Update: October 10, 2005

(Readers new to this blog may want to read the prior posts for background)

Dear Friends: Now, as to the matter of where all the books for the GGA Khayelilhia Library have come from. This morning, 10 October 2005 I processed books numbering in the mid 1400's. There will be right around 2000 when I wind things up in earlyNovember.

(Reference Center pictured left)

When I started in April I was hoping for something in that range, but didn't know whether it was possible. I had the small cache of books that I had brought with me from Bloomington. About 50 in all. I'll never forget Bob andI re-arranging books in different suitcases to meet airline weight limits on the floor at O'Hare Airport.

But those books, many of which were gifts such as the Winnie the Pooh and Shell Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends, from Liz and Roger Akin, The Dr. Seuss books from the Lenahan family, a special quiltbook from Pam Steward, and the Harry Potter's from Stacey and Ryan Stoner formed the foundation for the library.

Several weeks into my stay I went to the warehouse for the first time and found stacks of donated books on shelves. They were right out in the open! Some of them had been there awhile. I'm sure that no one knew just what to do with them. They were dusty, insect and mouse nibbled, and unsorted. While I would say that a majority of what was there was not suitable for the library I was building, I did sort out several hundred that would fit in nicely.

(Junior Books pictured left)

At onepoint I had a huge pile on the floor to be burned and was told that my standards were too high. My standards were too high? Yippee! That week I brought baskets full of old books to Mary Rondavels and began washing them off and sanitizing them. I found a goodly number of Baby Sitter Club mysteries as well as Goosebumps. I even found a copy of the "Five Chinese Brothers." a book, which I enjoyed so much when I was in 1st Grade.

I found an encyclopedia(Collier's) that was 18 years old and a little moldy, but was certainly useable. All the volumes were there. I also found a Charley Brown Encyclopedia for the younger children - almost all there, and several volumes of Childcraft that I was able to salvage. I also found things like old textbooks for an engineering course. Lots of need for that here! Yearbooks from car clubs from the 1970's. Right down our alley! I also found books in French and German. Lots of call for that here! What are people thinking when they send such things to a Zulu children's home?

I no where near got through all of the books that are there and plan to go back one more time before I leave and see if my standards have changed. Then I started poking into shelves and cupboards in the offices and found lots of books of one sort or another, and began making stacks and piles in the office that I had etched out in what is called the "Hospice."

A monumental boost came via friend and author Jenny Hobbs. She wrote some letters and made several phone calls to organizations in South Africa that donate books to special libraries such as ours. The first to respond was "Center for the Book", an affiliate of the South Africa National Library who supply books for young children in both Zulu and English. They gave us such beautiful books and of a high quality. They asked in return only the postage and a small donation so they can continue their work. Then I heard from Biblionef, a Dutch based book foundation also affiliated with SANL. They sent over 200 books in English and Zulu. They were some of the greatest books I've ever seen. I got an application from the UK organization called The Book Foundation. Elizabeth Anderson who heads up Center for the Book is also affiliated with the Book Foundation. I filled out the application and sent it in, and recently got R 11,500 for books and supplies for children. And finallyI received word that we were to receive a grant in the spring (now, Africa time) from Exclusive Books, the largest book chain in South Africa, and recently unpacked over 170 brand new books and fit my subject matter criteria perfectly.

The value of this donation is in the R15 000 range. And you should see the books! One day a truck drove up, and unloaded 14, quite large boxes, that said they were from a high school in Baltimore, in the states. It was apparently a senior project to send books for children to GGA. There were hundreds of books. Lots of Disney, Winnie and Pooh and Peter Rabbit. But also other good books in fine condition. I gratefully added them to my growing stacks.

I started making lists, and dreaming about a special Africa collection, and Dorothy's Top Ten. I went to new and used bookstores in Cape Town, Pretoriaand Johannesburg as well as Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it! Driver, Victor was one who frequently took me into"town", and then helped me carry the books home. Victor unexpectly died last week of pneumonia at the age of 45. What a shock and what a loss. I bought world maps and globes in Johannesburg that drew this comment from driver,Peter. when he picked me up at the Durban Airport. "You afraid you're going to get lost?" I loved it.

Amazon, U.K. started sending me packages, and books dribbled in from all over. I have received additional books from Liz Aikin, Judy Jennings and the Bob andSandy Anderson. A wonderful box arrived from the group from Idaho who had painted the library. And many volunteers here have given books either when they were departing, or have sent them after they got home.

One of my favorite stories is about volunteer, Paul, from Montana. Tall and lean. A College baseball player. Paul stopped by my office one morning. He looked at the books stacked all around the wall, and drawled, "You know, Dorothy, they're not going to let you go home until all these books are on the shelves, and I think someone is coming in at night adding to the stacks."

Well, that's about all for now. I attended part of the funeral services for Victor. There were four services going on at the same time. There are so many deaths. It's been a very cool spring and all of us have colds. Kind of a coughing thing. This weekend we have a dance festival going on here. Children from all over the valley will be here. We're expecting 800 visitors. It should be fun.



(Libby and Dorothy pictured left)

My roommate Libby from Australia is leaving for home on Wednesday.

I'm going to miss her.



Go well....Dorothy

Update: October 1, 2005

(First time visitors to this blog may want to read the prior post(s) for background)

Update October 1, 2005: Just some odds and ends this morning - things and memories that I don't want to forget. It has been very warm here this weekend. Spring is here and with it has come thunderstorms, warmer temperatures, and of course, the insects and snakes. With all kinds of repellents including a plug-in thing, a mosquito net over my bed, a special candle, etc., I still woke up yesterday morning with bites running from ankle to knee on my right leg. My roommate Rachel had a large bite right in the middle of her forehead. I suspect they are spider bites. We have thousands of spiders in a variety of sizes and shapes. And they are so quiet. As for the snakes - they are definitely here. Others have seen them, but so far, thankfully not me.

