Today we were meeting up with Tommy Malster whom many of you will know from Capel. Not such an early start this morning as we weren't expected at Tommy's till 11.30. So after a leisurely breakfast, Wendy drove us to the Hands at Work site on the outskirts of White River. For those of you who don't know, Hands at Work is a charity that works in the township communities in the surrounding areas. We eventually found our way into the site and found Tommy and Morgan's house. It was great to see Tommy again. After a hasty sandwich and a cuppa we set off, with Sibu, another worker there who speaks the local language, to visit one of their care centres in Siyathuthuka. This is a centre that provides after school care for around 75 children of all ages. Before we went they asked us to wear wrap round skirts in an African print fabric, as they don't really like women in trousers. Its a small world, as on our way out we met Daniel, another worker there who comes form the UK and it turned out he comes from Stowmarket and knows Tom and Lou, Dave Hannah and Matt Levett well from the Forge Church. When we arrived at the centre some of the women workers there were preparing a meal for the children in large cauldrons over an open fire. The children are given a meal everyday and often this is the only meal they will get. Today it was Stamp beans and we were given some too. Actually quite tasty! After a while the younger children started to arrive from school and we played ball and frisby with them. Later the older children arrived. Then they sang and danced for us which was great. Then it was time for us to leave and visit some of the homes of the children where they were checking up on the security there and then we visited Silo, the lad Tommy stayed with early on in his time there. He showed us his house and we heard that he has finished school now and looking for a job. After that Tommy and Morgan drove us back to White River. It had been lovely to see Tommy and Morgan in their place of work.
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