Charlotte's Blog

Charlotte's Swaziland Diary

8 September 2006

I cannot believe that this year has flown by so quickly for me, I remember my parents talking about this move to Swaziland but no one ever believed that it would actually happen!

Its definitely going to be exciting but I can't help feeling a little nervous as I haven't a clue what to expect when I get there and also sad about leaving everyone who I have grown close to over this past year.

This will be an amazing new experience for all of us and hopefully I will appreciate what I do have in my life a lot more, as opposed to what little there is in Swaziland.

29 September 2006

Hello everyone reading this! I'm not really sure what to write to be honest as I feel that all I want to do now is be in Swaziland and start working with the children! But anyone reading this who has read my Mum and Dad's will all know by now that we have been in Cape Town.
The couple we stayed with were very hospitable and welcoming sharing their home with us. The house was right by the sea with waves constantly crashing onto the shore, every surfers dream!

We are now back in Johannesburg in Pretoria staying with the Spangenburg's they are also very hospitable opening up their home to us and letting us stay for longer than expected because we were supposed to leave for Swaziland the other day but confusion happened with our ride so we are getting a bus and leaving on the 30th.
So hopefully next time I write this blog we will be in Swaziland.

Bye for now, missing you all Char

24 October 2006

As many of you know, we are now in Bulembu. It's a very green place not as hot as expected because its in the valley but soon to change nearer Christmas time, a hot Christmas - weird!

I have now started to get involved with ABC ministry (abandoned babies for Christ). I am helping to teach the toddlers for an hour in the morning, it is slightly challenging and there are a few mischievous ones but it's fun because the more they get to know you, the more respect you gain from them and they begin to listen to you.

Last Monday I started to teach an art class to children aged 11 -15, a bit of an age gap compared to the toddlers but it's exciting. All responsibility has been given to me to be stern with the class and to prepare what they will do in a one-hour lesson.
It is difficult to come up with ideas that I can actually teach in my lesson, mainly because the school lacks hugely in their art supplies so much that I had to give out some type of graph paper and then the children flip it over so they can draw on the white side of it. I know with the right supplies the children could go far with their work as they have concentration to do so and they listen to you eventually. Any contributions would be very appreciated.

We are soon to be moving next door to ABC ministry, it's only a four-bedroom house but Dad has major plans to foster/adopt the whole of Bulembu (slight exaggeration but I suppose everyone kind of gets what I mean by that!)

That's it for now, you'll soon be hearing from me for next month's update!

Love Char xx

27 November 2006

Well November has been a crazy month, as we finally got settled into our new permanent house, which is really beginning to feel like a home now.

Mum and Dad went away for 2 weeks to Durban on a course to do with everything they are doing at the school and then I was left with Sian and Rachel for all that time.
Those 2 weeks did not go fast at all!

I have been continuing to help at ABC house with the toddlers and their schooling, a lot of patience is needed with them and its almost running out, so I am happy to be returning to England to refuel my batteries as it were. It will be great to spend time with Michael and Victoria and with other family members.

Mum and Dad are working non-stop to get everything done for the school before we leave on the 29th, so lets hope when we are back in England they can relax a little before having to face the mayhem again!

At the moment I am thinking of what to do next year as Dad wants me to become a monitor for the school and that would be a full time commitment, so I have to make a decision of what to do. As much of a challenge the toddlers can be I still think I have a commitment to them. There is already someone who is more experienced than me who teaches the toddlers but she is leaving in January so I may be needed to take full responsibility for schooling them.

I think this pretty much covers November, hope to see you all soon if not have a great Christmas.

Blessings,

Char x x x

29 January 2007

Umm well what does someone say when they are being forced to write a blog, I'm sure I'm the only 18 year old in the world who has to do this!

Ok December, well we were back in England for most of it and it was good to spend time with friends and family, Christmas was Christmas and we were back in Swaziland for new years and that went how new years go for me every year, which was basically not doing much, so it was fun!

January - well my parents have been busy preparing for the new opening of the School, Sian and Rachel are putting all their time into the community centre and enjoying every moment of it, except Sian is not too happy at the moment as she has to stay home because she has impetigo.

Me well I am continuing to help Talitha, schooling the toddlers, but the time has now come for her to leave. I always knew she was going to leave and now I have been officially asked to take her place and run the whole thing. So only time will tell if I can cope with 9 little people (smaller than me, would you believe it) who don't listen to me, abuse me and call me yar yar. If it's not meant to be then it's not meant to be I suppose.

What else have I been up to? Well I went up to a Swazi's house with mum, dad and two friends for a braai, pap and other salad foods, we had to eat with our hands so that was an experience I suppose and one thing we all did after the meal was dance! The worst thing about that was seeing both my parents dance, that is one thing a child should NEVER experience.

Well I think that covers it for this month, don't forget to tune in for next months update, I'll let you know how the toddler thing is getting on and don't worry Victoria and Lucy I will certainly drag you into helping me with that, I'm sure it has to be better than Pall!

Oh by the way, my mum delivered a baby on the grass the other day! The cord was wrapped round it's neck but it survived because the cord was cut in time.

Bye for now

Char x

6 April 2007

March has been a normal month for me. I have just been schooling the
toddlers for an hour and a half everyday. Since my last blog I have to say
the toddlers have been slightly easier to handle but you do have your off
days where all of them misbehave.

Recently I started going down to the pre-school with Ben (one of the
children I teach) I can't really call him a toddler because he is 6 and a
half. He was always referred to as a toddler because he was treated like one
and thought to have severe special needs but since being in the pre-school
and interacting with children older than 3, you can really see a change in
him especially on the emotional side of things. I am now not needed to
escort Ben anymore because he has fitted in so well with everything and
everyone there.

With Ben gone that leaves me teaching 8 children but in the next week I am
also losing Freddie and Joy two toddlers in my class, who are being adopted.
Although it's sad that they are leaving it's also really good news, as it
gives them a chance for life outside of ABC, giving them a family of their
own. That will leave me with only 6 toddlers left! But I may increase in
numbers as the babies in ABC seem to grow up so quickly.

My sister joined us along with her 2 friends and 1 of my friends; they all
arrived on March 21st so it has been good to have them around. Although the
house has been crowded at times, life is never dull in the Skinner family.

Until next time

God Bless

Char x

28 January 2008

January a new year has begun. January has gone so quickly. I can’t believe that I will be back in England in just over 20 days, time goes so fast. I have decided that I will be staying in England after my sister’s wedding; it was a tough decision for me to make but with Gods help I was able to have confirmation and peace that I had made the right decision.

I know I’m really going to miss Bulembu Swaziland, especially the children in the home where I have been working for the past year, it’s been amazing to see how a child can grow and change with good food, love and seeing the love of Jesus in those who look after them.
At the moment there are 14 toddlers in the class that I teach. The number has doubled since I first started.

Even though I wouldn’t have said this 16 months ago, I’ve really enjoyed being in Swaziland.
Living in such a small town with no amenities has been very difficult at times as you are surrounded by beautiful mountains and only 2 dirt roads to get out. But Bulembu is a loveable place and it grows on you. I have to say Swaziland has changed me and I believe for the better so I am thankful that God put my family in this place.

Now that I will be leaving Bulembu I know I will return one day so look forward to seeing the continual progress it makes.

This is my last Blog from Swaziland for now!

Charlotte

Previous entries