On Monday it was back to a working week with Ethembeni. We start most mornings at the Care Centre (CC) and spend the morning with our mentors. I went on a few home visits with Mama Titi and another lovely lady who was being shown where her new paitiants houses were. In the afternoon we normally head to the Family Centre to eat lunch and spend time with the children when they come in from school. Tuesday was very similar, Chloe, Nicola and I spent the morning at the CC organising and marking prices on items for Ethembeni's jumble sale and chatted to the American nurses who have come over for three months study abroad. (They taught us how to take blood pressure!) At the family centre we found ourselves 'attacked' by a group of girls who proceeded to plait our hair. It was not the most relaxing experience but the end result was suprisingly good!
Today I have been with Mama Titi and Sara to Howick with a donation to spend on the 98 children who we visit during the week. We had a budget of 20 rand per child to buy them some toiletries. We were able to get each child one flannel, one toothbrush, one toothpaste and a bar of soap each. To put this into perspective for you all, 20 rand here is 1.45 pounds and we were able to get them all of this which will make such a big difference to them!
It has been a hot hot week so far!! Today it is 36 degrees! I am currently sitting in the family centre and the children are about to come when they finish school. This afternoon I think Chloe, Nicola and myself are going to try and start our English lesson plans for the ladies working with Ethembeni, wish us luck!
Love to all xxx
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Saturday 23th - Sunday 24th - A weekend in Howick
I am going to try and not write too much about the past 4 days but here goes...
On Saturday (23rd) morning Ruth and I had an unpleasently early start. We woke up at 5.15am because we were helping out with the Ethembeni breakfast cafe just outside Howick in a place called Lions River. This happens every week to try to use the profits to raise money for Ethembeni and is essentially a group of people who work together to cook, serve and sell good value breakfasts to mainly old people from the surrounding areas. Despite the early start and hard work running around with a try of burnng hot plates, I really enjoyed myself. It was a really good opportunity to tell people about why we are where and what we are doing with Ethembeni. The rest of the weekend was spent in Howick with Sarah, a lovely lady who came out to South Africa with Tearfund last year and is now working full time for Ethembeni as their first Occupational Therapist. She took us to Karkloof Falls, a stunning waterfall just outside of Howick. However, in order to get to the area where we could get out and paddle (some of us swim!) we had to go up the most bumpy, dusty and longest track I think any of us have ever driven up! At the top of this seemingly never-ending track we were able to paddle/swim above the smaller waterfall above Karkloof (which was still pretty high - Chole, Eli and Nicola jumped off it!) It was amazing to sit right at the top, watching vast amounts of water rush down, it was so beautiful. The rest of the day was taken up with a fairly amusing trip to the supermarket, a yummy braie (a bbq) and a relaxed evening with a film - a recharge that was much needed!
Sunday was also spent in Howick, going to the Howick Community Church (HCC) in the morning and evening and in between we were invited to a lovely couple's house who are called Vernon and Jill, who have said to us that foras long as we are here, we are welcome in their home, for a swim or to relax and read a book and even if we need a good nights sleep! One very noticeable thing about this country is that everyone is so welcoming and generous. Ruth and I made a Lasange for Nkosi, the lady we are staying with and she was so pleased, it is her favourite meal and she never has it! And that concludes our weekend in Howick!
On Saturday (23rd) morning Ruth and I had an unpleasently early start. We woke up at 5.15am because we were helping out with the Ethembeni breakfast cafe just outside Howick in a place called Lions River. This happens every week to try to use the profits to raise money for Ethembeni and is essentially a group of people who work together to cook, serve and sell good value breakfasts to mainly old people from the surrounding areas. Despite the early start and hard work running around with a try of burnng hot plates, I really enjoyed myself. It was a really good opportunity to tell people about why we are where and what we are doing with Ethembeni. The rest of the weekend was spent in Howick with Sarah, a lovely lady who came out to South Africa with Tearfund last year and is now working full time for Ethembeni as their first Occupational Therapist. She took us to Karkloof Falls, a stunning waterfall just outside of Howick. However, in order to get to the area where we could get out and paddle (some of us swim!) we had to go up the most bumpy, dusty and longest track I think any of us have ever driven up! At the top of this seemingly never-ending track we were able to paddle/swim above the smaller waterfall above Karkloof (which was still pretty high - Chole, Eli and Nicola jumped off it!) It was amazing to sit right at the top, watching vast amounts of water rush down, it was so beautiful. The rest of the day was taken up with a fairly amusing trip to the supermarket, a yummy braie (a bbq) and a relaxed evening with a film - a recharge that was much needed!
