"Watermelon seed spitting contest, using raisin-sized hardened pellets of antelope dung instead"

This is one in a series of posts from the six Kentuckians volunteering at the first ever overseas Reading Camp this year in Grahamstown, South Africa. Bishop Stacy Sauls, Ginger Sauls (teacher), Mary Jane Amick (nurse), and three counselors (Drew Eclov, Connor Egan, and Vibh Forsythe) have joined the South Africans on the Reading Camp team for an overnight camp at the Assegaai Trails Conference Center.

Brother Timothy relates a wonderful story today that is another Reading Camp "Alleluia Moment." Greeting all the children as they came in for breakfast, he talked to a little boy named Cheslyn and said "You must be so excited...you get to go to the Game Reserve this morning and see all the animals!" Instead of the happy, anticipatory response he expected, Brother Timothy says Cheslyn instead looked crestfallen and asked glumly

"But what about the centers? Don't we get to read this morning??"

Cheslyn was assured that he would go to some of the centers before we left and the rest when we returned, and that not one moment's reading would be lost. Amen. Alleluia.

The game reserve trip, by the way, was fabulous for all. After a rather cold and blustery day yesterday, it turned out this morning was perfect. It was still a little cool and windy, but all bundled up a bit and, in the brilliant sunshine, none were cold. From our open top vehicles we saw (up close) giraffes, a rhino, deer and antelope of a number of varieties and monkeys swinging in the bushes as we passed by slowly. A special treat was viewing a hippo out of the water munching grass. We were told by the guide that this was a very rare daytime sighting. We gave the hippo a good deal of space, being told that he is actually the most dangerous animal on the reserve, with the ability to easily bite a human in half with one bite. We also spotted several cape buffaloes, at first from a distance, and then, a bit disconcertingly, closer and closer as one followed us and for a time was actually getting rather close to our back bumper. And, finally, the children enjoyed the local version of a watermelon seed spitting contest, using raisin-sized hardened pellets of antelope dung instead. All names will be omitted to protect the guilty (or simply the crazy), but it was an adult who won first prize, and at least one Kentuckian was seen participating.

The progress being made by the children with their English and their reading is amazing, and their determination and willingness to try anything inspiring. They are all beautiful, joyous, generous and amazingly polite.

We all are thinking of you much and thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

-Volunteer Mary Jane Amick is a nurse from St. Martha's Episcopal Church in Lexington, KY who is a part of the South African Reading Camp staff and a member of the Reading Camp Steering Committee.