grandma, dont freak out

...BUT I GOT MY NOSE PIERCED!!!

Look closely and you will see the tiny blue stud in my right nostril.

I love it!

the final days

Since I last wrote I had my final weekend with Lucy and Clive. This exhausting experience ended up being a wonderful and challenging one filled with hilarious memories I don't think I can ever erase from my memory. I will always remember listening to Lucy's stories, how Clive had to walk us to the church, the delicious food she made, playing cards with her grandson, Lucy and Clive's "arguments" and jokes, pushing the car at 6:45am, and watching TV two feet from the screen. These are moments from these last nine days I never want to forget.

Here are some memories from this last weekend:

Friday we had class in the morning and then got to explore Kalk Bay a bit more. Kalk Bay is the beautiful bay our institute is located on. I have already developed an addiction to the coffee from Olympia Cafe, a wonderful coffee shop and bakery down the road that has a gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean. There is a great harbor that houses brightly colored fishing boats and their fishermen. After our afternoon of exploration we headed home to eat dinner and rush to Kim and Andre's house (Lucy's daughter and son-in-law). We wanted to play cards with their 13-year-old son, Pedro, who only has 20% vision but makes up for his vision loss with his incredible intellect and confidence. He was initially shy but you can tell he knows who he is and is proud of himself despite his disability. We had been warned that Pedro was unbeatable in Uno, so we decided to put him up to the challenge and see if we could beat him. Sure enough with my luck I won! He also taught us Rummy and we played with Lucy. It was hilarious. Rummy is the game Lucy and Clive play with all their friends everynight until midnight. I figured I wouldn't stand a chance but when I won the first game with beginner's luck she was all bent out of shape and determined to beat me! That night was a blast and wonderful to spend time with her family. It's great to be able to reference her family members in later conversation with Lucy and truly be engaged and immersed in their family-life.

Saturday was an early morning as we were headed up Table Mountain that morning. The hike is incredibly difficult (and with asthma, impossible) so some of us decided to ride the rotating cable car up the mountain and wait for the hikers as we gazed out at the gorgeous view. You could see Robben Island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, just off shore from the clear blue water neighboring the white sandy beaches. I also watched some people repel down the side of the mountain, which to be honest looked scarier than bungy jumping! That afternoon I explored the Green Street Market in downtown Capetown with Carisa and Logan. We bought some souvenirs and had a wonderful dinner together. It was so fun to be out on the town by ourselves and have a chance to explore with some freedom. The Green Street Market reminded me of a flea market in Europe as did the surrounding buildings detailed with the finest architecture. It was a great night.

Sunday morning Carisa and I woke up at 6am in order to catch the train downtown to go to Hillsong. We were going to leave at 6:45 to pick up our friends who were staying on the other side of Ocean View. On our way to pick them up Lucy's car ran out of gas. Funny thing is when it happened she said, "I knew that was going to happen!" Ah, then why did you not fill it with gas? Ha, oh Lucy. So Carisa and I get out of the car, in the dark, and start pushing it in our church clothes to her sister's house so we can use her car instead. After that lovely process we were finally able to pick up our friends and head to the train station. After an hour ride to the waterfront we met up with some other APU friends and headed to church together. It was a great service, I really enjoyed some familiarity in my church experience. I've had so many diverse Sunday mornings here that ending with a similar feel to my home church was wonderful. That afternoon was our last one with our families so we shared lunch with them and were able to thank them for opening their home and hearts to us. Lucy gave us some jewelry and stationary as going-away presents. I was also able to switch some money with Clive. I gave him an American dollar in exchange for some old-fashioned Rand. He gave us some pieces that aren't made or accepted anymore, which was really neat. He and Lucy fought over the dollar bill and I told them to frame it and hang it on their wall of fame. :) We then made our way to the church for the switch and were officially entering our last full week of the semester. How strange, it doesn't even seem real.

As tiring as this last week was, I was able to learn a lot about Clive and Lucy's lives and how there are so many wonderful people here who I am so thankful for my opportunity to meet them. It has hit me recently that I will be going home to continue with my life while these people will still be here doing their daily tasks and dealing with the same personal issues they kindly invited me to witness and experience. They so vulnerably and generously opened their lives and home to me and honestly treated me like their third daughter. I don't want to forget my time with them and how we grew together in such a short period of time. It was so wonderful to eventually be able to joke with Clive and Lucy and relate on a more personal level. It's nice to know we have a place to stay next time I'm in Capetown.

lucy, im home

Meet Lucy and Clive Fransman, my host parents. Both around the age of 58, they are full of personality and have more than enough to say. Well, at least Lucy does. Lucy loves to share personal stories regarding their families’ health, marriages, and heritage. Most of the time Clive attempts to add to the stories, but Lucy’s excitement (and voice quickly after) takes over and she ends up repeating everything Clive had mentioned, only louder. This is what occurred the first night we met them. Nonetheless, they are two wonderful people who treat us like family rather than guests.

