woven mats on the ground completing the circle.

Over 40 people gathered for the demonstration; nearly one-third of them were men. Trainees Dumsane and Mthunsi had been wary about how the demonstration would go, because there were so many men. "African men push against new things," Mthunsi said. A chlorinator previously given to this community had been fetched from a nearby homestead. It had been kept in good condition and looked as though it had never been used.

When asked about their water sources, the people told the team members that they had spring water from the mountain, but it flowed into the open and was exposed to contamination by grazing animals. [A sample of this community's water tested positive for coliform, a bacteria that can cause diarrhea and other ailments.] The women related that the children in this clan have terrible problems with diarrhea, and that they were were aware of use of bleach to make water safe to drink, but it was not affordable.

The demonstration was very successful with the people especially impressed that the team used the community's water; that we didn't bring our own water. They recognized that ordinary table salt had been used, but asked that they use their 'own salt' for the next demonstration. Two men leaped to their feet to be the first from their community to try making chlorine and showed that it was just as effective a process using their own water and! their own salt. Next two women tried it using their own previously unused chlorinator with their own water and salt. Excellent results! Huge smiles! The prince expressed appreciation for the demonstration being conducted in this manner. The people expressed a desire to make chlorine so that they could have treated water 'like people in town.' As a group, they decided that they would like to have the chlorine made at the care point and then distributed to each household to chlorinate their own water.

Gracious speeches of thanks were given from both sides. Then the women, who had been preparing food for the children, brought big metal bowls filled with steaming rice and beans and flavored with two large onions pulled that morning from the garden and placed one in the hands of each of the visiting team members, our driver, Thando and Father Joel. It was a difficult, honoring, yet humbling moment to be given so much food when there were so many, including children, right there in the circle around us who were hungry. What a huge gift we were given! I ate a couple of spoonfuls and then noticed a little boy standing near his seated mother. He was looking at us with dismay; his face telegraphing hurt at these strangers being given food. For him as well as for me, it did not compute! I motioned to him to come over. He smiled and dodged behind his mother, then peeked out at me. We played the motioning and peeking and smiling game for a couple of moments, and then I walked over and knelt down beside him to give him the bowl of food. His mother received it with thanks and I was treated to radiant smiles from both mother and son, and the women who had prepared the food. Take a picture of the food we prepare for our children, they asked. Other members of our team began to share their food as well... a time of grace and joy.

And the sun shone brightly in the west... by Melody Rockwell

2009-10-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

Swaziland Safe Water Project -- sponsored by substantial grants from the Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Gifts and Trust Fund and the Episcopal Waters of Hope with generous gifts from the Iowa Safe Water International Ministries and the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, parishes and individuals...

On Wednesday, September 30, the Swaziland Safe Water Ministry team headed once again into cold misty weather. White clouds shrouded the hilltops. We arrived a little early at Ekupheleni, one of Orma Mavimbela's feeding places for orphans, a Neighborhood Care Point. We were greeted warmly by the woman who was preparing food for the children in large iron kettles over an open fire in a wood shed with a dirt floor. Her little girl regarded us shyly while clutching her toy lion. [When I showed her the photo I had taken of her, she didn't realize she was in the picture, but smiled brightly when she recognized her beloved lion.] Only two other people were present, so the team strolled across the makeshift soccer field noting the garden with large cabbages and the water system; well, water tank, tap.

Gradually, people began to arrive and within half an hour, a circle of 11 women and two men congregated around the demonstration table. Following introductions, the trainees began to involve the local community members in a discussion of their water situation. The people noted that diarrhea is a chronic, pervasive problem in their community, particularly for the children. Although the nearby school has water, one of its bore holes (wells) has gone dry, and most of the students and their families do not have water available at their homesteads. The children are often delayed in getting to class, because they have to walk quite a distance to fetch water for their families first. Rural water taps are available, but cost 10 Rand a month to use. That is more than many people can afford, so they rely on river water. They also expressed their awareness of how safe water and health are related; many use bleach to treat their water when they have the money, and when they don't, they use untreated water.

The trainees noted that there was real excitement and interest among the people of Ekupheleni in learning more about the chlorinator. The health maintenance worker, a vigorous and energetic older woman, was particularly vocal about the difference a chlorinator could make for their community. She suggested using the Neighborhood Care Point as a dispensing station for the chlorine. Many people in the circle related that they had heard about the chlorinator and wanted to see how it worked. After the SSWM team demonstrated the chlorinator, one large man leaped to his feet and volunteered to be first in his community to make chlorine. He was delighted and the women were impressed that his first attempt was successful: a warm chlorine solution with a strong bleach aroma. Two women were also triumphant in making chlorine.

Then a setback occurred when the health maintenance worker and a young woman teamed up to make chlorine. The battery failed to generate current. I asked later if that dissuaded those present from wanting a chlorinator. No, the trainees reported. The people had seen what the chlorinator could do and everyone understood that sometimes batteries go flat. The women also knew right away when the process wasn't working and had pointed the problem out to the trainees.

The Ekupheleni gathering expressed excitement about letting everyone in their area know about chlorinator benefits, including demonstrating it to the chief in their area. One woman brought a large bucket of water to be chlorinated. The session ended with the Swazis in the circle singing a beautiful song and trainee Dumsane offering an impassioned prayer of thanks and praise to God in Siswati. One didn't need to understand the language to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst and the strength of the little community gathered there as the clouds lifted and the sun shone brightly in Ekupheleni.

Trainees Speak Up! by Mthunzi Ndlovu

2009-09-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

Trainees Speak Up! by Dumsani Matsebula

2009-09-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

Trainees Speak Up! by Nothemba Khoza

2009-09-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

A Circle of Good People at St. Matthias by Melody Rockwell

2009-09-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

Another cool day in Swaziland. Even as we descended from the Mbabane highlands, the weather remained damp, chilling. We'd dressed to stay warm & today, we were on time, in fact, a bit early. Rev. Orma Mavimbela soon arrived and greeted us with her golden, heart-filled laughter. Orma & I formed a circle of chairs for the chlorinator presentation audience. As I kept adding chairs, she said, "Do you expect so many?" I replied, "I hope for many." She laughed and gave me a sympathetic hug. When the presentation started, only four people from the St. Matthias community, including Orma, were seated, ready to listen. Orma nodded and winked at me. But, as the session continued... more and more people arrived and they were quickly brought up to speed. Even these newcomers participated in making chlorine! It was my turn to wink at Orma as I brought more chairs to the circle.

As had happened yesterday, the session was conducted almost entirely in Siswati. Alfred Sipho Dlamini quietly translated for the three Iowans seated in an outer ring of chairs, so that we could get the gist of what was happening. Again, we were spectators at a very lively discussion. Greg Stout commented later that he was so proud of the trainees, how they had made this project their own. He said that when he'd done chlorinator demonstrations in Swaziland in 2007, he might get one question per session. But, he noted that today, the Swazi team received many questions and had a good ongoing discussion for almost two hours. He said, "I am really impressed!"

On their side, the Swaziland Safe Water Ministry (SSWM) team members were pleased with response from the members of the community gathered at St. Matthias. Dumsane Matsebula and Nothemba Khoza agreed that they were well-received and that the people there were "very interested and very happy about the demonstration." Alfred noted that he was proud of people in his birthplace; how they were conscious that even though they are on municipal water, it may not be clean. He said, "They have a real health consciousness."

Mthunzi Ndlovu chimed in, "They posed very positive questions... not ones of fear. They asked about the practical ways to use chlorine, particularly, for the treatment of their water supply." Mthunzi noted that at first, those gathered were "more interested in chlorine than in the chlorinator." Later, they expressed interest in how the chlorinator worked to make chlorine.

We learned that the chlorinator given to the people of St. Matthias by Greg Stout with the support of the Diocese of Iowa in 2007 was in turn given to a neighboring community that does not have a protected water source. The St. Matthias area has a municipal water system that comes from a protected spring, and so the people there felt that others needed the chlorinator more than they did. The community with chlorinated water has experienced no diarrhea or cholera since they started using the chlorinator. This led the St. Matthias community to wonder about whether their water is as safe as they'd thought.

The water system they use has three storage tanks -- one drains into a second tank and that one drains into the third tank from which the water is taken for drinking and cooking use. The people discussed with the SSWM team which tank to chlorinate, and how they could be sure that effective chlorination of the water had taken place when the level of water continuously changes in each tank. Different options were considered, and then the circle of Swazi people at St. Matthias decided that it would be safer to chlorinate their water in water containers in their own households; that way they would have control over the level of chlorine in their water. Jabu Mnisi said, "This was their own decision. They resolved among themselves the way the chlorination would be handled in their community." Jubu pointed out that the St. Matthias gathering had decided to use chlorine from the neighboring community as a test run, and then if they feel they need a chlorinator of their own, they will place an order with the SWWM team. A woman was selected to coordinate this community chlorination effort, and the team will follow up with her in the coming weeks.

Another good partnership formed and another good day! Tomorrow, we head west once again... hopefully, more happy water chlorinating, community-building trails!

p.s. Dan Rockwell is working with the trainees to take water samples at each place we visit and test them for coliform. Yesterday, Dan took a sample from the water pump used by the primary school of 400 students. The sample tested positive for coliform. Today, Dan took a sample from the tap in the St. Matthias Church. Stay tuned for results!

Alfred Sipho Dlamini says Sanibona!

2009-09-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

Swaziland Safe Water Project -- sponsored by substantial grants from the Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Gift and Trust Fund and Episcopal Waters of Hope with generous gifts from the Iowa Safe Water International Ministries and the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, parishes and individuals...

The Iowa team, Melody, Dan & Greg, have made such a great impact on the Anglican Church members, who have had contact with them. Most importantly, they have truly supported the great mission of being 'fishers of men' through ensuring that we are one in Christ.

We have had four Swazi trainees on the chlorinators. And, everyday they are gaining confidence in telling others about the importance of clean water and how to make the chlorinators. The response from the members of the congregations up to now has been more than we had expected. We have only visited two congregations so far. However, we are confident now that we shall be successful in the other congregations. The good thing is that most people have become very aware of the importance of having clean drinking water, because of the many water borne diseases.

Also, we have managed to resuscitate the culture of community concern about every neighbor getting clean water. Thus, these chlorinators are not just for the Anglican Church members, but also for the whole community. This project is helping also in community coherence, thanks to the Diocese of Iowa for having technologies that can simplify the purification of water.

Spring Rains, Lively Spirits at Esigangeni! by Melody Rockwell

2009-09-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

Damp cold chilled all who waited for us in Fr. Charles' Kunene's parish, but the team was warmly welcomed though almost an hour late in arriving. Early into the session, we discovered that we were actually one year late! The people of Esigangeni had waited for two hours last year for the Iowans to arrive and then were told that the 2008 mission team had gone elsewhere. When we were late arriving yesterday, the group began to despair that they were to be passed by once again. Miracle of cell phones: they called Mbabane & learned that we had left the Thokoza Center and were on our way!

Irene Skhosana, President of the Mothers Union, Diocese of Swaziland, embraced each of us as we emerged from the van into a swirl of students in maroon and navy uniforms. We were ushered into a church and introduced to about twenty parishioners, who were active participants in HIV/AIDS outreach, Mothers Union and youth programs. We were impressed by the intentional guidance of the older women to recruit young men and women into leadership roles, including the chlorination program. We are thankful to Alfred Sipho Dlamini for the way in which he skillfully and respectfully led this introductory phase of the session.

Irene told us how excited and thankful they were to have us finally come to them with a chlorinator. The people of Esigangeni explained that they had been waiting for over ten years for a promised water system to be installed. There are some wells in the area, but most of the people rely on river water. Diarrhea is a chronic problem. They know that the water they drink is not safe and many try to treat their water with bleach. Some use water guard tablets, which are expensive and not affordable for the general public, and when they cannot get the bleach or tablets, they are forced to drink dirty water. This community realized they have a problem with their water and wanted to do something about it.

The first time out, the new trainees hit a homerun in delivery of their message. Most of the discussion was in Saswati, so we Iowans could not make head or tails of what was being said, but knew from the active, respectful discussion that questions were being asked and well-answered. At one point, Greg Stout, one of the trainers said, "I feel very good right now. I feel that I'm not needed." Yes, I agreed. It was obvious that the archdeaconry trainees (Jabu, Nothemba, Mthunzi & Dumsane) were making the case not only for how the chlorinator works, but how it can be effectively used after the team had gone back to Mbabane. And this time it was different from the Iowa chlorinator demonstrations and presentations, because the Esigangeni community will have members of a Swazi team they can call on if they run into any difficulty using the chlorinator later on. Yebo!

