Two blogs in a row!
Tuesday, December 2nd, was Open Arms's Food Parcel Day. It was a huge success due to the generous donations made by so many people. We were able to put together 350 food parcels, that is quite a feat! Thank you everyone for your support, due to your generosity we were able to help so many people. As a reminder, the parcel contains staples for a family of 7 that should last a month. We usually choose World AIDS Day to deliver the food parcels but this year we chose December 2nd because it was a Tuesday and Tuesday is the day the HIV/AIDS support group meets. We felt it was the perfect day for them to receive their food parcels. We started unloading the truck at 10:30 AM. We had members of Siyaya and staff assisting in forming a fire line to make the process go quicker. By 1:30, 350 buckets were all assembled and it was time for lunch! By 3:00, members of the support group started coming to the centre to eat the meal that Open Arms supports Monday through Friday and to get in line to receive their parcels. Along with the HIV/AIDS Support Group, patients of St. Luke's Hospice and their caregivers, a designated group of senior citizens and two zones (neighborhoods) of the JL Zwane Church, orphans and staff received the parcels.
Today at service a senior citizen went up on stage and started speaking in Xhosa, just as I was asking my neighbor what she was saying I heard my name! Spiwo wanted me to make sure I told everyone at home that this woman was up on stage wanting to thank Open Arms for the wonderful food parcel that meant so much to her and her family and thanked us for not forgetting the people of Guguletu. She also hoped we would continue to support them and sends her love and blessings to all of you!
Today was a special day at the JL Zwane Church. Mel, our assistant minister from Pensacola, (that I have blogged about), preached her first service at JL Zwane. This sermon was in English so the congregation had to have an interpreter! Mel did an excellent job and the congregation really enjoyed hearing from her.
The photos above are of Food Parcel Day and of Mel on her first official day of preaching at the JL Zwane Church.
Bye for now...
