Swa Vana and Time with Mama LaVerne

  Here are a few more snapshots from the Swa Vana site in Justicia during  my week with "Mama LaVerne" up in the bush. (refer to prior post to get more of the details).

Praying and Singing before the Meal

Preparing the Meal- chicken, pop, and lots of veggies

Bible Story Time with a new friend in my lap

One of the days, I was able to go out with the Home Care Workers to visit some of the widows and ill who they work with on a regular basis.  This 'go go' or grandma asked us to read from her favorite scripture: Romans 8: 37-39 - How nothing -really nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord". I pray that the truth of His constant, unstoppable, unconditional love would really go deep in all of us.

praying with one of the 'go go's

 

Teaching the ladies in LilyDale some exercises. They've started on physical and spiritual 'challenges' with the kids. So I was able to share some new ideas and we all shared some good laughs haha. 

I am always so amazed at how the Lord gives little and big surprises when you're walking in His plans.  His got the best sense of humor as well! These are Mopani worms - yes that right I said worms.  I 've been hearing about these little delicacies from the being on my time in SA but didn't know if I would have the "pleasure" of trying them.  Sure enough, Ms. LaVerne and I just happened to stop by a school and her friend there insisted that we go in and meet the principal and he had his plate of Mopani worms out ready for a tasty lunch. 

  To my surprise I really liked them haha.  You just have to think of them as crunchy fries and he had put some spices on them that reminded me a little of Bojangles' season haha! Rich in vitamins - who wants to try some?

This is just a little extra something for fun.  There was a dance off in the town square in Huntington one of the days that we were there.  I'm telling you all of these kids can move! It was fun to see.

Shalom and Many Blessings over you All!

Swa Vana (For the Children)

'Swa Vana' means "For the Children" in Tsonga

learning a new game with the kids

This is the 2nd hand store that Swa Vana has recently opened up in the community.  They were getting so many clothing donations out of the children's size range that they decided that this would be a great way to serve the larger community and to let the community have a chance to support their own widows.  It is the only clothing store in Huntington and all the money that is made goes to buy food for the Home Base Care that provides for the widows and sick in Huntington.  I was able to spend the day helping calculate the inventory as the purchases were made.

The Ladies in Lilydale:  With their church they were already feeding the orphans in their community.  When they found out about Swa Vana- they asked to join forces and it has been such a wonderful match up.  This team along with Pastor Abendigo are always trying new things with the kids and their hearts are to serve. 

Bible Story with the kids

Soaking in the Bible Lesson

 

The kids make their own beads out of cereal boxes and other paper and then design beautiful jewelry to sale.  With the money they earn Swa Vana opens up individual bank accounts for them.  I, of course, will be bringing some special creations home to you all!

2 meals a day- 5 days a weeks the orphans and very destitute children in 3 communities are feed tasty meals.  Here are some of the older boys helping to serve. The food for the day was a thicker type of corn with beans, cabbage, and pop.  I thought it was great!

 This is a church out in the bush that Ms La Verne has been sharing Bible Stories with the kids at once a week for the last year.  We shared about Noah and his obedience to God.   The kids were so happy to sing and color.

 

 

 

 

 

kids at the school - excited to see the Mulungus!

Family Time and now off to "the Bush"

I've had the pleasure of spending the last week and a half with a lovely family in Pretoria.  We've been enjoying language and culture differences and growing together!

Braiding the Challah Bread for a Special Dinner

UNO! Imported from the States and a card shuffling lessons

On your Mark, Get Set, Go!

The kids were inspired by hearing about the Raleigh Krispy Kreme Challenge (where you run 2 miles, eat a dozen doughnuts and run back in an hour). We started Africa's first official Crazy Doughnut Drive- biking to the store, scarfing down some doughnuts and riding back. Fun times !

  Today I'll be headed northeast on the road to Huntington near the Kruger National Park in "the bush".  Ms.  LaVerne, who is originally from North Carolina, and is now a full time missionary has graciously welcomed me to "come and see".   I will get to serve with her among the youth of their community and be a part of whatever she is doing for the week.  I don't know what to expect, but I know that God has some awesome things planned! They speak Tsonga there so "Avuxeni" (hello) to a brand new adventure. Much love to you all !

Being a part of what God is doing

Over the last few weeks I've been in the eastern part of South Africa- a mostly Zulu area called Ingwavuma, through Swaziland, up into Mozambique, back to Ingwavuma, and now back in Pretoria.  Below are some snapshots of a few thing that I have had the opportunity to be a part of:

Giraffes- this piece is coming home with me :)

Fancy Stitch (http://www.fancy.org.za/ to learn more) was started about 12 years ago and was birthed out of the need for women to learn a skill to provide for their families.  Since 2001, Fancy Stitch has been able to employ/empower over 400 women with earned income and to send beautiful African artwork to many places in the world.  They are not yet in America, and I hope to help as a liaison when I'm back in the US to see if there are open markets that would like to purchase and sell their lovely handiwork.

