A Roll of Electrical Tape

Because we are in a foreign country, many things are different. In this case, paint rollers are quite different and about 50% of them lose a little part that keeps them in line. Once that piece is missing, the roller moves over to the side and drips paint all over the place.

Looking for a solution to this problem I searched for something that might hold the roller in place, while still allowing it to turn freely. Tape might work! So I tried some masking tape that was readily available but once it got wet it just squished up and was totally useless. So, I asked Mike, the maintenance man, if he had any electrical tape. That was met by a blank look. So I change up by saying "black electrical tape". He replied with "Oh, black rubber tape." I momentarily got my hopes but then he shook his head and indicated that he didn't think he had any.

Imagine my surprise and delight when Mike showed up an hour later with a roll of electrical tape and explained that he had found the roll in the sewing room. I applied the electrical tape to the problem...the dripping paint was stopped and my sanity (it was driving me crazy) was saved.

Thank God for electrical tape.


Les

Three people and a small room

Team building one-o-one.  First there was one starting on edging,  along came the high roller, then in squeezed the low roller.  The room was no more then 9x9.  Believe it or not it all worked and we didn't wear the paint.  The key to this little dance was communication.  We all finished together and our last room's first coat of paint was done.
Julia

Renovation Update

Here's a quick update on how we're doing with the "helping" part of our trip. We came with the understanding that we would be painting two rooms, in order to help move the programming of Seed of Hope forward and allow separate spaces for staff to gather and meetings to take place.

Under the very excellent leadership of Les Henderson, we have completed that portion and moved into bonus time, taking on a third room and also painting the door and floor of a small bathroom. This work should be completed on Monday and then allow us the chance to move some of their old furnishing back in, accompanied by some of the new furnishings that your project funds have enabled us to purchase. Each of our team members have participated in this project....Les has been great at figuring out how each person can contribute within the whole process.

Here's a quick look at one of the rooms before : 

Here's what it looks like now: 

The Seed of Hope Staff

     
    From our first introduction to the staff on Monday February 12, I felt the joy in their eyes as they opened every morning meeting with songs of praise. What a glorious way to start the day. Our team also contributed a daily devotional. The prayers are always out loud and in unison. The songs are sung with much feeling and awesome harmony. We were able to invite a group of four staff to the Richardson's place where we are staying every day and have a great interaction during supper. This way we got to know some of their personal stories in a comfortable setting.

  We are all encouraged by all that God is doing here through the dedicated and compassionate staff. A lot has changed and continues to change here in South Africa. They are all trusting God's direction and guidance, and the results are certainly more amazing then what we could envision.

   Nico van Dyl

Thoughts from Don

Children are the same all over the world. They like to tease and play.

(Don visited a primary school on Thursday)

These kids always seems to have a smile on their face.
In the classroom they do seem more eager to help the teacher.
They also seem more willing to try to read in front of the others.
They are quick to share a friendly greeting whenever you pass by them on the street.

It's also been great to have dinner with the staff of Seed of Hope.
It's provided an excellent opportunity to get to know them, and appreciate their lives outside of their work. We've had a lot of fun and learned so much from these evenings.
Their questions for us also allowed us to share some of our lives with them as well.

Thanks for allowing us to come and see this beautiful country!

Don (and scribe)

Upward Shoutout from SA

One of the sacrifices made to be on this trip, was knowing that two weeks of the Upward Basketball season at the SEMC would be missed. Last year, it was a privilege to assist Aynsley as she coached a team. This year,  head-coaching The Chargers, a wonderful group of Grade 2 and 3 students has provided great fun and laughter, while we learn some basketball.

Aynsley and I had the chance to do some painting in the morning and then we were scheduled to go to the highschool in the afternoon. However before that second part happened, we played with some of the younger school children. Because of the safety and care and the content of the instruction the children receive at Seed of Hope the children come after their regular school day, to do another hour of learning...but after they play. 

Please remember to pray for these kids, many of them grow up without a stable father figure. Which results in this province having a the fasting rising HIV infection rate in South Africa among girls 15-24. It also has significant negative results on the boys as they grow older. The investment of Seed of Hope into children and their families reminds me of why we do Upward, why every long Saturday is worth it, why every child that get's their name announced by Albert, is so meaningful, why all the effort that Theresa puts into coordinating teams, players, coaches and volunteers is so valuable and why we need to continue to share our stories with those who come to the games...because in doing so we are not just reaching children, but their families. Changed families change communities...Jesus bring the change...

Deve

Listen, Learn and Serve

For those who have followed along with us, through our first trip and now into our second, it can be difficult to understand what we mean when we say that we are in South Africa to listen, learn and serve. It's not the response that is generally satisfying to those who ask: "What are you going to do?"

While this second visit also includes the fourth component of help, the renovation of two rooms that will expand program space, the first three are still our main priorities. The question has been asked of our team: "Do you see any difference at Seed of Hope compared to your last visit in 2014?"  The answer has been, in short: "Absolutely!"

From what we can tell, so much of it is very positive. Over the course of the last year, the paid staff of Seed of Hope has been reduced from 26 people to 14 people - for a variety of reasons, all within the sovereignty of God. Navigating this new course has not been easy, but it is exciting and you can feel the enthusiasm from everyone on the team.

In return we also have asked of the staff: "What makes you excited about the future for Seed of Hope?"

As we've been listening, here's a paraphrase of a sentence that is written in my notes, from three different people, in three separate conversations: "Our vision and/or purpose remains the same, however our strategy and programs are changing."  Over the course of the last couple of years, in anticipation of some of the staffing changes, there has been a renewed effort to listen to community and the key stakeholders (the staff and volunteers). Much time in prayer and discussion has been invested. Additionally, the encouragement to dream about the future, about what could be possible is infusing hope. Out of this listening there has been a re-birth of programming that seeks to meet the needs of whole families, from the youngest to the oldest. Biblical principles are taught throughout each phase and program. Each program is being led through the giftedness and passion of individuals who come from this community, have a growing relationship with Jesus and care deeply about what happens in this community.

As we listen, we learn. As we listen and learn, we communicate value and worth to those we meet and we gain understanding as to how God is at work here. And if God is at work here, in this way, then perhaps, there are some things that we can learn to be applied at home in Canada. As a result of our listening and learning we are invited to serve alongside them, knowing that together we are being led by God into a sustainable future for this community: a future where, from young to old, they are being honoured, encouraged and equipped to make their lives even better.

Deve