I like pie!

Hello everyone, howzit? It’s been a wee bit since I’ve last updated you so I’ll just fill you in with some news.

Last week was Siya and Jakes birthday. Siya is 6 and Jake 4! It’s amazing how time flies!! I remember when Jake first came in here. He was so malnourished and skinny. We used to call him Jake the Rake and he had a permanent purple tongue because of thrush. Purple because that was the colour of the medicine we had to put on his tongue. But now he’s a lean little boy who is full of so much energy! He looks up to Siyabonga so much, it’s kinda scary because Siya gets in a ton of mischief. Those two are going to be a force to reckon with!

Mel, Megan and I went to Siyabonga’s birthday at school. Jake’s teacher didn’t mention his birthday to us so we didn’t go! Poor guy! This past Sunday we Granny and Aunt Daph came by to celebrate. We had lekker cake. I love milk tart! Can we get that in Canadia?! Jake got a superman costume which in permanently stuck to him. Siya got a medal detector. He was all over the place with that thing. Mary and Simon also got some small gifts from mom. Mary got some hair thing and Simon a bow and arrow. Granny also made them some awesome pj’s.
All the kids are doing well. Come January, Siya will be going to primary school. Mary moved up a grade. Simon is doing very well with his occupational therapy and is thriving. Jake is Jake! He has a tendency to make anyone laugh. And he’s a very clever kid too! I already have plenty of stories of the kids, but I will save that when I see you again.

I don’t know if I mentioned this in the last blog (I write my blog entries on word before I post them so I don’t know what I wrote on the previous one) but we got a new volunteer from Canada and it’s been so nice. The stress is just about non existent now. We each have two days off. I usually get one day off cause I have to fetch the kids and take Tazz places. It’s much better than having no time off!!

Ruth is, as Jay and Tazz call it, getting her smile back. We have taken quite a bit of stress off of her, but she is still such a busy woman. I still don’t know how she did it without volunteers here!

Ruth didn’t get as much in the trust fund as she wanted. She applied for R700 000, but only got R200 000.It is still a large sum of money, but not enough to build a house and a nursery. The catch is, she needs proof of funds to build before she can receive the R200 000 and she has till February 2008 to do so. There is a Brazilian volunteer that has hopefully arranged monthly funds for Ruth at the sum of R40 000 for 6 months. Ruth should be finding out soon about that. Continual prayer would be lekker.

The three of us found this awesome church! I haven’t felt this alive in years and quite honestly I didn’t think it was possible again! This church is full of real people and I have no doubt that anyone from any back round would be touched in some way if they attended this church. The pastor is incredible.

Oh before I forget. For those of you who don’t know, Siyabonga has HIV. There was a mishap a couple years ago where his body started rejecting the anti-rets he was taking due to lack of communication. It took awhile for Siya’s body to finally accept a different kind of anti-ret. He about died due to complications. The medication he is taking now is called Ziagen and they are discontinuing it here. It is still available if you order it in, but it may be quite expensive. I’m not too sure of the price yet, but I was wondering if there is anybody out there that is willing to sponsor Siya’s medication? If he discontinues taking Ziagen it may be very difficult to find another one that his body will accept.

So that’s about it. The volunteer car isn’t here yet, but soon, hopefully!! Living in our own flat is heaven and I won’t be getting a job because my days start at 5 am and end at around 7:30/8:00. So that means school will be out of the question for now as well.
Well hope all is well with everything and miss slurpees, especially grape!!
Tons of love!!

Ps. What’s George Saxby’s e-mail addy!?!?!?

Lost me phone

Hey everyone, howzit? Well with lack of sleep this chauch here went shopping and put down her phone when she went to grap the milk or pay for the food. Therefore, it was stolen. The other phone that the ocean got is working, thank God, but I can't get any service. It's just in the shops now so hopefully by next week it will be fixed. I have a new phone number. It is 01127839552867.
Cheers all!!

Cell Number

Hello.. It has come to my attention that I messed up on me cell number.. OK, let's try again. It is 01127737211791.
And things are starting to move. Very soon Sinakekele will be taking in babies. Will update soon! Exciting things are happening!
Ciao

Update for this week, Yo!

Hello everyone! Well I’m sitting here in peace and quite. All the kids are asleep. Well kinda’. Siya and Jake are just sitting wide eyed. Simon doesn’t have naps. So I guess Mary is the only one sleeping.

What’s new? Hmmm.. Well Mel and I finally got our own flat!! It’s a cute little flat about 15 min. away from Ruth’s. The new volunteer will be joining us on Wednesday of this week. It’ll be nice to have a new face around. With a new volunteer comes more time and with more time I will be looking for a job. I have a place in mind. It’s called Olive and Oil. It’s a fancier seafood restaurant. Just can’t get away from the seafood restaurants!! So hopefully in the next couple weeks I will be serving again. Yeah (sacrcasm)! But I’m hoping I won’t be serving for more than 4 months. Why you ask?

Well some land was donated to Ruth. It’s not that big and at first we were not too sure. But after thinking about it, talking about it and getting other input from other people it looks promising. Ruth’s committee has agreed that it’ll be a step forward for Sinakekele. Also Ruth has a very good chance of getting a R 1 000 000 thingy. I can’t think of the word right now!! It’ll be donated to her. That will be more than enough to get things up and running. Who knows, maybe by August Sinakekele will be taking in babies again!! It’ll only be about 6 babies at a time, but that’s all that Sinakekele will be able to accommodate. And, with more babies more volunteers are needed. So if you are interested in volunteering or know of someone who wants to volunteer for a month or perhaps a year, go to the Sinakekele web site that’s posted on the side. We might need you ASAP or perhaps in 6 months.

Umm, what else? Well I went to Unisa (the university I plan on studying at) and I should be receiving my registry in the mail any time now. I have to register on June 5th, but the lovely thing is my landlords husband works at Unisa and she said that he would take in my registry so I wouldn’t have to stand in the queue all day!! Isn’t that just wonderful?!! It’ll be an extensive study of Africa. I’m actually quite excited to get my nose back in the books and the courses look really interesting.
When I was looking at the course it said I can use this degree to be a journalist. When I went to Unisa I told them I was looking at a journalism degree and they said they had no such thing. I told them the course number and they did have it. So I’m a bit confused about what kind of degree I will be obtaining. I’ll find out when I get my registry stuff and talk to the landlord.

So that’s about it. Mel is doing good. Oh and she has her own cell now. So if you want to contact her, her number is 01127738375906.

Rogers or Sasktel

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!

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!

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