The Kutlwanong Children's Centre...

The children and staff at the Kutlwanong Children's Centre - part of Morning Star's ongoing initiatives towards developing the communities affected with HIV/Aids in and around Welkom, Free State.

16 - 21July2008 - Latest news update:

Our Kutlwanong premises are looking wonderful. The establishment of the garden and vegetable patch undertaken by the Bedford Team at the end of 2007 are truly reaping benefits now. The trees and shrubs are flourishing, the grass has grown well & is lush and thick and the children have had a constant supply of fresh spinach straight from the soil to the pot! One of our local Rotary Clubs has also installed an irrigation system there, complete with 2 water tanks. Unfortunately, the first irrigation pump was stolen just after being installed, so the subsequent one has had to be enclosed in a strong, steel cage! Such is life in South Africa – and especially in our black townships!

We now have 35 children attending our Kutlwanong Centre. Just this week I told a mother that her frail, little girl could start there on Monday 21st – and she just burst into tears. Tears of thankfulness and relief they were – although her little daughter was at a loss as to understand what her mummy was crying about? Oh, what joy it gives me to stop and watch the children there racing around on our little plastic scooters, a group of little girls – with dollies tied to their backs, totally absorbed in fantasy play or a circle of little ones, singing with gusto and skipping around with their teacher! They look so well and happy. One realizes afresh that, amidst the pain and suffering all around, what we’re striving to do at Morning Star IS very worthwhile and that we – and you – ARE making a vast difference to the children God sends our way. I wish you could all come out and see for yourselves just what I mean.

Kutlwanong Morning Star now also boasts a wooden climbing frame and swings for the children con-structed/erected by a group of young men from Pretoria University. Of course, we are the envy of the entire township and never a day goes by without outsiders gazing in with longing eyes. I really would like to establish a public playground in Kutlwanong Township one day, perhaps in the adjoining plot of land, so that all children living there could have a recreational facility at their disposal. At this stage, though, this is just a distant dream...

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27May2008

Our BIG news this month is that we had the official opening of our Kutlwanong Morning Star on 21st May. The weather was perfect, the refreshments ample, our children in top form and the atmosphere, joyous. Our guest speaker, MEC Ouma Tsopo, was, unfortunately, unable to attend so we transferred the honour to an official from our local government instead. Oh, I wish you could’ve seen our children performing! Their singing and dancing was just fabulous! Our school children put on a little play that had us in hysterics & rolling around in our seats! And then, 13-year-old Thato Ramosebi, sang for us and her mum, Anna, shared her life-story. What an impact that made! There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience at the end! Not many of our women are courageous enough to reveal their HIV/AIDS statuses to large groups and to talk openly about their condition and struggles.
My speech touched on the fact that Kultwanong Morning Star wouldn’t be in existence today without the generous support of so many of our UK donors. I so wish the Bedford Teams, Sven & Moira from the London to Paris Cycle Tour and Bill & Linda & their generous friends could’ve been at our function. We remain hugely indebted to you all and will forever be grateful for your keen interest in our ministry and amazing contribution in so many diverse ways.

News update: 05February2008

Our staff quota has increased again too as we prepare ourselves for the imminent opening of our new Kutlwanong Centre. The date now set to fully launch ourselves in Kutlwanong Township is 3rd March 2009. Final touches to the premises there are taking place as I type these words and include the installation of built-in cupboards in our new hall and the building of an outside storeroom. We also still need to install our trampoline (all thanks to another of our UK friends) & build a sandpit for the children. Our new vehicle, a Toyota Quantum Sesfilike 14-seater, is in the assembly stage and will be available towards the end of February. A new driver/handyman/gardener for Kutlwanong has been identified and will commence duties as soon as the new vehicle arrives. Thrilling news, not so? And, amazingly, the funds received from the 2007 London to Paris Cycle Tour exactly cover the costs of our new vehicle! We’re deeply grateful to L2P’s organisers for their generous support once again and praise God for His continuing faithfulness to Morning Star. To all of you who’ve played a role in our Kutlwanong expansion program, just know that we would never have been where we are today without your unstinting support! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!