Cinder Block Sunday

CINDER BLOCK SUNDAY

I've never seen anything like it.  Walking to church in Ntshongweni, South Africa on April 29 I saw 6 men working.  Well, actually only 3 were doing any type of physical labor, the other 3 were dressed nicely, I suppose for church.

They were making cinder blocks FROM SCRATCH!  

I asked what the  cinder blocks were needed for and they said they were going to build a one room HOUSE!

Here is the recipe... mix in large hole mix, 1 part sand; 1 part cement; 1 part water.

Adding the water.  Now remember that there is no faucet on this plot of land so any and all water had to be hauled to this location.

One white bucket of water.

   The tool: one shovel.

Mix in wheelbarrow

Fill the form with the mixture, making sure it is the correct consistency.  In giving me instructions, they stressed that it had to be the correct consistency.   Ah Okay, I'll remember that next time I mix up the ingredients for cinder blocks.

It only took a few minutes in the form before he turned it over and set the still wet, newly formed cinder block with the rest of them.  See the stick behind him??? He used it to level off the top, like using a knife over a measuring cup of flour.

The form has two pieces - off comes #1.

Off comes #2.

Two were mixing at the hole and one was filling the form, turning them over and taking the form off.  Licky split.

Of course they wanted a photo.  I went to the local camera shop in Hillcrest, where I live, and printed 6 copies of this picture... they will be thrilled.

He seemed to be the ring leader - or most probably he just had the best English and thus was left to explain everything to me.  The best part is that this home is being built directly across the dirt road from my church.  It will so fun to watch it go from the cinder block building phase to completion.  I promise to blog the whole event.  Things don't happen very fast here in Africa and I only have 9 more months here so I hope to see a completed project.  

What fun to welcome the family to our area and pray a blessing over their new home.  Praying that this home be filled with joy, love and the presence of Jesus Christ.

 "My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,
    in secure homes, 
    in undisturbed places of rest."

Isaiah 32:18

Volunteering at Ntshongweni Primary School

Volunteering at the local elementary school on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Understaffed and inadequate in every possible way, Ntshongweni Primary school welcomed six hard-working volunteers to help sort and number their teacher books for the beginning of the new school year.

In South Africa  the new school year begins in January.

We worked outside on the stage of the amphitheater.

View down to the upper grade classrooms. The primary schools are Grace R to 7th.

View up to the lower grade classrooms.

Side view of the lower grade classrooms.

The children get a 40 minute break mid-morning and were so happy to see us.  We knew several of the children from the community.

Julia as happy to see the children as they were to see her.

No playground, no balls, no toys.  Only a tree to play on.

All the children have to wear the distinctive uniform for their school.  If they can't afford to purchase one ~ you can't go to school.

The African people love to get their pictures taken.

From the top of this hill, the 36 houses built by Habitat for Humanity and the Lutheran church are visible. These homes are for the orphans that are entrusted to our care.

This school was donated by the adjacent Catholic School.  These building sit empty and unused.

Ntshongweni Mountain.  Hillcrest, where we live is beyond this mountain and we have to drive up and around it everyday.

I have no idea how many children attend this primary school. This is one of three for Ntshongweni.  All three feed into the high school 8 -12 grade.

Drinking fountain.  Remember our seasons are reversed so January is summer and HOT.

Typical classroom.  When was the last time you saw chalk?

I'm peeking in the door with my camera.

This was heart breaking, we noticed that our numbers were down at our creche (preschool).  The public schools started offering free class for Grade R (Kindergarten).  40+ wee ones were crammed into this long, narrow hallway.  Some use to attend our creche.  Our creches' fee is 100 Rand a month ($12.00).

We offer a nutritious lunch everyday, here the children are getting beans in whatever container they brought from home.

Julia know this little one.

Drinking fountain...

View down to the amphitheater. 

I'm taking this shot through the open window.

Katelyn and meeeeeeeeee

Ntshongweni Mountain 

Ntshongweni mountain and the orphan houses

Glad to see that they are being taught something.  The students don't get text books, only the teachers do.

This school is next to the Catholic Private School, here is a nun.  Remember it's summer and the umbrella is to keep the hot sun off.

Classrooms

Back to work, sorting and numbering books. Left Ginger - Right Katelyn.

The whole gang: (L) me, Ginger, Evelyn a visitor from Germany who worked with us for 10 days, Allison from America who worked with us for several weeks, Katelyn, Julia.

Most classrooms have these wooden desks were several students sit together.  I don't know where most of the students are... Most classrooms have at least 40 students.

Me and the boys

Clover is the daily product manufacture

Children bought treats from the local ladies.

Local women set up shop to sell to both the Catholic school and Ntshongweni Primary school children.

The security guard.

The security guards office.

The gate to enter both schools.

Time to go home. Pastor Thwala joined us in the afternoon (far left.)

The view from the school gate, so beautiful.  With 6 volunteers we got everything the principal wanted done and we had a blast.  May God bless this school, its staff and students.  The love of Jesus was demonstrated by our willing hearts to help in anyway we could to this school.