annie in swaziland

Day 14:

Malindza days are always hectic.  We wake up early and purchase food for 5 child-headed homes and our Malindza New Hope Primary School.  When we arrive to the school we form teams to divide and conquer.  Catherine is helping the pre-schoolers watercolor “Thank You/Siyabonga” cards which will be offered as a pack of 4 for a $10 donation.  The proceeds will go toward the Malindza school and the kids love painting them!  We also hung the mural created by my artist friend Jane Grimm and painted by my friends at the Lee Family painting for a purpose party.  The kids LOVED it!! Photos to come…

Then we delivered the food to two of our most impoverished first graders.  The second home belonged to the most adorable little girl, her elderly grandmother, and her infant cousin.  The grandmother told us that she commonly cries herself to sleep at night because there is often no food.  She also said that the mom left her at the grandmother’s homestead at the age of 2 and has never come back for her – they’ve actually never even heard from her ever again.  The thought of putting myself in her tiny 6 year old school shoes and wondering if my mom is alive and holding onto hope that she one day may want to see me again was too much for me to bear.  On the drive back to the school, Maureen hugged her close. 

When we got back to the school, the girls were playing with the kids and watering our new vegetable garden.  The kids were gearing up for our free school lunch program (thanks Mitali/FOODOM).  I noticed one girl crying in the empty classroom – not worried about the food at all - clutching her throat and I noticed 2 other children roaming around with ringworm covering their heads.  I asked the teacher if there was a pharmacy nearby.  There was a tiny clinic about 20 minutes away.  We loaded the kids in the car and took off for the hospital.  Two of them only needed anti-fungal pills (since one of them gave me ringworm last summer, I know ALL about those silly anti-fungal remedies!) but the third was diagnosed with “severe tonsillitis” and was given pills…and an injection in the booty!  She cried the whole way back to the school – but I held her close in the backseat and hoped she felt better soon. 

Back at the school we did a photography project for our December First Friday Experience Hope art exhibition that will illustrate our orphans’ future plans.  It was so adorable to see the 6 year olds telling us they were going to be teachers, nurses, soldiers, and police officers – stay tuned!  We are now packing and preparing for our long journey back to the states tomorrow.  In the morning we will work at the Sandra Lee orphanage and then drive 5 hours and fly 24 more.  It’s always hard to leave but in only about 6 weeks, I’ll be back with another incredible volunteer team.  The kids often ask for things that you may have at your house… anyone happen to have a regular English dictionary for Nothando or an apron for our New Hope school cook?  Or even if you’d want to make her one?  Please let me know!! Tomorrow will be my last blog until mid-July.  Siybonga (thanks) for your interest in our orphans!!