Award for Best Traditional Song

I have just received a copy of the award certificate that the Choir won for the best traditional Song.

Letter to chief editor Swazi Observer

Dear Musa
Many people in England have contacted me today to say how great the news is about the Christ worshippers Gospel Choir winning best traditional Song. We know and love them very much after they Visited England last year. They were amazing, singing Dancing in traditional Swazi style, they sang at over 35 venues, schools, colleges, even before the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Also on the World Music Stage in Birmingham, even live on the BBC radio, and Newstyle Radio. They gave testimony's to Gods goodness to them in spite of facing many difficulties. We saw Alcoholics and drug addicts cry like children before God and men as the choir sang. Teachers and teenage children went back to their classes either singing the songs or crying with emotion. They were the most amazing ambassadors for Swaziland that you could ever have wished for, and we are so pleased to hear this great news please pass on our thanks to the judges and all those that voted for them.
On a sadder note most of the members of the choir had to stay out in the car park because they could not afford to the tickets for the event. This is an indictment on the organisers and a shame on the church of Christ This would never have happened in England. They were not worried about it they were just so pleased to have won.
Brett Barratt (co-ordinator Africa Equip)
Ps if you have a photo you could send me of Sikhumbuso receiving the award it would be really appreciated for our news letter.

Choir win Award - 'Best traditional Song' at awards ceremony

Great news last night, the Choir Won the Best Traditional Song category at the finals of the ACASWA GLORY AWARDS 2009 (Association of Christian Artists) this is a big event and televised with all the media in attendance. Last year they were voted best new group, so to go on to win this award this year was brilliant. The song is Ngitincoba Ngemthandazo Which means we conquer through Prayer, this is the title track of their third Album.
It has to be said on a sadder note that most of the members had to stay outside the event in the minibus in the rain as they could not afford the tickets.
But the Choir were not to bothered they were just so pleased to have won.

(I wrote to the editor of the Swazi Observer to make some comments you can see them in the next posting)
I will try to get a pic to upload.

Solomon House

I had a good evening tonight on the phone to Swaziland, I managed to teach Ncobili and Precious how to write texts, on their cell phones (they are both completly blind). Just by explaining that ABC are on No2 on the keypad CDE are on No3 etc, then that you press key2 twice in order to type B etc,
Then when they have that just getting them to tell me what getting them to tell me what kepad number and how many times topress it spell CAT or Bed etc. It often surprises me how such a simple thing like explaining this, will make such a big difference to these girls lives. I am looking forward to getting my first texts from them this week.


Pic details, Left to right Precous, Petsili, Ncobili, With Zwakele standing behind, and Fundiswa, Petsili and Sikumbuso's daughter.

Container Recording Studio

I had a few days off work last week so got nothing done on the container. We are collecting some panels for the mixing room ceiling, so we should get on with that this week. Around the container we need to build a structure approx 300mm bigger all round this is then filled with sand to give a insulation layer to keep out heat and noise esp from rain or hail.
I have the outer skin steel sheets all delivered so that's great, big thanks to Jamie at phoenix steels, who, after telling him about the project, had the solar reflective sheets for the outer shell made and cut to size within a couple of weeks, and, for a fraction of what they should have cost.
So its just the frame work to support it needs designing and building.
We now have the ventilation design done thanks to Mike Hardy for all his hard work time and effort. We cannot order the Fan Silencers till we get £1200 needed to purchase them. We then need Approx £2200 for the fans.
I have to also make the plenum chambers for underneath the container this will lift the height of the container by about 400--500mm, we can then test everything out and get some readings on noise levels.
So there is still a fair bit to do yet.!
But we still have a number of things we can do that cost nothing while we wait and pray for funds to come in.

School books and equipment donated

We have been doing really well for collecting school books over the last 12 months, esp for secondary school ages. But we have a couple of projects that really need primary school books. So it was once again music to our ears when we had a Phone call from a school that was merging with another school in Birmingham and had lots of books and equipment that they were no longer needing. We collected 3 sprinter van loads of books and tables paper and classroom furniture which we have been sorting out. We have now got to the point where we have enough equipment to fill another container but no funds yet to purchase one.

