It's oh so good to be back...

We are back in South Africa for our 5th visit and it feels comfortable and right -- like visiting old friends or family.  Considering this has been our 13th week here over the years, that makes sense.

Our first week back is truly one of contrasts. We were looking forward to the joyous reunion with our colleagues at A.V. Bukani Primary. But Sunday, we heard the challenging news. One of the teacher leaders at the school, Mandisa Mbande, just passed away. Mandi was one of the teachers we were closest to. She lived in the township and often spent time with us after school. Larry and Sara both worked with her. It is a real loss to the school and to the community.

So instead of hugs of joy, there were hugs of mutual grief. As sad as we are, we are glad to be able to mourn together. During the week,  the faculty planned and took part in a prayer service for Mandi’s family at their home and a memorial service at a church, each at 1 p.m. on school days. The students were dismissed early and many of teachers were working on the plans during the school day, also practicing hymns with students. We attended the weekday services with them, and also attended the funeral on Saturday. (More details later in this blogpost.)

The school is also facing some shortages of teachers. For a number of reasons, including serious illness, several of the strong teachers we have worked with are no longer here, in contrast to previous years when the school faculty was very stable from year to year. A.V. Bukani is also transitioning to a R (K) to 7th grade school, as is the school on the other side of the township which had been a middle school.  So there are some new classes in 5, 6, and 7th grade, requiring extra teachers.

Some of the teachers are literally doubling up their time, going from classroom to classroom, getting one group started on some work and then going into the classroom next door. If a teacher is out for a day or two, there are no substitute teachers, so a class of 35-40 may suddenly have another 20 for the day while that class is divided among the teachers who are there. A new teacher was just hired, with two more expected next week. But at the moment, the teachers feel a great deal of pressure.

Even with the sadness, the schedule disruptions, and the teacher shortage, the faculty worked hard to take advantage of our time. We see some things that let us know real progress is being made.

Ace sharing some of the strategies
he's learned on literacy 

We are most excited about the appointment of our friend Ace Lamani as Deputy Principal, with a focus on academics. Ace is a true life-long learner. He is eager to hear about every strategy, every bit of information, that can help him with his “learners” -- their word for “students” and one we think is more appropriate. He recently finished his honors degree, including some of the strategies Larry and Sara taught him over the years, which he incorporated into his thesis. He has impressively stepped up to this leadership position.

Literacy in the Upper Grades

We have brought several priceless resources with us this year – our friends and colleagues Randi and Steve Adleberg.  We enjoy having colleagues to process the day’s activities and brainstorm together.  In addition to their duties throughout the school, Randi made numerous contributions to this blog and Steve took many of the photos.

Randi, who recently retired as a secondary language arts teacher in Fairfax County has been assigned to work directly with Ace who still teaches many classes for 5th, 6th, and 7th graders.  Ace gave her full authority to jump in and work with his learners.  After observing his classroom for the first day, she quickly went to the library, and pulled out some books at different levels. With all the stresses on the teachers to teach “the required curriculum,” taking books out of the library has become something of a luxury, unfortunately. But Randi has been reigniting enthusiasm for the books with the students, and modeling how books chosen by the students are essential to enhance literacy. 

A key lesson that we learn and relearn in South Africa is flexibility. Here’s how Randi described her first week to some close friends back home:

Randi working with learners and **library books**

 “I think I am a very different teacher here than I was at home. I have learned quickly not to worry about time. At home, I carefully planned daily lessons so that I could fit certain goals into the class time periods. Here, though, the schedule never stays the same, so I am learning to start activities regardless of time constraints. If I start something they can’t finish, no worries. We continue the next day.

“I am also learning to accept background noise. At home, I was not shy about going into the hallway to ask other students to quiet down. Here, I can’t exactly ask the cows to stop lowing, or the roosters to stop crowing; so I don’t shush the loud students when they pass the classroom door. The learners in the classroom are used to these noises and work in spite of them.”

Supporting Math

Steve Adleberg’s multi-faceted background as a teacher and principal includes working as a math specialist, so he was assigned to work with Ben, a wonderful teacher of math at the upper grades.  We are happy that Ben finally has some professional development, as most of our work has focused on literacy.

Ben and Steve and manipulatives 

Steve brought with him math manipulatives, thanks to mutual friend Linda Braverman. He discovered that the school district had already sent the school a box of manipulatives that had never been opened. (This just confirms our belief that resources without training do not get used).  Steve and Ben spent some time learning to work with the manipulatives and will introduce them to the lower grade teachers next week.