In turn, the Swaziland Safe Water Ministry team members were impressed with the church members plan of action: the Mothers Union will organize and teach the young people how to chlorinate their water, and designated a young woman to be the coordinator. All the girls, the homemakers and future homemakers in the community, will be involved in this program. They also intend that the whole community benefit from the chlorinator's use, not just the Anglicans. The group also had immediate plans to demonstrate the chlorinator at a Mothers Union meeting this coming Thursday, a youth meeting on Saturday, and a Health Motivators meeting on Monday. Yebo! Yebo!

Today, we head for St. Matthias... Rev. Orma Mavimbela's parish. More postings soon!

Swaziland Safe Water Ministry -- an update (finally!) by Melody Rockwell

2009-09-26T01:35:00.000-07:00

Celebrating the completion of the first week of training with Iowans Dan Rockwell & Greg Stout (left to right) Alfred Sipho Dlamini (Diocesan Social Development Officer), Mthunzi Ndlovu (Western Archdeaconry), Jabu Mnisi (All Saints Cathedral Archdeaconry), Dumsane Matsebula (Southern Archdeaconry), Thuli Ncongwane & Nothemba Khoza (Eastern Archdeaconry)

and Inhle Mdlalose (HIV/AIDS Coordinator).

Greg and Dan completed an intensive week of training seven Swazis in chlorinator construction & demonstration, and water quality monitoring. The students gained skills in sawing, drilling, gluing, welding and testing for chlorine levels as well as coliform incidence, and learning about the importance of hygiene in keeping the water safe to drink and reducing illnesses, such as diarrhea.

Together, the team designed strategies for implementing and monitoring chlorinator usage in their regions and established a vision for creating safe drinking water throughout Swaziland, and in so doing, revealing the love of God for the people and their wellbeing. They named their project: Swaziland Safe Water Ministry.

After morning tea yesterday, we bid fond farewells to the students as they headed home for the weekend. The students will return on Monday to begin four weeks of field work throughout Swaziland.

We rejoiced over the internet connection established in Alfred Sipho Dlamini's new office at the Thokoza Centre. A. Sipho is the newly-appointed Anglican Diocese of Swaziland Social Development Officer and our main contact in Swaziland for companion projects.

We were most grateful, too, for A Sipho's connecting the Swaziland Safe Water Ministry with the national Swaziland Rural Water Department. This connection will give vital support for the project. The trainees successfully showed the Rural Water Department representative the use of the chlorinator and answered her questions after only three days training! She, in turn, invited them to demonstrate the chlorinator next Friday, October 2, for representatives of UNICEF & the Rural Water Department with the hope of integrating the chlorinator project with the water programs being implemented throughout Swaziland. Yebo!

In the afternoon, Dan & I successfully negotiated securing cash enough from the ATMs in the Mbabane Mall (no small feat!) so that we can pay for petrol & other expenses next week... Then, we celebrated my 67th birthday at a lovely French restaurant, the Finesse... a quiet oasis in the midst of the hubbub of bustling crowds of Friday afternoon shoppers.

I will be posting more often now that we have reliable, nearby access to the internet. For now, I send my thanks to all of you who have been praying and supporting this mission. I ask your prayers especially for our trainees as they head into the field next week to 'teach' their peers about chlorination & safe drinking water. They are keenly feeling Jesus' pronouncement about 'prophets in their own country.' Your good wishes for the trainees' confidence in getting their message across and successfully establishing good groundwork for their project are appreciated!

Touching ground in Swaziland, embracing dear friends...

2009-09-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

Swaziland Safe Water Project -- sponsored by substantial grants from the Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Gift and Trust Fund and Episcopal Waters of Hope with generous donations from the Iowa Safe Water International Ministries and the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, parishes and individuals...

Our travels to Swaziland went smoothly... long flight, but no delays. All the luggage arrived & we were greeted as we came through customs by an affable young man named Justice, who ferried us to the Emerald House. We were warmly embraced by Alfred Sipho Dlamini, the Diocese of Swaziland grants officer, who is coordinating all things Swazi for the SwaziWater Project. He's thought of all the details, but also sees the big picture of what this can mean in terms of a community building process.

The only difficulty has been finding components (especially pvc pipe) for the chlorinators in Mbabane. Greg has been creative in figuring out a way that parts can be jerryrigged & spent most of this morning building a sturdy workbench. Go Greg!

Tomorrow night, we are expecting four trainees to arrive for a welcoming supper & on Monday morning, Greg & Dan will launch into training four PLUS A. Sipho AND Inhle, the HIV/AIDS coordinator.

More later. Am trying to figure out this whole system & adding photos... but wanted you all to know how thankful we are for your prayers of encouragement and support... that we've arrived safely & all is well. We've been beautifully welcomed by Bishop Meshack and his wife Lucy, and are very impressed and grateful about the serious consideration the SwaziWater Project is being given by all we meet.

Blessings of peace from Swaziland, Melody

Waiting Game

2009-09-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

Swaziland Safe Water Project -- sponsored by substantial grants from the Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Gift and Trust Fund and Episcopal Waters of Hope accompanied by generous donations from the Iowa Safe Water International Ministries and the Diocese of Iowa, parishes and individuals.

Greg Stout & Dan Rockwell relaxing in the
Detroit-Wayne County Airport ... on the way,
wait, on the way, wait, on the way, wait.... then
to Johannesburg. Yebo!

So far, so very good... a little fog early this morning on the way to the Cedar Rapids airport. Smooth check in at 4:30 a.m. & then reading, chatting, waiting for 6:30 flight to Detroit... breakfast, then waiting, reading, suduko, calls, writing thank you cards, walking... Greg rode the train. Flight to Atlanta... smooth, studying Siswati phrases, etc. Late lunch in the airport food court with schmaltzy piano music accompaniment & now blogging. We are delighted that it looks like we will have a direct flight from Atlanta to Joburg... No search, delay & fumigation in Senegal this time. Thanks to so many of you for your messages, blessings & prayers as we arrive at the Atlanta jumping off point to cross the Atlantic & enter Africa! We feel cacooned in your caring embrace! Next blog (hopefully) from Joburg! PS. Greg will also try to update his blog on http://www.swimforhim.info/ under the Waterblog heading.

UTO & WoH Grants Prime the Pump for SwaziWater Project

2009-08-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

Swaziland Safe Water Project -- sponsored by substantial grants from Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Gift and Trust Fund and Episcopal Waters of Hope with generous donations from the Iowa Safe Water International Ministries and the Iowa Episcopal diocese, parishes and individuals...

In August 2007, Greg Stout traveled throughout rural Swaziland with his wife Vickie, Father Charles Kunene (Swazi priest) and Tim Bascom distributing 15 chlorinators and training people on their use to decontaminate water. On departure, Greg thanked Bishop Meshack Mabuza for the gracious hospitality that the three Iowans had received, and said, "I probably will never see you again." Bishop Meshack quickly responded, "You will come back to Swaziland. You need to return to teach us how to make the chlorinators."

Vickie Stout, Greg Stout & Dan Rockwell following a planning session for the mission trip.

On September 14, 2009, Greg and Vickie Stout and Dan Rockwell will leave for six weeks to implement the training project that has been long awaited in Swaziland. This mission trip became possible, because at its July 2009 Triennial Convention, United Thank Offering (UTO)awarded a grant of $7,025 to the Diocese of Iowa to help fund the chlorinator building and water monitoring training project in the Anglican Diocese of Swaziland. And, in Iowa, more than matching funds from Waters of Hope, SwaziCompanions throughout Iowa and the One World One Church Commission clinched the deal. Melody Rockwell will accompany the team in a non-grant funded capacity to provide logistical, accounting and communications support.

Greg and Vickie Stout and Dan Rockwell bring years of experience with chlorinators and water quality work to the training program, and plan to work closely with and through the Diocese of Swaziland HIV/AIDS network of 14 Neighborhood Care Points, which serve nearly 900 orphans and other vulnerable children, and 200 adults. The training tools and materials provided through this grant will enable our companion diocese to make and distribute chlorinators to serve a critical need in Swaziland, and generate income selling the units throughout southern Africa. It is hoped that soon, the income can be used to support a small, but capable Diocese of Swaziland water resources staff.

In addition to making the chlorinators and learning to teach others how to use them, the water resources staff will be trained to monitor the continued use of the chlorinators and evaluate their practical effect through regular testing. This type of consistent, reliable monitoring is simply not possible to accomplish through intermittent, ten-day stays by Iowa mission teams.

A basic water chemistry training course for the diocesan water resources staff will equip them to monitor the performance of the chlorinators, perform bacterial tests on water supplies and take steps to prevent fecal contamination of stored drinking water at the Neighborhood Care Points and other points determined by the Diocese of Swaziland.

The water resources staff will also learn to assess and recommend alternatives for providing sufficient water and safe water storage, including the distribution of individual closable water storage containers, well development, rainwater collection and storage, and tankered water in areas of unrelenting drought.

In Bishop Meshack Mabuza's endorsement of the grant application, he noted: "I assure you [UTO grant review committee] that there is a real need, and that your positive consideration of this application will save lives." In a July 2009 e-mail following the announcement of the grant award, Bishop Meshack stated: "Three days the health department is issuing disturbing warnings regarding the possibility of an outbreak of cholera in the eastern part of the country where the supply of clean water is a challenge. We have no doubt that the project will answer a genuine need."

Thule's Time in Iowa ~ A Beautiful Honeymoon ~

2009-07-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Charles Kunene returned from Swaziland in mid-June 2009 to the three Episcopal parishes he serves in southwest Iowa. Charles has an extra big smile on his face these days, because he didn't return alone to his Iowa home in red Oak. Charles' wife Thule has joined him for three weeks in Iowa... to see the sights, renew acquaintances with companions she'd previously met in Swaziland, and make new friends throughout our state.

Thule, who works as a supervisor in the maternity ward at the hospital in Mbabane, Swaziland, describes her sojourn in Iowa, as "a beautiful honeymoon." Thule says, "The people here in Iowa are very welcoming and kind." She has found Iowa to be "a nice place... very clean." But, she's also been surprised by a few things.

"The prices in the shops," Thule exclaims, "are to much cheaper here." She did note that the one thing she couldn't find in the Iowa stores was bar soap to do laundry. Charles explained that in Swaziland, they do all their laundry by hand and traditionally use bar soap for that process.

Thule said, "Another surprise for me is that your roads are so well-marked! You have no excuse for getting lost here in Iowa, though it takes some getting used to driving on the right side of the road. Oh, and the toilets that automatically flush! And, the organs that are programmed to play automatically! Those were nice surprises!"

"And, there are many houses here made with planks of wood, which is so different from Swaziland, where we mainly use concrete blocks," Thule said. "It was surprising to me that double-story houses made of planks would be strong enough to stay standing." Thule commented that she was also surprised by the high humidity in Iowa. "We have hot days in Swaziland, but it is dry heat, not so humid as here."

Thule expressed genuine enjoyment visiting many different parishes and communities in Iowa, meeting the friendly people and being an honored guest at many welcoming parties. Thule said that an extra special treat were her first rides ever on boats: on Spirit Lake and on the Mississippi River near Burlington. "It was so beautiful," she sighed happily. "It has been a good honeymoon for Charles and me."

Welcome Thule... Iowa has been blessed with your presence!

Fr. Charles Kunene's Return to Iowa

2008-12-26T18:21:00.000-08:00

Below is a letter written by Fr. Charles Kunene upon his return to Iowa from his home country of Swaziland in mid-November 2008. Fr. Kunene serves three parishes in southwest Iowa... and the letter is addressed to his parishioners in love, gratitude and joy:

It sounds like a dream that I have just returned from Swaziland, but it is true. It was exciting to go back home after being away from my family for six months. The journey was longer for me, because I was really missing home and my family. And it was made worse by a delay in Senegal, West Africa, where we had a two-hour delay due to technical problems with the plane. This resulted in my missing my final flight from South Africa to Swaziland.

Anyway, I was happy to be home at last on Saturday, October 18, with the rest of the team from Iowa. We were welcomed well by our Swazi hosts with a cocktail [fruit juices & tasty treats] on our arrival. Sunday was time for me to worship at St. Luke's, which is the parish in western Swaziland that I left in order to come to Iowa. They were happy to see me and they surprised me with a sign written, "Welcome Home" on the wall above the altar, a bunch of roses and a cake. They noticed how well looked after I am while here by my three churches [in Iowa], and that I was happy. I did not need to talk about that part. They saw it themselves, and this is wonderful. I was a picture that spoke a thousand words about the churches I work with in southwest Iowa.