Sunday was also spent in Howick, going to the Howick Community Church (HCC) in the morning and evening and in between we were invited to a lovely couple's house who are called Vernon and Jill, who have said to us that foras long as we are here, we are welcome in their home, for a swim or to relax and read a book and even if we need a good nights sleep! One very noticeable thing about this country is that everyone is so welcoming and generous. Ruth and I made a Lasange for Nkosi, the lady we are staying with and she was so pleased, it is her favourite meal and she never has it! And that concludes our weekend in Howick!
Friday, 22 February 2013
Day 5 - Friday 22nd February
Hello again everyone,
I am now sitting in the basement of Howick Community Church where every Friday we have time to relax, get onto skype and the internet and also get together as a team to chat things over and pray before we help out with the youth in the church at 5 o clock.
Yesterday we met up with a team of volunteers from Ethembeni who go out into the community of Mpophomeni and another township up in the hills to give out food packages and meet with the families to talk, pray and read the bible together. This time I was with an English speaking lady and a lovely Zulu lady who translated for us which meant that the language was not such a issue. The living conditions are shocking, many live in houses that consist of between one and three rooms with often over five people to a house which are so dirty and make houses back home look like millionaire mansions. I have met some amazing people with incredible stories. We visited a Mum with triplets who, when Ethembeni first met them, just over a year ago, they were starving, barely breathing but now they are three bouncing, smiling children full of life and one of them proudly counting from one to five! We also met a grandmother who is 101 years old and just given her life to Jesus, its incredible!!
To give you an idea of what the area is like here, it is totally normal for goats, cows and chickens and children to wander all over the road. Transport is...interesting! There are a limited number of vehicles and people make seats in the back of a truck using old mattresses to sit on and then leave the boot open for air!
I have been here for under a week but I already love this country. There are so many people who are living in poverty but their joy and hope in Jesus is infectious. It is taking me a while to adjust to the life here and I am missing home but I know that these are going to be an emotional but eye opening three months,
Lots of love to you all xxx
I am now sitting in the basement of Howick Community Church where every Friday we have time to relax, get onto skype and the internet and also get together as a team to chat things over and pray before we help out with the youth in the church at 5 o clock.
Yesterday we met up with a team of volunteers from Ethembeni who go out into the community of Mpophomeni and another township up in the hills to give out food packages and meet with the families to talk, pray and read the bible together. This time I was with an English speaking lady and a lovely Zulu lady who translated for us which meant that the language was not such a issue. The living conditions are shocking, many live in houses that consist of between one and three rooms with often over five people to a house which are so dirty and make houses back home look like millionaire mansions. I have met some amazing people with incredible stories. We visited a Mum with triplets who, when Ethembeni first met them, just over a year ago, they were starving, barely breathing but now they are three bouncing, smiling children full of life and one of them proudly counting from one to five! We also met a grandmother who is 101 years old and just given her life to Jesus, its incredible!!
To give you an idea of what the area is like here, it is totally normal for goats, cows and chickens and children to wander all over the road. Transport is...interesting! There are a limited number of vehicles and people make seats in the back of a truck using old mattresses to sit on and then leave the boot open for air!
I have been here for under a week but I already love this country. There are so many people who are living in poverty but their joy and hope in Jesus is infectious. It is taking me a while to adjust to the life here and I am missing home but I know that these are going to be an emotional but eye opening three months,
Lots of love to you all xxx
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Day 4 - Thursday 21st February
Hello everyone or Sawabona! (Hello in Zulu)
Sorry its taken a while to write on here but we are in South Africa safe and sound!
