Agathos Kids

Sunday Farm Service

Yesterday we had just about the perfect Sunday. We were invited to JD and Barbara's Anglican church service which was having their annual "Farm Service" out at their house overlooking the most beautiful valley ever. We helped set up tents the day before and were very much looking forward to the service, and maybe more accurately, the "braai" that was to happen right after the service. A braai is like a bbq but instead of hambergers and hot dogs, they cook maily steaks, and sausages. The was accompanied by a full on chuch potluck. Lets just say it was a NICE break from the menu at the cottages.

We stayed around till everyone was gone, and helped with the tear down as well. The wind started to pick up and JD decided to burn all the paper trash as we were taking down the large tents. Well, wind+fire= bad news and large tents+wind= bad news. Right as we got the tents unsteaked from the ground, I turned around and noticed that the paper fire had spread from the metal fire pit, to the dry grass around it and was spreading quickly. With the tents halfway taken down, JD, Mara (their daughter) Eli and I all rushed to get buckets and hoses to put out the fire. The wind was moving the flames quickly but we got in front of it with the hose and were able to minimize the damages. Eli was the hose master and recalled the adventure as "the highlight of my life!"

After a couple hours of tear down, we finally collapsed on the sofa, soaking in the much needed rest. After a few minutes of conversation, Barbara exclaims: "Lets make some chocolate chip cookies!" Well, I thoguht that was a great idea, why not. And we finished of the day with some warm cookies and a cold glass of milk. On the way home, I turned to Eli and said, "T.I.A. Eli, T.I.A."

It was a great day full of great food, fun people, windy adventures, and topped off with cookies and milk.

Taxi bus

Last weekend, we learned the ins and outs of public transportation in South Africa. To get a ride into town in only a buck and takes about 45 min, depending on how many stops the driver makes. There are several hand signals that are essential for smooth navigation.

First of all, there are just tons of people on the roads at all times. People are always looking for rides (free, or in a taxi).

The first hand signal is with your pointer finger pointed down. This means that you just need a local ride.

The second, is your pointer finger pointed up. That means that you want to go to "town." If you put your finger up, but are going to a town that is not on the main road, you must make a motion with your hand in the direction that the road turns to your destination.

Got it?

I have also seen a thumbs down, and a "flapping of the hand" I am not sure what those mean exactly, but I am sure it is complicated.

So, we are in the taxi headed into the big city. The first thing that you see on the van is a sign that says "Maximum passenger load 16" We learned that was merely a suggestion when the driver picked up our 21st passenger. We were crammed in the back jamming to some sweet African beats. Luckily it wasnt stifingly hot that day, but those trips to town could get painful in the weeks to come.

Mafundo-we love you!

One great little guy here that we have gotten to know well is Mafundo. Mafundo is 3 years old and too young to go to school so he stays home and helps out with the maintanance around the place. He is about as helpful as any 3 year old could be. He understands a ton of English and is always eager to help. One of his many skills is his ability to sleep ANYWHERE. Yesterday in church he curled up in my arms are caught some Z's while my bum turned numb on the wooden bench. The other day he fell alseep on Eli's legs and I was able to grab a photo. His other favorite resting places include: the cement floor of the dining room, in the play structure, and face down at the dinner table (during dinner).

This guy is such a joy to have around, our new best bud.

Soccer Match

Last Thursday I got the first glimps of what high school sports are like here in South Africa. The orphanage is located right along a the Injesuthi river and right on the other side is a "soccer stadium," Just a field that is fenced in. The local team plays there on the weekends, but on thursday it was time for two local schools to battle it out on the field. Two girls from the orphange are on the team. Patience plays forward, and Sthe is the goalie. As the teams were warming up I thought it was odd that only a few players on each team had shoes on. I thought that maybe they would put on shoes right before the game was to start. I was wrong. I only saw a couple of cleats, and definitley no shin guards. So with some players in cleats and most players barefoot, the game began. The school that we were cheering for had green shorts with green and white tops. The opposing team had green bottoms with all green tops. Very confusing if you ask me. Sometime into the second half a herd of goats decided that they would graze in the middle of the field. They wandered on, and there was hardly a pause in the game. The ref made a half hearted attempt to shoo them away by throwing a pebble in their direction, but that did little to get them out of the way. Defenders were literally running through the pack of freightened goats to get to the ball. The goats were surrounded on all sides and were very confused as to how to escape. Eventually they found the side line and the exit to the stadium. Our team won (2-0) with an impressive showing by Patience and Sthe. The girls were extatic about the win, regardless of the goats.

Lots going on!

Well, we have logged in our first week at the orphanage! We have been so busy and we are starting some really neat programs that we are super stoked about! I hope you are too! Here are the main ones:



Maintanance: this will take place in the mornings while the kids are at school. There are 2 kids that are too young to go to school and they are always there to "help out" with our projects.

a few of them are: painting doors, fixing leaky toilets, clearing paths, digging ditches, and much much more.



Tutoring program: A couple of the teenagers are not doing well in school. As of now there is little structure for the kids when they come home from school. Our job to to create some structure for the after school time. There will be tutoring time and other fun activities.



Garden project: There is a garden at the cottages that has been successful in the past. Recently a goat got in and did some damage. Khenani is the teenager who has done most of the work. We will be working with him to plant some new crops and also make a corner of the garden into a place where the younger kids can each have a small plot of their own.



Typing program: There is a computer in the office at the cottages. We have it all set up and working now even with a printer! THere is a typing program that some of the kids have used before. Our job is monitoring the room a and setting up times for people to work on their lessons.



Whewh! We have a lot going on and time seems to fly by!

It is great to have projects that we feel competent in completing!

We have arrived!

We are just getting settled into our new home at the orphanage. We spent the first few nights in Durban at a hostel and took a bus a few hours to the orphange on Friday. First of all the kids are awesome! There are 24 kids total. Most of the kids are older and are in grade school or high school. There are also 3 "moms" that are each in charge of several kids. We have been playing a lot of marbles and soccer and some other fun games that they have taught us using sticks and rocks and whatever else is around. The cottages are bordered on one side by a good size river. Right now it is too low to swim, but the rains with come in the summer and thats when they swim. Today was the kids first day at school. We walked them to school (about 2 miles one way) and now we are spending some time in Estcort where we will pick up supplies for the week.

I will post some pictures soon, but it looks like we will only have access to a computer once a week.