It was wonderful to represent you through what you did for the people of Swaziland. You were not there physically, but through the chlorinators that were distributed, the clothes collected by Red Oak and Shenandoah, the chaplets from the chaplet ministry in Glenwood and the scholarship money raised from the Vacation Bible School with the Methodist Church in Red Oak, you were made present in a powerful way to the people of Swaziland. God bless you!

Who are the Blessed? ~ Mary Jane Oakland

2008-11-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

Excerpts from Sunday, November 2, 2008, Festival of All Saints Homily ~ ...today, we consider the portion of Matthew that is Jesus' main sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, which begins with the beatitudes. The Orthodox would say the 'commandments of blessedness.'

In a society that values competing, winning, power and controlling -- the beatitudes at first reading do not sound like blessedness -- for they are about the poor, the peacemakers, the meek, those who mourn. How do we understand who the blessed are?

...The key to understanding the beatitudes is to realize that for Jesus' sermon to sound like blessedness, we need to develop the virtue of humility. ...St. Benedict reminds us that the first step on the way to humility and blessedness is to recognize the presence of God... to know God as the center of our lives, to know deeply that God is God -- and that we are not -- blessed are the poor in spirit -- blessed are those who have great humility before God -- for theirs is the kingdom of God.

Recently in Swaziland, I had a day showing me both the presence of God -- and knowing myself to be humbled before God by the self-giving love of a group of God's children. This happened on the second day of our chlorinator demonstrations in Swaziland. Our team headed north to a high hill near Pigg's Peak -- where a large group were sitting on rocks waiting for us to arrive. They were interested in our demonstration and received their two chlorinators with thankfulness.

On we went to Hhohho, where we met with a smaller group of people in a community building. The tribal chief had learned of our coming only the day before, and he sent his representative to question our motives and the scientific evidence that the chlorinators wouldn't poison the people. After much back and forth energetic discussion in Saswati, it became clear that the chief's protocol must win the battle that day and the chlorinators were rejected. However, the women of the community did understand what the chlorinators would do, and the war was not lost, because it was arranged for a local health team to go back later for training and distribution of the chlorinators. It was a tough lesson in Swazi politics for all of us, and we never again just assumed that the people would adopt using chlorinators to purify their water.

Then, we went on to Mpofu and there was a large group waiting under an ancient council tree. The chlorinators were enthusiastically received -- we felt relieved -- and the priest (Fr. Joel Dlamini) who serves this small outpost said, "Come, you must come down the road to the church to eat the meal the women have prepared for you." Church? I hadn't noticed a church as we drove up. And, I didn't recognize a church as the vans dropped us off. It sort of looked like a weathered log cabin with a tin roof. There was a ramshackle fence around the property with a circle of barbed wired to hold the gate of tree limbs and scrap metal shut. We walked through this gate into a red dirt yard that had been freshly swept for us with a hand broom creating half circle lines in the red dirt. We moved to the threshold -- the floor was polished concrete -- gleaming. We walked inside -- this place had pieces of cardboard stuffed into the walls -- no ornamentation other than a long piece of weaving hanging on one wall -- a weaving created from small twigs. The women were putting the finishing touches on bringing the serving dishes to the table, which must also be the altar in this place.

As I walked in, I knew the nave of this church to be a very thin place -- a place where the boundaries of heaven and earth, of time and space seem to dissolve. As we came over the threshold, we knew we were on holy ground. And we could only imagine how poor this group of Anglican Christians must be, and they were sharing their food with us. I silently questioned, How can I serve myself a piece of their chicken when the children are obviously malnourished? Their self-giving hospitality was humbling. God was truly present in them and in that place. And we seemed to hear: 'Receive the banquet prepared for you." Out of their little they had given to fill the emptiness of our affluence.

Who are the blessed? As we headed back to Mbabane, we knew that we had been received by a blessed group, who like the widow and her mite, had offered what they had. And, that in eating, we were humbled before the hospitable love of these Christians -- and we knew that God was in that place teaching us to become less sure, more humble, more willing to just be, to just be humbly before God. I give thanks for the long journey, and the poor village congregation who taught me lessons that I will remember whenever I read this section of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. For, I saw the beatitudes being lived out in their midst.Who are the blessed? Those who are able to center their lives on God and not on themselves. The Epistle write tells this day, 'See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Christ. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed.' All the saints and martyrs would teach us on this day to humble ourselves in the presence of God -- right here, right now in our lives -- and our true inner freedom is the fruit of the virtue of humility. May we know ourselves as the Blessed of God today.

Chlorinators in Swaziland by Dan Rockwell

2008-11-02T16:56:00.000-08:00

The 2008 SwaziTeam transported 60 Chlorine Production Units (CPUs) and 40 solar panels to Swaziland for distribution. The South Africa/Swazi border crossing went smoothly and the team was especially thankful to find upon arrival in Mbabane that all 60 chlorinators had survived the transport from Iowa to Swaziland in our luggage... nothing broken, nothing missing.

The team distributed 27 CPUs with accompanying batteries and solar chargers in many rural areas in the north, east and south regions of Swaziland. Most of the demonstrations were held outdoors -- on a misty hillside or within a wide circle of people under the shade of ancient trees. With one exception, the chlorinators were received with gratitude, and there certainly was great interest in the solar panels. I cannot remember more than one or two sites that would have had electric power to charge the batteries, so the solar panels were a great addition.

The chlorinator distribution team did a great job of training with special kudos going to Mike Mears, Elizabeth Ward and John Doherty... & who can ever forget the incredible salt-dissolving dancing star -- Terry Shively!

Our thanks to Waters of Hope and Father Mitchell Smith, and Bishop Alan Scarfe's special asking this spring, which funded the purchase of chlorinators (45), solar panels and batteries, and provided sufficient funds to install up to four roof rainwater collector systems in Swaziland. Thanks, too, to Christ Church, Cedar Rapids, for purchasing 15 CPUs, and Paula Sanchini, who engineered the logistics for purchasing, packing and transport of all the CPUs and solar panels to Swaziland on this trip. Gratitude to those who carried chlorinators in their 'second' suitcase (Lydia Kelsey, Lydia Brown, Chuck Lane, John Doherty, Mary Jane Oakland, Jane Ringwald, Jim Bradley & the Rockwells) & to Rev. Orma Mavimbela, who had the foresight to purchase 30 batteries in Swaziland and! have them tested to see that they worked prior to the arrival of the Iowa team on October 18th. Yebo!

We made it to Johannesburg!

2008-10-29T01:52:00.001-07:00

On leaving Swaziland... Mary Jane Oakland

2008-10-29T01:48:00.000-07:00

Team Iowa 2008 rode in the vans from Swaziland back across the border into South Africa today (October 28th). Our flights are scheduled to leave early evening tomorrow (October 29th).

We are spending tonight in a delightful hillside bed and breakfast inn. The grounds are gloriously in bloom and we felt like we were dropped into a close approximation of the Garden of Eden.

A little more than 24 hours ago I took a picture of the ground at St. Augustine's school and feeding site for orphans and vulnerable children in Mpaka. In the yard where the children play there is no grass -- not even weeds -- just hard packed clay. What a contrast to the lush growth of grass, trees shrubs and flowers here at High View Gardens in Johannesburg. (Where there is rain in Swaziland, the landscapes are green and more beautiful than expected. But in areas which have suffered from drought, the picture is different.)

Obviously, we have physically left Swaziland and are anticipating with joy our return to family, friends and co-workers. But, I now understand how in a certain sense one doesn't leave Swaziland -- the children, the people, the music and dancing the joyous worship, the friendships both forged and renewed -- have become a part of each of us.

What a privilege to make our pilgrim way with the wonderful committed team of pilgrims and to accompany our Bishop Alan & Donna on this spiritual journey in Swaziland.

Monday, October 27 - from the Lydia's

2008-10-29T00:55:00.001-07:00

By Lydia Brown and Lydia Kelsey

Thondo, our driver and guide, surprised us all this morning coming to pick us up wearing an Iowa Football t-shirt, given to him by a previous Swazi companion. Today we split into two groups, one group headed to the South, while the other half went back to St. Augustine's.

We were with the group headed back to St. Augustine's, as we were wanting to spend more time with the children. Our first stop was Ekukhanyeni where Archdeacon Josiah had asked us to do a chlorinator demonstration. Children were just finishing up their ABC's in the classroom when we arrived. The demonstration went well and we were invited for "tea" at an off site location.

We were taken to the location of the new church they hope to build for this community, which has been growing in size. We had a bit of a dilemma when offered a koolaid like cold drink made from water we knew could be unsafe to drink. The cornbread was delicious and we did our best to be polite while not consuming the liquid.

We then headed to Mpaka and visited St. Augustine's where the children were eating lunch. Elizabeth Ward took pictures of each child, so we would be able to bring back faces and names of children to Iowa.

Fr. Dent offered us a tour of his homestead, which utilized bricks made by the 2006 Swazi companions. We headed back to town for last minute errands and to prepare for the farewell dinner and reception.

The evening was lovely, with the final understanding being that this was not good-bye, but a pledge to continue our ministry as companion dioceses with Swaziland and Brechin. We were thanked countless times for everything we did.

From Carl Mann - Sunday, October 26

2008-10-29T00:54:00.000-07:00

Sanibonani!

I was told to keep this short so I will see what I can do although there are two parts to what I have report.
First, as transportation coordinator and primary American driver, I have had the unique experience of viewing Swaziland through a windshield from the wrong side of the vehicle and the wrong side of the road, at least from an American perspective! I probably don’t need to go into much detail as that last line says it all. As we leave the hustle and bustle of the city each morning, proceeding through the last robots, (traffic lights), over the last of the speed bumps (they’re everywhere), and begin the ascent or descent of endless mountains and valleys, I say, “Let the insanity begin!” Seriously, I am considering a third career as a NASCAR driver. It took the better part of three days to feel comfortable enough to become as crazy as the local population in regard to operating a motor vehicle. This is one of few places on earth where it is perfectly acceptable to pass the car in front of you and immediately hit the brakes because there may be a very large bovine or goat taking a leisurely stroll across or down the middle of the road. And that is on the main four lane highway, possibly even in town! When one departs the main highway to travel to one of the various outstations, one finds them self on a road that we would consider a ‘level B’ road back home; teeth-rattling, bone-busting, and maintained once a year whether it needs it or not! But that all right because that’s the way it is. Let’s just say that the panel beaters (body shops) and breakdowns (tow trucks) appear to be keeping busy. OK, that’s enough about that for now.
The second part is in regard to the 40th Anniversary Celebration held yesterday in Manzini. It was a wonderful service containing a balance of traditional Anglican and culturally rich liturgics and music which lasted for a good three hours and a bit. And that was just the first part of the celebration! Then came the ‘Welcoming’ portion of the program which lasted just a little over two and a half hours! Suffice it to say that it was good practice for the return trip on the airplane. Aside from the length, it was glorious! The order of service was followed as close as possible but when ever a unforeseen break in the action occurred, somebody would break into song in the Makwaya style (traditional African) and before you know it we were up on our feet clapping our hands, singing at the top of our lungs, and movin’ to the groove thing! It was quite amazing, actually. It was a spontaneous, heart-felt, soul-clenching worship which was as natural as taking a breath yet still very Anglican in a sacramental way. Outward and visible actions radiating an inward and spiritual grace nearly beyond description due to its heavenly source and generation; literally an inspiration of the Holy Spirit!
This entire trip as been an honor and a humbling experience in which we have been received and accepted as brothers and sisters in Christ! My everlasting thanks to the congregation of St. Alban’s in Spirit Lake and the Diocese of Iowa for allowing me to be a part of this mission.
An off-the-cuff reflection: I believe that we, the team, have been ministered to by those of whom we have met in a far greater capacity than from anything that we have had to offer them , which is striking because we have accomplished a significant amount good by the loving grace and mercies of God!
On a personal note: Jane, if you have been waiting to hear from me, I love you and miss you, and the dog, and in that order. Mom, if you read this, so far there have been no international incidents but we haven’t left the country yet! To my congregation: I hope things are going smoothly, and I will see you this weekend. Don’t forget that we have All Saints’ Day service on Saturday, and the 3rd Annual Hunter’s Mass celebrating St. Hubertus on Monday.
Hambakahle!

