Children's Camp in Hibberdine -- this time we participated!



We were able to spend one afternoon of the two-day children's camp. These under-priviledged kids are bussed in from Durban, and some from further out. some are orphans, others just very, very poor, and otherwise would certainly never have an opportunity like this--to enjoy three nice big meals a day, lots of activities and fun, a big swimming pool, and just lots of caring attention directed towards them.


Jim was invovled in the first part of the program, as he brought a guitar and helped with the sing-song -- which the kids just loved! (He is on the far right here)





I, June, had the blessing of teaching 20 of the younger ones, from age 6-8 or so, a little devotional class. They were so eager, attentive, and just plain wonderful! I don't know that I've ever taught such an appreciative and excited group of kids! They were just so fun, so cute, so sweet and precious! You just want to put some of them in your pocket and bring them home!


I did that true story for them of "Change the World," about the guy who was on a walking tour, and met the old man who walked everywhere planting nuts in this large deforested part of France. Villages were deserted, animals gone, no vegitation. The old man just had the faith and vision that if he just kept on planting those nuts, one day it would make a difference to someone, even if he didn't see it in his lifetime. But lo and behold, 20 years later, the young man came back to the area and it was completely changed - people had come back to the villages, there were forests, animals and birds, and life had returned--one man had changed the world just by his simple and faithful daily acts of planting seeds!

Oh, the girl on the right in the pink on the stage, and the guy next to me translated everything into Zulu, as many of the children don't speak English. They did an excellent job of translating!




Anway, so after the story, Jim was the old man (with a pool cue for a staff!) , and the kids were the nuts. He would take them one at a time, and make them curl up in a little ball on the floor. Then he would water the "ground" and the little kids would spring up and hold up their "branches" high and get real happy and excited! They were just so cute! When first asked if THEY could change the world, they said no. Then we did a little excercise where we would all smile at one child, and there was no way that one could hold back their smile! They really could change their little part of the world! Well, that was it -- it was really fun, and I do hope they remember it! I think they will.




Praying with me after the story:



I was really touched when I heard after we had left that some of the little kids had been asking for me! (wah! I wanted to go back right away!)

We actually watched the movie, "The Constant Gardener" last night, and you see those children in there, how excited and animated they get, and what beautiful big smiles they have -- their whole being just smiles! I would most certainly recommend the movie, though it's certainly not light entertainment, by any means. It's actually heartbreaking, makes you mad at the way things are, and for me, made me just want to get in there and make a difference in some way -- just do something to help people have a better life!

Ok, that was digressing a bit, but I was really impressed with that movie, and the few clips where you could see the people of Africa dancing, singing, enjyoing life, and the children just so full of enthusiasm -- that's just the way it is! I just love 'em!

These kids, one after the other, wanted us to take their pictures! They do some cute little pose, and we'd shoot, and they'd run up to see themselves in the camera. So cute!



Oh, and an interesting thing happened -- while we were there a reporter showed up from a major Durban newspaper to do a story on the Children's Home to try to raise support for some needed rennovations! In this case, for the large swimming pool:







The reporter had arranged for an 80 year old lady to come -- she had been one of the very first orphan children even to come to the Children's Home way back over 70 years ago! She was a lovely woman, and we had a very sweet time getting to know her--fascinating life! Here is her pic with our friend who manages the Children's Home:



And here is a 16-year-old fellow who is very special to all of us who come to the Children's Home. His name is Lucky, and he is an orphan. His life has changed wonderfully over the past few years and he has come to really love the Lord and wants to do something with his life. We are praying that we can somehow get a sponsor for him so that he can get a couple years of vocational job training and learn a skill that will help him to get a good job. Now that he is 16 he has to leave the Home, and he does not know where he will go yet. When we met him right after Christmas, we spent quite a bit of time with him and gave him some music to listen to. When he saw us this time he came up to me (Jim) and very sincerely said: "You know that music you gave me last time? It changed my life." Please pray for him, that he can find a good situation to live and be able to go to school.