Steve also worked with Ben on strategies for solving math word problems. When Larry taught the learners a new song – “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” – Steve typed up the words, which build on increasing numbers. He used it as the basis for some math word problems in Ben’s classes, integrating math and language arts.

“Larry’s Song”

Larry accompanies a second grade class learning an
English rhyme

Speaking of Larry singing, neither the learners nor the teachers have forgotten Larry’s guitar.  The last time we were at the school three years ago, we finished our volunteer visit with a school-wide sing-a-long of “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain.” Larry came with new songs, ready to move on, but oh no, he will not get away without singing what has become “Larry’s Song” in the school!  We laugh that younger learners who had never met Larry before this week still call it “Larry’s Song.”

Larry is building on the groundwork he laid with Sara and Cecily and in subsequent years when he carried on alone. This year he plans to work on guided reading, with our luggage brimming with specialized books for small group work.  The first week was spent solidifying the previous strategies with the teachers he is working with, some new to the school. It was heartwarming to see some teachers using Big Books, think-pair-share, and active read-alouds.

While skill proficiency varies widely, we are truly seeing readers in the upper grades. Ace has looped with a group of learners from 4th to 5th to 6th Their progress is impressive. Randi is introducing writing, and revision,  and is enthusiastic about the engagement of the students.  She’ll be sharing these strategies with more teachers next week.

Eileen is slipping into a variety of roles. She read and did finger-play rhymes with 2nd graders. She reconnected with the wonderful municipal librarian to gain guidance on setting up the new computerized library system. And she began laying the foundation for parent meetings on supporting their children’s literacy development. She also helped the teachers with the memorial service, such as creating a slide show of photos of Mandi that included a number with our family over the years.

It Never Rains in Nomathamsanqa

We told Randi and Steve to prepare for arid conditions, with a warm sun mid-day helping with the cold weather. Ha! Climate change has hit here and it has rained most of the week. Of course this area needs rain, so we can’t complain.

There are few paved roads and the others are rutted and covered with a combination of just plain mud and the occasional droppings from the neighborhood goats or dogs, or cattle who roam along the side of the road. We were sure our ride back to the guest house where we are staying was going to get stuck in the mudded road, but our driver somehow managed to get his tires rolling through it. So glad WE are not driving!

The rain makes everything a bit more complicated, and attendance drops when it rains all day. But most make due. The learners here are often given responsibilities that they fulfill proudly. The day after the memorial service for Mandi, Randi wrote: “Classes were delayed this morning while we waited for students to bring back the chairs they had carried several blocks to the church in town for yesterday’s service. The school children here willingly take on chores. Every morning, as they walk onto the school grounds, they pick up trash to throw away. When they get to their classrooms, they sweep the sidewalks outside the door. During break, they sweep the rooms.”

This rain is a totally new experience for us here. Randi’s words: “Due to the rain, the mud around the school is plentiful and slick! Everyone’s shoes are coated. To stay clean, the main office entrance has torn cardboard boxes for foot mats. Smells like rotted paper and cow dung. The mud we all track into the classrooms dries by the afternoon. After classes, several learners stayed behind to lift and move the student desks and sweep the classroom floor. Every Friday, lessons end at noon so that the children can remove all the furniture from their classrooms and thoroughly clean the rooms as well as the office area.”

With everything going on, there still manages to be education. The principal is a true force of nature, a well-respected leader who just knows how to get things done. “Most of my friends are politicians and they tell me I should leave this hopeless job and go into politics,” Mr. Thambo tells Eileen. “But I must stay here because this is important work. As Mandiba said, ‘It is not enough that you were born, but what matters is how you have used your life to improve the lives of ordinary people.’”

Sharing in the Grief for a Friend

We know that there are many funerals in the township – far too many. The day of Mandi’s funeral, there is another funeral for one of two young men who died in a tragic car accident nearby - a brother and brother-in-law, so one woman lost both a husband and brother. The young man buried that day had just earned his degree and begun a job.  Many of the mourners wore a tee shirt with his picture on it.

With Mandi in her green sweater
on our first visit in 2008

The sun came out on Saturday as we went to Mandi’s funeral. The township looked refreshed, cleaned by the rains. The warmth of the sun felt so good. The funeral is packed with mourners.  The funeral service, as with everything here, is a cultural experience for us. Hymns are not just recited, they are sung with enthusiasm, dancing, and extensive harmonies. The “passing of the peace” is full of intense hugging and singing. The service goes on for 3 ½ hours, most of it in Xhosa. The speakers speak with their full body, so it is fascinating to just watch the body language. In both the Memorial Service and funeral, Larry and Eileen are recognized and asked to stand. We are made to feel welcome in many ways. We are a bit embarrassed, but the family tells us that they are warmed by our presence. We are honored to be part of the community.

