MCV would like to welcome new staff members to our team!  Justin and Jeanie Hulley joined us in August to prepare to cover the directors’ position while Jean and Teisa itinerated in America.  They are originally from Cape Town, South Africa, and completed the Iris Harvest School in Mozambique just before coming to work with us for a time.  Dea Walker joined us in September and is now the coordinator of education at MCV as well as the director of our after-school program.  She is from Frazier Park, California, and has taught in American schools for 22 years.  Lastly, we have Myrinda Warner with us for a six week missions trip—she is currently a missionary to New Orleans, Louisiana, helping to pioneer a new church there.  These wonderful additions have been a great blessing to MCV with their unique abilities and talents, and the children have so enjoyed getting to know each of them!

The colourful flash of shiny chromed BMW motorcycles roared into Michaels Childrens Village on Saturday, October 30.  To the children, they made the most perfect roar as they rolled in!  They were enthralled by this amazing motorcycle show that was presented by the BMW Owners Club of Pretoria. The riders were generous hearted people who came to lavish our children with beautiful gifts.
After viewing, touching, and sitting on the large assortment of BMW motorcycles, the children presented a program of worship songs and a traditional dance to thank the motorcyclists.  Their beautiful voices were under the direction of Florence and Pretty, two of our talented South African volunteers.
Then the party began!  The children were given lovingly selected and wrapped Christmas presents by the BMW bikers.  The motorcyclists also brought huge donations of clothes, linens, school and office supplies along with an appreciated financial gift.  Here is a story we would like to share about one of our little boys:  A while back, one of our staff members found three plastic riding motorcycles that all the boys rode even after all the wheels fell off.  One of our little ones (age 3) loved the motorcycles and was very sad when the last one broke down as he did not get a chance to ride it very much. When the BMW Bikers visited, they brought one brand new red toy motorcycle with this little boy’s name on it, without even knowing his story—God indeed cares about the small things!
The fun hit its peak with motorcycle rides—the children and house parents had wide smiles and shining eyes as they zoomed by, sitting behind these highly skilled bikers.  It was a carnival-like day full of music, rides, and laughter.  We have such gratitude for the work of the BMW Owners Club of Pretoria.  They have truly blessed our children!

Imagine being a child who has never gone shopping for clothing before.  Now think about the excitement when you have been invited to shop for an entire outfit!  Now imagine 28 children receiving that opportunity in a huge Jet clothing store.  On September 23, Nashua-Jet sponsored that kind of shopping spree in Nelspruit for Michaels Childrens Village.

The children, with wonderment in their eyes, went into the store where loving volunteers were waiting to assist them—so many shoes, jeans, tops, skirts, and other items to choose from…what is a wide-eyed child to do?  Each of them received 225 rand to shop for their own clothing.  Many of the children turned out to be smart shoppers and ended up with extra items such as hats, tops, etc.

Nashua-Jet sponsors then took all of us to Kingdom Kids School where we were served a delicious 5-star lunch of chicken sandwiches (made with fresh baked rolls and chicken breasts), chips, and soda.  We all felt as if we had been given food from the King’s table.  The children talked about the sandwiches and chips for a long time!  Laughter filled the air as our children jumped in the bounce house and rollicked in a play yard full of equipment.  They beamed as they were called from the yard to receive more gifts from other sponsors.  Miss Earth arrived to hand out South African backpacks and gift bags full of presents from C-cell and Nashua-Jet. There were even huge donations of new items and supplies for MCV. The Nashua/Jet companies did an amazing job of bringing in many other contributors that blessed our children.

Michaels Children’s Village was a place of celebration that afternoon, complete with style shows, kite flying, toy car races, and doll hugging.  We are so thankful to the Nashua/Jet Companies for putting together such a spectacular day!