More problems with neighbour

Unfortunately we are still having problems with a close neighbour, he went round to the house of the choir a couple of days ago really angry and demanded money from them because he said that the choirs chickens had been at his cabbages. This is the same person who threw a stone at one of the chickens and broke its leg for the same reason. The choir have farmyard chickens and they need to roam to find food, but it doesn't appear has has made efforts to protect his garden which is the normal procedure.

Quad push bikes and Trikes

This is just brilliant I was wanting to make a bike that someone who was blind could ride on with a sighted helper on the front just so members of the choir could get some exercise. So I was a bit upset when I realised that I was not going to have enough time to do everything. I had also mentioned to Sku that I was wanting to build a bike for them to ride.









So I had a phone call from a lady at a school Nr Bristol who had found us on the net, and was wanting to donate some equipment to a good home rather than throwing it out. and something she had was a couple of trike's and a couple of quad bikes.! Gods timing is perfect.

Recording Studio Progress

I have had a really busy and difficult last month, with my business, but in spite of that we have been able to get on well with the building of the studio inside the container. From the picture below you can see we set up some of the equipment to some sound tests this was a great motivational boost to keep up the momentum. We have been doing sound leakage tests to ensure that no noise is coming through from the recording room to the mixing room other. We have had to put in more material than expected the fact it's a steel container means its like being on the inside of a drum. This is one of the most blessed by God projects I have ever been involved with with everything that is needed being provided just at the right time. Some of the last obstacles to overcome are the ventilation and air conditioning, the running round of the electric cables, a backup generator, the CD reproduction equipment, the outer shell and roof for backfilling with sand to prevent outside noise, and finally part of the shipping costs. The object of the studio is to enable the choir to record their own music and to record the music of other Christian gospel artists. This will help bring them in an income leading them towards independence. We hope to send the container in the next couple of weeks. If you want to see it before it goes I will arrange an open day one Saturday morning in the next couple of weeks poss 12th Sep at 9.30am -12-00.

Skus uncle dies

There hardly seems a month goes by when someone isn't sick or dying or died this has always been the case with whoever I am speaking with in Swaziland, what is a big thing to us here is almost a normal everyday thing down there its heartbreaking when you get to hear about the people behind the tragedy Sku who is already an orphan was telling me about his uncle who helped him out when he was in 5th year at school and had no money he was a well known and well liked teacher who taught IT and woodwork. Please pray for Sku and the uncles relatives.

Percy and Zwakele's uncle

Uncle is still sick he was sent all the way to Johannesburg for an operation for a blood clot on the brain. he really didn't want to go. He is now back in Swaziland but has again been rushed back into hospital. I will get a better update in the next couple of days.

problem with getting the borehole repaired

We have had a setback with getting the borehole at this soup kitchen repaired. We sent down 300 to get it fixed as this was the quotation, but the company have now said it will be double this because the hole is blocked and they will need a drilling rig. It is very difficult to know whether this is true or not, because they said nothing about this being a possibility when they first quoted. We have asked for a second quotation but its like pushing treacle uphill trying to get things done sometimes, its especially frustrating as it is so important to peoples health this is why Numsa has been so sick herself through drinking dirty water. We keep going.

Clothes for Orphans

We have had a request from Numsa for clothes for the Orphans and shoes so we have been busy this month sorting these out we are short of pants and socks for the kids which have to be new, but we have also been short of shoes so if anyone has any links or contacts for kids trainers or shoes please contact me very soon. ( please don't collect them over a few weeks and try to get them to us as the container will be gone and storage is a big problem). We are putting together clothing parcels for 200 orphans from 1 year old to 16 years. brett@africa-equip.org

Percy and Zwakele's uncle very sick

I just Spoke with Zwakele who told me she just got back from hospital from visiting her uncle who is very sick. He was admitted on Sunday and is delirious, with high temperature, vomiting and headache. His name is Nhlanhla which means good luck, he is the town clerk of Manzini. Please pray for him and his family at this time. Zwakele asks us to pray for him that he will get better and be able to go back to work, the three children are very upset.

