Thursday evening, before our Friday departure from Bakhita Village, the girls invited us to listen to a few songs that they sang especially for us and then each one told us thank you and what our visit meant for them. Shanty read a letter that was written to all the people at home who support Bakhita girls with donations throughout the year and especially those who had made gift bags for them. Today we left Bakhita Village to return to our home in Michigan. The girls were sa

Earlier on Sunday, the girls did housework, ate Sunday dinner and played outside on their playground equipment. Later in the afternoon Sr. Nancy allowed them to get out all the new toys they were given in their gift bags. After the gift bag opening two weeks ago, the girls have waited patiently for the opportunity to play with their new toys. Kind of like seeing your gifts under the Christmas tree but not being able to touch them. Sr. Nancy first made sure each girl had h

We all usually attend mass at St. Brendan’s School Chapel on Saturday evening, so Sunday morning has a more leisurely beginning and the day is spent catching up on laundry, eating a big meal around noon and, of course, some outdoor playtime. The house mothers wash and hang the big stuff, but the girls are responsible for hanging and carrying in the small stuff. This Sunday lunch is chicken, rice, beetroot, and lettuce and the girls sit outside on the porch to eat. Partly bec

Our Lake Orion dentist and friend, Dr. Joe Mastromatteo, donated toothbrushes and toothpaste to the Bakhita Village residents including all the house mothers. We had quite a bit of fun passing out the items and discussing the benefits of using them. John showed the girls his “old” teeth as an example of how they do not want their teeth to look when they’re old.

On Saturday, our former student and now friend, came to visit us at Bakhita Village. Mashudu was an excellent student at St. Brendan’s and after graduating from university she worked as a geologist at a big mining company in South Africa. She has recently completed courses for a business degree and will most likely be one of South Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs one day. We had a great time catching up with her – you may remember from our trip last year, she’s the o

February 8, was the Feast Day of Saint Josephine Bakhita. Around here, it may be bigger than Christmas! The day was chosen by the Vatican as her feast day as it is the anniversary of her death in 1947. The Sisters organized a great celebration mass attended by 50 people in one of the Bakhita Village rooms. The girls led the priest in the entrance procession, did the readings, and led the singing and prayers. It was quite inspiring. Many of the girls come from different f

Answer: Nancy Clancy! Yesterday was the day the Bakhita girls have been waiting for since they heard the news of our return to Bakhita Village. The Gift Bags!! First, the girls had many tasks such as cleaning, raking, laundry and helping Sr. Nancy prepare for a celebration of Saint Josephine Bakhita’s feast day on February 8. But at last the work was complete and we all gathered around the two big blue suitcases filled with gift bags so lovingly prepared by many generous fr

After spending a day calling on key people in the diocesan headquarters in Tzaneen, we finally reached Bakhita Village. Our return was as delightful as we could possibly imagine. The sisters were very welcoming and treated us to a delicious lunch and when the Bakhita girls returned home from school, they were tremendously excited to see us. Sr. Nancy and Sr. Helen prepared a welcoming gathering with prayers, speeches, songs, dancing and, of course, the requisite extra spec