Port Alfred - A Seaside City.

September 10 – 13 Port Alfred (Stop 3 out of 11)

Arrived in Port Alfred on Sept. 10 just before noon and time to eat again! Oh, too much food; we won’t be able to fit into our clothes by the time we return on Oct. 7. For lunch, we were served fish and salad thinking this was our meal. Suddenly, they brought another lunch of chicken and veggies. So you can see what I mean about not being able to fit into our clothes. After depositing our luggage and lunch, Larry and Elene took us on a speed boat ride down the Kowie River. Oops no toilet available so Elene and I took off to the woods. Later we discovered that there had been leopards roaming in that area. Wow! How thankful we had not been visited by a leopard.

The Team split up and had dinner with host families. Again we indulged. Our host families are some of the most considerate people in the world. Actually, we have received wonderful treatment during our first 1 ½ weeks.

Another late night and early up! The Port Alfred Rotary Club Meeting began at 6:45 A.M. President Lorraine Samuel (my host) did a great job directing the meeting. Their guest speaker was the Headmaster of Port Alfred High School and spoke concerning changes that had been made. The Club had received a Matching Grant for many computers for which he expressed his appreciation.

Each team member was taken to his/her vocational day. Will and I visited Port Alfred High School (K-12); Will visited with a Guidance Counselor while I went to classrooms with the Headmaster. The counselor with whom Will met served as a volunteer because the government provided only a limited number of teachers. I had the exciting privilege of teaching a mini lesson to a class full of third graders. What fun integrating geography, math and life skills! I got hugs from all the children.

Andrea and Annie visited the local hospital and went with the Rotarian Dr. Dietre for home visits in the Townships. What poverty! “Service Above Self” was important to Andrea and Annie in this situation. Loretta visited the local fire department and police station. As people have watched our presentation, they have been enthralled with the pictures of Loretta with her gun. Loretta helps to keep us safe with her knowledge of safety and security.

Time to eat again!! We had a delicious lunch at a restaurant on a boat and then visited the Jehovah Jireh Aids Haven. Even before I was selected as the GSE Team Leader, God had given me a passion to develop a Matching Grant for aids orphans. During our short stay in S. Africa, we have seen many HIV/Aids orphans but I knew when we found the right one, we would know and this is it. As we approached the house, we could tell that it was a place very limited in resources but filled with love. The house is run by Molly Band, a true servant of God. Her doors are never closed to any child. One can not believe the crowdedness of that little house that is a refuge to approximately 55 children. She and the volunteers pray each day for food for that day.

As we distributed one piece of Juicy Fruit, the children expressed great joy over such a little thing. We played and had fun with them on the dirt yard, and then they sang Christian songs with such beautiful voices. You can tell by the pictures of Andrea and Will swinging little ones, Annie having fun with her “wild hair” (to get the children to pick up the gum wrappers) and Loretta taking and showing pictures to the children. They get so excited when they see themselves on the digital camera.

Molly told us many stories of the tragedies the children have experienced. One such story was about a 2 year old who had just died a few days prior to our being there. She sat by the crib of the little boy as he passed from this life to his eternal home in Heaven. We saw several children who have full blown aids. How I thank God for calling Molly to this ministry and for giving her grace to do the job. The entire team left with an overwhelming sadness and determination to do something to help.

Tuesday evening offered another great meal! All the host families and Team members enjoyed a time of fellowship and sharing of the day’s activities. At approximately 9 P.M. we sat down to another delicious S. African meal-another late night.

Wednesday morning, Larry and Elene took us to the Soup Kitchen Ministry where they prepare bread, soup and maybe some chicken from Kentucky Fried Chicken. This food is given to numerous organizations (including Molly’s) as well as feeding those who come to the Kitchen. After helping bag the food, the Team members helped distribute food bags to local people and then headed off to the “Dump” where many people live in shacks or in the fields on the dump. They forage through the dump that is brought out by the city, using everything they can find. Empty plastic bottles are gathered from the dump so they can put the soup in. One can not realize the impact of seeing and serving these people, including many children, unless you actually experience it.

The people lined up in rows beginning with the youngest children; men and women were in separate lines and finally women with small babies. The Leader sang Christian songs with them and then delivered a brief sermon. Finally, it was time to distribute the food. What a privilege the Team had in helping distribute the soup and bread. Loretta and I dished up the soup into the soiled plastic bottles. We could fill only half of the containers so there would be enough to serve all. At the end when there was a little bread left, all of the people scrambled for the last slices of bread; some even got into a ruckus.

On that particular day the ministry did not have enough bread given to them, so they had to purchase more. The entire ministry is run by volunteers like Debbie and Charlie who are willing to “Serve Others Above Themselves.” The Kitchen is in need of either a stove and big pots or a bigger electric container in which to cook the soup. As one can surmise from these stories, there are many, many needs in S. Africa.

We went from this experience to an experience totally opposite from the Dump and Soup Kitchen. The Kuyasa School held hope for children. Port Alfred Rotarians had gotten a Matching Grant to purchase computers for the school thanks to Hans, their Matching Grants Director. The children met us with colorful uniforms and big smiles. They sang and danced for us. Even the teachers sang for us during a planned ceremony. We met Mayor Balura and I presented him with our District banner. The morning was filled with good things and sad situations.

The evening brought another delicious S. African meal and the Team giving their presentation. We were asked many questions and had a great time with the Port Alfred Rotarians. They recognized Will’s birthday, which was the next day, with a beautiful cake and the “Happy Birthday” song. It was sad to leave these wonderful and warm Rotarians, Rotary Anns and their families. Our hats are off to PP Colin Wiggett for the marvelous job he did. Everything was so well organized, even to smallest details. Thursday morning we were taken half way to our next destination and were met by President Lutz Nick. He had a challenge getting us and our luggage into the van. One is supposed to reduce the size of his/her luggage as he/she gives out their gifts; however, that has not been the case with us. Annie even had to buy another suitcase in which to put all her newfound treasures. “Okay Annie, no more purchases.”
Elizabeth Smith, Team Leader