Weekend Visit to an Informal Settlement

On Saturday, Randi and Steve took a township tour in Port Elizabeth (PE) through Calabash Tours, which we strongly recommend. Before Apartheid, many black people had good jobs and good homes on the PE harbor. Under Apartheid, blacks were removed from their homes, some in thriving multiethnic communities, and forced into isolated townships. The blacks no longer had access to good jobs or employment at all. Today, unemployment is still a major concern.

The townships across South Africa today include homes of varying levels, from the original small mud huts to middle-class homes. They are often places with a strong sense of community and a thriving culture. In addition to townships, there are informal settlements, basically squatter camps, that house the poorest of the poor, as they do in other countries. Those who can’t afford housing will create what they can in a settlement.

We all were dinner guests at a private home in one of the informal settlements surrounding Port Elizabeth. From Randi: "The settlement we visited is on the site where a hospital once stood. Children still find old needles in the dirt. The houses are corrugated shacks. No indoor plumbing. (Just a few outdoor pumps shared by many families.) No electricity. No bathrooms. No paved roads. Definitely no sidewalks! The streets are all mud and dirt. No trees. No playgrounds or fields."

Our host told us that she and her husband came from a northern rural area of South Africa to look for work in the city of Port Elizabeth about 15 years ago. They created a two-room home in the settlement for themselves and eventually their three children. Her husband has worked as a security guard and a truck driver. She sells beaded jewelry that she makes. The furniture was comfortable and the small home welcoming.

Our Calabash guide told us that his family also had lived in a settlement at one point. His father was involved in anti-Apartheid efforts and their home was destroyed by those in power. His father was able to eventually move their family to a large culture-rich township nearby.

After Apartheid, when Mandela became president, he ordered the building of 1,000,000 free and renovated homes to improve the housing of blacks, many of whom were forced to live in mud huts under Apartheid. A fraction of these were built, and nationwide, tens of thousands still wait for homes. The family we visited is "on the list" for one of these homes, but has been waiting for years. Eventually all homes in the informal settlement will be destroyed once residents have new homes.

More observations from Randi: “Our hostess prepared a feast for us! Rice, green salad, potato salad, bean salad, beets, fried chicken, and beef. It was delicious. Although the settlement has no electricity, the people who live there ‘borrow,’ or buy, it from neighboring developments that have electricity. The house we visited had several electrical wires, and cables running from outside and down the center post of the house. A TV was on the entire time we were there, although muted. We also noticed a washing machine in a small shed attached to the house. 

"The main house consisted of two rooms. In the main room, the kitchen area is separated from the living room by a several large chairs with a large low coffee table. That's where we ate. 

The second room is the master bedroom. The three children (a boy and two girls) sleep in a small room that is attached to the house, but has a separate entrance, just outside the front door of the main room. 

"There are no indoor bathrooms. Each shack has a 'bucket system' (a/k/a outhouse).  The ‘system’ works like this: the family fills the bucket with excrement and municipal trucks pick up the buckets once a week. 

"Despite these stark living conditions, the children play, and run, and laugh just like the kids in our neighborhoods at home. The parents worry about their children, as all parents do. And they want good education and promising futures for their children. They are just like us.”

The faces that greet us each day:

Eileen and Larry

Returning in August to Support Literacy!

YES!!!  Eileen and Larry are going back to A.V. Bukani Primary School mid-August– mid-September. For the first time, we will be going for an entire month. We always leave after three weeks wishing we could stay longer. So we just did it!

GREAT NEWS: Eileen was awarded the Art Berg Grant from the National Speakers Association. This $4000 grant is awarded to one technology-related project a year at a charitable organization in which an Association member is involved as an active volunteer. We are very honored our project earned the grant this year.

This grant will help increase access to the library. Although the library has become a source of great pride in this township of 15,000-20,000, availability of the books has been limited by an organizational system with no technology. This grant will be used to purchase a computer dedicated to the library and library software. Equally important, there will be funds for training and continuing IT maintenance. With these improvements, we hope the library can soon be available to the entire community.

