A Computer Lab in Amatongas

Thirty used, but very nice, computers arrived in Amatongas yesterday with great fanfair. Thanks to our friends in Spain at ATM (Friends of the Third World) for this incredible donation to our students in Amatongas. I can't imagine there being too many schools in Mozambique with computer labs this nice. We are indeed blessed. We also want to thank our school in Rome, Cristo Rei, for providing the funds to renovate the classrooms with new lighting, electrical outlets, windows and painting. All we need now is to get the internet hooked up. We have only been waiting for the new internet since January.

The truck finally arrives

The driver thought he would have to unload this himself.

Resident students helping to unload

The new lab with 30 computers

The Annual Dry Season Post



Four swings were finally added to the playground



Boarders enjoying soccer on the basketball court

Expanding the farm and doubling the size from last year

Yes, this part of Africa does have an annual dry season, but this is getting a little out of hand. I have been saying for the last few weeks that it hasn't rained in three months, so I can make that four months now I guess. I could use that as my excuse for not posting an update for a while. I was just waiting for the rains to come. Unfortunately, that is a terrible excuse and who knows when it will rain again.

Speaking of the rain, or lack of it, the dry weather has really caused many difficulties around here. Our 20 year old bore hole and 50 year old water tank is on its last leg. The security guard can only turn the pump on two hours at a time, letting it rest the next two hours, because the water level has to return to sufficient level for the pump to operate. We have been trying to find a better water source with very little luck. Water is now being rationed. I also hear the women are lining up at 4:00 AM to pump water for their family each day.

The Old Bore Hole struggles to keep up with demand

We found this old, dry bore hole site in our vegetable garden

This 50 year old tank also struggling and has many leaks

Drillers attempt to find water twice with no luck

Our first big litter of 10 piglets

A Backyard Adventure in Amatongas

There was no way I could adequately cover this volunteer trip in one blog post so you will have to put up with a few more.

I knew from the beginning the kids would love the new playground, but I wasn't prepared for such a response. Since the completion last week there is not a second when the playground isn't full kids. It's almost like they have never seen a swing before, which is probably not far from the truth, certainly not a tire swing or rock wall.

Thank you once again Chuck and Amy Saia at Backyard Adventures in Baton Rouge. You will never fully realize the impact of your gift to these kids. I know you will appreciate the smiling faces in these pictures.

One minute there's 20 and the next there's 30-40 

Some are just not sure about the rock wall

Tire swing is a huge hit, just need 10 more

Still waiting on sand for the sand boxes...

...and one more beam for more swings

HIA group is welcomed by the dancing group at the primary school

Thanks again to the HIA volunteers who built the playground.

We Love Our Volunteers

We love our volunteers! Nine young people from the Baton Rouge, La. area arrived here in Amatongas a few weeks ago and spent 12 days working on many projects. Their time here will be remembered for many years to come because it was not just about the projects. The volunteers were able to build lasting friendships with our students and the children of Amatongas. We hope the volunteers felt our welcome and thankfulness for their work and for the joy they brought and spread throughout our little village. Here are just a few pictures from their visit. I will post more pictures in a few days.

I have written before about our relationship with Health Initiatives Abroad (HIA). The group of volunteers from HIA put together a blog about their visit with us and you can read it by clicking here http://www.hiabroad.org/mission-amatongas.html. We know that HIA would not be able to do such great work without help. Thank you to everyone who make their mission possible.


The first of many welcomes at the primary school

A great big thank you goes to Chuck and Amy Saia at Backyard Adventures in Baton Rouge. Chuck is my classmate from Catholic High, 1984. Chuck and Amy also sponsor one of our orphans, Timoteo. Chuck and Amy donated all the equipment needed to build the playground. The playground is the first in Amatongas and the only playground I have seen in the whole area. Many kids have basically lived at the playground since its construction and I will post more pictures soon.

Many spectators for the playground project



The playground makes a statement for the area

The volunteers also taught health classes in the primary school. They were able to give the students toothbrushes and toothpaste and also demonstrated proper ways of cleaning teeth and wounds. Thanks again for all those people that donated these supplies.

Donated health supplies, toothpaste and toothbrushes

The volunteers brought donated soccer equipment and uniforms. Another big thank you goes to Bo Cassidy, Catholic High Soccer team and the Brother Martin soccer team for donating uniforms, balls and shoes. For the first time our students put on real cleats to play soccer. It was awesome to see.

Donated soccer equipment

The volunteers received a huge welcome after Sunday Mass

Painting the primary school brings many friends

The volunteers ate their lunch and supper with the boarders

The volunteers take a break to do a little hiking in the area

HIA Volunteers on the day of arrival

 Finally, thank you Michael, Chip, Knox, Anthony, Blake, Cristina, Trey, Kelsey, and Randy for sharing your joy, energy and hearts with us. We will never forget you.

New Look to School Thanks to África Directo and Fundación Profesor Uría

Boarding students show off new sign thanking
África Directo and Fundación Profesor Uría

Finally, the painting is just about completed after the front and back of school were completed this past week.  Carpentry work continues on the library and teacher work room. Thanks again to the great people at África Directo and Fundación Profesor Uría for their help in revitalizing our school. As you can see from the pictures, the students are incredibly happy with the new school and want to show their appreciation and thankfulness for all that has been done so far.

Sign placed on the side of the school building

Back of dorm and school with new paint

Front of school after new paint

Students show their appreciation to 
África Directo and Fundación Profesor Uría

Birthdays, Soccer and Farm Update

Every two months we take time out to celebrate our resident students birthdays in a special way. Last week we celebrated 12 birthdays with cake, soft drinks and the always special Mardi Gras beads.

Happy Birthday to our April and May birthdays

All you really need is a coke for a party

Birthday boys sporting Mardi Gras beads

The birthday boys love the beads so much
that they wear them for weeks after

The brothers help sponsor the hugely anticipated soccer league that began play last week and will continue for the next few months. Our resident students are wearing new uniform tops provided by our community of brothers in Brazil.

Resident student soccer teams with uniforms donated from Brazil

Our soccer field

 We began harvesting the beans on the farm last week. This process will take a few weeks to complete and hopefully provide enough beans for the remainder of the year and maybe even some to sell at the market.

Our beans close to harvest

 Our new vegetable garden showed its first benefits to the resident student dinning table this past week. We are presently growing tomato's, cabbages, onions, and something like collared greens/spinach called "couve". This great addition to the farm will hopefully save us much money and time spent buying these items every day.

New vegetable garden

Our latest goat

Video Update from Amatongas

Confirmation and New Light

At the end of his week long visit to Amatongas Bishop Francisco Silota confirmed a group of parishioners including 3 of our resident students.

The full church on confirmation day. Notice that we are missing
two statues where the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary should be.

Bishop Silota confirms one of our resident students

Bishop with resident students and sponsors

Bro. Lucas and Bro. Fabian sponsored two of the residents.

Also, more new lighting was installed in the last week making the night school in Amatongas a little easier to navigate.

New lighting of the resident student stairway

School walkway at night, now lit up.

Future infirmary with new lights

Resident students enjoy new lights