Report from African Project Supported by Bristol Parish
The African project helping AIDS orphans that is supported by Bristol’s
oldest Catholic Church, St Mary-on-the-Quay received a VIP guest.
Father Gaby Faimau SVD tells us more:
Accompanied by staff from the American Embassy in Botswana, Carol Thompson a top rank officer from the USA Department of Foreign Affairs visited our children of the Lesang Bana Care Centre. Our children gathered in the centre at 8.00 am. Our visitors came one hour later. Mr. Ishvaran, a member of Lions Club International also came and he presented a proposal for the extension of the Lesang Bana Care Centre.
These visitors spent nearly two hours with the kids. It was just so beautiful when our children performed some items of entertainment.
Currently there are 15 volunteers taking care of our Kids Club children. This morning one of our volunteers shared her experiences being with the Lesang Bana kids. The sharing of Pearl Magashula, a 19 year old, who just finished form five was so moving that everybody was very quiet just to listen to every word said by this young girl. I would like to quote the whole sharing of Pearl Magashula one of our very talented volunteers in the Lesang Bana Care Centre.
“Working with the children of the Lesang Bana Care Centre has been an upward spiraling journey of self-discovery. It has helped me envision the complete human being that I one day wish to become. At first I did not understand what drove me to these beautiful children, what prompted me to give up my Saturday afternoons and the life of a normal teenager and devote all my heart and soul to our Kids Club. But I grew to realise that it was because of exactly that, Lesang Bana kids are beautiful.
I remember back when I was in school, my friends and I used to look forward to the weekend, but for completely different reasons, my friends looked forward to the parties the weekend was sure to offer and I looked forward to walking towards the gate of our Church compound and hearing the kids chant, “Pearl! Pearl! Pearl!” I mean who wouldn’t want to stick with people who showed that much appreciation of them?
“I look forward, and still do, to the trust in their eager eyes as they hang on to every word I say, idolising me and wishing with all their hearts they could be something like me. Isn’t that what we all want? To have somebody want to be like us? To have somebody show just how worthy we are? These children have taught me that patience is a virtue not only crocodiles possess but a virtue we can all cultivate and grow within ourselves, a virtue that will not only ensure that you never walk alone but also a virtue that will help you appreciate you and your efforts.
“Lesang Bana has brought me friendships that will last beyond this world; it has brought me the greatest friends. It gave me Kutlwano, who has taught me that a smile is always in good taste, Pako, who as taught me that you can keep going long after you can’t, George, who has taught me that life is a dance floor and that you are free to choose which tune you want to dance to. It gave me Father Gaby who has been a friend, a mentor and a father, somebody to look to for a good laugh, a good lesson and a shoulder to cry on. I mean, what more can I ask for.
“Lesang Bana has taught me many more lessons but to cover all of them would require a good couple of years. I just wanted to share with you why I am sticking with Lesang Bana for good. Thank you.”
All of our Lesang Bana Kids Club volunteers are young people. It was only Pearl who shared what she has been experiencing in our centre. However, I believe that our volunteers have the same experiences. After the sharing of Pearl, our kids presented a beautiful traditional dance. Again one may learn that life is a dance floor and you are free to choose your own tune. This visit put again this centre in the map. I thank my volunteers for their hard work. I thank Lesang Bana Board members for assisting the children and me faithfully. I thank you also my dear friends for your tireless and endless support. Now let the children dance on the same floor of life.
Father Gaby Faimau SVD
Accompanied by staff from the American Embassy in Botswana, Carol Thompson a top rank officer from the USA Department of Foreign Affairs visited our children of the Lesang Bana Care Centre. Our children gathered in the centre at 8.00 am. Our visitors came one hour later. Mr. Ishvaran, a member of Lions Club International also came and he presented a proposal for the extension of the Lesang Bana Care Centre.
These visitors spent nearly two hours with the kids. It was just so beautiful when our children performed some items of entertainment.
Currently there are 15 volunteers taking care of our Kids Club children. This morning one of our volunteers shared her experiences being with the Lesang Bana kids. The sharing of Pearl Magashula, a 19 year old, who just finished form five was so moving that everybody was very quiet just to listen to every word said by this young girl. I would like to quote the whole sharing of Pearl Magashula one of our very talented volunteers in the Lesang Bana Care Centre.
“Working with the children of the Lesang Bana Care Centre has been an upward spiraling journey of self-discovery. It has helped me envision the complete human being that I one day wish to become. At first I did not understand what drove me to these beautiful children, what prompted me to give up my Saturday afternoons and the life of a normal teenager and devote all my heart and soul to our Kids Club. But I grew to realise that it was because of exactly that, Lesang Bana kids are beautiful.
I remember back when I was in school, my friends and I used to look forward to the weekend, but for completely different reasons, my friends looked forward to the parties the weekend was sure to offer and I looked forward to walking towards the gate of our Church compound and hearing the kids chant, “Pearl! Pearl! Pearl!” I mean who wouldn’t want to stick with people who showed that much appreciation of them?
“I look forward, and still do, to the trust in their eager eyes as they hang on to every word I say, idolising me and wishing with all their hearts they could be something like me. Isn’t that what we all want? To have somebody want to be like us? To have somebody show just how worthy we are? These children have taught me that patience is a virtue not only crocodiles possess but a virtue we can all cultivate and grow within ourselves, a virtue that will not only ensure that you never walk alone but also a virtue that will help you appreciate you and your efforts.
“Lesang Bana has brought me friendships that will last beyond this world; it has brought me the greatest friends. It gave me Kutlwano, who has taught me that a smile is always in good taste, Pako, who as taught me that you can keep going long after you can’t, George, who has taught me that life is a dance floor and that you are free to choose which tune you want to dance to. It gave me Father Gaby who has been a friend, a mentor and a father, somebody to look to for a good laugh, a good lesson and a shoulder to cry on. I mean, what more can I ask for.
“Lesang Bana has taught me many more lessons but to cover all of them would require a good couple of years. I just wanted to share with you why I am sticking with Lesang Bana for good. Thank you.”
All of our Lesang Bana Kids Club volunteers are young people. It was only Pearl who shared what she has been experiencing in our centre. However, I believe that our volunteers have the same experiences. After the sharing of Pearl, our kids presented a beautiful traditional dance. Again one may learn that life is a dance floor and you are free to choose your own tune. This visit put again this centre in the map. I thank my volunteers for their hard work. I thank Lesang Bana Board members for assisting the children and me faithfully. I thank you also my dear friends for your tireless and endless support. Now let the children dance on the same floor of life.
Father Gaby Faimau SVD
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