Friday night we first met our families together at the local church in Oceanview, a modernized Township of 30,000. After an evening of dance performances, songs, and dinner, we headed “home” with our new families. Lucy and Clive helped us load our luggage into their sedan and drive down the street to their house. When I closed the door in the car, I heard something fall to the ground. Lucy said don’t worry, it happens all the time. I wasn’t sure what had fallen so I left it, only to find out the next morning what had really happened. Again when I shut the door, something fell to the ground. This time I realized it was the hard plastic part of the door handle. Lucy quickly corrected me that it was the “ashtray” that I had been sticking my fingers into. Cultural difference #19823: Car door handles have dual purposes.

Anyways, back to Friday night. We pulled up to their row house and entered into our life for the next 9 days. Their house is very small with limited windows. I have actually begun to get claustrophobic without the sunlight, but the simple solution is to just go outside. There is a small living area used as the office, living room, dining room, and is home to the gigantic “wall of fame” as Lucy calls it. There are more than 20 framed pictures of family members from all eras placed rather randomly on this yellow-painted brick wall. Remaining downstairs is the bathroom and kitchen. The bathroom was a bit of a shocker, no shower. I’ve always liked baths, really, but I just can’t get myself to climb into a ceramic bath after two strangers have just used it. Another shock was when I was bent over the bathtub while washing my face (no sink either) and a large measuring cup filled with at least three pairs of teeth greeted me “Good Night”.

The kitchen is small but quaint, and there is a special cupboard jam-packed full of “luxuries” (chocolate, chips, marshmallows, etc) handpicked by Lucy just for Carisa and I. We are NEVER underfed; in fact most nights we go to bed having the urge to throw up after all we had been given to eat that day. It doesn’t matter how many times we appreciatively decline the offered food, they find a way to make us end up eating it. Up a small, steep set of stairs lays Lucy and Clive’s bedroom that they generously gave up for us to use for the week. Some of my favorite parts of the room include the metal baseball bat lying next to the door, the glow-in-the-dark rosary hanging on the wall, and the three wooden armoires lined up side-by-side.

So we finally sat down after putting our suitcases in our room and had the chance to chat with Clive and Lucy. This conversation grew into a three-hour explanation of the deaths and illnesses in their family. Carisa and I were so exhausted and just wanted to go to bed but put every ounce of effort into engaging in the conversation. It was tough. This conversation even continued to the next morning with breakfast. It was so heavy and depressing, I wasn’t sure how I was going to last for the next 9 days. Nonetheless, Lucy had different plans for that Saturday.

We headed to Dean’s (her great-nephew) 1-year-old birthday party at Lucy’s “rich” sister’s house. We were greeted with many new faces and big bowls of food. Carisa and I managed to mingle a fair amount and then retreat to a room with American Idol on TV. That was the first American TV we have seen since we left the States! This “party” ended up dragging on from 11am until 5:30pm. We were exhausted. Lucy insisted on taking us to the grocery store to pick out some vegetarian patties. Yes, I am guilty of saying I am a vegetarian here but after seeing sheep heads cut in half and being hospitalized for an unknown reason, I’m a little sheepish around meat now. Kindly, Lucy bought many veggie patties and pieces of fruit for our weak stomachs.

