Report on South Africa Delegation

South Africa Delegation Report

	Rita Nohner is a long-time parishioner of SJA and considers St. Joan of Arc her spiritual home. She enjoys being involved in the Bible Study, Soup Suppers, Team Oz and international ministries. Rita's passions are traveling and photography. She and her husband Jeff have a small photography and video business which keeps them both very busy. She can be reached at rita@lifeimagellc.com.

On Wednesday, May 17th members of the most recent delegation to Guguletu, South Africa were joined by Reverend Spiwo Xapile of Guguletu for a presentation in the SJA Gym to interested parishioners. Webphotographer and former delegate Rita Nohner captured these pictures for us.

For the full story of the most recent trip, see the delegation’s report, which can be found at www.stjoan.com/er6/sa/sa.htm. From there you will find an additional link where you can learn more about Rev. Xapile and the J.L. Zwane Church and Community Center.

Jim Cassidy opens the evening with a reading from Marianne Williamson

Ric Rossow and Vicki Underland-Rossow created a slide show, set to music, using photos provided by various members of the most recent delegation. The music and photos were a moving and beautiful way to tell the story of the trip. A small version of the SJA choir helped us begin and end the evening with music

Six members of the delegation picked a favorite photo, which was displayed on the screen as they told the story behind the image. Terri Ackland describes the experience of “funeral day” in Gugulethu. JoAnn Parsons tells the audience about the Mother Bear Project and the wonderful reception the knit teddy bears received from both children and adults.

Christopher Hermann and his beaded zebra. On the screen are two of the women who work in the beading cooperative. He pointed out to us the fact that the woman on the left holds her artwork in her far hand so she can show off her cell phone, a sign of her increasing success and independence, in the hand closest to the camera. Pat Murphy tells a heart rending story of visiting an AIDS center and having a mother offer her daughter to Pat, telling her to “take the child home to America where she will have a better chance to live a healthy life.”

Vicki Underland-Rossow shows a photo of the lush garden growing in Malungeni, a poor village in the Transkei region of South Africa. Funds from previous delegations and a silent auction were used, in part, to purchase fencing so the villagers can grow crops. Previous attempts at farming were stymied by animals trampling and eating whatever they managed to grow. It is amazing to think that something as simple as fencing can make such a tremendous difference in the lives of people. Two members of Siyaya, asked to perform an impromptu song, bring the audience to their feet with their powerful and heartfelt singing.

Rev. Spiwo Xapile, pastor of J.L. Zwane Church in Gugulethu, South Africa.

Ric Rossow and Vicki Underland-Rossow, who put in much hard work creating the slide show and organizing the wonderful evening. Terrific job!

This photographer with the star of the evening, Rev. Spiwo Xapile.

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Jim Cassidy opens the evening with a reading from Marianne Williamson


Ric Rossow and Vicki Underland-Rossow created a slide show, set to music, using photos provided by various members of the most recent delegation. The music and photos were a moving and beautiful way to tell the story of the trip.	A small version of the SJA choir helped us begin and end the evening with music


Six members of the delegation picked a favorite photo, which was displayed on the screen as they told the story behind the image. Terri Ackland describes the experience of “funeral day” in Gugulethu.	JoAnn Parsons tells the audience about the Mother Bear Project and the wonderful reception the knit teddy bears received from both children and adults.


Christopher Hermann and his beaded zebra. On the screen are two of the women who work in the beading cooperative. He pointed out to us the fact that the woman on the left holds her artwork in her far hand so she can show off her cell phone, a sign of her increasing success and independence, in the hand closest to the camera.	Pat Murphy tells a heart rending story of visiting an AIDS center and having a mother offer her daughter to Pat, telling her to “take the child home to America where she will have a better chance to live a healthy life.”


Vicki Underland-Rossow shows a photo of the lush garden growing in Malungeni, a poor village in the Transkei region of South Africa. Funds from previous delegations and a silent auction were used, in part, to purchase fencing so the villagers can grow crops. Previous attempts at farming were stymied by animals trampling and eating whatever they managed to grow. It is amazing to think that something as simple as fencing can make such a tremendous difference in the lives of people.	Two members of Siyaya, asked to perform an impromptu song, bring the audience to their feet with their powerful and heartfelt singing.


Rev. Spiwo Xapile, pastor of J.L. Zwane Church in Gugulethu, South Africa.


Ric Rossow and Vicki Underland-Rossow, who put in much hard work creating the slide show and organizing the wonderful evening. Terrific job!


This photographer with the star of the evening, Rev. Spiwo Xapile.