Day 3, Day 1.5 on the house build:

Firstly it is with sincere apologies that we write with our first update at this first stage.This has been due to some technical difficulties in getting a connection with the internet.

So here we go:

Day 1 - Monday 22nd Sept:

The team (unfortunately with exception of Nigel who is presently in transit) has spent the first day from 9:00 - 17.30 travelling in a back of a lorry distributing food around the region.This was a most rewarding experience.Being crammed in the back of the inclosed lorry with the food, no windows and a few locals we picked up along the way, was offset by the overwhelming gratitude from the recipients.

Nigel has arrived.

Day 2 - Tuesday 23rd Sept

Woke at 6.00 in anticipation of our first day.Met with Baba Elliott at 7am to load materials onto the lorry.Once loaded part of the team drove to site whilst the others followed behind.Upon arrival the foundations where found to be completed and the team relieved to see the presence of motorised equipment - a cement mixer.Unfortunately all too soon the realisation hit home that this was not to be used as the teams were put to their building task and split into teams, some mixing concrete by hand whilst the others moved the concrete breeze blocks to the work area.Although it took awhile (Africa Time is needed to be experienced to be believed) to get going we finally started laying blocks at mid morning under the watchful eye of Big Boss Baba Elliott and his men.

During the day the future owner / occupier came to extend her gratitude and was delighted by our progress.Some of the less hard working team members played football with the children despite their football being slightly deflated (had four plasters holding it together).

Truck driver Nigel was called upon (for his great sense of direction and adventure) by Baba Elliott to catch a bull!

The day ended up being driven home on the back of a lorry with the local builders singing traditional Zulu songs.

All in bed by 9pm due to exhaustion.

Day 3 - Wednesday 24th Sept

Another early start despite it being a national bank holiday for which our request to work was accommodated albeit for half a day.As yesterday we proceeded to site at 7am and commenced the mixing of mortar and distributed around the work area.Since the team was only able to work until midday we chose not to have our mid morning break and carried on working - much to the amusement of the local Zulu workers.Although we only had a short working period, the work output for the day was greatly improved upon on the first day and blockwork completed to window sill level.

The previously mentioned team members gave a Brookfield Football to the children for which they appeared overawed and very thankful.

After work we were invited to have dinner with the 73 orphaned children.We were greeted by a number of over excited children very pleased to see us, who proceeded to individually pick a team member off!Dinner was proceeded by prayers and the first (welcomed) silence of the evening.The team members then went and sat on a table with the children to join them for dinner which consisted of rice and chicken and a lot of destruction.

After a very hectic almost apocalyptic dinner the children then grabbed their team member to enthusiastically show the team members their bedrooms, living areas etc.Part of the team was then privileged to witness a performance from the children of the crèche.

Team is now (20:20) heading for bed.