Sunday morning we had the opportunity to attend Lucy and Clive’s Catholic Church mass with them. That was an experience in itself. After the service Lucy grabbed us by the hand and introduced us to all her friends and family, including the Priests and Bishops who asked if we had enjoyed the service. “Of course we did!” After church they took us to buy some hot “Cook Ladies,” these delicious donuts covered in coconut. Shortly after that we were given a huge spread of wonderful salad’s and veggie patties for lunch. After spending the afternoon reading, napping, and relaxing, Lucy took us to her daughter, Kim’s house to use her internet and meet her husband, Andre. They also have two wonderful sons, Pedro and Kieran, who are Lucy’s favorite grandkids, which she talks about all the time. Kim is much quieter than her mother but shares her love to feed guests. Despite our “no thank-you’s,” Kim served us each a piece of chocolate cake. Who has chocolate cake just lying around, begging to be eaten? After choking the cake down (almost in tears due to full stomach’s) we really enjoyed talking with Kim and Andre, two ambulance drivers who are much easier to relate and talk to. Our conversation was quickly ended when Lucy insisted she must get us home to cook dinner. Like I said, we never go unfed.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday have been days with much more routine to them as our classes and excursions began. I have never been more thankful for a few hours of class and seeing my other classmates. The students who are at the homestays meet at a local church to catch a taxi to school, which is about 15 minutes away. Although our house is less than a five-minute walk from the church, Lucy insists on walking us to and from the taxi-stop. It’s hilarious. I am back in 5th grade where I must phone home to tell my parents when I’ll be home from school, take a snack from “mom” for the school day, and get picked up on foot at the end of each day.

Monday we had the opportunity to visit a modern art museum and a historical museum in downtown Capetown and spend time exploring the beautiful waterfront section of the city. That was our first chance to see the city and it was a blast having a few hours of freedom! Tuesday we had class and then went to some of the cute boutiques along the waterfront by the university. There are great restaurants, cafes, and shops within walking distance of school; it’s a blessing and a curse! Wednesday we toured a local Township, Langa. It was very interesting to see another Township in a different city and compare it to what I have experienced in Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg. In Langa there can be two families living in a large shipping crate with two doors in it. No windows, hardly any space and room. It was so different from what I had previously seen.

That’s the jist of my life over the past week. I am so exhausted and frankly, really ready to come home. It’s hard being in such a foreign place where you always have to be upbeat and ceaselessly express your appreciation. Everyday my head hits the pillow and my whole body just feels exhausted and drained. I look forward to moving into the Bible Institute this coming Sunday where I will have a bit more freedom and opportunities to explore the beautiful city of Capetown! I leave for home in less than 2 weeks now and can’t believe this 4-month adventure is coming to an end…

capetown

We have finally arrived to Capetown! We completed our 5-day roadtrip this afternoon when we pulled up to the hotel in downtown Capetown. It feels great to finally be at our destination after 5 long days of driving and adrenlin-sucking events. We will stay the night here and then move into our orientation tomorrow morning. There we will find out if I spend the next couple weeks in homestays or at the Bibile Institute. It's a little strange not finding out where I will be living until the day I move in, but I guess that's just another adventure here!
Yesterday was a nice relaxing day after bungy jumping but we all felt the exhaustion after working up the energy to jump of a bridge. We started off our morning with a trip to the local ostrich farm. There we learned the interesting(?) facts about ostrich feathers and organs. We also got to feed ostriches which I found out are terrifying animals that resemble dinosaurs. We had the opportunity to ride ostriches too! I had wanted to before I actually saw the animals and quickly gave up that idea. Some of my friends got to ride the filthy birds and it was hilarious to watch!
After the ostrich farm we went to tour the Cango Caves. These caves are one of the 7 natural wonders of South Africa. With my claustrophobia I chose to stick with the normal walking cave tour as opposed to the "adventure" option a lot of my friends chose. I decided sliding through tiny crevices in the dark wasn't my idea of fun. It was beautiful, a little repetitive, but nonetheless fun. That night we mostly rested and played bananagrams (my new favorite game! birthday gift idea mom!)
Today we got some time to explore Long Street in Capetown and there were so many fun shops that reminded me of home. I could just see myself shopping with mom in all the fun boutiques!
My time's up at the internet cafe but I will update as soon as I can! Just under 3 weeks until I leave for the states. This is unbelievable!

3-2-1-BUNGY!

The bridge (216m, 648ft)

My jump!