Carl+

From Angela Zahn - some thoughts

2008-10-29T00:46:00.000-07:00

Everywhere I look I see rolling mountains, red earth, and people who seem to be coming from nowhere and a destination out of sight as well. I still haven’t gotten used to seeing young children walking along long stretches of road bare foot, maybe walking to school if they are lucky or home from the market, again if they’re lucky. I have to imagine each person’s story but as soon as I begin, a new face quickly appears and replaces the others in a blur. The road are littered with grazing cows, donkeys, and goats keeping the grasses at a manageable height. Mothers with babies strapped to their backs and heavy bags in each hand holding as much as they can bear, all while balancing a container (hopefully full of water)on her head. As we stop along what seems to be a deserted area for our lunch, we learn very quickly there is always someone somewhere in the dusty, red winds. I try very hard not to look up and make eye contact with any of the people of Swaziland, ashamed of what is in my hands; the guilt fills my stomach far more than the food which has been carefully prepared for me. I have been burnt by the fiery African sun, hit with the dusty, red winds, felt cold bitter enough to go straight to my bones, and have even been thanked for bringing rain to parts of the country that haven’t seen rain in three years. Africa holds so much beauty, it is like an onion; it takes some work and some tears to get through it all. Angela Zahn

From the Bishop

2008-10-27T00:49:00.001-07:00

What a tremendous day yesterday as we celebrated the Diocese's fortieth anniversary. The exuberance and joy in Christ was palpable. I am glad that we have decided to continue focusing our relations in one diocesan partnership with Swaziland and Brechin. I have begun the process of asking the team what the Spirit is saying to them as they return home, and some amazing mission desires have been articulated already. I intend to share these with Bishop Mabuza in our final conversations this afternoon, and see where they might fit in to his overall vision. We are particularly touched by the situation in the southern region, as well as concerned to assist the water ministry to be further expanded and coordinated.

We have been honored guests during our time here, and I make it very clear to the Swazis that their ministry to us as we come among themis the making of disciples. We cannot fail to be effected deeply in our spirit by what we see, and what touch us from the brothers and sisters of all ages we meet. This communion of ours which Christ is the creator of is precious. It is a network for human compassion and caring which takes us deeper into each other's lives than we can imagine. Just sitting under the same tree where the village council meets to settle its internal disputes and then be "part of their agenda for the day" is an incredible honor, matched only by the open response of gratutude from our hosts for our coming and gift of clean water.

Of course we also tread carefully where we begin to realise that ministry has its bumps on the road, and is as dependent on ongoing work in human relationships in Swaziland as it is in Iowa. That is one reason why we seek to keep ministry coordinated at the episcopal level. Not because bishops always get it right, but because they are often at the center on the ground over the big picture. We hope in the years to come we can begin to share ministry through parish to parish. With Swaziland parishes being organised with multiple out stations, parish to parish from the Iowa perspective will mean ministering to a whole region. We hope also to think more strategically of following up on projects with sponsoring longer stays for Iowans with particular interests. There is a commitment on all sides of the partnership for multiple communication.

There is no doubt that God has given us a great gift in being partners with Swaziland and Brechin. I can only look over at those involved in this year's trip and know that God is transforming them in Jesus' likeness.

+Alan

Wine with friends

2008-10-26T21:45:00.001-07:00

Our good friend Pat Miller from Brechin bought us all wine to share. Here pictured left to right is Jane P, Glenda, Lydia K, Elizabeth, Lydia B, Pat, Terry, and Angela.

Hello from Fr. Charles!

2008-10-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

Fr. Charles says hello to everyone back in Iowa! He is so happy to be home and see his family, but wants to pass along his greetings to everyone back in the states. Everywhere we travel people are so glad to see him and tell us thank you for taking such good care of him.

Photos from Sunday

2008-10-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 25 - Jane Ringwald and Marva Eck

2008-10-26T21:14:00.002-07:00

Saturday, October 25
By Jane Ringwald and Marva Eck

Today is our free day!!! We’re off to Hlane Royal National Game Park. This is a protected area and is home to the largest herds of game in the kingdom.

We boarded 2 Land Rovers and started out to see what we could see. Many dead trees, a result of the elephant rubbing against them, reminded me of scenes from the Lion King.

The Park is divided into several areas and the first one we visited is home to many rhinos. They seemed comfortable around our vehicle. The highlight was meeting a mother rhino and her baby (about 1 month old). As expected she was very protective of her little one. We also met up with a large elephant who has only one tusk. When we entered this area, a couple of the Kuudus crossed our path.

As we went along, we say many vultures hanging out in the trees. We found a carcass of an impala – probably their afternoon snack. Trees were abundant in this area, and we did see a cactus looking tree where sap is milky and poisonous (related to the poinsettia).

In another area we ran across a pride of lions taking their afternoon siesta. One of the mothers was grooming her cubs.

We were near a watering hole where there were many large birds, including a large heron, a variety of storks, and more vultures. A large beautiful elephant was also there. He got tired or our taking his picture and decided to charge the Land Rover. That was exciting, but no one was hurt. Luckily the drivers recognized the sign of a charge (the elephant’s ears forward) and got us out of the way in a hurry. Driving around the park we saw many impala.

After the drive, we had time for shopping at the gift shop and had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant. As the menu was impala – a very tender “beef like” meat. Near the restaurant was another watering hole where we saw 2 submerged hippos.

On our way home we stopped at Swaziland Candles. A nice shopping area.

Catastophe #1: Glenda ran to board one of the vans, hit her head on the van and was knocked out for a brief time. We’re all glad she wasn’t seriously injured.

October 24- Elizabeth Ward

2008-10-26T21:14:00.001-07:00

Friday, October 24
Elizabeth Ward
Six of us stayed behind in Mpaka today. We helped Terry with his dental assessment and also Mary Jane did a nutritional assessment of the children. After the children ate their lunch of Mealy meal, beetroot and beans, we started seeing the children in groups of four. We were told their typical meal was at 1 pm each day and that’s their only meal. It consists of a corn based porridge and beans. Today there were 43 children and 6 teachers that ate and for the vegetables their cooked with 1 leek, 2 tomatoes, and the greens from the top of the beets – and that’s all they had!
After Dr. Terry and Jane did their dental exam, I helped the kids brush their teeth with their new toothbrushes we gave them in their very own bags with prayer beads, which everyone was excited came from one of Fr. Charles’ churches.
The time spent there was a blessing.

October 24 - Jim Bradley

2008-10-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

Friday October 24
Jim Bradley
We started today with a typical Swaziland breakfast: sausage, ham, fried eggs, toast, and marmalade. This is invariably accompanied by porridge, hot tea, or instant coffee.
After sunrise service in the Thokoza Chapel, we boarded our two Toyota vans. First stop is always to fuel up the vans, and also to stock up with bottled water, chocolate, and potato crisps.
Our journey today takes us east and south toward the borders or Mozambique and South Africa. By late morning we are at St. Augustine’s Anglican Mission, where a hard-working parish priest, Rev. Mbatha and his wife run a “feeding scheme” or soup kitchen for about 60 pre-adolescent children orphaned by the plague of HIV/AIDS the effect of which is visible wherever you look here. Rev. Mbatha feeds his children from a burlap-walled 12’x12’ kitchen and a 20’ x 30’ school room, tin roofed and dried mud floor. Modern steel-trussed building skeletons are waiting to be walled when additonal funds are found. The cost of the steel skeleton includes the roof which cannot be installed until the foundation and walls are in place. According to Rev. Mbatha, last year he and his wife furnished two meals five days a week. Now, because of funding, these orphans eat only 1 meal, 3 days a week. Life is hard and getting harder for many here in Swaziland.
Mary Jane, Terry, and others stayed at St. Augustine’s to conduct nutrition and dental exams, while the rest of us traveled 30 minutes over bumpy roads to Maphungwana. There we demonstrated our chlorine machine as part of a sort of tribal or community council. Here, about 50 men and women gathered under a spreading ghude tree to decide community disputes and discuss community business. The had favorable reports about the water chlorinators from other nearby communities, and were eager to learn how to use the machines we demonstrated and left with them.
Driving back to Rev. Mbatha’s dust-blown soup kitchen, we picked up Terry, Mary Jane, and the others. On the way back to Mbabane we were hosted to cold soda and cookies by a couple that remembered Rom and Toni Noah from their previous trip.
Back at Thokoza, we practiced for our singing debut Sunday at the big 40/40 stadium celebration. We have chosen, “I the Lord of Sea and Sky” and “Do Lord, Do Remember Me.” After supper, some of us went to the Cathedral for another rollicking, Swaziland Anglican revival. Thus ends another day is this very beautiful, very dry, and very AIDS stricken kingdom.

October 24 - TR Shively

2008-10-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Friday, October 24
TR Shively

Hi all!

Great day Friday. Back to St. Augustine’s. Got about 50 kids in process. Their Ba be Dent and Christine send their love. Raining in Mbabane – night’s cool. Some hot days. I played “Vana” on demo team (more details later).

Special love to SKS, Kara, Troy and my prayer partners

October 23, 2008 - John Doherty

2008-10-24T03:32:00.001-07:00

October 23, 2008 – John Doherty

Rainy day with much cooler weather. We start the day with drizzle and mid 50 degree temps. The fog is thick so there are no views as we leave Mbabane.

Our first stop was Swazi Candles and Crafts. Beautiful handcrafted candles, woven fabrics, and batik’ed materials. We all bought many things. The Swazi economy was helped.

We next stopped at St. Andrew’s School. Lucy Mabuza is the principal there (she’s the wife of the bishop of Swaziland, Bishop Mabuza). There is much need there, books, etc. many people who work at the pineapple cannery live nearby. They have very little by the time they pay rent and food. There is little left over. The school is quickly improving. We meet the teachers and looked about.

Next we all stopped at an ATM for cash that we’ll need at the market.

We are stopping at Montega Cultural Village. Bishop Alan started a volley ball game in the back of the van. We discovered prices vary a lot store to store on some items. Glenda negotiated a great price on our entry fee.

We first walked up to see Montana Falls a double waterfall about <300m tall. Then we were blessed with singing and dancing by the Matsamo Cultural Group doing traditional music.

Twice blessed with the bishop and others dancing. The Shaman asked the Bishop back to his hut, but he declined because of our tight schedule. We learned a lot about traditional Swazi village living. Bishop was presented with a symbol of his being our elder.

Found out it’s about $1,000/year to sponsor a student to school. Lower levels can be less.

We stopped at the market. We were lambs at the slaughter. Once you entered a store they would bargain you into submission. I spent every Rand on me.

We next went to St. Mathias orphanage. Terry presented pharmaceuticals and toothpaste and toothbrushes. We did a music presentation about brushing. We saw the children getting their lunch. The got a bowl of beans and porridge. They ate with their hands. I asked and they said it was the biggest meal of the day.

Saw the billboard again about savings account at banks for a dignified burial for your children. How different than us, saving for retirement or for our children’s education.

We last went to St. Margaret’s orphanage. Bishop Alan came out of the van with a soccer ball. The boys and Alan played soccer for a while and the girls played a game. The group of orphans sang for us as we gave them stickers and gum. Then we did a dental brushing presentation. There were pictures and prayers.
If you did not believe that the power of Christ could change things, you would be in despair for the world and the people and children we have met today.

The revival was great. We got there late, maybe mid-service. The singing was soulful and the preaching dynamic. We were all called to be transformed people by the power of the Holy Spirit. At one point we all were saying our private prayers aloud. It was as if the tongue of God was upon the Cathedral Church of All Saints.

Ocotber 22 - Bishop Alan Scarfe

2008-10-24T03:23:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, October 22 – Bishop Alan Scarfe

Today we met our third Archdeacon. The Swaziland diocese is divided into three parts. And the Archdeacon Michael oversees the southern deanery. We traveled into the hotter and poorest area of the country. The drought of recent years has badly affected the people here. There’s little work in the rural areas we visited. Even the plantings possible a couple of years ago now yield next to nothing and people are showing signs of malnutrition. Mary Jane would pinch the children’s arms to test for fat presence while we were standing watching the chlorinator demonstration. She also pointed out signs of protein deficiency. Any future visit needs to be accompanied with food supplements. Our candy brought joy but helped little toward their real health needs.

I have lost count of the number of chlorinator demonstrations we have done. The team has been great. I never thought that the evangelism would come as we go through the talk, but the good news is there at the end. “This gift is free and may save lives, but there is a great and wonderful free gift from God that saves us forever in His Son Jesus Christ,” are the closing words of the script.
What struck me today - as powerful and emotional day as any I have experienced – was how we give the same chlorinator demonstration, the very same script, and yet every context, every location has been profoundly different.
We have faced cynical representatives of a local chief and the water board, wondering if we were trying to poison people slowly and questioning the science of it all. And we have been embraced by open hearted Christian and community people sitting on rocks over against gorgeous hillsides and mountains. We have joined communities under the trees and in their small churches that are spaces for worship, feeding orphans, health checks, and education.

