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‘And I thought it could not get worse.’ December 2008 Hilary Lofink |
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I went to South Africa in August for the wedding of one of my nephews, the first to get married amongst all the kids in my family - and the youngest (at 26)! It was lovely: all held outside in bush - with little winged seeds used instead of confetti, table center-pieces made up with indigenous grasses and white tulips, etc!
I was only there for a week before I headed to Zimbabwe for three weeks. It was only three months ago - but from what I'm reading in the papers and what my friends are telling me - everything has deteriorated pretty drastically even since then. It's hard to believe because it was pretty bad when I was there.
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Nat continues her amazing commitment to her 107 orphaned children. Mostly the same children as a year ago although a couple have left the group for whatever reason and a couple more have joined. I took a day - a Friday as always - to travel with her as she gathered up all the food she'd managed to find that week and went to feed her 'dependents'.
In your wildest dreams - you can't imagine how much good Nat is doing for those kids - and it's in such a large part thanks to people like you. It's only when you can stand and watch what goes on that you really begin to comprehend the magnitude of her undertaking.
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On the way out to the church where everyone gathers, Nat noticed a Police car behind us and started to panic. Fortunately, they did not bother us but Nat told me about a friend of hers also trying to get food to some of the starving people, and when she was caught with food in her car, the Police took her to jail! It's illegal to provide food to any group that doesn't have the approval of the Mugabe regime. It's one of his ways of starving everyone who isn't a supporter!! |
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On this particular day, Nat had managed to get ten huge 50 kg bags of mealie meal, the cornmeal that is the staple diet of the local people. These bags were available to her at a very reasonable price because of their size and weight. People couldn't carry them and walk home. When we got to the church, we divided all the mealie meal into 2 kilogram bags - and were able to give each of the orphans a bag to take home. 2 kilograms which is four and a half pounds will last a person a week. |
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Nat had recently learned that kids - or perhaps I should say, people - feel better about themselves when they are referred to by name - so she now starts each Friday off by putting a name tag around the neck of each child so that we all know who's who and can call them by their names. As you will see in the photos, she's also being helped by a young black school teacher from one of the schools in the area. Amongst other things, she teaches them to sing - the most beautiful songs in the sweetest voices. At one point they all sat together and sang a 'thank you' song to me - and I just wished you could have been there as well. You'd have loved it - and I would've loved you to get that thank you straight from their hearts. |
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You'll see a little girl by the name of Ollie. Ollie is the child who got Nat involved in all of this several years ago. Ollie is the daughter of a woman who was working in Nat's house and who Nat was very fond of - they were good friends. Unfortunately she died from the complications of severely elevated blood pressure and Ollie was orphaned. Her aunt also works for Nat - which made it easy for Nat to make immediate arrangements for Ollie to attend the local school and she's become a part of Nat's family.
All the best, Hilary
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