Sunday Church Services at JL Zwane
Today was another great opportunity to celebrate with our family in South
Africa. We attended church services this morning and we were able to renew many of our relationships. This particular celebration is the community\'s opportunity to raise much needed funds for their various ministries. The congregation divides in 18 zones and works all year long to raise funds. Competition is fierce and the celebration is joyful. It is amazing to celebrate with a community that has such passion for their church. One zone at a time is called forward to present their gifts. They come forward singing, dancing and dressed in their "Sunday best".
ArmInArmInAfrica otherwise known as "Zone 19" to the local congregation were honored to present a new communion set to the Pastor, Rev. Spiwo Xapile. Our celebration ended as Rev. James Cassidy extended a prayer and blessing on our continued relationship with this faith community.
In the afternoon we had learned of the recent death of the mother of one of our former drivers. The family had began to gather at the home in preparation for the funeral which will be a week from now. There will be a daily vigil with multiple groups of family and friends coming to the home each day prior the funeral. This custom of providing support at the time of the death is highly valued in this culture. It was important for us to spend some time with our friend a this time of loss in his life.
As this Sunday ends we would like to extend our appreciation to our family back home in the US for their continued support and prayer.
Jim Cassidy, Pat Murphy, Jimmy Dunn, Linda Tally, Julie Vogl, Mary Shield
The Challenge of Health Care and the Celebration of Children Our day began by visiting Brown\'s Farm Clinic. The clinic is a government supported primary health care provider for adults in the surrounding townships. The Director of Nursing is our friend, Zethu Xapile, wife of Rev. Spiwo Xapile. This has been our 10th visit to the clinic and we have seen considerable progress. In the earlier years of our visiting the clinic was built by welding shipping containers together to form a structure. Today the people enjoy and benefit a two year old structure that strives to meet the health care needs of the community. On average there are 200 individuals seen daily by a relatively small staff compared to US standards. AIAIA was able to deliver much needed medical supplies and learned their budget ran out the first of February with no government funding available until the first of April.
We were able to celebrate the gift of children by visiting two local daycare centers, otherwise known as a "creche". We spent time with the Directors and their staff. Families are expected to pay $10.00 per month and this is the total budget of the daycare centers. The average attendance at daycare is 75-100 children per day. We were honored once again to be able to provide teddy bears given to us by the Mother Bear Program, a non-profit located in Minnesota. A special joy this year was to be able to provide 50 young girls with a new sun dress sewn and designed by an 89 year old woman who lives on a farm in the St. Cloud area. The delight of the young girls was a gift for a lifetime.
Tomorrow we leave for the Eastern Cape and it is uncertain as to Internet accessibility. In the event we are not able to connect again, we would like to thank you for joining us in our journey in South Africa and look forward to sharing more when we get home!
Peace and Love,
Rev. James Cassidy, Jimmy Dunn, Pat Murphy, Mary Shields, Linda Tally, Julie Vogl
Today\'s journey involved three different adventures.
Mary & Linda\'s Day
We went with caregivers from St. Luke\'s Hospice to visit home-bound patients living with end-stages diseases such as HIV, diabetes and TB. The Hospice caregivers provide daily bathing, massage and family support. One of the households we visited include Veronica and her husband both living with HIV and being cared for by their 24 year old son. Veronica was too weak to get out of bed. Her son reports she had stopped her medicine for TB because of the bad side effects. They were a warm and welcoming family and they were honored to have visiting nurses from the USA. Benjamen is a 46 year old man with end stage AIDS living with his sister in a tiny shack. His legs were too weak to bare weight. Aides bathed him and we gave him a massage. He was so grateful for the soothing touch and thanked us many times.
Julie and Jimmy
Edwin, an Administrator from JL Zwane joined us on our journey to Tembaletu School, the only black school for the physically disabled in the Western Cape. The enrollment of 189 learners, includes disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spinal injury, polio, HIV/AIDS and personal injury. One of the difficulties the principal faces is transportation. Some learners travel up to 180 miles one way to attend school. A future goal is to build a boarding facility providing greater care. While they are government supported they still struggle financially to provide sufficient staffing, daily meals and learning devices for non-communicative pupils. Our tour included meeting the schools professional staff: Physical Therapist, Psychologist, Social Worker and School Nurse. Even with this dedicated school some families in the community are unaware of this schools existence. We concluded our tour by visiting a classroom that taught Xhosa, English, basic skills and art. As a remembrance of our visit we purchased artwork from the class
Jim & Pat
Pastoral Home Visits
Jim and Pat joined Reveral Spiwo Xapile and Johanna, a pastoral minister for home visits. We were welcomed by Mr. & Mrs. Dulane. It was interesting to hear of their years together including the years through Apartheid. We were able to celebrate prayer and holly communion as a group. It was obvious through their tears and very loving smiles they they were extremely appreciative of being able to share this time with two American and their own pastor. The husband expressed the fact that never in his lifetime did he expect to see a white minister in his home. 
Our next visit was with an elderly woman named Violet. Violet is no longer able to attend church services due to a hip fracture.Violet shared, in vivid detail, her years of working as a Domestic in the white African community. Violet is a living example of the best of Truth and Reconciliation after Apartheid officially ended.