Some of the Kids at Numsas food kitchen

These are some of the fortunate orphans in this district as they are fed one meal each day keeping many of them alive. Numsa and six other older lady's (Go go's) cook meals for up to 200 children, some might have both parents but be in dire poverty, some might have sick or dying parents,others might be orphaned once (one parent died), and many over 120,000 in a country the size of Wales, are twice orphaned often with not even aunty's or uncles to look after them. Many of these children are vulnerable to abuse both physical and sexual. They also sometimes cheated out of their inheritance by unscrupulous relations, or neighbours. One of the things that happens is children will leave their districts and head to the city's in search of food and a better prospects, sadly they often end up in worse situations. But meanwhile they will often loose the land of their parents and ancestors, to neighbours. So the work that the Go go's are doing by looking after the orphans in the areas they were brought up in, is not only keeping them alive, but ensuring that they keep the homesteads that they were born into. There are many ways that different groups are going about trying to help the overwhelming orphan population in Swaziland, we at Africa Equip feel this is a really important way, and so we try to do what we can to help the Go go's, to to help the vulnerable, in their communities.
A urgent recent request we have had from Numsa is for clothes, shoes, & blankets for these vulnerable children. So Zwakele Gindinza (Africa Equip coordinator in Swaziland) is organising for all the children to have there sizes for clothes and shoes taken so we can try to get some help with clothing parcels for them. We will make room in an already packed container as we believe this is so important. Also the building shown her behind the lady cleaning out the pot was completely destroyed in a fierce storm last Month.
We are currently getting quotes to find out how much it will cost to rebuild, (the pic of the storm damage on the left was taken at night so is not the best, but you can still see the results.) We know that she lets a number of the orphans sleep in the kitchen building on the floor her other buildings are already full of orphans just to keep them of the streets. But we have not heard of anyone being injured when it collapsed.
We currently are not involved with the costs of feeding these orphans. But would like to. We would also like to help set up a small school room the children are currently taught by drawing in the dirt with a stick.

If you feel inspired to help us organise the clothes parcels or the rebuilding of the kitchen, the regular food parcels or the future school. please contact us as soon as poss. Remember that no one made a greater mistake than the preson who did nothing because all he/she could do, was a little.!
Brett

brett@africa-equip.org

Numsas Results

Well this really is great news I called Dr Hynde today who reliably informed me she has neither cancer or a cyst in her womb. She has a bad infection in her bowel causing her to block up giving the feeling of a lump in her stomach. He has treated her with medicine and tablets and wants to see her twice more next week on Mon and Thurs. He said there is no need for any kind of operation. I do not know which clinic made the original diagnosis on Numsa I am only glad we never just raised funds sent them down and let them opperate. Just as a word of respect for Dr Hynde he is 84 years old (not out) and is a second generation missionary to Swaziland, his father founded the red cross in Swaziland, and he has lived there all his life. He was once the minister of health, his daughter Elizabeth is director of new hope orphanage. I was once asking a pastor if he had heard of Dr hynde "everyone knows Dr Hynde" he replied, "if you go to see Dr hynde and he ever tells you there is nothing that he can do for you, you go home and put your house in order, because if he cannot help you no one can!" I thought that was a great tribute to a great man. Isn't it important to say these things to people while they are alive not wait till their funerals,? and I did tell him this story a few weeks ago, and he laughed.

New Fridge Microwave & Toaster

The choir have taken delivery of their new fridge freezer. We had an anonymous donation and decided to use it to put this much needed equipment into the house.
they are really pleased and so thankful, their only fridge used to belong to Sku's mother she died over 10 years ago it was very small the door had no hinges so it had to be lifted on and of every time. The new one however is a 410 ltr Fridge Freezer Sku said you could fit 4 people inside it Unfortunately they have not had any electricity for 2 days.

