Arriving at the Venda Villages (February 22, 2015)

Arriving at our Venda Villages in a smoldering 

heat of over 100 degrees, we immediately 

contacted Edison, principal of Tshikuyu primary

School where we administer to many orphans. 

Wayne, CJ and I worked with Edison to identify

children who needed shoes.

He is a selfless man, never asking for himself. 

We presented  Edison and the teachers with 

 gifts and they were over joyed for such a small

 kindness. These dear teachers give so much 

to help these at risk children get an education. 

We are all painfully aware it is the only hope to

escape the bleak fate of poverty. 

42 children were identified who had no hope of
getting a pair of shoes. Though this area exists
In deep poverty as a way of life, fate has
Cruelly plunged them even deeper. Recently,
the local coal mine closed, and 2,000 of the
Venda people have lost their jobs. Since each
working person supports 7 - 20
dependents,
this has devastated the area.

HHTH has been working to relieve suffering for
over 3 years now. God has lead us here, so we
stay focused on what we CAN do, and
not on the immensity of the poverty. Many of
you reading this Blog have faithfully supported
helping these villages. YOU have done more
than you can ever imagine. Each thing we do,
each child who get shoes, school supplies or
clothing multiplies our gratitude for you.

Alanna, CJ's granddaughter is drawing the feet
of the children who need shoes.  She and Zoie -
not seen, are our great granddaughters.
They are deeply Involved in helping us to work
with the Venda). Alanna is 14 and Zoie is 12.
CJ Is home schooling the girls as we journey
Across South Africa.  They hearts are full of
compassion for the needs and children love
to crowd around them because they almost
never see a white child. Zoie and Alanna are
getting an education that far exceeds what
they would have gotten in a typical class
room. Alanna's comment after this event,
"This is the happiest I have been since the
6th grade."

Reaching beyond our own world truly makes
us a bigger person and fills our soul with
peace.  

Working in a Bush downpour.
It is exotic to experience an African storm. And
They so badly needed to break the heat, if only for
a day.

We went into Bende Mutale and the children
ran to us right away because they knew we
would have suckers for them. We also checked
on one of the chicken projects from 2013. There
were still live chickens!!

Then we took the torturous road into a time
warp and arrived at our smallest village of
Bileni. And another wonderful surprise greeted
us. The garden we had helped them put is was
still thriving. Maurice Thikolelwi Mdua, the
young man who coordinated the workers who
Created this garden had told the parents of the
Creche children, "These are not my kids. This
is not MY garden. You must not let it collapse.
Your children, not mine will be hungry."  They
have "learned to fish" on this one!!