Again our time was blessed by communion and shared prayer. Emily is a 90+ year old African woman who welcomed us with "Open Arms". Frail and losing her sight she continues to embrace each day with a continued interest in her world. She lives with her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter. As we celebrated communion once again, we were reminded of the beautiful and diverse faces of being the Body of Christ.
We have been blessed!
Saturday in South Africa...today was a day of contrasts. Our day started with a trip to Table Mountain. The top of the mountain affords a beautiful view of Capetown, the ocean, and Robben Island. At times we walked through the clouds. From there we went to the cemetery in Guguletu. Saturday is funeral day for adults and it brings hundreds of mourners to say good-bye to their loved ones. Many funerals are going on at any one time. The singing, prayers, and music make it a very inspiring and soulful place to be.
Our next stop is the Sisters of Charity home run by the Missionaries of Sister of Charity order founded by mother Theresa. Here, homeless adults and children are provided food, shelter, and medicine. For many it is the last home they will know. For others it is a chance to regain their heath and return to their communities. This saying found on the wall at the home says it all: "Holiness is not the luxury of the few, but a simple duty for you and me." Mother Theresa Back in our van we headed to the harvest festival at Spier Winery. We were entertained by great big-band era music, grape stompers, and a wonderful picnic lunch on the grounds.
This was followed by a brief trip to Stellenbosch, home of one of South Africa\'s largest universities. Our day was topped off with a wonderful dinner on the waterfront with Spiwo and Zethu. A great evening with our special friends! Tomorrow morning we are off to our yearly visit to the J.L. Zwane Presbyterian church to celebrate and pray with our South African family.
Your South Africa Travelers, Jim Cassidy, Linda Tally, Mary Sheilds, Jimmy Dunn, Pat Murphy, Julie Vogl
The journey continues.....
Today we visited the Guguletu Senior Centre. Seniors from around the Cape Town area came together to celebrate in a Music Festival. We met the new Director, Elizabeth for the first time. The Centre provides an opportunity for seniors to come together for socialization, support and to share a meal. The seniors proudly shared songs from the Xhosa heritage.
Over the last 10 years we have had the experience and honor to meet some of South Africa\'s most courageous men and women who live every day with HIV/AIDS. Today was no exception.
Lydia, age 50 has been HIV positive for 19 years, having become infected through a blood transfusion. Her HIV status did not become known until her son Nathan became sick and she learned they were both infected. Lydia has become shunned and shamed by her family. We joined Lydia and her son in her one room shanty where she struggles to maintain a life for herself and her son with the love and support of JL Zwane. Lydia\'s primary concern at this time, as Fall and Winter and the rainy season approaches, is to keep themselves warm and dry. Their roof leaks and the low lying township flood in the Winter.
We were so moved by their situation AIAIA has made a commitment to improve their living conditions. Lydia also struggles with breast cancer and her son is no longer a candidate for AIDS medication. Nathan is not expected to live more than 2 years.
Our day continued at a stop at Stormont School. A community based education program, (non-government supported). The school is built of metal shipping containers. We spent time with the Principal and learned of her day to day challenges: providing daily affordable meals to the students, no textbooks or supplies, classroom size of 55 pupils, children sharing chairs, no playground. All run on $1.50 per student, per year tuition and 25% of population cannot afford this. The teachers sometimes go 3 months without salary and receive no back-pay. This is one of the poorest of the poor neighborhoods. Despite its hardships and challenges the community values education in order to break the cycle of poverty. AIAIA has, in a similar situation, helped with the Rainbow School, in the JL Zwane Centre.
In the afternoon AIAIA bought and delivered food to Nomanpha, a 27 year old woman, living with HIV/AIDS and complications from a stroke. She lives in an 8 x 10 single room with her 8 year old, her mother, also a stroke victim and her 8 brothers.
Contrary to what you just read, this was not a day of extremes for the people in the Townships but represents their every day challenges. The gift we continue to receive is the joy and gratitude that is profoundly seen in the faces of our family.
Jim Cassidy, Pat Murphy, Julie Vogl, Mary Shield, Jimmy Dunn, Linda Tally
We have arrived safely in Capetown with everything and everyone in good shape, ready to connect with our family in the Cape Town area.
Our first day began with Rev. Spiwo Xapilie at JL Zwane Center located in Guguletu, a black township 20 minutes from Cape Town, population 360,000. Siyaya, a signing group from JL Zwane, performed at the Monkey Biz Market Day in the township Khayelitsha, a weekly event. Monkey Biz is an economic empowerment program for women, who create beaded works of art in their homes while caring for the many HIV/AIDS patients /orphans. At Market Day, the artwork is exchanged for funds that go directly into their bank account. The day includes a meal provided by Opens Arms of MN.
Our next stop was Philani (which means "good health" in Xhosa) Nutrition Center, where women from in and around the townships make handwoven handbags, rugs and wall hangings. An on site day care focuses on child health and nutrition and enables the Mother\'s to have child care while they work.
AIAIA would like to acknowledge the good work of Open Arms of MN and celebrate the partnership we share in South Africa. We extend an invitation to you to participate in yet another shared event between Arm In Arm In Africa and Open Arms of MN on our Dusk to Dawn (D2D) walk and fundraiser on September 26, 2009. For more information go to dusk2dawn.org.
Your South Africa Travelers,
Jim Cassidy, Pat Murphy, Linda Tally, Mary Shields, Jimmy Dunn, Julie Vogl