Here is little "Miss" who has been a miracle story.She absolutely has the heart of everyone here. (pictured left)

Little Miss is 2 ½ years old, is HIV positive and has Aids (One of only about 4 here.) When I arrived here six months ago she did not talk or walk, kept down very little food, spent most of the day laying on a blanket whimpering and crying. She has had almost constant diarrhea, thrush, eye and ear infections and did not try to speak. You just felt she wouldn't be here long.

Slowly but surely with the aid of new medications (not ARV 's - yet) a strong character and lots of loving care she has started to come alive. When she waved and smiled at me the other day, and I went over to take her picture, she was standing alone! Can you imagine?

About 2 weeks ago I gave her the kitty blanket. (Thanks Darla, Susie and Karen.) Her Go-go says she doesn't leave her bed without it. She is also starting to whisper words and really surprised herself yesterday by climbing out of the stroller. She was scared to death as her feet touched ground, while everyone near her was clapping and cheering. Next, I want to see her sitting at a library table, reading a book.

Another heart warming story concerns one of my roommates, Maureen, who is from near Savannah, Georgia. Maureen has a daughter back home who has had two miscarriages since we've been here. We all grieve with her.

About a month ago this little boy named Phila (pronounced Peela) (pictured left) came into our lives. He had been living in a village hospice for all but 6 months of his life. His family, no longer able care for him, abandoned him to the hospital. He is now 2 ½ .Maureen, as head of our Creche program, went with Tom to pick up Phila. She held him all the way home, and he joined us in our rondavel for three days. He is adorable, and we all call him "roommate" as he waves and says bye-bye to us. Yesterday, Maureen took the first steps to adopt Phila for her daughter. She is so excited about the possibility and is dancing and laughing, day and night. She, and we, all know that it's not a done deal. GGA does not usually recommend adoption of these children, on health, culture and language grounds and the country is even stricter in their governance. But the first hurdle has been crossed and a million prayers are going out for its acceptance. Please join me in lifting up Phila, Maureen and her family in this endeavor.

Another great story concerns roommate, Libby, from Australia. Libby's job here was to form a pre-school down in the valley and get it up and running. I think she had days when she thought it would never happen, but today it is a reality with 58 students enrolled. There are currently four teachers and all of these are volunteers.

Libby has recently undertaken partial support of the family of one of her students. Thabiso's (age 4) family includes his mother, Madgallena, 11 other children ages, 6mo. - 13 or 14, and several grandchildren. The total number of people living in two rooms is 16.

Madgallena is ill. Libby started with shoes and clothing for Thabiso, food for the family, and books and toys for all. She has agreed to finance a monthly food drop for the family after she leaves. She is having a "birthday party" for Thabiso next week and we all laugh at Libby as she brings home present after present. Her latest endeavor for the family is to establish a chicken project for them. She found 10 chickens, mostly female, but not all, is furnishing fencing and a small shed and next week, her chickens (which we are told are Scratchers!) will be delivered.

Not to be outdone, here is my own little story. I have agreed to sponsor Majola as he enters Junior High this year. (Dorothy & Majola pictured left)

15 year old Majola has been an enthusiast for our new library. He has helped me set up the library computers and maintain the book shelves, etc. His library work has been a positive influence in the life of this quiet, soft-spoken young teenager.

Majola has been living here with Heather and Patrrick Reynolds, the founders of God's Golden Acre for most of his life along with his older sister, Thombi, and younger brother Sicelo. Sicelo suffers from severe cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair unable to speak on move his body. Thombi is a student at Heritage Academy.

Cato Ridge elementary where Majola has been attending only goes to grade 6. Now, he has chosen Bethel Christian Academy where a large number of our other youngsters attend. He sings and dances in the young Zulu Warriors, plays soccer and cricket, and has been a winner in the recent art contest sponsored by Mr. Price. He is an average student and will have to work hard.

Sponsoring Majola will be a small financial commitment for us that will hopefully reap a world of benefits for Africa, for Majola, and for the Kennett's. When I first told my son Greg about my decision to sponsor Majola, Greg thought I was bringing him home with me! But nie, nie nie. He is staying put.

I wasn't sure what I'd write about today but when I started typing, this is what came out. One story that I was going to tell was about toddler, Mandala. Last Friday I put on my best dress. The one with flowers all over it. (I'm so tired of wearing the same pair of jeans and t-shirt). I started up through the resort to the library when I encounter the toddlers out for a stroll. Mandala came right for me, threw his arms around my leg, and wiped his runny nose back and forth on my clean dress. Oh well.This is Africa.

There is the little cemetery (pictured left) adjacent to the GGA site here. Five small children are buried there. The last was just a year ago. The children here that are old enough remember them well and they like to visit the site occasionally. They say a little prayer or sing a song. Yes, this is Africa.





I made Crafters Vegetable Soup for my housemates Friday. We cook very little here, so when we do it's a special occasion. The fresh vegetables available are so good. It's a soup that's outstanding in any language.I hope all of you can imagine the joyful and happy times we are all having. Not every day is a mountain top experience, but as I said, "This is Africa."

We have some great laughs, some cheers and not many, but occasional tears. I'm also glad you have found my Blog sight. I really enjoy hearing from you.

My time here is getting much too short. Last Monday evening during the volunteers meeting I was asked to talk a little about the library for the new volunteers. When I finished they (a bunch of 20 year olds) gave me a standing ovation. For the oldest person here, that's not too bad.

Thanks to all of you for helping to make it possible.

Best regards, and go well... Dorothy dkenne2@ilstu.edu