August 3, 2014 - Shelley

August 3, 2014

It’s Sunday afternoon.  It seems like no matter where you are, Sunday is a family day.  As I sit here in our living room, I can hear family celebrations going on in our neighborhood.  They usually include music and food!  We have a “lokalgrown wannabe” group that practices on the porch of their nearby home.  It’s pleasant music and is usually pretty mellow.  Our street is a very bumpy dirt road – but on Sundays it’s crowded with the parked cars of relatives who have come to share the afternoon.  My guess is that an outsider who was observing our home on 5th West might make the same observation.  In a way, it’s very comforting!

This week has gone by quickly.  Part of it included the visit of a member of our Area Authority – President Hamilton and his wife who came from South Africa.  Pres. Hamilton is a counselor to President Cook, the Seventy who is in charge of the Southeast Area of Africa.

President and Sister Thomas hosted a little dinner at their home, and it was great to get to know this wonderful couple. His French is flawless, and she knows about as much as I do, so that REALLY made me feel good!  Theirs is a very interesting, but challenging assign-

ment that involves a great deal of travel.  She told me that this was the 17th bed she has slept in in the last 2 months!

Our humanitarian work continues to plug along.  We think we have our two desk projects approved – hopefully in time to get the desks before school starts again in September.

The photo above shows a village school where the students have been sitting on bricks and old pieces of wood.  Pretty humble circumstances!

Our humanitarian work asks that we identify a “champion” – someone who has invested in the cause and will follow it through.  And we have found several!  One is a lady named Therese who runs a trade school for young under-privileged girls.  In addition to regular school classes, she teaches them sewing and is adding a kitchen to teach cooking skills.  

 

Here is Therese with her husband who helps her.  They are single-handedly influencing the lives of 300 high school girls each year on a tiny budget and LOTS of sweat equity.  I call her the local Oprah!!!!

Also this week, we captured a scene straight from the movie “Oliver”.  This is a local orphanage that is run by a couple of Catholic nuns.  They only receive help from their local Catholic Church congregation.  Their dream was to create a place of refuge for young girls who are forced to live on the streets.

These nuns actually went out at night in dangerous neighborhoods and “rounded up” the girls – ages 5 to 14!

These are the girls’ plates all lined up for lunch.  “Oliver” plates.

These are two of the girls making fou fou for lunch.  There are 29 girls living in a very modest home with a high fence around it, where they have job charts and learn skills, just like in a regular family.  During the school year, they attend the local neighborhood schools.

Here is Sister Philomene (Sister “Fifi”), who runs the orphanage.  She is truly another champion!!!!

Well, we are learning in a different way that “there is beauty all around, when there’s love at home.”  We are learning from so many wonderful people who have given up their personal comforts to create a home and security and opportunity for those who would otherwise literally die on the streets.

Everyday we realize what a blessed life we have led.  More that ever, we recognize the Savior’s hand in the lives of so many – including ours!  We love you and feel your love for us, as well.  Enjoy your week.  Much love,  Mom/Sister Davis