Yesterday was a typical day on Project Canaan. We were up early, Ian took two visitors
to see the water project at the top of the mountain while I drove around the
farm delivering things that were brought from the US for various departments
and people. Then I headed to the front office where I was to meet the 40 ft
container at 9:30 AM. After many
phone calls, we were told that the container should already be on Project
Canaan. It was not. Sadly, it was
stuck on the bridge to PC, requiring an emergency call to Denis and our JCB to
get it up the hill.
By the time we opened the doors it was 12:15 PM, and the
temperature hit 98F outside (and approximately 115F inside the container). We were short staffed, didn’t think to
bring drinking water, and three hours later we had hand-bombed the entire 40
foot container. We were dirty,
stinky, dehydrated (although Helen came to our rescue with water about 2.5
hours in to it), but IT WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS DAY! And we had some of our big kids
there to help us, which was really amazing to see how hard they worked.
Not only did we receive 131,926 diapers and 398,322 wipes
(!), but also bed sheets and mattress covers, beautiful new towels, bicycles,
wagons, tricycles, playhouses and a wonderful care package from Spencer (it’s
funny the crazy things that we miss, like good saran wrap, SOLID WHITE TUNA and
Triscuit crackers). THANK YOU
THANK you to each and everyone one of you who shopped, donated, sorted and
packed this container full of love for us and our children, and thanks Spencer
for the box of goodies!
Now to the “nothing is easy” part (not that unloading the
container was easy). This morning
Ian and I went down to start to sort out which toys/play sets go to which
building. The very first priority
was to assemble the two feeding tables that hold 8 babies at once, thereby
getting 16 children up to a table rather than eating in bumble seats on the
floor. Ian and Anthony opened the
boxes, and guess what? The company
sent the wrong legs for the tables.
Rather than being a normal table height, the tables are 15” off the
ground, not even allowing space for the seats to be inserted!
WE ARE IN SWAZILAND, AFRICA. We can’t just call the company and have them send out new
metal legs for two tables that we need to feed 16 children. Sigh. Nothing is easy here. Fortunately
we have a carpentry center and welding equipment along with talented people who
should be able to help us get the tables to be functional while we sort out how
to get the legs to Africa.
After packing the tables back up we went to see some of the
children playing with the new toys. Of course, there is much assembly required
for many of them, but the climbing tunnels were popped open and filled with
excited toddlers, the assembled wagon was full to the brim and little Jonathan
went crazy over his own personal rocking horse (in his TB isolation room).
I will be posting more photos in the days to come, but
wanted to be sure to say thank you today for all of your love and
support.
As I write this blog I have the US news on TV. Please know that we are praying for the
people in Texas, we are praying for people in the Caribbean and praying for the
people of Florida as Hurricane Irma makes its way to land. May the Lord protect everyone in its
path. Nothing will be easy there
for a long time to come.
Live from Swaziland … we are thankful.
Janine
