February 10-15
(Written on Saturday, February 15th)
Oh. My. Goodness. This has to be one of the craziest weeks of my life.
We arrived in Simons Town on Monday in the morning. We were given some time to spend with our PMGs. Leah, Nicole, and I walked around the town and checked out some shops and then went to this beach where there were dozens of PENGUINS. Real life penguins. Is was the coolest thing ever!
Tuesday. The 11th. I jumped out of a plane and fell 9,000 feet. It was so amazing. Probably one of the most experiences in my entire life.
Wednesday we had a beach day!! I boogie boarded and tanned all day. It was lovely.
Thursday we ventured to Cape point. It is the most south western point in Africa. We did a little hike and rock climbed around the light house a bit. It was really cool to just look out into the ocean forever.
Friday we had an optional hike, but I chose to go to the beach instead. It was ridiculously hot out that day, but the water was so freezing. So you were either burning from the sun or the ice water. In the evening we had a really nice worship time and for the rest of the night some of us just hung out on the beach which was really nice to watch the penguins and look at the ocean.
Today we are having a free day. I am currently writing this blog at some random backpackers cafe that has really good smoothies while watching young girls try to rollerblade across the street. It is quite a lovely day. And once I've posted this we are planning on going to lay on the beach and get nice and crispy!
And tomorrow we are headed to Strandfontein to meet our new host families for the week.
I've been struggling with being homesick and community drama so if you would pray for me and patience and love that would be wonderful. Miss you all dearly.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Kayamandi Projects
February 3-9
(Written on Sunday, February 9th)
On Monday the third we began our service projects. For my group that meant we needed to go to the hardware store and pick up materials. We got wood, sheet metal, and nails and yet we were over our budget so we all pitched in some cash and bought our supplies and headed to the cresche. We got to the school but we had no idea what we were going to do. So we were kind of just bouncing ideas around when Boy Boy comes to our rescue. He was a friend of the owner of the cresche and came to help us build our shade. We didn't have much time on Monday to begin our work so we just laid out a plan.
Tuesday we started working on the shade but Boy Boy said we needed some more help so he called Mike to come and help us. Thank goodness he did because Mike seemed to know everything about building and was able to practically put up the whole thing on his own with us just watching. I feel like make a building structure isn't like what you see on Homes with Holmes. It is a lot more difficult especially when you don't have the right lengths of wood for the tenth plan you created and the only ladders you have are a shaking old wooden one and a garbage bin. The roof may have fallen once or twice, or maybe even three time. And only two injuries occurred. But it was up. I didn't know for how long, but it was up. After our work day we went to False Bay to hit up the beach with whoever wanted to come from our work projects.
Wednesday we decided to go back to the hardware store to buy a few more beams of wood to support the structure better. I was sure it would have fallen down in the night, but it was still standing when we arrived so we got to work. What really amazed me was Mike's resourcefulness. He figured out a way to cut sheet metal with wire and a nail and instead of washers we used old beer bottle lids that were laying around. As we walked from our Kayasa, our base, to the cresche each day, Gugu, our leader, took us through the community and the homes. It's a very different lifestyle in Kayamandi compared to Canada. There's garbage all over the streets in piles upon piles. Its almost never ending. The homes are shacks and are made up of whatever bits of wood and random pieces of sheet metal people can find. Some homes look like they're about to fall down while others look more well kept and are even painted. Looking into the homes as we passed by most people were watching TV. They don't have toilets in their houses, but instead in cubicles dispersed in the area where they can lock it up so they are the only ones using it. There are community washing areas where people wash their clothes. I think this kind of lifestyle really encourages community building. As we walked by the homes and the people we would smile or say hello and they would graciously return the greeting. It was great getting to know Gugu, Zaneli, Mike, Boy Boy, along with others in the community. It was a very long and stretching week, but it was fun and a great learning experience. In the evening on Wednesday, we learnt how to "sooki." It is an Afrikaans version of swing dancing. It was lots of fun!
Thursday we spent the day doing some community building exercises with Greg Nate. We did an identity exercise where were asked to write things that define us and share with the group. We did a thing called "cross the line" where Greg would say a statement and if it describes you or something you've been through then you would cross the line. He also had us make cover stories about Outtatown with our small group. I wouldn't say it was my favourite day of the week, but it was interesting finding out more about myself with the different activities. That evening we had worship and for it we just laid on the yard and listened to music and reflected on the week and journaled and just rested. I spent some time reading Jeremiah and journaling.
