When I was involved in the Third Randburg Guide Company, we used to make a point of visiting the girls in their homes. I saw no reason not to do the same with the Rays of Hope Guide Company. So I organised with Bertha (who is my Rays of Hope contact ) to visit two families before Guides this Friday and two next. All the girls except Stella had said that they had a pair of denims and a white school shirt so I had bought a pair of denims and a shirt for Stella and I asked that we visit her first.
It was raining on Friday. I drove and Bertha directed. When the road ran out and I saw the muddy track going down hill leading towards Stella’s house, I decided to park the car and walk because I didn’t fancy being stuck in the mud.
I’ve never actually known anybody who lives in a shack before. Stella lives in a shack. She shares the bed with her older sister (who is the head of the household since the mother died in 2010), her younger sister and the baby. The brother sleeps on the floor.
Things were going well with Stella. Her teacher, having seen the state of her only school dress and shoes, had given her a new school uniform and shoes. Now two days later I had come with some denims and a shirt. I wonder if she’s been praying…….
The next stop was Minenthle and her sister Amanda. Two weeks ago when there was only one vehicle available and the girls had been collected from school, the two of them had not come and had run away when the driver had called them. Bertha phoned their aunt who said they were tired. Now there was no sign of Minenthle, although Amanda was there. We waited until we had just enough time to be 10 minutes late.
After the girls had been given lunch in the orphanage, we had lost half an hour so again my programme was adapted. I went over the last 5 Guide laws. I don’t know how much they took in. They just looked at me. After three weeks of going through the promise, which they are going to have to say on the 30th when they get enrolled, not one of the girls could tell me what it was.
The highlight for me was that Jeanette brought a friend. With Minenthle probably dropping out, five guides is below the minimum number. Perhaps the Lord made provision before I even knew about the problem.
After playing a relay type game about the motto, We went outside to put up a camp style flag pole. Well, one thing is for sure, I am going to have to hoist the flag for the moment with two escorts. The whole flag raising procedure is totally beyond my girls. Even marching in step is out of their range at present. They can, however, knock in pegs.
Our ending was very rushed. I misunderstood Bertha. I understood that because the orphanage young people were going to youth groups at Rosebank Union to be there at 6, we had to finish promptly so the transport to take the girls home could do that and still be back in time to take the youth group kids. So instead of having the duty patrol tidy up, I ended up doing everything myself. Then I felt quite annoyed when at 10 to 6 ,I found the orphanage Guides playing in the street outside. It turned out that I had misunderstood Bertha. There were 2 buses and only Maria and Laiza were required to finish early. I wonder if Friday is the best day to run Guides. Already we had to miss a meeting because of the party at Ihe orphanage once a term to celebrate birthdays that term, now with youth group taking place on Fridays also, we might need to rethink.
I am feeling a bit out of my depth, especially with plans to get the girls enrolled on 30 March when they don’t seem to understand the promise and law. Perhaps I have been too ambitious thinking I could get them ready for enrollment in just a term. Lord, this is your idea, your company, HELP.
Learning to polish shoes
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