Holiday club craziness!

Hello!!



Karatara Holiday Club crew

Our first holiday club was in Karatara, a small village outside of Knysna way into the forest. Karatara means "deepest darkness" and at first that's what I thought it was really like. The people living there are really forgotten about and there are many prejudices associated with them such as them being stupid because they're inbred. Up until a few years ago many hadn't been out of Karatara to George or Knysna. One thing that surprised me most was that the people living there were coloured and white. The way Karatara had been described, I thought it was a coloured community. There was no difference in poverty according the the skin colour of the children. There were some white children that you could see have a tougher life than the coloured children. The people there live in brick houses and there are 3 shops in the village. Alcohol, rape and drugs are so common, mostly due to the fact that there is nothing for them to do. There were many children there who were disabled and had physical and mental problems, more than I had ever seen before since I've been here but I was told that that's because of the inbreeding and the way the children have been living and brought up.

Piggy back race!

with my wee friend Joshua

The holiday club in Karatara was led by Theo and Jinke, missionaries from Holland. They are so lovely and have such a heart for the people of Karatara. We, as Youth for Christ were there to faciliate the games and sports. I was pleasantly surprised when doing the games and sports that the older group got so much more into them and enjoyed them much more than the other groups. The middle age group (grade 4 - 7) was not a nice age group for any of us to deal with, especially the girls as they had such an attitude and would refuse to do anything. When situations like this happen I find it particularly hard as my Afrikaans isnt good and many of them choose this time to pretend they can't speak or understand English. On Friday, we did a "messy assualt course" with apple dunking and searching for smarties in flour among other things. The Friday night was something very special - a prayer walk around Karatara with the kiddies. Music was blasting out from the van, we were singing and dancing and we walked with torches and flags. I was walking with two girls and it was lovely talking to them and building relationships with them. It was an incredible moment to look forward and see the torches, lights, flags and so many people! After the walk was a service and it was amazing seeing so many parents there. Even though many of the parents aren't the best role models for the children, them coming out in support and also knowing that they an interest in what their children are doing is so encouraging!

I enjoyed Karatara so much and felt sad that the week was over. I got so attached to many of the children there and fell in love with the people there - they are so open and friendly and all they want you to do is show them love, something so simple and easy. What an amazing and blessed week!!!

The week after was Knysna YFC Holiday Club. I was a group leader of the "red team" (grades 3&4) As a team leader I had to teach my team the memory verse each day and make sure they were well behaved which was a challenge especially for a few of them. A team of Cyara YFC came to help with the games, sports and crafts. At the start of the week I really didnt enjoy it as much as Karatara and I was a wee bit disappointed with the Ikageng team as they work on a camp site and do clubs every week so I was expecting some really good games from them. The children were also so naughty and badly behaved. Think I was just comparing everything to Karatara.

tug of war

Towards the end of the week, I really enjoyed myself and built relationships with the kids. There was a cheeky Xhosa boy who was the smallest but definately the naughtiest! I promised him sweets if he was good and he always flashed me a sweet, cheeky smile everytime I looked at him! There were a few of the kids from Immanuel Ministries there and at the start of the week they were reluctant to get involved in anything but at the end they were into everything and really enjoying themselves which was so good to see. We all became close to the Ikageng team and were sad for them to leave. They were all very funny and it was so nice to have them there with us!

In what would usually have been a day full of bands and parades, I spent my 12th July in the Knysna forest from 3am serving tea, coffee & hot chocolate to 6000 runners in the forest marathon. It was sooo cold and very busy! Everyone was so appreciative of us doing it and kept saying how wonderful we were - I agree!! We then had to collect the blankets and clothes that the runner throw off when they start to run.
It was quite gross sometimes because some of them were so wet and muddy. People from the township were waiting until the runner start as we were so they could get blankets and clothes too. They were so greedy and selfish taking everything they could. Even if they were told to move on they would get quite aggressive. One girl went to take stuff from the pile I had to watch and when I said "no" she gave me the scariest look! Security was very useless there, packing blankets away for themselves. It probably sounds awful that were didnt want them to take the blankets but they take so much stuff every year while the people who really need it get nothing. The blankets were taken to the Dutch Reformed church in town in bakkies, cars and a couple of big skips. The folding process started and continued again on Monday. I never want to fold another blanket!! Even though it was very hard work and very different to my usual 12th July, I had an amazing day doing God's work in Knysna!
Thanks to Mum and Auntie Mo for keepinh me up to date with pictures, videos and "twelfies"!! :D


We distributed the blankets on Monday after filling the trailer and corolla to the brim with blankets! Madie and I went with Uncle Reggie, we weren't sure where to but Uncle Reggie said the Holy Spirit would lead us. We went to Nekkies, to a community of wooden houses which was so far away from anything else. Reggie talked to them, heard their stories and ministered to them before giving them blankets and bananas. One woman had stomach cancer but now it had spread through her whole body - Reggie talked to her about death and we prayed for her. Uncle Reggie felt that we had to go to a creche and we found one in a very poor part of Nekkies. The woman at the creche was so thankful and kept praising Jesus. Throughout it all, God was definately working through us.

After a hectic two weeks, we were finally on holiday!! Road trip to Cape Town wooo!! :D We stayed the first night in an old train in Mossel Bay and made our way to Cape Town after Stellenbosch and Franshoek. It was so nice to be there again and it brought back to many memories of Namibia too. It was a lovely holiday to chill, have fun and do not the usual tourist things. It was so good to spend time with Madie, Ethan and Yvette as well and so many memories were made! On Saturday we went to a dance battle competition that Ethan's brother's dance group were hosting. It was so good!! They were all such amazing dancers and was like real-life Step-Up!! I came out of there with so much swag all I was missing was my snapback!!

What an amazing three weeks!! :D Sorry if its too long but I just had so much to say! School has started again this week so do many of our ministries - no rest while in Africa!!


Much love from Knysna xxx




beautiful sunset in Mossel Bay

Back at Smiley's with Jodan