Good turns, fun and fellowship

The end of the 2nd term was quite busy.   Both Companies did a Company good turn.   The Rays of Hope Guides gave a concert to the residents of the Old Age Home.


The Waverley Guides made chocolates to take to the residents of Nazareth House.   Unfortunately it was the evening we had a power failure and we had to finish by candle-light.
 





On the Saturday, several of the Guides went to visit Nazareth House to hand out the chocolates, play with the children and visit.

I don't know who had more fun, the Guides or the children

At the end of the term the Waverley Guides hosted their parents to dinner and entertainment.   The girls earned cooks, bakers, hostess, entertainers, flower arranger and singers badges.
I didn’t take any photos of the dinner but this is some of the entertainment.

Finally, to celebrate the start of the government school holidays, we had a Day Camp with both companies.

2nd Term

To finish our 3 edible novelties for a children’s party, we made racing cars out of finger biscuits and marshmallow baskets.

The Rays of Hope Guides are beginning to integrate into the Old age Home community.   They have each adopted a Granny and later in the term we will do a concert for them.
We spent a meeting highlighting the Guide Law.   This involved translating words to Zulu or Sotho, working through pictures in the handbook and short skits illustrating how Guide Laws are broken or kept.   They ranged from being kind (or not) at school to Rhino poaching.

Last Thursday we did part of the Keep Fit badge.   The Alex girls organised their own set of movements which turned out to be cheerleading type routines while Jelly Bear led us in a more professional routine at Waverley.   She has subsequently agreed to do the same with the Rays of Hope girls.

Change is in the air.   The new programme is due to start in June and the new uniform is already being stocked.
The changeover will be challenging but we will do our best to be innovative and take things one week at a time.

Visit to the Old Age Home

Yesterday the Rays of Hope Guides visited the Itlhokomeleng Old Age Home in Alexandra. It was probably the best meeting we have had this term. I have been feeling very despondent about the Guides recently. When we voted for patrol leaders there were more votes than girls. When I tried to incentivise them by handing out mini chocolates, the store of chocolates mysteriously halved. Obviously I was failing if the girls couldn't even keep the first Guide Law, "A Guide is to be trusted." It was no use rationalising that for orphaned and abandoned girls, lying and stealing are survival skills. My enthusiasm waned but the Lord had called me to run a Guide Company and I wasn't about to give up after a term and a half. All the girls turned up for what they had decided was to be our unit good turn for the term. We had been practicing singing for two and a half weeks. All the girls wore their denims. Minenthle borrowed a white shirt from the orphanage. Those with school shoes polished them. Only two forgot their sashes and scarves. You might think that is disgraceful but for these Guides that is impressive. The driver transported us to the Old Age home through very congested Alex traffic. Mandisa and a friend, Jannet, followed by car. I didn't know what to expect or how the programme would go. I didn't know if there was any kind of hall or place where we could sing to a group. We were shown into the dining room area where many of the frailer residents were congregated watching TV. The matron came to greet us and welcome us.

The girls were a little shy at first but we began with a mime of people having a picnic and leaving all the rubbish lying around. Then a group of Girl Guides came along singing "if you see a piece of paper pick it up, pick it up." Our lead singers, Laiza and Minenthle sang beautifully and confidently and led "Siahamba" and "Shosholoza" Just as we finished our last song, supper arrived. The girls made themselves useful handing out plates of food, collecting dirty dishes and doing the kind of things I would expect Girl Guides to do. They enjoyed themself and were really helpful. Maria got to push a lady in a wheel chair back to her room after supper. I feel really proud of the Guides and I see a glimmer of hope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcDXH-_DuUA