August 22, 2006 – Tuesday

I left Thief River Falls, Minnesota on the early Mesaba Airlink plane to MSP at 6 am.   The long layover in Minneapolis went by rapidly as I wrote thank you notes to donors for the project and did some other planning work in preparation for my work in Swaziland.  I flew on NWA to Amsterdam with another long layover, continuing on to Johannesburg, South Africa arriving the late evening of the 23^rd.  My good friend, Phillip Shapiro met me on   and took me to the Town Lodge Hotel where I had a reservation---the same hotel used last year.  The following morning Phillip picked me up and I spent part of the day with his family.   I had spoken to his wife, Maria, on several occasions, and also met his 4 year old twin boys.  We had a nice lunch and visit then back to the airport for the final leg of the trip to Swaziland where my friend and partner in the project, John Weatherson, met me----55 hours after leaving Thief River.

August 28, 2006 - Monday

I had a good flight and was welcomed by friends in Johannesburg and a big welcome back to Swaziland by John Weatherson when I arrived the evening of the 24th.  You have heard of John before in this project.  Without his guidance and work this project would not have happened.   John invited me to stay in his home which makes it much easier and less costly for me.  It is dark here by 5:30 pm as I am on the bottom end of the "sun zone" and with the end of winter it is still chilly and a jacket feels good.  We have had some rain which is much appreciated as everything is dry over the winter.  In about a week they will be plowing the fields in preparation for planting field crops and also vegetable gardens.

I am definitely having a first class home experience here.  Andrew, John's son,  willed his room to me for the duration.  I am being totally spoiled as John is a gourmet chef---I've never liked cooked cabbage or cooked spinach but the way he prepares it with the sauce and all, I am eating that first!   I am learning a lot about the Swazi people from John along with suggestions and guidance on my mission here.

 I've met many young people here who seek me out just to talk---interesting for me when teens want to visit with me.  I am definitely the GoGo (Grandma) here.  

The children I saw last year have improved in health so much I hardly recognize some of them.  They are happy and active---they have learned to weed a garden and are anxious to show off their skills.  The "farm" has been transformed into a busy little area.   I'll give more detail as time goes on.

 August 29, 2006 - Tuesday

All is going well here.  Was out to the project today and had a meeting with Walter and contractor John Marrengane.  We decided to add a shower on each side of the toilets, one for girls and one for boys.   I am very satisfied with the looks of things.   The workers are putting in the plumbing and finishing the cement work on the toilet area. 

 John M. took me on a tour of the school and it is GREAT.  John has done a great job—professional work all the way.   The painting is next and we chose to follow the scheme of all the schools in the country.  I had hoped the school would be ready to open while I am here but it will be about 2 months off before it is complete with electrical inspection and such.

August 31, 2006 - Thursday

All is going well here, just very busy as I expected it to be.  It seems odd but most of my involvement is not at the project site itself but in other contacts related. 

All is going well and we are accomplishing much although the on site involvement for me is different than I anticipated.  The school is A1---needs the last coat of paint, the wall outlets and doors---and the building for the 4 water tanks etc is much better than I expected---it resembles a small garage but is made of concrete blocks with a steel reinforced cement roof.  We will be plowing new ground and planting a huge garden very soon.  I saw some of the kids and you would not believe the difference from last year.  The girl we called Little Red last year (she always had on the same red cap, shirt and pants), has grown about 10 inches.   I hardly recognized her.

Attended a very different church last Sunday---the pastor is excellent--a real motivator.  They announced many from other countries attending by country but pointed me out with more info---not really needed.  The last Sunday I am here about the 10th I will say a few words at the service.  He and I had a short meeting in his office after the 3 hour service---very nice man.  

Everywhere I go I get people approaching me with hugs and words that include GoGo.  The older people are very respected.  In the city there are so many ramps and slanted walks---John gave me the cane his mother and grandmother used and that has helped a lot.  When I was out at Walters 2 days ago he and the contractor John 2 and I were talking when I saw a line of women (there were over 20) coming in single file from behind Walters house---I asked what it was all about and he said they came to see me to thank me, and they are volunteers to help with preparing and feeding food to children from the surrounding area.  When we finished our business one of the drivers gave me an arm and I hiked thru the rough ground overgrown with waist high grass to go meet the ladies in the shade of the roof of the one day church.  They sat on the ground in a half circle and one of the guys brought a seat for me and one for Walter.  