Today, we began by meeting children – OVC’s: orphaned and vulnerable children – at St. Mary’s Church, Hlatakulu. There are no words to express their impact upon you. Then we were taken to a primary school with 340 children grades 1-7. They gathered in assembly, sang to us, and greeted us. Teachers and parents attended the demonstration as we sat again under a tree overlooking the mountains.
I was given a tour of the Headmaster’s house - foundation cracked, walls coming apart. It is condemned but he must live there as he has to give his better accommodation to his teachers. To replace it costs $6,000. Half for a new roof and then they rebuild walls and foundation.

Finally we went into the dustbowl the deeper South. They have dreams for a school, learning to grow drought resistant crops, and a church able to accommodate more people than their tree.

This was our most emotional encounter. Such humility and poverty combined with laughter and smiles and sense of gratitude to God and any of God’s servants who remembered them.

I am sure others will blog about this gathering. Everything was summed up by one woman who in thanking said, “Thank you for your gift. I know it will be very helpful to us. ONCE WE HAVE RAIN.”

I went out back to the 5,000 liter water tank by the small church. It was empty and has been for a long time. Just 20 minutes away is a government dam shared with South Africa. All that water, only minutes away from desperately barren fields.
This is the contrast of the situation of the Swazi people, facing such poverty in a land so scenic it takes your breath away. There again there’s little that doesn’t catch your breath in this journey. It really is God’s gift to us to share life with this part of God’s world.

more photos from October 21

2008-10-24T03:10:00.000-07:00

October 21 - Chuck Lane

2008-10-24T03:02:00.000-07:00

October 21, 2008 – Chuck Lane

The day started out so beautiful. There was light mist, it was cool, and the sun was coming up so slowly. Our first stop to distribute chlorinators was Luhlangotsini near
Pigg’s Peak. We were greeted by over 40 people waiting to show them how to use the chlorinators. We sat on rocks overlooking the hillsides. It was beautiful to see God’s creation. We were all greeted by the cattle. After showing them how to use the chlorinators, they were so thankful that we had traveled so far to do this and also for giving them 2 of the chlorinators to keep. You could see love in every face there.

Our second stop was Hhohho where we were greeted by about 20 people. Again the hillsides were so beautiful. We met inside a small church. Again the people listened as we showed them how to use the chlorinators. There was much discussion if they would work. They kept one. As we were leaving they gave us oranges and hugs. Again you could see love in their eyes even through their questions.

Our last stop was Mpofu. We were again greeted by 40 plus people. Also by the goats. Again we showed them how to use the chlorinators. They were very excited about the chlorinators and how much it will help their lives. Afterward, we were invited to a meal that they had prepared for us. The meal was great and we also had a short church service. They had welcomed us into their homes and served us a meal – we were strangers to them at first, but in the end we were brothers and sisters to one another. You could see that by the love in their eyes.

After the evening meal, we climbed into our vans and waved good-bye to them for the hospitality they showed us. As we drove down the dusty road the sun was again going down and it would be evening soon. As we drove away I thought – how lucky we all are to have clean water and almost everything we need. They have so less but so much love in their lives. They showed it by opening their homes with a meal to total strangers. I ask myself would we do that.

October 20 - Lydia Kelsey

2008-10-24T02:59:00.000-07:00

Monday October 20, 2008
Lydia Kelsey

Lydia B. and I spent the first half of the day walking to The Mall (as it is called) through the city center searching for an Internet Café. As you all have seen, we found one! The walk through the city was so enlightening. Just crossing the street was a bit of a challenge since I always looked the wrong direction! Glenda from the HIV/AIDS office had a good laugh later when I told her I thought the people in the yellow vests on the street corners were traffic helpers – they really were just vendors for cell phone airtime! I wondered why they weren’t letting us know when to go!

After returning back at Thokoza Centre, we met up with Terry Shively, who had been meeting with the Swazi government about his dental credentials and Melody Rockwell who waited at Thokoza for us all to return. Glenda gave us a ride to meet up with the rest of the group, who was just finishing with their first CPU demonstration.

It was so great to get some time with Glenda just to talk. We noticed the overwhelming numbers of children and adults walking along the busy highway, so close to the oncoming traffic. Some would put up a thumb for a ride, but Glenda explained that you have to actually get a license or some type of insurance to take them, otherwise if you get in an accident you are held liable. The children, she said are especially a risk, since they act silly and jump around in the back seat, and if they were to be hurt in your car you would be in a lot of trouble with the law.

Melody asked about the large groups of children living in homes and Glenda said they were most likely orphans who were sent to live with other relatives. One of the biggest problems they experience is that when they are old enough to go back and claim their home in their village the chief has most likely given it away to someone else, even though it is rightfully theirs since it belonged to their parents. Melody mentioned she read a newspaper article about it and wondered if a law was being put into place to prevent this from happening, but Glenda said they always talk, but never act. The law most likely will not happen any time soon.

After the second CPU demonstration, children were returning home from school and were glad to see our group. We gave away stickers, bouncy balls, friendship bracelets from St. Paul’s Cathedral, and some candy and their eyes lit up.

October 20 - Mike Mears

2008-10-24T02:53:00.000-07:00

Monday October 20, 2008
By Mike Mears

We travelled to Zondondo today to Ba Be Mandla’s Parish who visited St. Alban’s, Spirit Lake in 1999, to deliver and demonstrate our first Chlorinator Producing Unit (CPU). The village we visited was in a very remote rural area of Lubombo in Western Swaziland. Traveling up the rough dirt path we could hear the singing coming from inside this rustic, tiny village chapel. We were overtaken by our emotions as we listened to the closing verse of their morning worship in Siswati.

Our demonstration was received with very close attention by four young adults who the priest selected from the congregation. They took notes and learned how the CPU works by having a “hands on” training session. They even danced to shake the bottle of salt solution just like they were shown. The gratitude they had for the gift we had given was overwhelming, and I was fighting back tears.

After this demonstration we traveled to the Lomohasha region to St. Thomas Parish which was a church whose roof was built with assistance from the Diocese of Iowa. Here we demonstrated the chlorinators to another group of interested parishioners from the village. This area is only a stones throw away from the country of Mozambique. This area is so drought stricken that the water given for demonstration was very minimal. The Archdeacon from that region said, “I had heard before that clear water does not mean clean water, but now I understand what that means.” Their thankfulness was again something we will never forget.

October 20 - John Doherty

2008-10-24T02:45:00.000-07:00

Monday October 20, 2008
By John Doherty
The poverty of the country people is staggering. Small huts with grass or tin roofs. There are many children along the roads waving and smiling at us. I can’t wait to meet them.

2008-10-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

Notes from folks

2008-10-20T00:22:00.000-07:00

Because we've found that our schedule is so busy and access to international calling and internet is not as accessible as we had hoped, a few of us are posting greetings to loved ones on the blog!

Marva: Hi to Ed, Lacretia, and Monica.

Jane R: Hi Becky and Scott. I'm being good!

Angela: I love you and miss you all. Hey Kids! Save me a piece of that corn eh?! And read some books!

A message from Terry

2008-10-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

Hi All. We arrived in Swaziland safe and well. I have been busy for two days already, early morning to "lights out" organizing our projects and, of course, church today. It was a wonderful service. On Monday we head to the field. I will pick up my creditials/license and I'll be licensed to practice dentistry in Swaziland - WOW!

Love and prayers for Stevie, Kara, Tray and all!

TRS

Oct 19 - Elizabeth Ward

2008-10-20T00:16:00.001-07:00

What an awesome day! We began our day at All Saints Cathedral in Mbabane at 8:00am where Bishop Scarfe was made an honorary Canon of the Diocese of Swaziland. We were all so moved by the bishops blessing upon the young children of the Cathedral before they were dismissed for Sunday School. It brought tears to many of us.
After lunch back at Thokosa Center we headed in our two rental vans to Piggs Peak Mts to see the bushmen paintings at Nsangwini, dating back 4000 years ago. It was a 20 minute hike down a rocky hill, up a short hill and back down again. The scenery was magnificent. Once at our destination we were told of these Zulu paintings made of red ocher. Now remember, whenever you hike down a mountain you must get back to your original starting point. The team trekked back up the trail with the chief Shepard - Bishop Alan - leaving his sheep in the dust, and at the last minute a challenge was presented and he beat me on the last uphill sprint!
Our team all returned to the vans and ate a picnic before heading to the Maguga Dam, beware of Hippos, and having afternoon tea and refreshments at the Maguga Lodge.
We had a very joy-filled day - we are truly blessed to be here and look forward to sharing more with you all.

Settling in

2008-10-19T23:48:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! We arrived safely at Thokoza Centre in Swaziland on Saturday around 4 pm. The drive from Johannesburg was about 5 hours with stops through customs. It was a mostly rainy ride, but very scenic! The land is unbelievably beautiful and we got a feel for rural life driving through the countryside in South Africa.

We were greeted with a wonderful reception at Thokoza Centre! There were new and old friends like Archdeacon Londoloza Shongwe, The Rev. Orma, Fr. Charles Kunene's wife and son, Glenda from the HIV/AIDS office, and Pat from Brechin. (I apologize for not getting all of the names, but we'll fill in those blanks soon!)

We were very tired after so much travel, but glad to be in our new home for the rest of our trip!

- Lydia K.

Day 1 & 2

2008-10-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

It's 9:27 pm and we're settled in a comfortable resort in Johannesburg, about 5 minutes from the airport. It seems like it's been a long time since meeting in the Des Moines airport Thursday morning at 9:30 am. After a flight to Atlanta, with barely enough time to make our connection, we boarded to Johannesburg, stopping in Dakar. While in my mind I knew a 24 hour flight would be long, I had no idea just how long it would feel.

Luckily we each had a little personal touch screen on the seat in front of us to watch movies, tv, play games, and follow our route along the way. Let it be known that Donna Scarfe is the ultimate trivia queen. I, personally, had a rough trip, coming off with no voice and a very upset stomach. Our landing felt like a 30 minute roller coaster, circling the stormy weather until the pilots found the smoothest route - which wasn't exactly smooth. The stop in Dakar was quite an experience with safety officers boarding and ripping up the velcro seats to check for who knows what. It felt a bit chaotic, especially since it was 4 am at the time and wherever we moved we seemed to be in the way.

After arriving in Johannesburg, we each converted some cash and piled into vans to head to our resort. We made it just in time for a quick meal, with the kitchen closing at 8:30 pm and I was lucky to notice the inconspicuous computer in the corner, which cost only 1 rand per minute (about $.05).

Unfortunately my photo card was not compatible with this computer and there is no wireless here, but we'll upload fun photos tomorrow!

Tomorrow we'll wake up, eat breakfast, and travel 5 hours by van to Mbabane, Swaziland. Cheers until then! Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!

Peace,
Lydia K.

Team Trains for Journey to Swaziland

2008-10-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here are Iowa team members & Fr. Charles Kunene (Swaziland) meeting in Ames in September 2008 at the 3rd of four mission training sessions...

planning & learning & praying in preparation for the journey to Swaziland.

The team flies to Johannesburg on October 16 & then will go by truck to Swaziland to deliver chlorinators, an oral health program, medicines...

& enjoy companionship, singing, celebration and worship with the men, women & children of the Diocese of Swaziland.

Oh, bless this band of sojourners as they go forth in mission!

Meet Team Iowa ~ SwaziJourney 2008

2008-08-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

Bishop Alan Scarfe & Donna

will lead the Diocese of Iowa mission team to Swaziland

Bishop Alan ~ "This trip to Swaziland was planned with Bishop Mabuza, when we met in Madrid, Spain last June at the Episcopal/Anglican Companion Diocese Conference, and is a natural extension of Meshack and Lucy's visit to Iowa in 2005 for our Healing Mission Tour. We hope to deepen our Companion Diocese relationship with such visits, as we continue to learn from each other and worship together. I will be honored as a Canon of the Cathedral in Mbabane, Swaziland, during the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Diocese of Swaziland."

Donna Scarfe ~ "I am looking forward to meeting old friends in Swazland and making new ones! Lucy Mabuza has been a wonderful inspiration to me as a Bishop's wife with her prayers, her concern for the people and her work with the Mother's Union. We also swap stories of how difficult it is to keep our Bishop in order!"

Jim Brady, Trinity Episcopal Church, Iowa City ~ "For many years, I've wanted to go to Africa on a mission trip. Being able to go to Swaziland at this time with this team of Iowans is nothing short of a miracle... a transforming abundance of loaves & fishes in my life."

Lydia Brown, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Ft. Dodge ~ " I went to Swaziland two years ago, and I want to return to reconnect with the people, especially the children of Mpaka. I am eager to do more preparation for my penpal project -- connecting the children of Iowa with the children of Swaziland."

Angela Zahn, Christ Episcopal Church, Burlington ~ "I have a calling to continue my journey to strengthen my faith and my community. I know I can learn a lot from the Swazi people -- they are a people of suffering, little means and experience injustice, yet can still see the beauty in day to day life. They have a strong faith in God and are not giving up."