My home for the next three months is the township of Mpophomeni, not far from the town of Howick in South Africa. I am staying for the first two weeks with one of my five team members Ruth, in one of the volunteers houses which has been an eye opener to say the least. I have been so humbled, there is mum called Nksoi who lives with her three sons and they live together in a two roomed house in the township where the charity is based, one bedroom and one sitting room/kitchen. As soon as we arrived they brought out home made biscuits and Roiboos tea and welcomed us with big smiles. They then gave us their beds!! And they are sleeping on the sofas (one turns into a bed) in the other room. For a bathroom there is a toilet which doesn't really flush and then a just a simple cold tap. If we want hotter water we have to add water from the kettle and use the plastic tubs to wash...so far I have been using a flannel and soap and washing my hair directly under the tap. I know it sounds hard but I am getting used to it surprisingly quickly but it doesn't stop me realising how lucky we really are.
Over the past few days we have been shown the family centre and met some of the children who are amazing! They love playing with our sunglasses and teaching us Zulu. We have all been given an individual mentor who we are going to stay with most mornings, mine is called Mama Titi and she is lovely! She spends most of her time at the care centre which we visited yesterday and today, where they have four rooms to look after very very ill people who can't live at home due to their condition of HIV. On Tuesday I went with a lady called Nelly up to another township to do home visits. This was up in the hills so we had to do a lot of walking but met some people living in worse conditions that those in Mpophomeni. They all speak Zulu so at the moment the language is a bit of a barrier but it will get easier..I am trying to remember words!
It has been very very hot, Tuesday was 34 degrees but in the evening we had the most beautiful storm ever, very loud on the tin roof but the lighting was stunning, lighting up the sky.
Lots of love,
Sorry its taken a while to write on here but we are in South Africa safe and sound!
My home for the next three months is the township of Mpophomeni, not far from the town of Howick in South Africa. I am staying for the first two weeks with one of my five team members Ruth, in one of the volunteers houses which has been an eye opener to say the least. I have been so humbled, there is mum called Nksoi who lives with her three sons and they live together in a two roomed house in the township where the charity is based, one bedroom and one sitting room/kitchen. As soon as we arrived they brought out home made biscuits and Roiboos tea and welcomed us with big smiles. They then gave us their beds!! And they are sleeping on the sofas (one turns into a bed) in the other room. For a bathroom there is a toilet which doesn't really flush and then a just a simple cold tap. If we want hotter water we have to add water from the kettle and use the plastic tubs to wash...so far I have been using a flannel and soap and washing my hair directly under the tap. I know it sounds hard but I am getting used to it surprisingly quickly but it doesn't stop me realising how lucky we really are.
Over the past few days we have been shown the family centre and met some of the children who are amazing! They love playing with our sunglasses and teaching us Zulu. We have all been given an individual mentor who we are going to stay with most mornings, mine is called Mama Titi and she is lovely! She spends most of her time at the care centre which we visited yesterday and today, where they have four rooms to look after very very ill people who can't live at home due to their condition of HIV. On Tuesday I went with a lady called Nelly up to another township to do home visits. This was up in the hills so we had to do a lot of walking but met some people living in worse conditions that those in Mpophomeni. They all speak Zulu so at the moment the language is a bit of a barrier but it will get easier..I am trying to remember words!
It has been very very hot, Tuesday was 34 degrees but in the evening we had the most beautiful storm ever, very loud on the tin roof but the lighting was stunning, lighting up the sky.
Lots of love,
Esther
Saturday, 16 February 2013
So...here we go!
A good start, the suitcase almost not shutting, last lunch with family before driving to Heathrow! Its all feeling very real suddenly and I can't believe time has gone by so fast! For those of you who know me well, I am having that horrible feeling that I have left out something essential, but I'm sure that with my mad list writing, I have everything I am going to need for three months away in South Africa.
Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers as I get ready to leave. I am meeting my wonderful team in exactly 5 hours outside terminal 3 and so the adventure begins!
I will try to keep this as up to date as I can and if you want to contact me personally or want to give me your email, my email is esst@hotmail.co.uk.
Lots of love and I am going to miss you all! X
A good start, the suitcase almost not shutting, last lunch with family before driving to Heathrow! Its all feeling very real suddenly and I can't believe time has gone by so fast! For those of you who know me well, I am having that horrible feeling that I have left out something essential, but I'm sure that with my mad list writing, I have everything I am going to need for three months away in South Africa.
Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers as I get ready to leave. I am meeting my wonderful team in exactly 5 hours outside terminal 3 and so the adventure begins!
I will try to keep this as up to date as I can and if you want to contact me personally or want to give me your email, my email is esst@hotmail.co.uk.
Lots of love and I am going to miss you all! X
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