Hamish's Adventure to South Africa:

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.