Friday morning we debriefed with Johanne and watched a movie about Bono. In the afternoon we went wine tasting because Stellenbosch is known for their wineries. That night we had a girls/guys night. Us girls made cookies and fruit salad and watched He's Just Not That Into You. I fell asleep not even halfway through.
Saturday was a day of silence. I spent it journaling, napping, and tanning. After dinner we had small groups which I led. I talked about perspective.
And today we had church. It was so cool. The service felt just like home. The worship music was really good (and in English which was a plus) and the message was really interesting too! In the afternoon we went to a cricket game! Woo! It was so much fun! It was a really good day.
Tomorrow we are headed to Simons Town for a fun week!
(Written on Sunday, February 9th)
On Monday the third we began our service projects. For my group that meant we needed to go to the hardware store and pick up materials. We got wood, sheet metal, and nails and yet we were over our budget so we all pitched in some cash and bought our supplies and headed to the cresche. We got to the school but we had no idea what we were going to do. So we were kind of just bouncing ideas around when Boy Boy comes to our rescue. He was a friend of the owner of the cresche and came to help us build our shade. We didn't have much time on Monday to begin our work so we just laid out a plan.
Tuesday we started working on the shade but Boy Boy said we needed some more help so he called Mike to come and help us. Thank goodness he did because Mike seemed to know everything about building and was able to practically put up the whole thing on his own with us just watching. I feel like make a building structure isn't like what you see on Homes with Holmes. It is a lot more difficult especially when you don't have the right lengths of wood for the tenth plan you created and the only ladders you have are a shaking old wooden one and a garbage bin. The roof may have fallen once or twice, or maybe even three time. And only two injuries occurred. But it was up. I didn't know for how long, but it was up. After our work day we went to False Bay to hit up the beach with whoever wanted to come from our work projects.
Wednesday we decided to go back to the hardware store to buy a few more beams of wood to support the structure better. I was sure it would have fallen down in the night, but it was still standing when we arrived so we got to work. What really amazed me was Mike's resourcefulness. He figured out a way to cut sheet metal with wire and a nail and instead of washers we used old beer bottle lids that were laying around. As we walked from our Kayasa, our base, to the cresche each day, Gugu, our leader, took us through the community and the homes. It's a very different lifestyle in Kayamandi compared to Canada. There's garbage all over the streets in piles upon piles. Its almost never ending. The homes are shacks and are made up of whatever bits of wood and random pieces of sheet metal people can find. Some homes look like they're about to fall down while others look more well kept and are even painted. Looking into the homes as we passed by most people were watching TV. They don't have toilets in their houses, but instead in cubicles dispersed in the area where they can lock it up so they are the only ones using it. There are community washing areas where people wash their clothes. I think this kind of lifestyle really encourages community building. As we walked by the homes and the people we would smile or say hello and they would graciously return the greeting. It was great getting to know Gugu, Zaneli, Mike, Boy Boy, along with others in the community. It was a very long and stretching week, but it was fun and a great learning experience. In the evening on Wednesday, we learnt how to "sooki." It is an Afrikaans version of swing dancing. It was lots of fun!
Thursday we spent the day doing some community building exercises with Greg Nate. We did an identity exercise where were asked to write things that define us and share with the group. We did a thing called "cross the line" where Greg would say a statement and if it describes you or something you've been through then you would cross the line. He also had us make cover stories about Outtatown with our small group. I wouldn't say it was my favourite day of the week, but it was interesting finding out more about myself with the different activities. That evening we had worship and for it we just laid on the yard and listened to music and reflected on the week and journaled and just rested. I spent some time reading Jeremiah and journaling.
Friday morning we debriefed with Johanne and watched a movie about Bono. In the afternoon we went wine tasting because Stellenbosch is known for their wineries. That night we had a girls/guys night. Us girls made cookies and fruit salad and watched He's Just Not That Into You. I fell asleep not even halfway through.
Saturday was a day of silence. I spent it journaling, napping, and tanning. After dinner we had small groups which I led. I talked about perspective.
And today we had church. It was so cool. The service felt just like home. The worship music was really good (and in English which was a plus) and the message was really interesting too! In the afternoon we went to a cricket game! Woo! It was so much fun! It was a really good day.
Tomorrow we are headed to Simons Town for a fun week!
Stellenbosch & Sharks
January 19-26
(Written on Sunday, January 26th)
I feel like all we ever do is unpack, settle in, pack, move, repeat. It's tiring, but so much fun!
Last Sunday we started our trek from Johannesburg to Stellenbosch. It took us just 24 hours on the road. We spent the night in the desert at some one's farm sleeping under the stars. In the morning we woke up, and climbed a hill to watch the sun rise. It was such a beautiful experience. Monday evening we finally arrived at our destination, tired, sore, and grumpy.