Elizabeth Ward, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Spirit Lake ~ "I feel called to help the people of Swaziland and I have had more interest to go on a mission trip and the opportunity arose, so I am pleased to attend! I hope to learn more about our companion diocese and the people of Swaziland."

Dan Rockwell, Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Rapids ~ "I am interested in assisting the Swazis in developing sanitary water supplies & making Swazi friendships. I'm looking forward to experiencing Africa with my wife, Melody."

Melody Rockwell, Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Rapids ~ "I am looking forward to celebrating and worshipping with the Swazi people, gaining a better understanding of ways to deepen our Iowa-Swazi companion relationship, and expressing my gratitude in person to my Anglican brothers and sisters for their spiritually uplifting and life-changing gifts to me."

Chuck Lane, Trinity Episcopal Church, Waterloo ~ "I said, 'Once I retire, I will travel to Swaziland to meet the people & learn about their culture.' And, now I am realizing that retirement dream."

Jane Ringwald, St. John's by the Campus, Ames ~ "I am interested in the chlorinators we are taking to increase access to safe water in Swaziland, and want to learn all I can about the people of Swaziland, so that I can encourage others to participate in this ministry. I am especially interested in young people and their needs."

Rev. Mary Jane Oakland, St. Paul's, Marshalltown ~ "I am going on this mission trip to learn from my Swazi brothers & sisters. I am in awe of their joyful, deep faith in the midst of living with suffering and death from the scourge of HIV/AIDS and years of famine. I want to learn to move from that Western problem-solving mind through what they will teach me in so many ways, including the 40th anniversary celebration of the Diocese of Swaziland. 'I come with joy to meet my Lord.' "

Jane Perrett, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake ~ "I'd like to gain a greater knowledge of the Swazi people, their spirituality & worship. This will be a new experience for me & one in which I will gain understandings very different from my everyday life."

Marva Eck, Church of Our Savior, Claremont ~ "I want to meet my neighbor in another country & hope to convey that I am truly glad to be there & concerned about their well being."

Dr. Terry Shively, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake -- "I have a commitment to the people of Swaziland, especially the students & teachers at St. Augustine's school in Mpaka. I hope to develop closer relations with them as well as participating in the life & celebrations of the Diocese of Swaziland & extending the oral health program started in 2006."

Lydia Kelsey, diocesan youth missioner: "Traveling to Swaziland for mission, evangelism & celebration is an opportunity that doesn't come along very often. I feel blessed to have this opportunity... & look forward to getting to know our Swazi brothers & sisters in Christ, & then telling stories of our companionship so others in our diocese can share that connection."

Rev. Carl Mann, rector, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake: "I feel called to go on this mission to Swaziland & hope to learn more about our companion diocese & how they live & worship."

Rev. John Doherty, deacon, Cathedral of St. Paul, Des Moines: "I am going on this mission trip because of my interest in safe drinking water in Swaziland. I've been active in raising money & support for relief efforts, including riding in the Waters of Hope bike ride, May 2008." John says: "See www.watersofhope.org "

Mike Mears, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake: "I feel called to this mission to help God help his children, especially the orphans, in Swaziland. I appreciate all the prayers & support for our team, because all of us united in prayer will help give us knowledge of God's will, and the strength and power to carry it out."

Iowans Join Swaziland Celebration -- October 2008

2008-08-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

We have purchased our airline tickets to Johannesburg and have completed two of the four mission training sessions in preparation for a journey to our companion diocese: Swaziland, Southern Africa.

Who are we? Sixteen Episcopalians from around the Diocese of Iowa and one Anglican priest from Swaziland, who will join Bishop Alan Scarfe and his wife Donna for the mission trip to Swaziland (October 16 - 30, 2008) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Diocese of Swaziland, work on mission activities, including distributing chlorinators, and enjoy evangelism Swazi-style.

The team accompanying Donna & Alan include:

*Jim Bradley, Trinity, Iowa City

*Lydia Brown, St. Mark's, Fort Dodge

*Rev. John Doherty, St. Paul's Cathedral, Des Moines

*Marva Eck, Church of Our Savior, Clermont

*Lydia Kelsey, St. Timothy's, West Des Moines

*Rev. Charles Lane, Trinity, Waterloo

*Rev. Carl Mann, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake

*Mike Mears, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake

*Rev. Mary Jane Oakland, St. Paul's, Marshalltown

*Jane Perrett, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake

*Jane Ringwald, St. John's, Ames

*Dan & Melody Rockwell, Christ Church, Cedar Rapids

*Terry Shively, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake

*Elizabeth Ward, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake

*Angela Zahn, Christ Church, Burlington

Rev. Charles Kunene, Swaziland, now serving in southwest Iowa, will accompany the team to his homeland for the 40th anniversary celebration/mission trip. Ron and Toni Noah, diocesan mission team trainers, will not travel with the team to Swaziland, but are providing team cross-cultural and mission training sessions and making travel/logistical arrangements for the team.

As we plan & prepare for our time in Swaziland, as well as during our time there in celebration, mission and evangelism, the Iowa to Swaziland Team 2008 would appreciate your sustaining prayers and support. Please join the journey with a team member in prayer and correspondence by contacting: Melody Rockwell at mrockwrite@netins.net/

Stay tuned for 'getting to know the team' posts!

2006-08-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

Greetings all Swazi. Companions.

Well, per usual all the words, etc. could not totally prepare us for our Mission '06.

The training and shared experiences from Toni, Ron, Melody, Karen, et al, however, were very valuable.

"My land"(as my mother used to say), what an experience we shared and lived. Now we can really get our arms around..."the dust of Africa on our boots".
We all left a part of our selves there and brought home a huge portion of reallity. Will we ever think of concrete blocks, school buildings, safe drinking water, daily food, oral health and health in general the same way again? I think not and that is part of the beauty of what we brought home. The smiles, the singing, the joy! They will live on in our hearts and memories.

The reciprocal joy is that we made a difference(however small or humble) in the lives of those we interacted with. We are forever connected.
Somewhere, half-way round the world, they can know there live people who care and believe in "loving their neighbor as themselves.

Thank you all for one of the most spiritually significant and meaningful events of a lifetime..... ........................................................................TR(Terry)

reflections

2006-08-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

I have been home in the states a little over a week now and still can't get the images of beautiful Swaziland out of my mind..... the smiles and the dust on the childrens faces, the singing voices, the smell of the wood fire cooking lunch and the warmth of our new friends. Tears fill my eyes each time I think of that young woman drinking the muddy water, and the pride the young man showed as he carried the chlorinator. We did make a difference. But they made a difference in the way I will forever view my life. I am so privileged to have been a part of such a rewarding mission. I am still writing in my journal and just finished a short piece for our church news letter. Each time I write I feel more connected to Swaziland and its beautiful people. I am forever gratelful for the experience and our wonderful team.. Margaret Hansen

Mike's Accident

2006-08-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

Mike, Terry and a visitor sent by the Chief

We had the afternoon of Thursday July 27th off after meeting with the localtribal chief in the morning. I walked to downtown Mbabane with five others.As we were returning about 5 PM and as we passed a muti-purpose store, I tripped on a brick that was far from level. I was focused on the person in front and I went down very quickly while saying "oh shit. The full effect ofthe fall was absorbed by my left thumb which was then 180 degrees out of place and I was bleeding like the proverbial stuffed pig.

The shop owners invited the party in and arranged to help stop the bleeding. The shop owners' son was a near by physician and he appeared and offered to take me to the hospital. I chose the private hospital. Terry went with me; Toni and Stevie waited for help from the Center; andKeith and Holly went to the Center to summon help. Many appeared at thehospital.

Result was a dislocated thumb; numbing shots; relocation of the thumb; 2stitches; X-rays with nothing broken; Rx for pain, inflammation and ananti-biotic for under $300 cash. I had bought trip insurance including medical. Between our vet and dentist I was in good care. I saw the doctor again the day before we left. On 8/7 my family physician removed the stitches and referred me to PT for therapy and wound care. I am a diabetic. This was the most memorable event for me but I had many that were more pleasant. On 8/2 I revisited the shop and they were glad to see me and I bought fort he school thru the generosity of Margaret a leather soccer ball with many thanks.
Peace.
Deacon Mike

2006-08-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Another use for a wheelbarrow

Last day at St. Augustine's

2006-08-02T06:26:00.000-07:00

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.

Reflections on Changes in Southern Africa . . .from Andy

2006-08-02T04:10:00.000-07:00

Reflections on Changes in Southern Africa

Like everywhere else, rural Swaziland (and South Africa) has changed in the last thirty years. In spite of the reports that make it sound as though poverty and hopelessness are endemic and the permanent state of affairs, to someone returning after years of absence, the changes are striking.

While mud brick and reed huts are still dotted around the countryside, they have largely been replaced by cement block dwellings, or relegated to secondary storage purposes. Because Swaziland is still a poor country, cement blocks are made a few at a time as sand and cement can be afforded. Thus there are piles of cement blocks stacked in people’s backyards throughout the countryside, almost like bank savings accounts, waiting to become the next course on someone’s new home. Half-finished buildings litter the landscape, frequently built up to the eaves, and looking as though they have had their roofs ripped off, and their windows blown out, by some recent devastation. But, in fact, they are merely mute testimony to the determination of the local people to better their lives, and they await the accumulation of sufficient resources to purchase the final most expensive items: the roof , the windows and the doors.

Bur this is another place where the AIDS epidemic breaks through to public view: many of the homesteads are in fact deserted, because the wage-earner(s) have died, and the kids have been farmed out to relatives (if they are lucky). The property will eventually revert to the local chief to redistribute (if there is anyone to redistribute it to!). Also, like elsewhere, the youth are migrating to the cities, so that the countryside is being depopulated.

Another obvious change is the power lines that now criss-cross the countryside (often on drunken wooden pylons). Power and, with it, electric lights have come to rural southern Africa, with all its implications for life not ending when the sun goes down.

The most obvious change is in the traffic. The roads in Swaziland are excellent, often dual carriageway, well contoured and planned. Traffic, on the other hand, is not. There are far fewer bicycles than 30 years ago, but everywhere a swarm of small cars and pick-up trucks. These are frequently a major road hazard, since when fully (over)loaded, (their normal status), their top speed is about 30 MPH, and less on the many hills. Thus traffic backs up behind them and the overloaded and underpowered heavy over-the-road trucks, and the kombis (taxi vans – Toyota HiAces) also fully overloaded, attempt frantic overtaking maneuvers also at 30 MPH on blind curves and hills, where both grind up together, side by side, taking both lanes, and neither willing to concede defeat.

On the other hand, because rural Swazis do not live in compact villages, but rather in homesteads (kraals) scattered over the hillsides, off the main roads the roads are essentially cattle tracks, and cars and tires take a beating, because every homestead needs its own track to the paved road. All in all, it can be a lethal mix that requires constant vigilance.

Sunday Service at St. Matthias

2006-08-02T03:48:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday, Beth, Andy, Cheryl and I attended church at St Matthias, one of Fr Orma’s parishes. Reverand Orma is one of the women priests ordained in Nov 2004, when the delegation lead by Bishop Scarfe came to celebrate. She drove to the Thokosa Centre to meet us and show us the way to St. Matthias. As she stepped out of the car and looked around, her presence literally permeated the air. This spirited woman just EXUDES love. When she talks, you must listen.

She welcomed us with a huge smile, hugged each one of us and said, “I am so happy you are coming to my church today.” She told us we should follow in a van because she would not be able to bring us back, since there was a large community meeting at the Chief’s Kraal after the service. She had just come from visiting a family sick with HIV/AIDS and had conducted a funeral and we had better go because she wants us to have a tour of the priest’s house that Iowans had built before the service (this is the house that Ron and Toni helped build in their first trip to Swaziland). Warm words just spill out of Fr Orma, with such energy and emphasis, they feel like they are smiling as broadly as she is. So we followed, Andy driving.

The church is “just in” the Ezulwini Valley and it has a spectacular view, green even now. Fr. Orma rousted the lay minister who lives in the parish house and we had our tour. Then we followed her to her office. There she explained that in spite of the computer on the desk we should contact her through the Cathedral because she is hardly ever in her office. “If I am here, I am not doing my work”. She told us of her visits to the sick, particularly of taking a relative to the hospital in Mbabane the night before. He is in the terminal stages of AIDS. He needs to be in the hospital, but there are no beds. She takes him to the out-patient clinic for meds to help control the pain, but it does not control the pain. She wishes we could visit him so that he knows the people of Iowa are here and are thinking of him. But she has to go to the Chief’s Kraal after the services. And she is smiling. I have to write in the present tense. There is no past or future tense in Orma’s vocabulary.