This will be very brief because the internet is limited. This morning I went bungy jumping off the tallest bridge in the world for bungy jumping (216m)!
We arrived to the bridge and had to walk across this rickety walkway to the jump site. Once there they debriefed us on how the next hour would go and then began to blast loud dance music to pump us up! While dancing, none of us knew the order of our jumps. All of a sudden I was tapped on my shoulder, "Hilary?" I quietly and timidly replied, "....yes?" I was 5th out of our whole group to leap (or get slightly pushed) off of that platform. The first few seconds I don't think I remembered to breathe, but I was just free-falling for hundreds of feet. Next I felt the line begin to pull tight around my ankles and I bounced up again. This time I bounced up so my body was completely vertical. At that moment all I could think was, "CRAP! This is gonna hurt!" But when I jerked back upside down it didn't hurt. I then bounced a few more times, staying upside down. I felt the blood rush to my head as I stared out at the ocean. It was beautiful! I waited eagerly for one of the workers to come down on a rope to attach me to his line and pull us up together. I don't know what he said to me but all I remembered was "Don't touch him!" (I had been warned before jumping). If I grabbed him I could get him unbalanced. Anyways, I finally touched back onto the bridge and wanted to kiss the cement! This is something I will never forget, never regret, and never do again!

frames

Here are some frames from the safari and Zulu village:

A couple of the animals on the safari

The family of 3 cheetah we saw

Our shower

View from the huts

Our lovely homes for 3 days

unexpected adventures

Wow, it has been one heck of a week! We left for our safari and Zulu experience bright and early at 5:30am on Monday morning. We loaded the vans then started the five and a half hour drive to the game reserve. Our group of 52 split into two groups: the first group went to the safari from Mon-Wed and the second group went to the Zulu village during that time. On Wednesday we switched locations. Our group's safari vehicles were not ready for us at such an early hour on Monday so we got to drive through another game reserve,Umfolozi, in our busses. It was a great start to our adventures! We saw many zebra, giraffe, rhino, elephant, impala, and inyala. We got really close to many of the animals so I was able to get some great shots! After a few hours there we drove another hour and a half to our official game reserve, Mkuze. (Fun fact: My Zulu professor grew up on this game reserve). Here we rode in open air safari vehicles and splashed through the mud puddles down the bumpy dirt roads. It was a total blast! I think it was the first time this semester I have truly allowed myself to fully relax, I even fell asleep on some of the treks. Here we saw buffalo, wildabeast, tons of inyala and impala, giraffes, scorpions, hippo, zebra, warthog (pumba!), baboon, jackel, female kudu, tortoise, and dung beetle. Our truck also passed by a tree where we spotted the kill of a leopard hanging and possibly the leopard eating it. It was quite far away and difficult to distinguish but most of us would like to believe we saw a leopard! On Wednesday morning we left at 5am for another park that is known for its lions. Unfortunately we didn't see any lions but riding around in the vehicles with no roofs, no windows, was a total blast! We also saw three cheetah there. We got within 25 feet of two brothers and their sister who were stalking some impala to eat for breakfast. It was such a cool experience.

At Mkuze we lived in the middle of the game reserve in an unfenced campground. We stayed in wood bungalow's with metal mesh as window's to keep out the bugs. These three days we spent in great company filled with good conversation, laughter, games, and adventures. It was one of my favorite times so far in South Africa.

Wednesday afternoon we were supposed to have lunch with the other group and exchange experiences before we switched vans. Unfortunately, many of the people in the other group had gotten really sick from something at the Zulu tribe. Five people were hospitalized and by the end of the week 20 out of their group of 27 had gotten sick. Our group was a little leery to go to the tribe but nonetheless we headed out to buy bottled water and snacks and drove on the narrow roads to the village. We arrived to our little village, complete with a family hug made out of brick, a kitchen, and six mud huts for us to live in. I lived with five other girls and we had a gorgeous view of the rolling hills and turquoise huts spotting the hills. Our hut was made of mud bricks and the floor of cow dung. Luckily we slept on bunk beds that were quite comfortable.

The showers were made up of a metal bucket with a nozzle inside of a wooden frame with a tarp flap dividing the entire valley from you. During my shower I had a great view of the green hills! In order to shower it was quite the process. First you heated up water over the fire, then mixed that water with cooler water, then filled the metal bucket, hoisted the bucket over your head with a pulley system, secured the rope, and then let the tiny trickle attempt to wash you clean! Let's just say I wasn't the cleanest I've ever been during that week. The bathrooms were another adventure. To simply put it, there was a slab of concrete with a hole cut out of it with cinder blocks creating steps up to the hole. It was nasty. This was all in a wooden frame with two stalls and tarp flaps acting as doors. It was so weird being able to carry on a conversation with my male friends while squatting over a hole. Definitely an experience I will never forget, and would probably never like to experience again.