More Resources to Support Beginning Readers

The South African Education Department recently implemented new standards and it is exciting to see the practices that are imbedded in the standards are just the things we have been working on with the teachers at Bukani – including read-alouds, use of “big books” for shared reading, and most important, guided reading, which is what Larry will be working on with the teachers when we return this year. Since the teachers have been working on these practices for several years, they have a great foundation on which to build.

Of course, so much is dependent upon resources. Who would believe that after delivering 23,000 donated books to create a library for the school, there would be the need for more! Well, there is. While the books we brought are wonderful (THANK YOU!), there is a great need for many very early reading books. That’s because the students at Bukani are learning to read in a new language and the books that are needed are very short (as few as 8 pages long). As you can imagine, once they get the hang of it, the students can zip through an 8-page book quite quickly. Hence, the need for many, many books at increasingly difficult levels for the students to read. 

You, the supporters of this project, have been so generous over the past few years. The funds have been used to create and support the library, a computer teacher for the students, and so much more. We’ve spent it all at the school.  If you feel in your hearts to make a donation now, these donations will support the purchase of these specialized very early readers -  Directions are on"How to Donate" tab.

 Larry has already ordered over 600 books from Pioneer Valley Books at a cost of nearly $3,000, including a discount from Pioneer Valley, to help the teachers with beginning reading. The recommendation for this purchase came from our daughter Sara, a literacy teacher who has come with us on two of our volunteer trips and uses these books in her work. In addition, Eileen found an on line 50% off sale for more early readers that has Larry’s mouth watering. (BTW –A donation is a great way to mark a birthday, anniversary or other celebration. We are happy to send a personal note in recognition of a special day and we are grateful to have been a part of some very special commemorations.)  

Whether you support us with a donation or with your words of encouragement, know that we appreciate it! 

The Adlebergs are Joining Us!!

One more bit of good news: Educators Randi and Steve Adleberg will join us at A.V. Bukani for two weeks this year. We are thrilled to share their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm. Both had long careers in Fairfax County Public Schools, Steve as an elementary school teacher and principal; and Randi as a middle and high school language arts teacher. We know the teachers and students at Bukani will benefit from their expertise (and we will enjoy the company of these good friends).

Eileen and Larry

We're heading back to South Africa soon!

We're heading back to our beloved school in South Africa in late August! Although we haven't been back recently (Larry's -successful!- back surgery last September forced us to cancel our plans last year), we have stayed in touch with the principal and our volunteer contact. Through your generous donations, together we've funded a library aide who has helped keep the library organized and functioning. We're planning to go back this year with more books at an easy level and we'll be providing targeted professional development.  Much more to tell you in the near future….

Our hearts sang this week

When Larry was asked what he wanted to do after he retired from full-time work, he replied he wanted to do something that would “make my heart sing.” Well, our hearts sang this week at A. V. Bukani Primary School in Nomathamsanqa township. 

The Grade 4 teachers had taken Larry up on his offer to train them on how to assist the students in choosing a “just right book” – one that is neither too hard nor too easy for that child to read.  Students packed the library, looking at the cover, pictures and words of each book to see if it was something they wanted to read and something they could read. One by one, they picked books to take home.

And there they were. A group of boys in the back of the room, busily talking with their friends about the books they had chosen, passing them back and forth so they could share their excitement.  That was the moment. That was when we knew that the effort we put into this project, and the effort of so many people who contributed books, and volunteered time, and donated funds, was well worth it.  This was not a container full of books on shelves. It became a living library that very minute.

That day only got better. Eileen has had some loyal parent volunteers helping to inventory the library books. Two of the mothers who truly understand the importance of supporting the school said they would be willing to help organize other parents to help with the library and other projects.  A benefit of volunteering is that parents who help out will get to take out books from the library themselves. Eileen helped the parents find fun books for their children and the parents were elated.  Their enthusiasm for the books will certainly be contagious with their friends and relatives in the township.

And, we’re witnessing the love of reading start early. Grade R (K) and 1 teachers have begun taking books for their classrooms. The students love the stories Eileen has read them. The great news is that the municipal library will soon be providing regular story hours at the school for the young students and their parents, with books in English and in their mother tongue of Xhosa.

At the end of the day, there were visitors from the provincial legislature with responsibility for education.  They had just visited a school that was in near chaos and were quite depressed.  They left A. V. Bukani with broad smiles. They were impressed by the faculty, impressed by the resources like the computer lab, and yes, they loved the library. We met with several of them after the meeting and have continued the dialogue.

