Masidlale Games

 

Every year our region organises the Masidlale Games.   It is a series of team games involving water, and each district organises a different activity as well as something for a stall.   Our district, Wilds, organised the cup and saucer game.  This involves teams of 5 lining up between two buckets, one full and one empty.   The girl in front fills a cup with water from the first bucket and places it on the saucer.   Holding only the saucer she passes it over her head to the girl next in line and so the cup of water travels along the line to the last girl who then empties the water into the 2nd bucket.   At the end of 5 minutes the team with the most water in their bucket  gets 3 points, second most, 2 points and third most 1 point.   All the games are scored in a similar way.

Well, our girls had been looking forward to it all term.   I had told them that the first five to bring their R10 for the entry fee would be in our team.   The others would come along and they could enjoy themselves at the various stalls and if we found another company with not enough Guides to make an extra team, they could join up.

We had 100% attendance.   The girls had a wonderful time.   First there was the jumping castle with a slide into a pool of water with plastic balls.

Samkelisiwe and Thumi were the two left out of the team but they made their own arrangements and managed to find a group of three to join for the games.

Our team, the Girls of Hope, tied in second place out of about 24 teams and we have a silver certificate to show for it.

 

A great day out although the Guiders were exhausted and hot and sun burned. (Only my lips and feet).   Next year I plan to take a gazebo.

Folk dancer badge

 

Things are looking up a little.   Rays of Hope said they’d pay our membership if we would just provide them with an invoice and banking details.    This is an answer to prayer and reinforces that I am doing what the Lord wants me to.

This term we have been working on the Folk dancer badge.   It is very easy.   The girls have to take part in 4 traditional folk or ethnic dances.   They must be able to dance in any position in the set and the words and tune must be an integral part of the performance.

To make it more interesting I asked whether they would like to make some costumes.   they wouldn’t be the real thing, of course but it would enable them to learn to use a sewing machine which is part of the Explorer’s challenge.

Well, I was too ambitious.  It is true that they all now have little mini skirts but only three of them can actually use a machine.   I got donated two sewing machines from school.   One is hand operated and after the Guides used them it doesn’t work anymore.   I ended up sewing the last bits myself.  

I was not that happy with the fringed overskirt so we tried again last Friday using plastic bags and straws.   The practice went reasonably.