Kruger National Park

Last Saturday, Pastor Solly lent us his toyota truck and we headed for the Kruger. We had a fantastic time!!! The Kruger is an amazing place. Really huge. The size of Wales. So we only saw a tiny bit. Just a few of our pictures to give you an idea...

Or not... the internet is not loading our piccies today.

Hosanna Church Friday and Saturday

We were back at Hosanna church Friday 17th and Saturday18th July.

Friday we made soup, spinach and Pap for the orphan kids and Andy went on a drive round with the Pastor Soli's son Covenant to look for a starter motor (a boys and cars thing) for the Toyota pick up that would be piled high with food blankets and clothes on Saturday.

On Saturday we spent the day with Pastor Soli. The plan for the day was to distribute blankets, fruit and clothes to orphans and other people in need in the community. We piled pick-up trucks and cars with bananas, oranges, blankets and clothes. Getting away from the church was not easy. The children who were not supposed to be coming for food on Saturday kept turning up anyway. We didn't have much to give them, but handed out bread and fruit. Then just as we were about to leave, someone would turn up in a car wanting to take some things to the community to distribute. We would help them load up and then another group of kids would turn up. So we would feed them. Then just as we were about to go.....

Eventually we went to a number of communities to distribute things. It was interesting to see the various villages. We were also able to sit in on a meeting between Soli and the local community police. They are working together to support some of the young people in the community.

By the end of the day, we were most grateful to be able to relax with a beer before heading back to ASM.

Friday Night Out

On friday we had the opportunity to escape the college. Hendry was after something to do on Friday night and we saw a ministry opportunity where we could use our gift of socialising, so after lengthy debate about the local high spots Hendry said he'd take us to a resturaunt called the loose mongoose. Porsha, on of the other students, also came.

Just Photos of africa and the people that have made an impact on me

African Smiles. One of many!

Tokhu helps look after children despite the fact that her husband can't work because he has had a stroke. Her son and daughter cannot get work because jobs are hard to get. They go to people who know people or those who have money to bribe the right people.

Stanley was an orphan himself and has dedicated his life to working with kids. He worked voluntarily for 5 years before getting employment working in a youth centre. He writes poetry and is fiercely passionate about his work with kids.

Elliott acts a father to about 8 children in the community.

Students from workshops

We've done quite a few workshops about drugs and alcohol over the last 2 weeks. Here are some of the students

Some of the kids chilling

Maggie is very clever self determined. She wants to be a police detective. She writes songs and poems and sings at church. She is really talented and I hope has a great future ahead of her. She is an orphan and lives with her uncle.

Thulin, the joker in the pack and always the centre of attention. Loads of front but not agressive at all. He comes from the roughest area in Mpumalanga. Thulin is a really great guy and fun to be around

Some guys did a poster about drugs and this is 2 of them presenting it.

We would have games every day and this team had just won.

Our last workshop: Caption competition!

We did our last drugs workshop this morning.

No idea what we'll be doing after this.

A Night Out

Yesterday evening we got chance to go to the cinema. A dutch student was going with a friend and we blagged an invite and a lift. This may not sound like a big event, but I was very excited as it was our first evening out.

The night life has been quiet. Most of the students here are on vacation, and even if they weren't I have a suspicion that being at a Bible College, wild partying is unlikely to be a common occurence. It gets dark here by 6pm and the dining room area and common room, which has a pool table and a chess set, has been locked up by 8pm. We've had lots of games of cards and plenty of sleep!

So the cinema was a big event for us! We saw a fairly average film called 'The Knowing'. Sort of Horror movie meets Apocalypse meets American moral tale.