Friday, August 16, 2013

Massage and Touch Therapy In South Africa


New friends, HFL supporters and trained masseuses Cary C. and Barb D. are once again heading back to the Limpopo Province of South Africa to lend their helping hands.

Last year, after being introduced to HFL through children’s book author and longtime HFL supporter Cristina Kessler, Cary and Barb ventured far from their St John home to the Limpopo Province in hopes of assisting our South African friends. Not only were Cary and Barb immediately put to work building, painting and repairing but eventually they discovered a ‘need’ that was quite familiar to them and to which they readily responded.

With an interpreter by their side, Cary and Barb found themselves giving healing massages to the weary caregivers who spend their days caring for orphans, the elderly, convalescing patients and/or HIV+ individuals.

This practice was so well received that Cary and Barb returned last week to visit various villages in the Limpopo Province with the intention of training South African villagers to offer this healing touch to other needy women.  Through the generosity of family and friends, Cary and Barb are returning with monetary donations, which will be used to set up their program and to buy necessary equipment.

Please follow their progress through our blogs, ‘Favorite Links’ on our HFL website (www.hopeforlimpopo.org) or their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/CaryAndBarbs2013SouthAfricaTrip.


 

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Wonderful News of a VMS School Addition




HOORAY! We’re back online after a long and arduous hiatus. Sorry for the unintentional interruption but we are now anxious to share the myriad of exciting things that have transpired during our communication glitch.

First and foremost we MUST share news of the ecologically friendly VMS school addition that is nearing completion thanks to the financial support of Hope for Limpopo, Whitney Falk & Jefferies & Co., Cristina Kessler and the St John supporters of ‘Another Magical Evening’, the Church of Scotland, South Coat Foundation USA, and Student Volunteers Abroad (SVA) at Glasgow University. It certainly “takes a village” and we are grateful for everyone’s support.

Knowing that this economical and ecological construction project has created many jobs for both women and men in the surrounding villages reinforces HFL’s determination to continue to find self-sustaining, relevant opportunities for local residents.

The sandbag building system we are using is exciting, innovative construction technology and we will gladly share our information on the subject in subsequent blogs.

Please watch for future details on this powerful project.