We continue to have access issues (right now I can't upload pictures, but I can seem to get text out, so for that I am grateful.  I have put together the summaries of the last few days, but you really need to see pictures for it to be meaningful, so I thought I would take the space today to tell you a little about The Pines and why we came.  Guess I never did that, so now is as good a time as any!  For many of you, this is familiar ground, but I know not for all.

The Pines is an orphanage built to house children who have been orphaned as a result of AIDS.  A few are HIV positive themselves but the real hope of this place is that many are not.  By providing housing, clothing, food, education and most importantly the Gospel, what we hope to accomplish (yes, I said "we" - this place really draws you in!), is to break the cycle of the AIDS pandemic by starting with just a few.  At just 18 kids now it seems like a small drop in the bucket, but the bucket is filled one drop at a time.

The Pines is a ministry of Ambassadors International Ministries, Inc. and was built truly as a labor of love of dear friends of ours, David and Sally Seefried.  Unfortunately for us (but not for David!), God called David Seefried home March 29th.  And I know that he would not want me to go on about how his stamp is all over this place.  He would want me to tell you that when you look around here, you don't see David's hand, you see God's.  And while I do not believe it will ever happen, I think he would be just fine if his name were forgotten so long as God's was always uplifted.

You can read more about The Pines on the website of one of our host missionaries' pages (the O'Tools).  They also have a blog which includes some specifics about the kids who are here.

Now, about why we came.  You know, I think it started because of David and Sally.  When we first planned the trip, we were hoping that they might be able to join us.  But as the time grew closer and ultimately God took David home before he could return here, it became more about really wanting to see the ministry that so consumed him.

Now that we are here, I offer an alternate reason - we have come for Puseletso "Gladys", Kesentseng, Puseletso "Maria", Nontembiso, Refiloe, Ntswaki, Motshidisi, Dieketseng, Okuhle, Cebisile, Itumeleng, Mpho, Mokhosi, Tankiso, Tshidiso, Pheello, Lehlohonolo and Boetie Boet (sorry - I misspelled his name earlier).

If I can get on tomorrow, I will try to get caught up with the daily stuff and you will be able to meet them a little more.  I hope as well to be able to post some small videos that we have taken, especially the ones today at Morningstar.  This is a day-care center dedicated totally to children who are HIV positive.  It was uplifting to see them so happy, singing in line as they wait to brush their teeth, playing, mugging for the cameras.  It was also heartbreaking to realize that when we are here next some of them will not be.

It was also great to see a room full of women who at one point had nothing and no hope and are now making and selling crafts and in the process hearing the gospel message.  I can only speak for myself, but I have never been happier to empty my wallet.  These will not be souvenirs, they will truly be memories.  I write this now, because when I do post the pictures from today, I won't want to clutter it up with words.  I don't expect I will have any anyway.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers - our sore backs are appreciative!

5-26 (also a couple days late)

Sorry for the double-blog in one day, but you recall that our internet connectivity is sketchy. Today was quite a workout. We cleaned out several rooms that will be used either as common rooms for the kids, or as part of the next flat. There is quite a bit left to do, but we made a good dent in it today. Bed will be welcome tonight.


Some of us then turned our attention to some stumps. We called this “Stumphenge”


Even the kids got in on it! Here Pheello (Pee-ay-lo) and Tankiso (ton-kees-oh) actually took their own out themselves.


Lehlohonolo (Leh-cleh-no-lo) preferred swinging the sledge at a much larger target.


We burn them tomorrow, so look for those pictures!

The three of them then took three of us on at a game of soccer. Let’s just say that one lesson we learned today was not to play soccer against kids half our size, especially after stumping trees all afternoon.

The kids are beginning to open up to us and especially enjoy making fun of our attempts to pronounce their names. In all fairness, they don’t do so well at ours either.

You just can’t help but love them. They certainly can be sneaky, especially when it comes to doing their jobs (chores) and homework. It is great to hear them laugh and play and they all love to smile. When you think of where they have come from, it is truly a miracle.

It is not unlike the dung heap of our sin out of which God saves us. We have no idea what pleasure we can have until we find it in Him.

5-25 (a few days late)

Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? Do you remember when you first saw pictures of it and someone said “The pictures just don’t do it justice. You have to be there to really get the impact.” It really is true – if you have ever been there, you know.

Before this trip, we had seen pictures and read many updates. But meeting the kids in person is just not something you can explain. I am happy to have work to do so we can help increase capacity so more kids can come. But when you meet them, you just want to spend all your time with them. For now we have to be patient.

Pray tonight for Bhuto Bhuto (his name means “brother brother” - I love it!). He is new and pretty shy. If it takes me all two weeks, I am determined to get him to talk to me. Stay tuned.

We appreciate the comments back. It is nice to hear that folks back home have noticed we were gone.

I took probably a hundred pictures today, but I am only posting one tonight. This is my Grand Canyon.

We Made It!

It's probably a good thing that we were told 18 hrs, because that was about the actual flying time.  Start to finish, from arriving at the Rochester airport at 9:00 through the van ride to The Pines, we were going for over 30 hours, give or take (some of us were earlier to the airport than others...)

If you know the Wemetts, you will understand why I say that we were happy for an uneventful trip.  No weird people getting pulled off the plane, we never went sideways, all-in-all not bad.

As we were driving the 3+ hours from the Johannesburg airport to The Pines, we noted that Africa is a place of dichotomy.  We saw billboards for luxury items right next to dwellings we would not even think fit to be called "low income" housing.  We were passed at by expensive vehicles going 150-160 kph (OK, kids, do the math!) and had to maneuver around cars that looked like they were barely holding together.

As we settle into our less than Hilton accommodations, I am reminded that to the kids living here, this IS the Hilton.  Thus I am grateful for running water, even if the pressure and hot water are a little unpredictable.  And I am grateful for those that would sacrifice more than just a couple of weeks out of their lives to make this possible.

Here's a few pictures for your enjoyment.

No - this was not in Africa - this is the high-tech Rochester International Airport

Half Way!

Met by a friendly face!

A little re-fueling

A few were up, but a little shy...

I think this one speaks for itself

And We're Off!

After getting mainly ignored at the Delta counter in Rochester, we did finally get through and are now sitting in JFK awaiting our 5:00 departure. It is still a little hard to believe that we are on our way to Africa. I have posted a few pictures for your enjoyment!

The team

Proof that we actually are on a plane...in case anyone needed it for work

We really are pretty small, even from only 10,000 feet

Almost Ready

Well, it's less than 12 hours before we leave. The good news is that there is not enough time to worry about what we haven't done. I could talk about the great opportunity, or all the things we hope to do, but I just thought I would start by posting a picture of why we are going. Hope to talk again soon.