Hello everyone. Got a question.. I have a bunch of you on my phone and i've tried to sms, but those who go through Sasktel won't be able to recieve my sms's. So I was just wondering if you could e-mail me or just put a comment on here if you go through Sasktel or Rogers. Rogers works.
Thanks..
As Mel would say,
PEACE OUT!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Ruth
Here's a picture of the Grobler family. I am just writing an entry about a day in the life of Ruth in a wee bit of detail. It is hard to understand how much she has sacrificed unless you have been here personally to see her work towards her passion.
These last couple weeks have been very trying for Mel and I. We live with the family 24/7 and one day off that consists of three hours to the mall or to the beach. Space is limited and I find myself going outside at night after the children are asleep to take a breath of air. But what I have experienced this last month is absolutely nothing compared to what Ruth has been experiencing for the last 4 years.
Around 5:30 I will insert my foam earplugs to muffle out the waking of the house. First Ruth is awake and Jake is soon to follow. You can hear him with his high pitched voice calling out, “mommy, mommy may I have some tea?” Not too soon after is Mary. She’s relatively quite. But once 6 am comes around Siyabonga needs to be woken up to take his anti-rets, Jake joining him for his morning cocktail. By this time the earplugs don’t do much because now I can hear teenage voices yelling every demand to their mother. Ruth relentlessly gives in. With the chaos of getting the kids dressed, hair done, lunches done, breakfast and not forgetting herself, I finally stagger out of bed (readint this back I should actaully get up and help!) to drive Ruth and the kids to work. If it is raining, Jay will need a ride to school because he has been in two accidents driving his bike in the rain.
Many of you know I am not a morning person. I have to endure four children and two screaming teenagers at 7am. I look forward to dropping off the last of them so I can have peace and quite with Ruth. It takes about another half hour to drive Ruth to work. I drop her off and turn up the music for my 30/45 minute journey back to 2 Wager Ave. From 8:30 to around 1 pm the house is nice and quite. Just Mel, Thandi (the maid) and moi. Unless it’s a holiday in which the kids will stay at home and a 6 hour day turns to a 12 hours day. The last two weeks have been a holiday and as of now the car is broken so the wee ones can’t get to school, therefore they are at home.
12:30 comes around and I have to go fetch the wee ones from school. They usually fall asleep by the time I get back home, very nice! They nap till around 3, maybe a wee bit earlier. When 3 hits that’s where I have to be creative to keep them busy. I am seriously lacking in productivity when it comes to keeping them occupied. When Mel and I first came we were all gung ho and ready to play sport with them, colour, you name it. One month here and all interest in activity is gone.
So we try to keep them entertained till around 4/4:30 then send them off to the bath. Believe it or not I actually have been cooking dinner each night. While they are bathing I cook dinner for them and Mel keeps an eye on them so they don’t get the floors completely wet, wee in a cup or on the floor (boys will be boys!!!), or stop them from fighting. They usually stay in the tub till around 5 and usually dinner is ready by then. If not I will just turn the television on to keep them from running the house down. Usually works for only Simon and sometimes Jake. I finally get dinner ready and they’re usually very good at the table while they eat. 6 o’clock comes around and it’s time again for Siya and Jakes cocktails. Ruth will usually walk in around that time.
So she’s already had a 12 hour day and I promise you as soon as she steps into the house all the kids, including the teenagers, latch on to her like a bee to honey. Something triggers in Jake and he starts to wine. Justin and Taz are demanding something. Simon starts to wine. Yhew!! I thought the mornings were bad! So she tries her hardest to give attention to her 6 children and relax from her long day. I don’t think she ever has time to relax!
7 pm comes around and it’s bedtime for the wee ones. They have to make a wee before they go to bed and that can be a challenge sometimes. Their bedroom is one big bedroom that they share with their mother. Ruth will usually settle them in with a book. You will hear little whispers and sometimes yelling for about an hour until silence comes across. Ahhhhh!!! So it’s usually about 8 pm. Finally things start to settle in the house. The teenagers are winding down and Ruth will usually spend time with them till around 9. After 9 sometimes 10 she will get her laptop and do Sinakekele business. It is the only time that she get check her e-mails, check property, banking, all the things that one would do during the day or on the weekend. Around 11/12 she crawls into bed with Mary and catches about 5/6 hours of sleep till she starts her day again.
