Port Alfred Literacy Project

The lack of good reading skills is a major problem in Africa. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that Dian is preparing to teach a Literacy class for our Branch members. One of our good friends here, Pat Whitfield, has also organized a group of women from the local Rotary Club to teach Literacy at the local grade schools here. They asked me to take a series of photographs of their efforts which they would like to be part of a presentation they are preparing. Below are a few of those pictures. I do have to say that some of the most special experiences I have had here in South Africa have been during visits to schools throughout the country. The children have simply stolen my heart. Below are a couple of pictures Pat as she conducts her class, and some of those cute, cute children.

Rugby Madness

Almost every television set in South Africa is tuned tonight to SABC 2 to watch the South African Springboks rugby team play their arch rival, the New Zealand All-Blacks. This is considered one of the world's great rivalries. This is a warm up for the upcoming World Cup tournament that begins next month in New Zealand, and where these two teams are expected to play for the championship. These are the two teams that played for the world Cup championship in 1994 which was depicted in the movie, Invictus. Tonights game is being played in Port Elizabeth just south of us here in Port Alfred. We were in Port Elizabeth Friday, and it was absolutely crazy there. We at home get excited over Utah/BYU, Oregon/Oregon State, or Alabama/Auburn, but here, the whole Country comes to a complete standstill...... and the only conversation for the next three or four days will be about the game. By the way, the final score was the Springboks 18, the All Blacks 5. GO BOKS !!!

All Africa Helping Hands

Across the entire African Continent today, members from every Ward and Branch from our Church have dedicated much of the day today to participating in some form of community service. Last year, over 100,000 Church members in African countries participated. Today, members of our Port Alfred Branch spent the morning painting the exterior walls of the new Child Welfare home here. In doing so, they have helped to create a very warm and inviting environment for the children that will be living there. The facility is designed to house 12 children on a permanent basis, with 2 house mothers to care for them. It will be the children's home until they turn 18 years of age. They prefer not to refer to it as an orphanage, but the children who will be residing there have no other family that can care for them. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to help make this a special place for these special children. I've included a few pictures below.

Two Heads Are Better Than One

.......... taken recently at the Mansfield Game Reserve.

As part of our ongoing effort to help our Branch members build and understand their knowledge of the Gospel, as well as to help them develop skills that will enhance their ability to gain employment, we have developed several courses that hopefully will make a difference. Dian has been teaching an LDS Institute class each week to a group young adults from our Branch.

Unemployment here is very high, but if you have a drivers license, you are almost guaranteed a job. But getting a license is not easy............ and it quite expensive. With that in mind, I have been teaching a drivers education course. It won't help with the cost, but will give them a better chance of passing the rather difficult drivers test.

Dian is also developing a class on public speaking, patterned after Toastmasters which she has belonged to for the past 15 years. In addition, she is also putting together a literacy class for those members who are having difficulty reading or speaking English.

Below is a picture of Dian 's Institute class which is held every Saturday morning at Ntombiyakhe Dayile's house in the Namato township.

Learning to "Fish"

One of the greatest challenges and frustrations we experience here in Port Alfred is the frequent request for help that we receive, mostly financial help, although sometimes for food or medical care. The needs here are great, and we quickly realized that it's not possible to help everyone. If we do help one, we then have an obligation to help anyone that comes to us with similar needs. So we have had to make the very difficult decision that we cannot make loans or contributions to anyone. We've let it be known that we will do everything we can to "help them learn how to fish, but not give them a fish". That has certainly come with it's frustrations as some feel we are "rich Americans", and as Church leaders, we should be helping everyone. So we continue to receive requests.

This past week we received a call from one of our Branch members asking if they could meet with us. We agreed on a time and place, but were certain it would be another request for financial help. As we sat down together, our member explained that she was considering starting her own business, and knowing that both Dian and I had extensive business experience, asked for our advise. Wow! That was the last thing we expected, but we were so pleasantly surprised. It gave us hope that change is possible. It was another good day !!!