Signing off

And finally... Yes, our team has all safely travelled on or home, and this will be our blog's last entry. Our last two days were lovely and messy, as we descended on the health Clinic in Mpophemeni for some team decorating. School had finished, so we had time to refurbish the two rooms used by the Clinic for consultations involving children. Those team members whose artistic skills extended to plain white emulsion (like me) applied them to the ceilings and walls. Then those with higher level ability created child-friendly art - with some difficulty,  as no-one had managed to acquire art brushes. Bits of tissue and even the bottom of a biro were used to create effects.
No doubt Mpophemeni children will be staring at our eccentric images for quite a few years to come. To end our story, and to show how often the simplest things are used by God to bless and build His kingdom among us, here are some results of our labours:

So now we take our leave, of you perhaps, but not of Jesus, who we pray will keep us all close to Himelf, both those in the field and those in the prayer house. Love from all the Ethembeni expeditionary team, including Liz. It might be your turn next! George. 

Hot!

I'm not sure if we will have WiFi after today but we continue to value your prayers. School finishes today for Easter and after this we will be on a painting project. The  children are just gathering with us in the shade - the temperature is 31! Yesterday was visits to patients in the slum and to HIV positive mothers or mothers-to-be around Mpophomeni. This morning was a crafts and Bible session under an immense umbrella! Here's a piccies of some of our ladies:

Now I'll put my phone away before a youngster knocks it out of my hand! Love in Christ and we will be in touch somewhere soon! George for the team

Juxtaposition

Brian suggested the title for this post! We are constantly amazed at how such severe poverty can exist next to life like home or better. The entrance to the Shiyase camp is opposite the Howick lawnmower shop and a Nando's sign. Please pray for the food and health works among the Sutu people there, and for the brief gospel messages, this morning about butterflies and Romans 12:2. One woman of 21 was born in the camp. Yet the mothers are caring and their children clean, mostly well and happy. The local vaccination programme is excellent, which is one thing. The mothers gave permission for us to take these pics. This is the mothers after a craft session while we looked after their children:

This is Jackie, in her Tearfund T-shirt, teaching two of the children cat's cradle:

She was on a plastic sheet on the rough earth floor with Rupert 

and Brian. The creche is in the beer shebeen because that is not used on Monday mornings. Here is a drinks queue outside with more Ethembeni volunteers:

As for the team, we are very pleased to be all well - praise God and thank you for your prayers. We have also just chilled out with great church services,

 visiting the Nelson Mandela capture memorial, and seeing a different sort of youngster - one with a rhino horn...! 

Love to all of you in Jesus from the team. 

Catching up

In a gap there's just time to send three more of Rupert's pics.
Putting "Farming God's Way " into practice at Shiyase mud hut slum:

Some of us with Ethembeni's team members:

Acting out God's way and the other way of farming:

Time to go - lots of youngsters are about to arrive at the Family Centre. All prayers are immensely appreciated! We praise God for answers so far. Please pray especially for those with TB, which now kills more around here than HIV - it is very difficult to overcome. George  for the team! 

Farming and stuff

We have also been Farming God's Way, or rather supporting teaching sessions on it. A very thorough set of talks on best food growing practice was linked to a powerful message on putting God's honour and Jesus at the heart of our lives and of our care of the land. FGW speaker Dan led it and over 35 Zulu folk, nearly all women, were very attentive listeners. A great programme. And here are, Karen and Chris with the youngest farmers!  George

Latest

It's raining today. It was hard to believe Shiyase slum could be even worse but...

and here's the wet workers

but here are the Family Centre leaders and  kids on a nicer day!

and here's how much of God's provision we are depending on!

Howick Falls. 

Love from all the team, especially to Liz! 

Piccies!

This is a mud and wood shack like the one the Mums and toddlers meet in at Shiayase, and this is the group.