Break Time!

It’s our break time, we actually have several a day, and this is the view as we sit and sip our coffee.  Isn’t it beautiful 🙂.  The dark blue you see is the Indian Ocean.

You can actually see it better in this picture. I’m in awe of the complex beauty that surrounds us every day. Are you? Do you take time to not only notice but appreciate the glorious wonder that surrounds you each day? WOW. How amazing is the mind of our God.

Thank you father for all you bless us with. Open our eyes to see you filling our lives with your glory.

Boaz Progress Update

Just a few pictures of the work is progressing in out little cottage, Boaz, before and after. Well not quite after, there are still a number of things to do. This is the sleeping area. I think it’s interesting they still put the electricity on the face of the walls  🤔 I guess there’s no choice since it is all concrete block.  Just makes things look messy to me.

It’s a low ceiling so low that we decided to paint the crown molding the same color of the wall hoping it would make the walls look higher.  (of course when I say we I mean Howard when it comes to the painting)

I think it did help a bit. We, Carlene and I, chose a three tone pallet. I’m pleased with how they blended.

The color here didn’t photograph the best.  The picture above is more accurate. We decided to repurpose a couple of old beds to help save some cash. All we needed was a can of spray pint to give it a little clean up. We used a gray wash for the baseboards.  I know it looks a little brown, but it’s not really.

Howard built a couple of “closets”  I think closet need doors, but I gave in to Howard’s idea. NO DOORS.  He did agree to give me a couple of drawers, a little give and take.

Now the fun part a shopping and picking out the bedding. I decided that the greens seemed blah, so I decided to add a pop of mustard. What do you think?

Today I picked up a couple of throws to layer on the bed, a mustard color similar to the rug, and ordered two paisley throw pillows to be made. What you see there is the sample fabric.

Hope this gives you a little idea of what we’ve been doing the past month.

The blessings of iTemba

A while back I told you about a camp that was here, iTemba, I also said I let you know more about the group. ITemba is a non-profit Christian organization that reaches out to a community in close proximity to Pietermaritzburg. It is a poor community and I was told that has the highest aids rate in South Africa. It is a tribal community which means there is a chief that is the head of everything.

The iTemba organization provides so much for this community including education in parenting , day care, pre school, kids clubs for all ages, teaching them how to use what they have in the best way. Basically they are showing them the love of Christ.

Once a year they bring two groups of kids to camp. The first camp is for younger kids.  I’m told that on the day of registration the kids sleep on the sidewalk so they have the best chance of getting to come. They bring 60 kids each camp period so if you want to be one of them you gotta get there early. Camp here is very different from the camps our kids are use to. It’s only one full day and two half days so a total of two days.  They are busy from the time they get off the bus to the time they leave.  Some of the kids have never even experience a real shower before and they were excited about that. Can you imagine? The camp is paid for by the iTemba group. What a treat for kids that would never be able to experience camp any other way!

This picture is of the second group ages 13-18. They were so much fun to watch. The pool was a particular favorite of theirs, it didn’t even matter that is was cool and the pool isn’t heated. They also took the kids to the ocean one morning and had a sack lunch on the beach. These leaders are the ultimate when it comes to organization.

On the last day when this picture was taken the kids formed a circle and asked the our ladies to come into the center, then one of the kids, who spoke for the group, thanked them for all they had done to make their stay so nice. Then I was asked to enter the circle and a different young person thanked me for hosting and spending time with them. They were so polite and appreciative. It was a great camp!

These two groups of kids really touched my heart as did their leaders.

So that is what I know about the iTemba group. Reaching families for Christ though service.