Teachers sharing their strengths with their colleagues

We feel this third week of our trip was the most productive of any in our four volunteer visits. It all came together in many positive ways. On this trip, we found that the teachers had been working to improve, and Larry was able to quickly work with them on needs they identified. He was able to help them use many of the resources that we had shipped with the library, including beginning readers and professional materials. Eileen’s contacts in the community, both within the township and beyond, have helped solidify support for the school.

A highlight of the week was the last professional development. Larry noted that a number of the teachers had unique special strengths and he asked them to share this with their colleagues. The faculty watched as Bella talked about creating a warm environment for read-alouds in her second-grade class. Thandi talked about helping the students retell stories by looking at setting, character, and the problem solved in the plot. Ace discussed using student work to create a mini-spelling lesson. Nomhle described the way she uses sentence strips to improve student comprehension. It was very impressive.

As each faculty member spoke, Larry gave them one of the relevant instructional resources that was already at the school. Suddenly they knew how to make use of these books. He ceremoniously handed each speaker one of the markers for the whiteboard, saying, “Do you accept the responsibility of ‘the pen’ to keep this professional sharing going?” They each smiled and took the pen. Other teachers talked about their turns.

Improvements in other nearby schools

We see hope for educational improvement beyond Nomathamsanqa.  The nearby middle school, Vesumsi,  had been floundering without a principal for years. A new dynamic principal took over the helm last week and everyone is thrilled. The entire community vows to support his efforts.

Another American who has fallen in love with Nomathamsanqa, Martha Cummings, has focused her attention on the improvements needed at Vesumsi. She hopes to raise enough money to renovate the school, which now exists without electricity in many classrooms. You can read about her efforts at http://www.universalpromise.org

An interesting note is that there was just word that both A.V. Bukani and Vesumi will become R(K) – 7^th grade schools, as the national government does away with middle schools. Each school will gradually take on additional grades. Bukani will include Grade 5 next year and many parents are happy their children can stay. Parents are permitted to send their children to any school as long as they can get their child to school and pay the fees (which are waived in these schools). Vesumsi may add Grade R to its roles next year.

On our last Friday, Larry led singing on his guitar for 1000+ students singing “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain.” We had taught it to every class and the kids were primed. They – and we – had a ball. It was followed by “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” which the teachers have taught the students this year. The students then sang their traditional songs. It was oh so hard to leave.

"She'll have to sleep with grandma when she comes..."

There is much more to say, which will do soon in future blog posts. With the staff, we have identified some critical needs in the school and we hope to raise funds to provide the much needed support. They are incredibly grateful for all we have done, and by we, I mean all of you who have been generous supporters of this project.

More photos, movies, and stories soon…  

A School With Serious Intent

We arrive in the township for our 4^th  volunteer visit, and it all feels so familiar, so comfortable. Our feelings are confirmed when we walk into school early in the morning and the teachers greet us with powerful hugs and the words, “Welcome home.”

There are no welcome parties for us, big or small; and that is very fine with us. We all just get to work, recognizing that nothing is more important than educating a child in a new democracy.

There is a seriousness about the school this year. The Eastern Cape, where this school is located, has fallen behind the other provinces in South Africa in terms of education. The education district that oversees A.V. Bukani is rife with corruption and the central government – for the first time ever – has taken control of this district. There are still questions of who is in charge of what, but there is no question that things are moving forward.

In just a few weeks, all students at A.V. Bukani will have to take national exams in math, English, and their home language (Xhosa in this school). Prior to this, only 3^rd grade took the exam. The teachers are working hard to prepare their students, in content as well as test-taking skills.

Sample questions for the national exams were posted on the internet and our school downloaded them last week. (Yes, the school does have internet connection at a few computers! But as one of the teachers said to me, “What about schools that have no computers? They cannot even see the sample questions.”)

Our students must take the same exams as those whose mother tongue is English.  The 4^th grade exam included a question about rhymes. It became clear to the teachers that many of the students did not know the word “rhyme,” although they know rhyming sounds. What other obstacles lay in wait in the exams?

The Library!

What can we say about seeing the library at the school? It is so powerful to see this amazing resource for all the students. Volunteers over the last few years have helped organize it and further refine the categories of books. Teachers in 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th grade have taken boxes of books into their classrooms and the students can take books out about two times a week. We’re encouraging them to have books go home even more frequently.

It is so rewarding to see the books in homes throughout the townships. One of our favorite sights was a glimpse of a 4 year-old laying on a chair in the kitchen, paging through the Berenstain Bears book that his older brother had brought home from school. Yes, the library is indeed having an impact!