Her weekends consists of trying to organize the house and catch up on things that she has left for so long. With the kids running around it’s hard to get things done because they get into everything!!
If you don’t know the house that Ruth is renting out right now has been put up for sale so she’s on the look out to purchase property. If that doesn’t work out, she’s got to rent another house. One Sunday after a two day weekend to herself, she came back home to some problems. The same day she had to look at property and then return home to a barking teenager. I have never seen her break down, but that day she broke down.
For four years now this is what Ruth has been dealing with. No breaks in sight, no long term support in her grasp. I’ve convinced myself if this was anyone else they would’ve quit by now. I know I would’ve. I know I’m already considered it and I’ve only been here for less than a month. But I have to go back and remember why I’m here and why she’s doing what she’s doing.
Ruth was telling me that we have to put our heads together to get some funding in. I mentioned to her the only way you’re going to start getting regular support is to start taking in babies in again and adopting them out internationally. TLC (a home for abandoned babies in Johannesburg) gets about %80 of their funds internationally, most of it being from families that have adopted from TLC. So I’m thinking that would be the best thing to do to get regular funding. No response.
The next morning while driving to work she said she needs to start taking in babies again! Yes!! So she now has set goals. She needs to get a bigger space. A house for her family and a flat for the volunteers. Next goal is to have at least two babies at Sinakekele by August.
Now is the time to move. She’s ready to move. We’re all eager to get going!!!!! I’m feeling very optimistic, anxious, excited and again, very eager!! I’m sure the next few months will be full of big changes for me, Mel and Sinakekele. Keep us all in your thoughts and especially your prayers!! Till next time!
These last couple weeks have been very trying for Mel and I. We live with the family 24/7 and one day off that consists of three hours to the mall or to the beach. Space is limited and I find myself going outside at night after the children are asleep to take a breath of air. But what I have experienced this last month is absolutely nothing compared to what Ruth has been experiencing for the last 4 years.
Around 5:30 I will insert my foam earplugs to muffle out the waking of the house. First Ruth is awake and Jake is soon to follow. You can hear him with his high pitched voice calling out, “mommy, mommy may I have some tea?” Not too soon after is Mary. She’s relatively quite. But once 6 am comes around Siyabonga needs to be woken up to take his anti-rets, Jake joining him for his morning cocktail. By this time the earplugs don’t do much because now I can hear teenage voices yelling every demand to their mother. Ruth relentlessly gives in. With the chaos of getting the kids dressed, hair done, lunches done, breakfast and not forgetting herself, I finally stagger out of bed (readint this back I should actaully get up and help!) to drive Ruth and the kids to work. If it is raining, Jay will need a ride to school because he has been in two accidents driving his bike in the rain.
Many of you know I am not a morning person. I have to endure four children and two screaming teenagers at 7am. I look forward to dropping off the last of them so I can have peace and quite with Ruth. It takes about another half hour to drive Ruth to work. I drop her off and turn up the music for my 30/45 minute journey back to 2 Wager Ave. From 8:30 to around 1 pm the house is nice and quite. Just Mel, Thandi (the maid) and moi. Unless it’s a holiday in which the kids will stay at home and a 6 hour day turns to a 12 hours day. The last two weeks have been a holiday and as of now the car is broken so the wee ones can’t get to school, therefore they are at home.
12:30 comes around and I have to go fetch the wee ones from school. They usually fall asleep by the time I get back home, very nice! They nap till around 3, maybe a wee bit earlier. When 3 hits that’s where I have to be creative to keep them busy. I am seriously lacking in productivity when it comes to keeping them occupied. When Mel and I first came we were all gung ho and ready to play sport with them, colour, you name it. One month here and all interest in activity is gone.