Beth tells Fr. Orma about the information she has been gathering about the impact of AIDS on the communities we have visited. Orma says, “yes it is a very difficult thing to know about because people here don’t talk about it.” She tells us the story of a young Christian man who appeared at St. Matthias a few months ago. A short time ago he asked her to visit his family. One parent has died of AIDS, the other is in the terminal stages and a younger sibling is sick. And she said to him, “why didn’t you tell me? We can help you.” She said to us, “these are great opportunities to bring Christ’s love to people”. She tells that she and others go to help the sick people be peaceful and to know they will have a holy death. And the love she has for ALL of us and her work just sits on every word.

We left her office just minutes before the service started. We choose seats midway back in the church (good Episcopalians all) and are immediately given prayer books and song books. We use the Service Booklets we were given by Bishop Scarfe because there is an English translation. But we read and sing along in siSwati. It is a wonderful service. Fr. Orma asks the lay readers to please read the Ephesians text in English so we can understand it. The man reading the Psalm hands off to a women who reads from the English Bible. Later Fr. Orma gives a brief synopsis of the Gospel reading so we can follow along. She starts her sermon by telling the congregation that we are visiting from Iowa. She says, “someone tell them what you know about Iowans.” A women in the back answers ,”they built the priest’s house.” She says to us, “see, we know who you are here. Here you are known.”

She asks us to come up and say a few words, and we do. Most of the congregation understands us; and clap as we explain why we are here and how happy we are to meet Fr. Orma and her parish. Andy spoke of Bishop and Lucy Mabuza’z trip to Iowa last summer and the Healing Services. I told them that one of our priests had preached at Fr. Orma’s ordination and that Reverend Barbara had told us about Reverend Orma’s work. When we sat down, Orma said, “but you didn’t tell them the news. Your priest is going to Iowa. In November. Yes, I will visit Iowa and take greetings from the people of St. Matthias to the people of Iowa. I will visit their churches”. Everyone clapped.

Fr. Orma’s sermon on the feeding of the 5000 was very powerful. She laid out her main theme, “if you have two of something, do as Christ would do. Give one to someone who needs it more”. She said, “God’s love brings these people all the way from America. They don’t have to come here, they don’t know us. God’s love brings them to the Swazi people. Because of God’s love they love the Swazi people.” My thoughts flashed to the Commissioning Service at Christ Church, in which Barbara asked, “do you intend to carry the love of this parish to the people of Swaziland?” And we answered, “We intend to”. Well, we needed some help, but through Fr. Orma, we did accomplish this charge.

Reverend Orma walks around while she talks, giving examples of sharing sandwiches to the children seated along the side and examples of sharing school books to a youth sitting in the front row. Still more messages to the adults. One was, “what are you doing with 8 candles and you have electricity? You have electricity and you keep 8 candles in case it thunders, when your neighbors crawl through their dark house to find their beds at sunset? What are you doing? Are you living like Christ? These people came from America to worship with us and help us, out of God’s love, out of God's love we can help each other. We can help our neighbors, we can love our neighbors. When I see someone with 15 chickens or 20 chickens in the yard, I think, do what Christ would do. Feed your neighbor who doesn’t have any chickens.”

So here ends the story. Through experiences like these, we, each and all, are every day receiving much more than we have brought or given. Amen.

A Black Webbed Belt . . from Toni

2006-08-02T03:41:00.000-07:00

Some of the orphans at St. Augustine's

An interesting thing happened on the way over here. I borrowed an old green woven cinch belt from my daughter-in-law to keep one of the bags I was planning to check secured during the flight. When I got here and claimed the bag at the airport, I noticed that the belt was missing. My first thought, and only concern, was how I was going to explain to Tonya that I had lost it. At the Thokoza Centre, when I unpacked the bag, I was surprised and amused to find no official notice in the bag, but a brand new webbed belt in charcoal black. I couldn’t imagine where it had come from, or why it was there.

This whole week I have been trying to figure out what this meant. Is it a metaphor? Is it an omen? Or is it just a black webbed belt?

During Father Advent’s sermon Sunday morning it finally struck me. The black belt is all the unexpected assistance that has turned up at just the time most needed to solve the mini-crisis of the moment. It was the night watchman coming out of the 6:30 a.m. shadows to throw a bucket of water on the windshield of the van and melt the ice so that we could get to church on time. It was the kindness and resourcefulness of the owners and staff of the A to Zee store who made sure that we got the help we needed when Mike fell down. It was Terry finding a key ring that would fit his finger and could stand-in for a wedding ring during his and Stevie’s renewal of their marriage vows. It was the guides at Hlane National Park pooling their information so that everyone was able to see the animals. It was Bishop Mabuza’s eloquent defense of the project and of why the chief, and his councils should allow us to continue to work at Mpaka.

It was so many large and small beneficences that have made our first week in Swaziland comfortable and smooth.

And so I give thanks for black webbed cinch belts – as well as for delicious food, beautiful weather, sensitive and cooperative traveling companions, the awe inspiring beauty of the Kingdom of Swaziland, but most of all for the never-failing graciousness, goodness and warmth of the people of this country.

South Swazi

2006-08-01T00:24:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Mbane and Thokoza center. Yesterday was gratifying, disurbing, potentially life changing. We drove to the very southern edge of the country, through beautiful mountains with forests of gum and pine trees. Then farther south, into the dry country bordering Natal, which was visible across the valley on our right. We picked up the Archdeacon of the southern area and Rev Nancy, known to those who were on the last Swazi trip. She graciously offered us tea and a variety of treats, very refrshing after our morning drive. She has a neat and beautiful church surrounded by a large garden. There is such a shortage of priets here that each serves several parishes. One of her's is very poor, so each time she goes, she brings them food and cooks dinner so they don't leave church on an empty stomach. Still, it is so far for some that they must be hungry again by the time they get home.

We then drove to this parish, so the Coe team could demonstrate water chlorination. This was poverty. Folks here live in traditional wattle and daub homes with straw roofs. They were probably wearing most of the clothes they own, and they were ragged and torn. Mostly barefooted, even the adults. Since traditional women always cover their heads, theirs were covered with whatever they had, including woolen mufflers or a stocking cap.

But what really gripped us was their water situation. Below the village (and as Gene the vet pointed out later, below the cattle dipping tank) is a water hole which fills with rain water and from which every living thing gets their water for the year. This was a smelly muck hole that even cattle would turn away from if they had a choice. As it was, the cattle dived in up to their bellys in mud to get at the water. And the people drink from this too. They got us a couple of buckets (it appears they've laid logs over the mud to get at the water), which was thick and brown. Paula asked if this is the water they drink, and one of the young women laughingly grabed a small pitcher, dipped it in and drank from it. If any of us had done that, we'd be in the hospital today. How do their immune systems allow them to do this? Rev Nancy says it is the hand of God, protecting people who have no other hope.

The Coe team demonstrated the chlorinators to the 20 or so people gathered there, then asked someone to go through the procedure. A young man stepped forward and immediately went through the entire procedure accurately. Shows how fast one can learn when the information is important to you. It turns out he and his wife live closest to the water hole and will be in charge of distributing chlorine to all who come for water. The archdeacon emphasized that the chlorinator is to belong to everyone in the village and chlorine is to be given to everyone, Anglican or not, Christian or not. Rev Nancy will be checking back to see that it continues to be used and used correctly.

We then did the rejoicing and celebrating, giving them "I am loved" buttons and our packed lunches, them singing to us in return. Then they all returned to their homes, some of them heading far across the valley, carrying their babies on their backs and other goods on their heads, water buckets, a machete, whatever. It was a great day for us to see what a difference a small gift can make, a day to see how much God has for us to do, an example of how we cannot give without receiving, a day too much to take in but to ponder on and make sense of over time.

Beth

On Safari at Hlane

2006-07-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Today we went to Hlane Wildlife Preserve. It’s the largest protected animal park in Swaziland. We were guided in 3 land rovers through 30,000 hectares. Believe it or not, there was a chill in the air today and slight frost on the grass this morning. We saw Impala, not the Chevy, the herd type. The guide explained that the “M” marking on their tush stands for McDonald’s – to the lions. One of the greatest sights, was to see 7-8 white rhinos – 5 of which were laying in the middle of the road. Their heads are HUGE, not sure how their necks don’t get stiff.

We were within 10 feet of a young male elephant. He had only one tusk, which the guide explained he lost one in a fight. It was fascinating to see him swirl his trunk around the tall grass, then kick it with his foot, so that he was not pulling up the roots.

We also saw a pride of lions, which blended perfectly with the tall grass. The guide pulled the land rover within 25 feet of these gorgeous animals. It was incredible. We also observed were warthogs and numerous birds.

We had lunch at the reserve, under a giant tree with branches that reached down to the ground, so it was like eating under a large, living umbrella. As we were eating, our treat was to watch the rhinos at the waterhole.

Afterwords, we visited the house that Fr. Charles is building. The landscape was absolutely breathtaking, with a view of a great mountain scene.

The extreme contrast in life here is almost indescribable. Fr. Charles and Arch Deacon, Lona Rosa are two of the nicest, compassionate men I’ve ever met. And yet, due to “random acts of violence”, we stay within the gates of Thokoza Church Centre in order to be safe. The mountains and valleys are absolutely the most beautiful on earth and yet the HIV/Aids rate for adults is estimated at 42%, which means nearly half of the adults will be gone within the next 5 yrs. ArchDeacon LonaRosa said he is burying 8 people per week from the parishes he oversees. It’s very tough on the priests And even though poverty is a huge problem here, you hear the people laughing together – often.

Going back in time – yesterday Sue showed her Godly play story to the children. It was the story about Abraham’s life. When she was done, she asked the kids what the most important part of the story was. A girl raised her hand and said, “To pray to God everyday”. Sue agreed and said that God always knows what’s in our hearts and he wants to hear from each of us, because we are all his children. HOW COOL IS THAT???

Another question: “How does this story relate to you and your life?” One boy said that he is now living here on earth, like Abraham was in the story.

That day we fed the kids peanut butter sandwiches and gave them stickers, which they put on the faces and arms. They loved both.

Something very whimsical that day. Stevie and I decided we would help the women do the dishes after lunch. We went by the fire where their children were. Their skinny puppy started a tussle with the rooster, which fluffed up it’s feathers. The puppy was winning the boxing match. The puppy also took on the goat, but the goat won.

Every day is a great adventure. Thank you all for your prayers. We all feel it and are very appreciative. Ohh and good news about our songs. We are sounding better together, as we will be called to sing on Wednesday, the night of our going-away celebration. Luckily, Meghan is very good at playing the Xylophone. Carla and Lydia have been practicing a great duet, “I’ll be a Sanctuary.”

One more week here….

Reflections by Cheryl

Riding through Swaziland. . .

2006-07-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, you who seem to be a world and a lifetime away. And yet all too soon our time here will be over and we will be re-entering our reality. But will we ever be able to leave this reality behind? Reading about the Third World is one thing; being here is another. So many things amaze me about this land and its people. Everywhere people are walking, so close along the road we hate to travel after dark because we fear hitting someone. Women with large bundles on their heads and a baby tied to their backs. And the cattle roam as if this were India. Brahma type cattle with mean looking horns, but they seem to get along with the young children who walk along for miles through the fields to their homes, unaccompanied by adults. Children here are given so much freedom here; it has to be building their sense of competency. They are also tremendous workers; they seem to assume if they are strong enough they will do whatever work they are capable of doing and feel proud of themselves for it; no whining here.

Houses are scattered over the hillsides, either on plots people have been able to buy title to (no further taxes unless it’s annexed by the city) or that the head man/local chief has given them. So that means plots can be separated by random spaces of open grasslands. Fields are brown now because it’s winter, but you can tell they know about terracing. I’m surprised that there is not a vegetable garden by every house, but maybe that’s what the “agriculturalists” are being trained to help people learn to do. With such a long growing season, one would think they’d be able to bring in something from garden to table about all year. But I don’t have energy for a vegetable garden after driving home from work, why should they after walking home. They grow tremendous cabbages here. We followed a pickup truck—called a van here—piled to a peak with cabbages for market, and not a one rolled off. We also see semi-loads of sugar cane, bags of raw sugar, timber, and oranges, most of which is for export rather than local consumption. When a chicken costs $3, you know most of the people are not eating meat, just lots of mealie meal.

Spring has been coming on, visibly during the past week, with new flowers coming into bloom, a purple magnolia like tree, yellow spikes of something, wild pears, royal coral trees. One good rain and I think the whole world would burst into green.