Grade 4 students enjoying the book
"Are You My Mother?"

We are working to introduce the books at Grade R (Kindergarten) and Grade 1.  English is now introduced in Grade 1, rather than 2, and this is a new responsibility for the Grade 1 grade teachers. Most relish it, but some don’t have strong English skills themselves, so it’s been challenging. But they know it is what’s best for the children.

Eileen has been going into all the Grade 1 classes, and some others, singing songs in English and reading some books. The kids are incredibly engaged. They are so excited to be able to do something that was reserved for their older brothers and sisters.  And the teachers appreciate the opportunity to see some new techniques they can use with their students.

The Grade R (K) teachers have so far not been given any books for their classrooms.  One of the new teachers, a bright young educator, said she’s been asking for books. “The Grade R teachers feel neglected!” she said.  Eileen talked to the principal about the value of having books in the classrooms for the youngest children, and that will soon be happening. Larry is going to do some training for the Grade 1 and R teachers early next week.

Grade R (K) teacher singing with her class 

Increasing teachers’ knowledge of literacy strategies

We’ve been impressed with the work that has gone on in the classrooms over the two years since we’ve been here. There is much more interaction among the students, with the teachers encouraging the students to “Think – Pair – Share,” a technique Larry and Sara taught the teachers during our first visit.  Some of the teachers have excelled at this and the healthy buzz going on in the classrooms warms our hearts.

The weekly planning meeting with the teachers and Paul,
our volunteer coordinator

Larry has developed a plan with the teachers to do a “train the trainer” approach sessions for teachers in 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th grade with two teachers from each grade. These teachers will then train the other teachers in that grade after we leave. The focus is an issue the teachers raised: helping the students retell the stories they are hearing or reading on their own. Larry has demonstrated a technique in which students talk, draw, and write about the beginning, middle, and end of stories read to them.  This approach will help students develop an understanding of the structure of stories, which will help build understanding and improve their retellings.  Teachers have been enthusiastic about the approach and have been pleasantly surprised at the positive responses from some of their struggling students.  Next week they will take over the teaching, with support from Larry.   

New responsibilities for the school leadership

The government just completed an evaluation of A.V. Bukani and determined that the school earned  The right to manage its own funds.  Up to this point, school leadership had to request funds from the district school office, and it could take six months to get an order of paper! Worse, money often didn’t make it out of the district office at all.  Now the principal and the school governing board (including teachers and parents) have control of the funds.

Our principal, Mr. Thambo, is thrilled that he can now take charge of his own funds. This is something he has fought for. But there are also challenges. For the last decade, schools have not been permitted to hire non-teaching staff at the school, so all the financial issues must now be added to the work of the principal and the teachers. Mr. Thambo is getting training in management of the funds, but it is a huge responsibility.

Reconnecting with our friends and “family”

This year, we are not staying with the Mofu family in the township.  Rev. Mofu has been quite ill and we have been very worried about him.  At the end of our first day of school, we quickly walked to the Mofu’s to see how he is. We are thrilled to report that his health is much better. He's lost weight, eating healthier and his diabetes completely disappeared! (Diabetes is a huge health issue here and we hope some day to bring in nutrition classes for the teachers and families) The doctors are hoping that Rev. Mofu's kidney problems, which were related to the diabetes, will increasingly improve as well. We are VERY relieved.

The other issue is that part of the roof of the Mofu’s home blew off in a heavy wind last year. They are now repairing the home and doing some other home renovation, so there are boards and nails everywhere.  In between the hammering, we got to visit with their grandsons who are now in Grade 6, Grade 2, and preschool. It is hard to believe that 11 year-old Yanga was only 6 when we first met him. His charming smile and big hugs never changed. We’ll be back to visit more next week.

We are staying with other friends just outside the township, Nondumiso and Keith. Rosedale, their totally “green” B and B which opened 3 years ago, is in the midst of their organic orange farm on the border of the township.  They are fascinating people who have lived extraordinary lives and we truly enjoy their company. They are very supportive of the school and the volunteer program. This is where Sara, Alex, and Cecily stayed in 2010; and Keith and Miso graciously held our Farewell Party there that year when the school building was closed because of the teachers’ strike. We often visit in the township in the afternoons and then go to Rosedale for dinner. We particularly love sitting outside in front of the open-pit fire after dinner and enjoying the cool, clear evening with the full moon peeking through the indigenous trees and the sounds of exotic birds filling the air.