So we try to keep them entertained till around 4/4:30 then send them off to the bath. Believe it or not I actually have been cooking dinner each night. While they are bathing I cook dinner for them and Mel keeps an eye on them so they don’t get the floors completely wet, wee in a cup or on the floor (boys will be boys!!!), or stop them from fighting. They usually stay in the tub till around 5 and usually dinner is ready by then. If not I will just turn the television on to keep them from running the house down. Usually works for only Simon and sometimes Jake. I finally get dinner ready and they’re usually very good at the table while they eat. 6 o’clock comes around and it’s time again for Siya and Jakes cocktails. Ruth will usually walk in around that time.
So she’s already had a 12 hour day and I promise you as soon as she steps into the house all the kids, including the teenagers, latch on to her like a bee to honey. Something triggers in Jake and he starts to wine. Justin and Taz are demanding something. Simon starts to wine. Yhew!! I thought the mornings were bad! So she tries her hardest to give attention to her 6 children and relax from her long day. I don’t think she ever has time to relax!
7 pm comes around and it’s bedtime for the wee ones. They have to make a wee before they go to bed and that can be a challenge sometimes. Their bedroom is one big bedroom that they share with their mother. Ruth will usually settle them in with a book. You will hear little whispers and sometimes yelling for about an hour until silence comes across. Ahhhhh!!! So it’s usually about 8 pm. Finally things start to settle in the house. The teenagers are winding down and Ruth will usually spend time with them till around 9. After 9 sometimes 10 she will get her laptop and do Sinakekele business. It is the only time that she get check her e-mails, check property, banking, all the things that one would do during the day or on the weekend. Around 11/12 she crawls into bed with Mary and catches about 5/6 hours of sleep till she starts her day again.
Her weekends consists of trying to organize the house and catch up on things that she has left for so long. With the kids running around it’s hard to get things done because they get into everything!!
If you don’t know the house that Ruth is renting out right now has been put up for sale so she’s on the look out to purchase property. If that doesn’t work out, she’s got to rent another house. One Sunday after a two day weekend to herself, she came back home to some problems. The same day she had to look at property and then return home to a barking teenager. I have never seen her break down, but that day she broke down.
For four years now this is what Ruth has been dealing with. No breaks in sight, no long term support in her grasp. I’ve convinced myself if this was anyone else they would’ve quit by now. I know I would’ve. I know I’m already considered it and I’ve only been here for less than a month. But I have to go back and remember why I’m here and why she’s doing what she’s doing.
Ruth was telling me that we have to put our heads together to get some funding in. I mentioned to her the only way you’re going to start getting regular support is to start taking in babies in again and adopting them out internationally. TLC (a home for abandoned babies in Johannesburg) gets about %80 of their funds internationally, most of it being from families that have adopted from TLC. So I’m thinking that would be the best thing to do to get regular funding. No response.
The next morning while driving to work she said she needs to start taking in babies again! Yes!! So she now has set goals. She needs to get a bigger space. A house for her family and a flat for the volunteers. Next goal is to have at least two babies at Sinakekele by August.
Now is the time to move. She’s ready to move. We’re all eager to get going!!!!! I’m feeling very optimistic, anxious, excited and again, very eager!! I’m sure the next few months will be full of big changes for me, Mel and Sinakekele. Keep us all in your thoughts and especially your prayers!! Till next time!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Wee update...
Hello everyone. We’ll I guess I should update on what’s going on here in Durban. Are you ready for the excitement?!?!?! Are ya? Are ya? Well not too much!! I won’t be posting any pictures on this post because I didn’t realize that Ruth gets charged by how much MB, etc. she sends out. She doesn’t get charged hourly, so I’ll be keeping it to words for now.
The kids are kids. They are keeping us on our feet!! They are on their second week of holiday and will be back to school next week. Whoo hoo!!!
Last week Ruth, Mel and I looked at some property. It is 5.5 acres and it only cost’s about $100 000 Canadian! And it also has a house on it. It is about 20 min. from Umhlanga, so it’s not too far from the beach!! So keep that in your prayers because absolutely everyone is ready and anxious to move forward and get Sinakekele going again!!