Tuesday we had a free morning to relax and sleep laying down instead of sitting like we did on the bus. In the afternoon we went to Kayamandi, which is a township that first originated as a place for black men to stay during the apartheid while they worked in the city. We met our group leaders (my guide is named Gugu) and had a community scavenger hunt in our service groups. It was interesting to walk around and see all the different creches (kindergartens/preschools), schools, and organizations. In the evening we did a prayer walk around the community and went to see a choir. They were incredible singers! I was actually blown away by their singing. Literally, they sang so loudly and powerfully it took your breathe away. They even let us join in for a bit, which just made me realize my lack of rhythm and how white I actually am.
Wednesday we went back to Kayamandi to plan our service projects. I am going to be working at a creche and building them a shaded area for the kids to play. I am a little nervous about the project because we are planning it and doing it as well as trying to get the community involved. It should be an interesting and stretching week.
Thursday the 13th of January was a day for champions. I climbed Table Mountain. It was so hard and I didn't think I would make it, but just under two hours later I reached the top. Some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen in my life. And then we had to go back down and I almost died again. But I didn't! (Oh shout out to Naomi for struggling up that hill with me)
In the morning on Friday we learned how to play cricket. It was pretty fun and difficult. After lunch we packed up and headed for Cape Town. We stayed at a retreat place called Wortlegat near Stanford pretty much in the middle of nowhere. That evening we had small group and talked about sexism and feminism.
Saturday we woke up at 4:30 A.M. to drive to the coast to go... SHARK DIVING! It definitely was the most amazingly incredible experience of my life. I was in a cage. And the shark was literally only inches from me. He like slammed into the cage and everything. It was so unreal. I'm still awestruck just thinking about it. We spent the rest of the day on the beach body surfing and getting nice and burnt. It was the perfect day.
Today we had a relaxing morning and then drove back to Stellenbosch after lunch. We have a big week ahead of us with service projects and everything so I'm just planning on going for a walk and then hanging out for the rest of the night.
(Written on Sunday, January 26th)
I feel like all we ever do is unpack, settle in, pack, move, repeat. It's tiring, but so much fun!
Last Sunday we started our trek from Johannesburg to Stellenbosch. It took us just 24 hours on the road. We spent the night in the desert at some one's farm sleeping under the stars. In the morning we woke up, and climbed a hill to watch the sun rise. It was such a beautiful experience. Monday evening we finally arrived at our destination, tired, sore, and grumpy.
Tuesday we had a free morning to relax and sleep laying down instead of sitting like we did on the bus. In the afternoon we went to Kayamandi, which is a township that first originated as a place for black men to stay during the apartheid while they worked in the city. We met our group leaders (my guide is named Gugu) and had a community scavenger hunt in our service groups. It was interesting to walk around and see all the different creches (kindergartens/preschools), schools, and organizations. In the evening we did a prayer walk around the community and went to see a choir. They were incredible singers! I was actually blown away by their singing. Literally, they sang so loudly and powerfully it took your breathe away. They even let us join in for a bit, which just made me realize my lack of rhythm and how white I actually am.
Wednesday we went back to Kayamandi to plan our service projects. I am going to be working at a creche and building them a shaded area for the kids to play. I am a little nervous about the project because we are planning it and doing it as well as trying to get the community involved. It should be an interesting and stretching week.
Thursday the 13th of January was a day for champions. I climbed Table Mountain. It was so hard and I didn't think I would make it, but just under two hours later I reached the top. Some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen in my life. And then we had to go back down and I almost died again. But I didn't! (Oh shout out to Naomi for struggling up that hill with me)
In the morning on Friday we learned how to play cricket. It was pretty fun and difficult. After lunch we packed up and headed for Cape Town. We stayed at a retreat place called Wortlegat near Stanford pretty much in the middle of nowhere. That evening we had small group and talked about sexism and feminism.
Saturday we woke up at 4:30 A.M. to drive to the coast to go... SHARK DIVING! It definitely was the most amazingly incredible experience of my life. I was in a cage. And the shark was literally only inches from me. He like slammed into the cage and everything. It was so unreal. I'm still awestruck just thinking about it. We spent the rest of the day on the beach body surfing and getting nice and burnt. It was the perfect day.
Today we had a relaxing morning and then drove back to Stellenbosch after lunch. We have a big week ahead of us with service projects and everything so I'm just planning on going for a walk and then hanging out for the rest of the night.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)