Located in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal, the Fancy Stitch building which was once a notorious bar and brothel has now been transformed into a place of hope for many women.  While there I was able to work in the community garden, getting it ready for planting, pray in the prayer house, and purchase some lovely artwork to support the women and bring home to you!


 

Memorial to the FS women who have died of AIDS   

Pump House turned into Prayer House

I also got to be a part of the beginning phase of the transformation of an unused house in the bush of Ingwavuma, SA...

Naomi, Maryna's and Daniel's daughter and Arno applying coat #1.

Maryna's creativity spreading

...Into Shalom House, a pro-life home where young pregnant women can live and get care and support throughout their time of pregnancy.  So often we say that we are against abortion and for life, but we do very little to give these vulnerable women another option.  One of things that left the biggest impression on me in my time in Ingwavuma was the heart not only of real concern for others that the believers showed but also the action that resulted.  Understanding the undeserved, unconditional love that God has poured out on us should overflow out of us into the broken world around us.

 Using some of the funds that were given,  we were able to bless the future Shalom House with some beautiful paints that has already begun to brighten up the building to make it a place of encouragement and hope for young women.  It will be a very simple building like the vast majority of the houses in this region of South Africa without electricity or indoor toilets, but with Maryna's art skills and these paints it is sure to be a lovely and welcoming place of peace (Shalom).  Maryna will have to update us with pictures as the project progresses.      


Maputo, Mozambique: a visit to Iris Ministry (irismin.org)

 The vision of taking children, many from the literal garbage dump, and bringing them to a place of safety and love.  We we're able to spend some time playing with the kids and catching a glimpse of how things run at the ministry site.

 Seeing how large and well organized the Iris site is(now one of many throughout Mozambique and the world), it is amazing to hear how small its beginning was. My basic understanding is that it started with Heidi Baker feeling led by God to come and sit on the street corner in Maputo.  Seeing hopelessness and death all around, she began to cry out for the children and felt Him say to bring them into her home.  Through many challenges God has shown Himself more than faithful to provide and give good futures to countless children.

Always Enough is Rolland and Heidi Baker's autobiography- I haven't read it yet but hope to soon.

My biggest impression from hearing the Baker's story and seeing one of the sites first hand was encouragement that God is the one that does the work. Just like the loaves and the fish, even today, when we give Him the very little that we have, 'the not enough', He breaks it and multiplies and He receives the glory for doing the impossible.




I have posted many more pictures on my facebook (Ginny Davenport) of Moz. and Ingwavuma.

The Great Outdoors: Up close and Personal

Every day has been a mini safari of exploring and photoing new sights. 

This is an Sun Bird resting on a protea flower that a saw on
a 3 hour hike up Table Mountain
in Cape Town. 

A rock badger posing for a picture at the top of Table Mountain- hoping for  a dropped snack.  Cute yes- but an attempted petting might get you a lost finger

Tree Aloe - as huge as it looks -
 in the Kerteinbosh National Park in Cape Town

An Almond tree - yes it's all one tree.
This would make an incredible kid's fort/treehouse

           

Blending in with my black and white friends
on Boulder Beach in Cape Town.  

 

Mischievous little monkeys on the side of the road-
as you open the window to snap a picture
 they might just try to leap into your car.

Okay, so no live lion yet - but I don't know how up close and personal I'd like to get with this lady.


There are more/different pictures that I have uploaded on facebook (Ginny Davenport)  if you'd like to see more.




 
Here is a snapshot of my most recent 'stick car' driving experience.  So much to see and learn ! Much love to you all!

Missionaries to Africa: Pioneers to Present Day

In Kuruman on our way through the desert we got to visit the Moffat Mission which was one of the very first groups to venture into inland Africa to spread the gospel.  You could sense the heart of these families that gave their lives to enter an unknown land and culture to share God's love in Jesus Christ. David Livingstone, the missionary and explorer, married Moffat's daughter Mary and his heart is buried at this site.

This is a hymn from 1879 that Rev. Dr. Moffat wrote  'for the Young' when he was 80 years old.  It really captures the heart of their labor in the Lord and calls us to continue to 'waft' the good news of God's love for us in Jesus to the ends of the earth.

Jesus' command that sent them in His power and love to go into unknown places and do the impossible is the same that is given to us today: 
^"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20


 Going into this new year, 2013, It's the perfect time to commit our lives and the coming year to God and say yes to His plans and to be surrender vessels for God to flow through.  Missionaries aren't 'Super' Christians, they are just people who have surrendered to the mission of God.  Whoever and wherever we are today, we can do the same.

^{This is a our friend Daniel who we were reminded of when we saw Mr Moffat's photo (kindred spirits).  He and his wife Maryna are missionaries in Ingwavuma (just to the east of Swaziland) who we will be visiting for the new year.  More to come soon.  Thank you for your prayers!}                                                   Blessings over your New Year!