We went to a wild life reserve today, and I think Cheryl would like to tell you about that, so I’ll turn it over to her.

Beth

The Chief's Kraal, part 1. . .from Lydia

2006-07-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

Today we visited the chiefs home, or royal kraal (corral in America). It was very interesting. After our initial welcome, the Bishop and Ron made small speeches about why we were here and what we were doing in Swaziland. The chief also welcomed us there. When the Bishop asked if we could take pictures to take back to the US, the Chief said that they should be the ones asking to have their pictures taken so that the world could see more of Swaziland. Then the Chief and his council took us tour or the property. There was a small area where the warriors would meet with chief, then a small cow pen where a young boy tended the herds. Outside there was a large area where women were sifting sorghum. They told us that this sorghum is also food for the orphans. There were a few huts where the young men stayed when they harvested the sorghum and a place where the women prepared the food. The last place we visited was the house of the Chief.

On our way back to the welcome hall the Chiefs jester grabbed me and dragged me to the front of our group towards the Chief. He was talking in SiSwati so I couldn’t understand him, but a woman next to me said he was taking me to the Chief to be his bride. The Chief seemed very surprised at this news and laughed with the rest or us. At our farewell, as the advisor was thanking us for coming, the Chief leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Then the translator said ‘and I understand there is a young lady among us that has to stay here in Swaziland with the Chief’. Everyone laughed and when we went out side to go, I got my picture with the Chief. Mom mentioned that I would like to come back to teach at St. Augustine’s. I told him I would look him up and he said “You’ll find me here”.

Lydia

A Visit to the Chief's Kraal

2006-07-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

On Monday, our first day at Mpaka, we were closely observed by the "headman", representing the Chief of the district. He sat in a chair under a large tree and just observed. Until the demonstration of the chlorinator. . . This got his attention.

His presentation to the assembled group was quite enthusiastic. He welcomed us to Swaziland on behalf of the Chief. He said it was very unusual for American visitors to get their hands dirty in Swaziland. He said, in fact he had never seen that before. He also commented that it was good to see American women working alongside the American men. He said it would be good for Swazi women to see that. Maybe they would work harder. This brought a variety of reactions from our group, as you can well imagine. Luckily none of them damaged US international relations.

At that time he invited us to the Chief's Kraal. He said the Chief would want to meet these American visitors and would be very interested in the chlorinator.

He returned to the worksite on Tuesday to say we were officially invited. He said, all the women must wear skirts. Sue asked what the men would wear. His reply - whatever they want. They're men.

So today was the day. We left the Thokosa Centre early to be sure to arrive on time. Bishop Mabuza, ArchDeacon Lonorosa (sp. with apologies), Fr Charles and Fr Batha were with us. This was one of the most fascinating meetings that any of us have ever attended.

I will leave it for another member of the team to sketch this meeting out for you. There were many stages and phases that bewildered us. I'm sure you will hear many different reflections on what went on. But it seems that all ended well.

One part I will mention, I just have to, is that the Chief himself repeated the observation that "you people don't do this kind of work". I know this. You people don't do this.

He also mentioned his appreciation for the gift of the chlorinator, that would be available to the whole community, all of whom really need it.

He and many other speakers thanked us for coming and said that he hoped we saw a community that worked together to solve community problems.

More on this later, Paula

Behind the scenes at St Augustine's. . .from Sue

2006-07-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

July 26
On our journey to the worksite at Mpaka each day we see so many interesting things.—today we discovered that they mark the road lines by placing white dots alongside a rope. They come back later with yellow paint to join the dots together. We see basket makers, tin smiths/people selling roasted corn on the roadside. Animals run free here—goats, cattle all graze on the side of the road. Children—even very young children walk along the roadside with cars whizzing by. This goes on all day and well after dark. Today we noticed a sign on a store for “23 Psalm Investment!”

We had a wonderful day at the worksite today where we go to make bricks. However today there were so many extra hands helping that instead of fighting for a shovel we had time to get to know our new friends. Whereas the first day my offer of help with cooking the meal was turned down—I think because we were guests—today my offer of help was accepted and I got to chop potatoes and beets for our lunch. While doing so I had my language lesson! Cheryl learned to carry a bag of oranges on her head.

When the St Augustine School children came for their lunch, Cheryl and I had a great game of football. Lydia played a game of basketball with another group of children, and tried to learn their rope-jumping game.

After lunch the children sang songs for us, and some of us danced while they sang. We were taught to dance as the Swazi people dance. After that, our resident dentist, Terry asked us to help him distribute gum to all the children. It was a great treat for them and they never knew they were cleaning their teeth!

Sue

More on blockmaking. . . from Gene

2006-07-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

July 26

What a great day at the work site. We were making more blocks today and 5 or 6 children were trying to help fill the molds and pull the slipform off of the wet block. Several of the boys tried to pull the form off but just could not do it. I pulled it off and began making more blocks while they helped fill the forms with block mix. They again wanted to try to pull the form off of the wet block. A couple of boys tried again and could not pull the form. A little girl wanted to try so I let her have a turn, and lo and behold, she did it. We gave her a round of applause and filled the form for another block. The boys were even more determined to pull the form since they had just been shown up by the girl in the group. This time they were successful. I soon found myself standing back and giving them some direction on how to fill the form, shake it and then pack it so they could then pull the form. We applauded as they were successful in making one block after another.

I must admit that I was a bit annoyed at first as they were slowing the process of making blocks down by wanting to try but not being successful at doing it. After they got the hang of it and began making one block after another, I realized that I would be gone in a week but they would be here to help continue making blocks in the future for their school. We were so proud of their accomplishment. As Andy said, it was a Tom Sawyer moment.

Gene

Blockmaking 101

2006-07-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

Step number one.
Move five wheelbarrows of sand to the mixing area.

Step number two. Add one bag of cement mix.
Step number three. Mix. Mix. Mix.

Step number four. Add 2.5-3 large buckets of water.

Step number five. Stir well.

Step number six. Load into wheelbarrow.

Step number seven. Cart to blockmaking area.

Step number eight. Shovel into molds.

Step number nine. Tamp down and remove the form.

photos, may be slow to load`

2006-07-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

Beth went to church at one of Father Advent's parishes on Sunday. About half the population of Swaziland is under the age of 15, and so are the parishioners.

Andy and I were at St Luke's with Fr Charles. The chairman of the school development fund showed us the Anglican school there. Here we are in a typical classroom.

A few of the 500 interested parties look on.

All of the Anglican schools are full and they operate on very limited budgets.

Mpaka, a Meeting and the glass factory

2006-07-26T02:52:00.000-07:00

Sanibonani,

This is a midmorning update from the Water Group, taking advantage of an unexpected opportunity to jump on the web.

This morning, most of the team climbed into the vans and head to Fr Batha's homestead for a half day of brickmaking. We are willing shoveller's, cement mixers and form packers, but we don't have the talent of our Swazi lead man. Many of the blocks we make fall apart when the forms are lifted. No problem, just try again! Andy thinks we'll have it down soon, maybe next Tuesday, our last day.

Many members of the group have made friends with Swazis at Fr Batha's homestead. Fr Batha established St Augustine and the women at his homestead prepare the meals for the children at the school. The feeding program at St Augustine's has been reduced to three days and they have been serving only meali meal due to ever more limited resources. So the children were not at school yesterday, but will be there today. We hope to help with the feeding program even while we are here, if this is possible.

The water situation is also not good. With very limited rain water remaining in the barrel, they have to use water from a nearby pond for washing and preparing food. On Monday our group demonstrated the chlorinator. They are using it now at Fr Batha's homestead. This was an amazing experience that will require an entire post. I will collect pictures tongiht to illustrate the text. I'll post the whole story tomorrow.

The vans are driven each day by Ron and Father Charles, priest at St Lukes parish of 5 churches. Fr Charles is a most remarkable man, as those of you who have met him know. Soft-spoken, quick-witted and possessing excellent English, he gets one of us going in circles each day. Small price for his help negotiating the plan for the day, and our many bright ideas, i.e. changes in those plans. One of our group thanked him for his patience. His response, "I am African. In Africa you must be patient. Otherwise you would be frustrated most of the time." Yes. But how do you actually do that?

Our stay here has been anything but frustrating, because of our gracious hosts. Father Advent has been called to University two weeks earlier than he had planned, so Father Charles is in the driver's seat, literally. The accomodations at Thokosa Centre are good and the meals are wonderful. We have been asked if there is anything we would like to see and do in addition to what has been planned. There is so much in the plan, we haven't requested any additions. Each afternoon on the way back from Mpaka, we have a side trip to a market or other attraction. Today the group that went to Mpaka will come back early for a trip to a glass factory and rug factory north of Mbabane. Our hosts provide these ideas and we ride along enjoying the scenery and then the places we are taken. The air is SO CLEAN and REFRESHING and the sunsets so SPECTACULAR, they cannot be described.

OK, so what am I doing here in Mbabane when most of the team is making bricks in Mpaka? Bishop Mabuza arranged for us to meet with representatives of two Ministries - "Geology and Mining" and "Environment and Tourism". Today we met with the assistant director of the Division of Geology and Mining. I was able to ask him about the survey operations they perform, about their use of GIS, and whether they use college interns to do the work of digitizing existing data. Hayley, Carla and Meghan were there and Thdebekile, the director of the HIV/AIDS program, was our Swazi guide. (I apologize for what I am sure is not the correct spelling of her name.) We were graciously received and got much information we could not have learned elsewhere. We also purchased a set of very fine maps. One thing we learned is that this division drills boreholes upon application and could perform that service at St Augustine's. There is a very long list of applicants and only two field teams. However access to ground water at St Augustine's, at some point, will not be a problem.

I must run now -- down the road, across the river and up the facing hill -- to lunch at Thokosa Centre.

Thank you to all the prayer partners, relatives, friends . . . who are supporting us. You are mentioned often at the table at the end of the day. We are, each and all, being nourished by the experience of this mission. This thought has been expressed by each member of the team. For me, the image is of working hard each day, but finding at the end, cool refreshing water drawn from a very deep well.

I stand in awe of our Anglican companions.

Paula

July 24 and July25

2006-07-25T08:00:00.001-07:00

We spent our first two days at the "work site".....in Mpaka.......about 1 1/2 hrs. from the Center in Mbabane where we are staying. BIG breakfasts for workers! Met Bishop Mabuza, his wife Lucy @ St. Augustine's school.

Here Bishop Mabuza, Father Dent Mbatha, ArchDeacon Shongwe and Iris, the head-teacher tell us about the program.

We met the 4 teachers and about 100 students......3 classes ....52 preschoolers and the rest grades 1-2 ...we think.

Two classes inside the school......w/a few chairs and 1 chalkboard......a few hadmade posters lined the walls....w/alphabet, etc. The older students were seated on benches under a tree w/a chalkboard....next to the "kitchen"......a tent(about 10x10 ft.) where meals are prepared for the children.

We moved to Fr. Dent Mbatha and his wife Christine's homestead......where we were taught to mix sand, cement and water to form concrete blocks. The first day we had about 5 Swazi men and youth to instruct and help us. The second day.....the main blockmaker, Jack, was there. We had 2 wheelbarrows, 6 shovels (2 without hand grips) 2 watering cans and 2 metal block forms to make the concrete blocks. It takes 3-4 days for the blocks to cure.....w/watering 3-5 times a day.

The first day the children joined us at Fr. Dent's where we were working for dinner.....ar. 2 p.m. They had dried mealy meal, beans and bread and butter sandwiches. We were served mealy meal, rice, fruit and fowl Monday and beef, rice, and pasta w/a mixed fruit for desert. Christine, Fr. Dent's wife and Ntombie are our cooks.

Am Under the time gun!! More Later! Love and Peace!!! Stevie Shively :)

Sanibonani from Swaziland

2006-07-23T23:52:00.000-07:00

Our weekend arrival was very welcome - to us and to our hosts. It did mean we did not have access to the internet until now (Monday, 8:45AM). None of the phone cards have worked in Swazi phones. So this quick message is meant to say "we arrived in Jo'berg on a smooth and uneventful flight, happy to set our feet on terra firma in Africa!" We are all well and well settled in.

We enjoyed a wonderful warm welcome from our Swazi host committee and the parishes we visited yesterday. The Bishop hosted a welcome dinner at Thokoza last night and we were briefed on the HIV and education programs in the Diocese of Swaziland. We had each seen something of the situation they told us about.

We also toured the beautiful north country and the Maguga Dam yesterday.

When I sign off, we will be on our way to Mpaka.

Our plan from now on is to make daily posts to the blog between 4 and 5PM Swazi time. That's mid-morning in Iowa. Check back for more details and reflections from members Swazi team members.

Sala Kahle (good-bye and stay well).