Anyways, the first night we were greeted with dinner and some Zulu dancing. A group of dancers came to show us their great voices and high kicks. They even pulled a few of us up to practice our kicks. For some reason mine weren't as high and powerful as theirs. That night I fell fast asleep by 10pm since we had woken up at 4:30am! The next morning we woke for tea and breakfast by the fire before a long hike over one of the neighboring mountains. We trekked through the forest and met the local medicine man who uses nature to create remedies for illness and wounds. It was interesting but to be honest the heat and exhaustion was setting in so my interest level was decreasing. After the medicine man we met a group of women who had created some beadwork to sell. They also showed some of us how to create some of the patterns. After spending time there we began our journey back down the mountain in time for lunch. That afternoon we learned how to throw spears, shoot slingshots, and stick fight. It was fun to learn their defense techniques. That was all we had planned until dinner so many of us napped and sat around the fire in discussion. That night was my favorite out of the two. I sat with beautiful stars falling into my lap (I saw the Southern cross!), listening to children sing Zulu praise songs, with the glow of the fire as our only source of light. It was such a beautiful moment. I have been trying to soak up as many once-in-a-lifetime moments as possible since my time here is quickly dwindling. I will never forget the feeling of warmth I experienced and the smile that grew across my face as I sat there.

Friday morning we worked on mudding a hut and just relaxed until it was time to head back to AE. It had been a long and exhausting week but a total blast with great memories. Last night I started feeling ill and when I went to bed I was sure I would wake up sick. Of course my prediction came true and I woke up severely sick and had to go to the hospital for an IV and some antibiotics. I had caught whatever it was that had infected the other group. We tried to figure out what the cause was but haven't been able to narrow it down. I talked with my Zulu professor tonight at our farewell dinner and she mentioned that you can get sick just from absorbing dirty water into your skin. I thought that was very interesting since all of us had taken showers and washed our hands in their unsuitable water. Anyways, I rested all day today besides slowly packing up my room and have been feeling better. We load the bus tomorrow morning at 7am though and I am not sure my body's ready to handle nine and a half hours of driving tomorrow. I am praying I can sleep for the majority of it. People also keep getting sick so I'm praying the illness will stop for our weeklong roadtrip to Capetown!

This week was quite the adventure and I'm sure next week will be filled with just as many, just maybe fewer unexpected adventures that end in hospital visits! I will hopefully be able to blog next weekend when we arrive in Capetown but the internet is unreliable there, so my updates will be a bit more sporadic! Until then....Sala Kahle.

a glance forward

Here's a quick look at how the next few weeks are shaping up:

-2 final exams (in 45 minutes!)

-1 Sharks rugby game to celebrate (tonight!)

-Easter Sunday

-Safari (5th-7th)

-Zulu tribe experience (7th-9th)

-Farewell from AE (10th)

-Road trip to Capetown (11th-16th)

-Bungee jumping

-Cave exploration

-1.5 weeks in Capetown (sometime from 16th-May 2nd)

-Shark cage diving

-Petting cheetas

-Hiking Table Mountain

-Other explorations

-History class

-1.5 weeks homestays in Capetown (sometime from 16th-May 2nd)

-Group debriefing (May 2nd-5th)

-Then HOME! (May 6th)

It has been a whirlwind of a trip and I can't believe I have barely more than a month left here! But the list of things to come is incredibly exciting. From here on out my internet will be very inconsistent, just FYI. But don't worry, Mom, Dad, I will find a way to call! :)

World's highest bungee, HERE I COME!!

day seven (WITL)

