Durban Projects

I found this beautiful photo on Facebook and just had to share it with you.  Sister Cinquini who is serving in Durban, along with her husband as the Public Affairs couple, posted it along with a story about donating dresses to a local orphanage. This was not a Humanitarian project. The Cinquini's  had received a donation from the US and they found a local orphanage to donate the dresses to.

We met the Cinquini's when we went on the Rhino Rescue. They are a wonderful couple. We don't currently have a couple serving in Durban, (hint, hint) so the Cinquini's have stepped in and helped out when they can. A few months ago the Cinquini's took newborn kits, that had been donated to the Humanitarian program, to one of the local hospitals in Durban and delivered them to the Maternity department. The kits contained soap, layette, booties, socks, and a hat. I have been following Elder and Sister Cinquini on facebook and they post some wonderful stories about the church in South Africa. Durban is lucky to have this sweet couple.

Zimbabwe Humanitarian Work

We recently returned from a trip to Zimbabwe where we went to train the McMurdie's. The McMurdie's arrived in South Africa a few months ago. We promised them we would come to Zimbabwe for further training after the conference. They were kind enough to pick us up at the airport then show us around Zimbabwe. We visited some of the projects the couple before them, The Stevens, had started. We went to a school where the Stevens did a clean water and hygiene training project.

 

We started out visiting a Secondary School where the Humanitarian Program provided Water Tanks, and a borehole.







While Elder McMurdie was busy meeting with the school director, Sister McMurdie and I found a small group of girls gathered around the water faucet. We decided to go talk to them.

 The school is located quite a distance from town and judging from their reaction to us, I don't think they see too many white ladies with straight blonde hair. They enjoyed practicing their English.  Their primary language is Shona. They said, "hello, how are you" and "I am fine" very well.

This is one of the classrooms in the Secondary School 



After we left the Secondary School we went to a Primary School where we had provided a Maize Mill and reroofed the classrooms after a storm had destroyed the roofs on several buildings. This teacher was so grateful for the new roof in her classroom.

While I was in the classroom shaking hands and saying, "hello, how are you" to each of the 35 children, Sister McMurdie was outside with a group of children who had gathered around her.

Sister McMurdie had taught them a new game. She had all of the children put their hands on top of hers and then count to three. On three they all raised their hands into air. It was so fun to watch. Everyone roared with laughter as they raised their hands high above them/



 

 Elder McMurdie even joined in.

I am so grateful for this wonderful couple. They have only been in Africa for a few months and they are already making a difference in the lives of so many. 



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We had so much fun visiting these schools and meeting the amazing teachers and directors. No words can describe the joy of watching the faces of these beautiful children light up as we stopped to share a moment with them.

 

Days like this will be treasured memories of Africa that I shall never forget