Also some good news. Carolyn, a previous volunteer from Switzerland, had a fundraiser concert for Ruth. Actually it was her brother. They raised about 5 500 Swiss Franks!! Sorry if I called the currency the wrong thing!! The Blake family are starts!!! And the other bands that played for free! And Carolyn is planning on coming in August for a visit!! So with that money Ruth will be purchasing a volunteer car which will take a load off of Ruth. I’ll take you for a cruise in your car Carolyn:o) Maybe you could drive;o)
Oh, we’ve been going to the beach once in awhile. I’ll tell you a little story. A few weeks ago a HUGE wave washed in shore knocking businesses, trees, etc. down. When the tide receded it brought with it raw sewage as well. So when Mel and I went down to the beach the lifeguard told us there was a breakout of Hepatitis in the water. I asked what kind because I got my Hep. A and B shots. That didn’t stop us from going in. We both feel just fine. A few minutes later Mel came up to me and asked were the hippopotamus’s are. I thought I had problems with accents!! HAHAHA.
Oh and there’s another funny thing that happened at German customs. I got my stamp in my passport and I was waiting for Mel outside of customs. When she came out I told her the customs person wanted me. Mel proceeded on telling me that he was pretty hot but little did she know he was a women. Hehehe. That also happened in Joburg. I could tell you about many Mel moments. She keeps me smiling.
So that’s about all that’s going on now. Oh yeah, I got a phone!! So if you ever want to grab a call card and give me or Mel a ring, my number is 0112773211791. Catch up soon!
Ciao!
ps. It was just brought to my attention that I said we went around Dublin. Sorry I think we were in Belfest. My bad! And I might have spelled Belfast wrong.
p.s.s My sinakekele e-mail is finally up and running, so if you were trying to e-mail me before it wouldn't of come through. So that one again is cindee@sinakekele.org.za
The kids are kids. They are keeping us on our feet!! They are on their second week of holiday and will be back to school next week. Whoo hoo!!!
Last week Ruth, Mel and I looked at some property. It is 5.5 acres and it only cost’s about $100 000 Canadian! And it also has a house on it. It is about 20 min. from Umhlanga, so it’s not too far from the beach!! So keep that in your prayers because absolutely everyone is ready and anxious to move forward and get Sinakekele going again!!
Also some good news. Carolyn, a previous volunteer from Switzerland, had a fundraiser concert for Ruth. Actually it was her brother. They raised about 5 500 Swiss Franks!! Sorry if I called the currency the wrong thing!! The Blake family are starts!!! And the other bands that played for free! And Carolyn is planning on coming in August for a visit!! So with that money Ruth will be purchasing a volunteer car which will take a load off of Ruth. I’ll take you for a cruise in your car Carolyn:o) Maybe you could drive;o)
Oh, we’ve been going to the beach once in awhile. I’ll tell you a little story. A few weeks ago a HUGE wave washed in shore knocking businesses, trees, etc. down. When the tide receded it brought with it raw sewage as well. So when Mel and I went down to the beach the lifeguard told us there was a breakout of Hepatitis in the water. I asked what kind because I got my Hep. A and B shots. That didn’t stop us from going in. We both feel just fine. A few minutes later Mel came up to me and asked were the hippopotamus’s are. I thought I had problems with accents!! HAHAHA.
Oh and there’s another funny thing that happened at German customs. I got my stamp in my passport and I was waiting for Mel outside of customs. When she came out I told her the customs person wanted me. Mel proceeded on telling me that he was pretty hot but little did she know he was a women. Hehehe. That also happened in Joburg. I could tell you about many Mel moments. She keeps me smiling.
So that’s about all that’s going on now. Oh yeah, I got a phone!! So if you ever want to grab a call card and give me or Mel a ring, my number is 0112773211791. Catch up soon!
Ciao!
ps. It was just brought to my attention that I said we went around Dublin. Sorry I think we were in Belfest. My bad! And I might have spelled Belfast wrong.
p.s.s My sinakekele e-mail is finally up and running, so if you were trying to e-mail me before it wouldn't of come through. So that one again is cindee@sinakekele.org.za
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
