The Anglican church that the Cheethams attend has a mission church in one of the very rural villages outside Phalaborwa.  This tribal village is called Mashishimale and the chief of the village gave about five acres of land to St. Mary's Anglican Church for their use.  Erika has been coming out to the area once a week with the Rector's wife to serve lunch to the children of the village--probably the only nutritious meal they get.  When we turned off the highway, it was very moving to see the children had been waiting to see the car and they began running towards the tree about a half mile away where the soup would be served.

They lined up quickly and said a long prayer in their own language.  There were over a hundred children this day, but sometimes it is twice that number.

Here are Erika and Isobel dishing up.  They serve a thick vegetable meat soup and whole wheat bread.  The meat and the bread are donated and the church buys the vegetables.  Isobel prepares it each week and brings it in five gallon buckets.

Many of the children sit right down and eat.  They scoop with their fingers just as they would eat the normal mealies (grits) that they have at home.

They love to have their pictures taken--especially the older boys.

The children waited in line nicely, but it was almost impossible to get a candid shot--they all turned and posed.

These three hams were the worst--they followed me around and tried to jump into every shot I aimed.  We don't know what the hands mean--probably a version of 'We're number one' !!