I thanked the ladies for coming so far to see me and that I thank them for doing the work needed to feed children in many communities.   They are volunteers the same as I am.  I told them a short story of my own life as a child to let them know not everyone in America has had the conveniences many people think---our family got water from the community pump, and the only toilet is what we called an "outhouse".   They were surprised to hear this.  I also told them I have 3 young grandchildren and I want the children of Swaziland to have what my grandchildren have--- adequate food, clothing and shelter in a home with their parents to love, guide and care for them, which leads to the opportunities to grow and learn and have families of their own.   The children of Ngculwini do not have all this but working together, we can give them a better life and opportunities for the future.  This is the motivation for me to work at building the project to be able to help these orphan children who have lost both their parents to AIDS.   We who survive into adulthood must work together to provide for these children and those to come.  In addition, I made it very clear that many people like me who have limited income along with others who are working with more income, have given generously to help plant the gardens, put in the borehole for water, build the school and the other parts of the project.     The women had questions about  the food and schooling and I answered as best I could.  We finished with group pictures and hugs.

September 2, 2006 - Saturday

We had a very busy day today.  Both Andrew and I are beat.  We were up early and John had breakfast for us before we left.  Andrew took lots of pictures for me at the Walter project adjoining area where the kids have been meeting in the past---there were over 100 of ours plus 400 others.  Walter and I had some good time by ourselves to talk about all that is happening regarding the school mostly and the effort they are making to generate money to help them function on into the future.  We covered many subjects in our visit—more than I can cover here.  

September 3, 2006 - Sunday

The annual Reed Dance is going on now so the mobs and roads are crazy every day---was in Mbabane today and the traffic was atrocious coming out to near home.  I'm getting a lot done here in various areas---God always has a plan different from mine!!!!!  You know who knows best.  

Walter had all the kids sit to start a short service with prayer, songs and it was beautiful to listen to---wish I had a tape recording of it.  He then gave them a short talk all in their language and he gave me a short resume of it as he went.  Then he introduced me with song and action by the kids----really neat.  When he told them my age you should have heard their "awe of amazement" sound.  Rather lightened my heart to be so special!!  He explained I was given the name Bonisela which means an older person who has vision of the future---that is just about any older person.  So far I haven't found anyone my age.  I spoke to them about basics of helping each other and learning from the pastor and the ladies who volunteer---how I have three grandchildren and they are loved by Jesus just as the children here today are---You know the rest of my speech----I said goodbye and we will meet again, then Andrew and I left to return to our area with this stopover at the internet cafe and to get a cold drink and catch up with the email.

September 5, 2006 – Tuesday

Andrew and I are just now headed home from Mbabane stopping at Ziggy's internet cafe----very busy day for us both.    I was back at the Ministry of Education working on the school registration.  I appreciate the comments and prayers at church---it takes a bunch of prayer to get things done and makes a difference with me to know that is being done for me.    Thank you all very much.

September 7, 2006 – Thursday

I received a call to return to the Ministry of Education Building in Mbabane to complete work there.  The Minister of Education, The Honorable Constance T. Sisana Similane, called John Weatherson to set up a meeting for 8 September where she and I will discuss and make decisions regarding the school.  She has expressed much interest in the school and has provided books for use as soon as we finish and furnish the building.

September 8, 2006 - Friday

The Minister is not able to make our meeting as she was delayed in Mozambique.  I continue with my work at the project for the day.

September 9, 2006 - Saturday

We receive a phone call at 5 am from Minister Constance saying she arrived home from Mozambique at midnight, and asking that we meet in Mbabane at 9:30 am.   We met and over a cup of tea spent about 40 minutes together.  She was leaving that same evening for meetings in Washington D.C.  I am most appreciative of her spending time with me on this day.   I will write the result of the meeting at a later date.

September 11, 2006 - Monday

Today we make a final visit to the project for this trip.  I see such a change/improvement on the project in the past 3 weeks.   I travel with Joao, the garden expert from Mozambique, and Bethwell, both of whom work for John Weatherson, who take me in their truck to a compound in the southeastern part of the country, between the Hlane Game Reserve and the Bib Bend country, to deliver goods and for me to see an established school compound.   There I see the gardens Joao has planned and helped the people maintain, their watering system, and their feeding kitchen.  The kitchen is most important to me as John has suggested we build a similar feeding kitchen with food storage areas and health care room in our project.   Again, this is much to explain later.  I then return to get my car and meet John M in Mbabane to discuss and agree on the next phase of the project, and to give him another payment of funds received through the gifts of many donors.

