Hi everyone,

This might be my last blog post, as I am not sure whether I will have access to my blog in Cape Town. It will be a short one as I'm in a rush. I need to go up and finish packing. This afternoon I am flying to Johannesburg where I will meet Hloni and tomorrow we will head down to Cape Town together.

On Saturday afternoon I went to Spur with Geri, Tarryn and Lunga and they had a farewell thing for me. It was really fun, they ordered heaps of food. Yesterday I helped out with MNCP again which was good (apart from getting a blood nose, I think it was the heat).

Today is my last day at AE. I have been busy making a few more changes to the newsletter and also organising last minute things before I go. This morning the staff gave me a farewell party (I think it was meant to be a surprise but I already knew about it). There were several speeches (by Sandi, Songe and Gloria). They were saying how they really appreciated me and also mentioned that when I came I was shy but they felt I had grown in confidence. Vasco shared how whenever he had work for me to do, I would always stop whatever I was doing and do it straight away. They said I would be missed and emphasised that I have to come back. I handed out some Australian souvenirs (including some of the Trinity choir CDs which were popular. I could have brought more over).

I shared how everyone had been very kind and I had felt blessed, and that even though there were times of difficulty (like feelings of homesickness) everyone was so supportive. They also prayed for safe travels and prayed that when I get back I will easily be able to adjust into life back home.

I am excited about Cape Town and looking forward to coming home next week. Here are some pages of the newsletter, which was sent off to the printers this morning. Over the past few weeks it has gone through so many changes!

Hi,

I have been busy this week trying to finish the newsletter before I leave, it is just a bit frustrating because the layout keeps changing (they keep adding articles or taking out articles). It was pretty much finished yesterday but then today I had more changes to make which was rather stressful, but I think it is done now (hopefully).

I had a nice weekend. On Saturday Leon (one of the workers at AE) took me out to Howick Falls which was nice. It is the most photographed waterfalls in South Africa. We hiked down to the falls which was rather tiring. Afterwards he took me to the Natal Zoo, where we saw a lot of tigers, lions and leopards.

I went to GFLC church on Sunday, and then after lunch I went to help out with MNCP (Mama Ntombi's Community Projects), an organisation started by Sandra Pillay who used to work at AE. I have done some design work for them, so when I got there many people were thanking me for my help with their newsletter. We went to two informal settlements (Jika Joe and Mattison's farm) and I helped hand out sandwiches and drinks to the kids (they gave out blankets also).

There was only a small number of kids there, since she told me that the government handed out food parcels to each family that day. She introduced me to one of the women and showed me inside her home. Her name was Gogo Bhengu and she is 75 years old. Her home is basically one room with a bed and a small fireplace and a kitchen cabinet which was donated to her. Sandra said they are trying to raise enough money to build her a kitchen and a toilet. I think she needs much prayer.

Though the kids have so little, they are so full of joy and they were dancing and singing. Afterwards we headed back to the church for afternoon tea and one of the guys gave a big speech saying how much I had been a blessing to AE and to MNCP. Overall it was a very special day. This Sunday I will go back and help out again.

Howick Falls

Handing out sandwiches at Jika Joe

On the right is Gogo Bhengu and behind us is her home

All the MNCP volunteers

A kid that was so happy while we were singing 'Akehko Ofana No Jesu'