One word to describe today: JOY
What a last day. I tried to gear up mentally, emotionally, and physically for our last day at Walk in the Light. I knew it was going to be a long day, especially since we decided to arrive earlier and leave later in order to give our last efforts to Mandla’s house. In the morning we started out with a message from Tanya and with our favorite Zulu songs. Our spirits were high and it was fun to dance, laugh, and sing before a day’s work.
We then gathered our supplies and headed off to start building. The walk between WITL and Mandla’s house has become one of my favorite parts of the day. It takes maybe 10 minutes, and despite the fact that most times I am trekking with bundles of branches or poles on my shoulders, I love the walk into Haniville. These walks give me time to think to myself and really pay attention to my surroundings, have great conversations with friends, or hold hands with my new little friends. Many of these walks are filled with anticipation. Whether it’s anticipation to start a new days work or anticipation for lunchtime, I love the feeling of wondering what exactly lies at the other end of my short journey. Although I leave Mandla’s house every afternoon knowing exactly what progress we made that day, I love seeing it for the first time the next morning, proud of what has been done, yet anxious to continue. Another feeling I experience on these walks is satisfaction. The days at WITL are so draining but incredibly satisfying. Knowing my hands have gotten dirty to benefit someone else is a wonderful feeling. To feel the ache in my back as I walk down the dirt path for the last time that day is something I wouldn’t trade for the world, knowing my back aches because I cleared land to bless a man with a home.
Today our goal was basically to get as far as possible on Mandla’s house. We knew that what didn’t get finished will be completed by some of the Sr. Youth boys who live in the neighborhood and have been helping us with the house all week. It was comforting knowing they would be there to complete it, but all of us really wanted to finish the project we began. I think because of that mindset and the cooler temperatures we were able to finish a ton of work today. We didn’t finish the whole house, but the amount of work that did get completed was unreal and we were all very happy with the progress. It now looks and feels like a home! It rained in the morning, and that was fine because we got the roof on! There are windows in the walls, a doorway, and we began mudding the walls. That was the fun project of the day. Similar to stomping grapes for wine, in Africa you stomp mud to build houses. By the end of working from 9:30-5:15, we were literally covered head-to-toe in mud. I sort of feel like we took more of it home on our bodies than what ended up on the walls, but somehow the job got done! Once the walls are filled with rocks, you take the thick mud (not too watery, not too dry, juuuust right) and throw/slap it onto the walls. It was so fun! Especially when a friend is standing on the other side of the wall and the mud you throw goes through a crack and lands in her mouth! Sorry Lauren ☺ Anyways, we all had a blast. I did end up with bruised and cut bottoms of my feet, but limping is always fun.
In the afternoon I stayed back for a couple hours to play with the Jr. Youth. Of course I sat with my love who I found out is named Andiswa. All of my peers who I stayed back with decided to leave WITL at 4 so I was left with all the kids. Luckily two guys from Sr. Youth (who have been working on the house with us) were there too and hung out with me. Sihle and Snash even walked back to the house with me. It was so wonderful getting to talk with them. Snash turns 21 in May and Sihle turns 20 in April. They are both so kind to the kids, to the point where I am always asking, “Is that your sister or brother?” They seriously treat each kid like they were his sibling. Anyways, I found out that Andiswa is actually Sihle’s cousin’s daughter. That made me feel better since I always seem to find this 3-year-old wandering the streets of Haniville alone. Snash is in his first year of college and Sihle has not been back to school since matriculation (high school graduation). He worked at KFC for a year but now doesn’t work. I asked them both about their siblings and home life. Unfortunately I discovered that Sihle’s parents are both deceased. Reality hit me right then that this is life for these boys who are my age. This is their life and they are allowing me to enter into their realities and be exposed to how harsh the contrast is between our lives. Although there is a long list of differences between us, I then thought about how easy it was for us to talk and to joke around with each other. I recognize that our situations are incredibly different and they have lived through far more than I could ever imagine, but we are so similar in many ways as well. When we arrived to the house we were able to laugh and throw mud on each other, as if we had known one another for months. That was a conversation and afternoon that I really value.
After finishing our work at the house, Bruce had us head back to WITL for a special communion service he had set up across the street. We pulled up to this beautiful field dotted with trees and a gorgeous view of Pietermaritzburg. He talked about loving our neighbors and sacrificing ourselves. We then had a few moments to personally reflect on our last few weeks and pray over Haniville and all that we have witnessed. I stared out over the city and captured the lights of PMB in my brain. This is a city I truly do not want to forget anything about. I thought of the people I have met in Haniville, each individual story that is filled with not only heartbreak, but also a sense of comfort and joy knowing God is somewhere in that story. This is a township drowning in disease, poverty, and sadness, but I can sense the powerful healing hand of God. Each smile I witnessed, I wholeheartedly believe was placed on their face by the Lord. There is nothing of this world that could help people recover and find light in the darkness. If I learned one thing from this experience, I have learned that it has to be God. It has to be. No one else. I have to remember that even when I left Haniville tonight, it is still in God’s hands. I don’t have to witness the results of my work, I am satisfied knowing a tiny seed might have been planted and it’s up to the Lord to see how it is harvested. Somehow I am at peace with that. I took my final walk tonight with a sense of anticipation at what great things God can do, and with satisfaction knowing I might not ever know exactly what those things are.

Starting to make mud!

Patting the mud into the walls

One of the walls. It was a long process

The kids waving goodbye

The view from the communion site