Zwakele Is Appointed as Africa Equip's Coordinator for Swaziland

We are so proud to announce that Zwakele Faith Gindinza 23yrs old one of the lead singers with the Christ Worshippers Gospel Choir, has accepted to take on the role of coordinating the work of Africa Equip in Swaziland. This will indeed be a challenging role for her as she is completely blind. We have been so impressed by her character, faith and qualities, that we are in no doubt about her ability to rise to this challenge. It was only a few weeks ago when I was asking her if she had any thing that I could put into the prayer diary for people to be able to pray for her she said "I dont know of any thing", So I then asked her if there was one thing she wanted to ask God for what would she ask him for? there was a pause, and for a horrifying moment I thought should I have asked her that, what if she now says I would like to see?....... but what she said hit me even harder she said "I would like to work" I said to her God will provide you with work and much more. The position is currently is an unpaid role, and will not in any way affect her working with the choir.
Last week I was able to teach her how to write SMS TEXTs and I have already received two from her. This week I have been off work ill, and so I had some time to call her, and managed to teach her how to play the word game Scrabble, we sent down a version of the game in Braile last month she is now teaching the other members to play.
Please Pray for Zwakele.

Soup Kitchen damaged by heavy wind's

Numsa's kitchen was damaged last night by heavy wind's I spoke today to Samson her neighbour he's gone round this evening to see how bad it has been damaged he will take some pictures and send them to me. This is the kitchen that she uses to feed 200 orphans are everyday. Please pray for Numsa

Numsa is very sick

We heard a couple of months ago that Numsa who is a Gogo (an old lady) was sick but with many things going on the news got buried. But I called her last week to tell her the news that the money for her broken Borehole has been donated she was very pleased. She went on to tell me that she is now feeding up to 200 orphans daily she has six other lady's that help out. She grows vegetables on her garden and we know from when we paid a late visit to her house one night she provides shelter for a number of these children in her own little make shift buildings. She'd also told me that she was not feeling well, I asked her what was the problem she told me she had pains in her stomach and that she required an operation. This will cost 19,000 Rands I think she has either a cyst or a tumour and needs a hysterectomy. I have organized for her to go and see Dr. Hynde, so she's going to see him tomorrow morning at 9.00. please pray for Numsa.

problems with the new driver

I have heard only today that the choirs new driver is causing some difficulties. He is refusing to slow down when he is asked to do so and now he is getting angry. Only last week he went into the back of a car because he was going to fast, he had to go to court about it today, he has a amount of control over them as he says that they will have to drive themselves if he leaves. The Group need to make their own decision about what to do in this situation. please Pray for them.

mechanic steals tyres and exahust

Sadly after getting the bus back from the mechanic and all the hassle over having to pay him extra money, it turns out he has swapped over all the nearly new tyres on the minibus and replaced them with old duff ones. Also the exhaust needs to be replaced, quite likely for the same reason, He even put normal glass into one of the windows. We hope to get the tyres changed soon.

Choir now baking their own bread

Since spending 4 hours on the phone 6 weeks ago and teaching the members of the choir who are blind how to make bread, they have never brought any bread since. It has been a great success story, I spotted a Jamie Oliver recipe on the internet and thought I would have a go at teaching them. They loved the bread so much they said it was like being back in England. They ate the first loaf as soon as it came out of the oven before it had chance to cool down. They now just use the money they would have spent on bread to buy flour. They all take it in turns to cook and bake but apparently Percy seems to have the natural bakers touch. I have been reading up on how to build an oven made from clay to bake fresh bread in and also pizzas ( this is what I am planning to teach them next when we can afford the other ingredients).

Zwakele is not well

Please Pray again for Zwakele my worst nightmare is her ever catching TB again. ( she is well again after a couple of days)

The Kombi is back at the farm

Great News the Kombi is repaired after 7 months of being broken it is finally repaired. Sku travelled down in a taxi 2 hours to go and collect the kombi from the mechanic. He got back at about 11.00. Give thanks.