September 12, 2006 – Tuesday

 This day I leave Swaziland for Australia.   The morning was hectic as I got the bags packed and the rental car returned to the airport, got checked in and paid the departure fee (yes, you have to pay to get out of the country).   Then Bethwell and Joao took me to Lesco Engineering in Matsapha (a few Kms from the airport).  I completed the deal on the 45 double desks, 90 chairs, 4 teacher's desks, and 4 chairs---we had done a good deal of shopping before deciding on this order.   Then the guys took me back to the airport for quick hugs and thanks and a picture then I am off on the SAA airlink to Johannesburg where my friend, Phillip Shapiro meets me for the 4 hours between flights.   We share information on our missions, each helping the other with ideas as we have lunch.  We manage to negotiate the requirement for a (computer visa) that I don't have.   It was finally resolved when I asked the SAA JNB people to call the Australians to let them know this visa was unknown to us and that my passport showed 4 other entries and exits to Australia.  This took care of it in 10 minutes, then I am off to Perth, continuing on to Brisbane arriving 14 September at 5 am, my friend Ben Kil's birthday.

September 14, 2006 – Thursday

 Ben and Elleanor Kil, friends for many years, met me at the Brisbane airport and on the way home informed me that several friends have lined up a number of meetings, for me to give the Swaziland story of our project and perhaps raise funds to help with finishing the school.  This is good news but I need a nap first!  Two redeye flights in a row are a bit much for anyone.

 September 16-17, 2006 – Saturday.

 Jennifer and Mike Hawley are hosts as I share the Swazi story at their church, St George's Anglican Church in Birkdale, Queensland.   We began with tea which was finger food pot luck and very tasty.  There was a good turnout and much interest as there were many questions.  Ben had prepared a power point presentation to show on the screen as I told of our project and this made it easier for me.  There were three teenagers in the back row, and they came to me afterward and asked if I would speak to their church teen group which I did the next day.   I put the picture of the children on the screen, then asked if the teens had a home to go home to when we finished, whether they had a bed to sleep in when they got home, whether there was food in the house for breakfast before going to school, and whether they had a school to go to.   With the answers "Yes" to all, I had their attention.  I pointed out that the children in the picture had none of these comforts.   I had their total attention as I told the story in terms they would be able to relate to.  It was a joy to spend time with these great kids.  As I left they were still discussing what projects they were going to do to raise money for the children in Ngculwini.

 September 18-27, 2006

 During this time I have had time to rest and visit other friends in the Brisbane area, and to attend church at the Pine River church with Len and Joan Brooks and their family.   It was good to visit that church again to meet friends I have known in past visits.  There were also other meetings to be held and friends to visit.   I particularly enjoyed being in a Dutch Retirement Community.  Being of mostly Dutch ancestry I found being in the Dutch setting to be fun even though I didn't understand those who spoke the Dutch language along with their English.   The 27^th I wired the funds raised by the Australian friends to John Marrengane to go toward the cost of building the school.

 September 28, 2006 – Tuesday

 Ben and Elleanor see me to the airport and we have our last tea and sweets for this time.  I'm off at 11 am to the US by way of a 4 hour layover in Fiji, then on to LAX arriving at 1:30 pm also on September 28---I am like a kid when it comes to the date line—I still get excited to view God's world and His people I have met along the way over the years, and especially this trip.   This is my first around the world trip in one continuous path, a goal I set for myself when I was 8 or 9 years old and my Grandma Van showed me the globe and told me if I studied hard, got a job and saved my money, then I could take this trip.   Thanks Grandma, for the inspiration for this goal and so many others!  Now, it is my firm belief that God wants to continue this mission of His, and I will do what I am able to do with the help of others who help me with gifts of funding, ideas, prayers, and their Best Wishes for the project to help these children in Swaziland who have lost so much---their parents and families.

October 2, 2006 – Monday

 I have been able to visit with friends in Orange county Ca and attend church at the Crystal Cathedral where I met many of my friends from when I lived here.   Some were surprised at my new project---they know I've always had a project of one sort or another!  After 2 doctor appointments in the morning, I took Amtrak to San Diego to visit Jim and Bill, friends I met on the mission trip last year, and who have been partners in the Walter Project.  They took me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday—the 39 ^th!!  We had a good visit, and on Wednesday evening I met about 15 of their friends for dinner.  Jim and Bill have a beautiful home where they hosted a lovely dinner party, followed by my presentation of information on the project for the children of Ngculwini.   In all my presentations of the story I wore a shirt/smock John gave me in Swaziland—it is made of the bright colors of Swaziland with the picture of their flag with the shield and spears of their flag on the back.   Wearing this gave me a feeling of closeness with the children we are all working to provide the opportunities all children deserve. 

I returned to Minnesota late on October 6 arriving in my apartment at 12:15 am the 7^th.  I am happy for safe travel as I was able to complete this mission and look forward to work on this project God gave to me.