I'm writing this on the 23rd June - exactly 3 months since I left home and exactly 2 months until I leave here. I can't belive how quickly time has gone and also how little there is left. I extended by 3 weeks, leaving the day my visa runs out - how is that for good timing?!
So many things have happened since I last wrote my blog - that will teach me for leaving it so long again!
In terms of projects, everything has been very quiet - schools are getting ready for the winter holidays so most things are winding down and there are often very few children at the creche because of the rain (they dont come if its raining as they have to walk.) Immanuel ministries is always on and I heard a heart breaking story of one of the boys who comes to the Kids Club after feeding on a Wednesday, Jay-Jay. It is quite obvious that he, as do a lot of the children here (particularly in Oupad where Immanuel Ministries is located) has the Infant Alcohol Syndrome. His brother was 2 months old and died as a result of his mother feeding him breastmilk full of alcohol. I was so shocked at this as he is such a happy boy and well behaved but you just never know the situation that he faces at home.
There is a boy at Smiley's Creche called Jodan. He is such a sweet boy and very cute. When I first arrived I was told that his father murdered his mother in January because he suspected her of cheating on his and this was done in front of his older brother. Now he and his brothers live with their grandmother who drinks a lot so his home situation is not pleasant. At first, you would never have known anything had happened but in recent weeks, we have noticed a change in him, he has become much more sensitive. He and another of the boys was hitting each other and when I said for him to say sorry he started crying and cried for most of the day. I think now he has realised that both his mum and dad are gone and they aren't coming back. They have a break at the creche and he never has anything in his bag and its very sad to see him look in it and then put it down again.
I am just back from the Youth Alpha weekend with the youth group from Hornlee. It was an amazing time getting to know them by name and building relationships with them. In the group discussions at Youth Alpha, they dont ever want to talk and are shy but we had some great conversations with them during this time and they really opened up to us. The Saturday night was so heart-warming for me. Shahida, who works for YFC and is also their youth leader, said to us before that many of these children are going through really hard things such as being from single parents, rape, bad education and no money. On the Saturday night, men and women from her church came to lead worship and to be there for them. They hugged and showed love to every single young person that was there. It was so nice to watch as the young people really hugged them back and you could see how much it meant to them.
I have a lot of animal related stories to tell. I have gone elephant riding - one of the most amazing experiences! I was so nervous beforehand but absolutely loved it! A random little thing which I never knew is that an elephant's skin isnt rough like you would imagine, its actually very soft and hairy!
As well as elephant riding, I went ostrich riding - wow! It was the strangest feeling, I thought I was going so fast but it was so slow. One of the girls got stuck on the ostrich and couldn't get off so that was definately the highlight of the day! An ostrich fact is that the egg contains as much as 26 chicken eggs. The shell is also so hard that you can stand on it!
A few weeks ago we had an unpleasant visitor - a baboon!! We have had them before in the garden eating the rubbish and throwing it around but this time it was in the house, in our bedroom in fact!! Partly our fault because the back door was open but I had been sitting in the kitchen all morning apart from these 10 minutes. I don't know what I would have done if it had came in while I was sitting there. Although many have said that I would have scared it of as soon as it saw my face...It ate a good bit of our fruit but thankfully that was it!
I had my birthday here last week which was very strange not to be at home with my friends and family. At the start of the day I felt sad because everyone was acting like it wasnt my birthday and nothing exciting was planned. I was taken out for a birthday coffee (place here does the best coffee and I'm not even much of a coffee lover!) and began to get quite suspicious as one of the girls stayed at home. When I got back home, the curtain was shut at the window beside the door which it never is and I had to open the door. I was met with a surprise party and all my Knysna family were there! It was so nice that they did that for me, I am very blessed with an amazing group of people, especially my two sisters. :)
The house has got smaller once again - two of the girls left and one came but it is just for 3 weeks. It has been quite challenging with Elena coming as she is very narrow minded and has come here with a lot of prejudices, often unwilling to get involved. It is unfortunate that she isnt here for longer as I think she would have changed dramatically and opened up much more to us as a group.
The next two weeks are holiday clubs - Karatura and Knysna. I shouldnt be complaining so much about having nothing on these past few weeks as we will be knackered after them! There are some problems with our house at the minute, everything seems to be breaking at the same time! Shower, toilet and the floor tiles which many have lifted and cracked and are all getting replaced with wooden floor. Unfortunately for us that means we have to move out for over a week and at the minute we are not sure where to, but it'll be grand.
I've made a wee video of recent photos and videos, but due to some "technical issues" I can't upload it so drop me an email (ruthy-i@Hotmail.co.uk) or a message on facebook and I'll pass it on! Or ask my dearest mother too :)
Love from Knysna xxx
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