Problems Getting Kombi Yesterday

I called Sku this morning as I heard nothing from him yesterday about getting the Kombi back. When the choir got a quote from the mechanic he quoted R20,000 (= £1333) R15=£1. So the mechanic is now wanting an extra R3000 (£200). As the mechanic was chosen by the church who have put the Lions share towards the repair Percy has gone to see the pastor today to see what he says. Frankly I am surprised that he managed to repair the Kombi for that price, so not so surprised that he wants more. But it would have been better if he had said this before, as the cost of getting a taxi down to Sitegi and back (not sure of spelling) was about £40. We are quite tight at the moment in the account as all the bills for rent and food come out tomorrow. But I think we could go halves with the church helping out.
Its a beautiful morning this morning I went out early with Ann's brother Peter and his boys Eric and Pete we did about 25mile around the south Birmingham countryside it was really beautiful, we don't seem to get that many opportunities when the weather is so nice. I will sleep this afternoon.

New Strimmer for the Choir

Christ Worshippers Choir were given a gift/donation this week with which to purchase a industrial quality Strimmer or bush cutter as some call them. This is very important for them as Solomon house gardens are our responsibility to maintain. But the spin off from this is they have a tool which will be able to help them to carry out work for other people, this will be possible with some of the visually impaired members, and in fact one lady I was speaking with this week has been saving up to have someone to cut her overgrown garden, I told her about the choir getting a strimmer and she said they can go and cut her garden, so they have their first gardening contract. Give thanks to God for all his help.

Sku's Sister Died This Week

With all the things happening this week at Solomon house, it wasn't till I was talking with Sku this morning that he told me of his sister passing away on Monday. He is an orphan already, she was the daughter of his mothers sister and in Swazi culture this relation is your sister. She had TB for the second time, she had only had it for a week and called Sku last Sunday to ask him to visit her he did so on the Monday with Percy and Latie but sadly by the time they got there she had already died. Apparently TB when you get it again is drug resistaint and often fatal. She was only 22.

Kombi is repaired at Last!

At last after 5 months the badly damaged belonging to the Kombi (minibus) is finally repaired. a couple of the members Percy, and Sku, have met the new driver Ngulelego and travelled the 2-3 hour journey to go and collect it. I will post the after picture when I receive it. But you would not believe this would ever be fit to drive again. A local church paid £1000 and Africa equip the £300 balance to carry out the repair. we have also paid for the new driver to have proper training / driving lessons and he has passed his test and has a new liscence.

Robery update

We managed to get a carpenter yesterday to secure the door to the house with some steel brackets so the Choir slept well with no disturbances. They were asking about having Guard dogs or dog might be a good Idea as someone is there now all the time. There is a young lady there who is called Busisiwe (not sure if I have spelled that right She is sighted and able to help out with cleaning and looking after the children when the choir are singing. I had to laugh when I spoke to Sku yesterday, He asked me (babe = father or Dad) babe Brett, is it good for us to have weapons? I nearly died! immediately in my mind I thought of them with AK-47's and said well --not really Sku, he said no babe Brett, not guns, or Knives to poke in people, He said when we heard the noise of the door being broken we took the microphone stands you got for us!. I was very relieved, and said I would probably have done the same to protect my family.

Robbers at Solomon House

I had a call from Sikumbuzo last night at 11.00 uk time 12.00 Swazi time the girls were woken by the noise of the door being broken into they called the boys mobile phones and the thieves ran away for no apparent reason without taking anything. We are greatfull to God for His protection and care that no one was hurt neither anything stolen. The man staying on the farm did not come to help. The Police were very good and came quickly, the choir gave them drinks and fresh baked bread, and they nailed the door secure from inside tempoary. I stayed with them on the phone for a couple of hours and we prayed together and they were ok. The boys Sku and Percy went to bed very late. The security to the three doors is not very good and needs improving.

I Liked this one

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its décor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbour

Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here?

God must've made a mistake.

'And why's everyone so quiet,

So sombre - give me a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT.

Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian

any more than standing in your garage makes you a car .

Every saint has a PAST....

Every sinner has a FUTURE!

First words

I thought it was about time I set up a Blog as a means of keeping friends and family up to date with all the happenings of my work and ministry with Africa Equip + whatever else I am thinking about.here is a pic of Percy and myself doing an Interview at Birmingham Christian Centre Last Oct.