Good bye to family

After the bird watching morning, I attended Elizabeth's ladies' Bible study; then packed my bags in the afternoon. We had "pap & wors" for supper (at my request). Lloyd, the Zimbabwean, asked for seconds - "pap" or "sadza" is the staple African food. George held the mid week Bible study in the evening, and then there was the wait for my bus - it was supposed to reach Welkom at 01:35h on Thursday morning. "The wait" proved to be a very emotional time for me. I had to say good bye to my aged mother, and my brother and his family, not knowing whether I will ever see them again on earth.

Last morning in Welkom

I spent the morning with Janine Goosen, a lady that is an avid bird watcher. She took me in a 4 by 4 that glided noiselessly along dirt roads, and we went to the pans just outside Welkom. What an amazing experience. I never knew that so many birds could be found in one location. And Janine told me all their names - both the English as well as the Afrikaans name - as well as interesting things about their habitat and things that they do.

One big black water bird (we did not manage to get a photo) walks in the shallows, then suddenly lifts his wings around his head to form an umbrella around him. This "umbrella" casts a shadow, and the fish etc swim into the shadow "for protection", and he pounces on his meal.

Here are one or 2 photos that give an idea of the morning - both of the birds and the areas that we found them in.

This photo of a dry tree in front of a lovely lush one just reminded me of St Helena - the dry, arid hills surrounded by green, lush ones. Wetlands. Not a good photo - but I loved the effect.

This king fisher "pozed" at the side of the road for us.

Oh yes, one of the pans is next to the sewrage farm. We found these happy creatures wading in the effluent that leaked out of the farm.

Morning Star Children's Home

This morning Elizabeth took me on a tour of the children's home where she works. It was started 11 years ago by a lady, Joan Adams, who had a dream to open an orphanage. This is a day care centre for children who are HIV positive. They range in age from toddlers to teenagers, and are bussed in in the mornings, and taken home again in the evenings.

Everything in SA has security gates - even the entrance to the care centre.

This is a wall where all those who have died are remembered - each star represents a child who was cared for at this centre.

Each child that attends the day care centre gets bathed once a week, and checked by the nurse for any signs of symptoms that might have been missed during a normal school day. This little boy, Pule, developed cerebral meningitis as a side effect of the HIV virus, and was left crippled. He used to crawl wherever he went. Here he is trying out his new leg braces for the first time today. Here are 2 little toddlers. A volunteer teacher from the UK, who is teaching a class with learning difficulties. A pre school class singing a gospel song before starting the day's lessons. Elizabeth standing next to the vegetable garden. There is also a "project" where mothers of the children are taught to sew and thus generate an income. These ladies were often social outcasts and unemployed, but now have dignity and a means of supporting their families. They presently have an order from one of the schools to make uniforms. They also make the most beautiful bags.
The thing that struck me about the centre was that it exuded an atmosphere of happiness and hope, rather than doom and gloom. I was reminded of the Scripture "Christ, the hope of glory".

More Welkom

On Saturday, God answered one of my prayers. First I smelt that African smell of rain on the ground... then I heard thunder ... then I looked out of the window and saw big drops of rain... then I went outside and stood in the garden and felt the heavy rain drops falling on me!! I LOVE African thunder storms. It only lasted a few minutes, but it was wonderful.

Straight after the rain, a variety of birds descended on the garden, digging for whatever it is they eat. I got some photos of them - some a bit blurry - but here they are :

A family of crested barbits

A starling

A hoopoo

A white browed sparrow weaver

A Karoo thrush

A novel way of discouraging the birds from eating the fruit on the fruit trees - a rubber snake - and it works!

Later in the morning Elizabeth took me to the biggest fabric and haberdashery shop that I have ever been in. I just drooled.

On Sunday it was lovely to see how the garden around my brother's church has flourished.

Also the wall hangings inside the chapel - here is a photo of a "Noah" hanging - all hand embroidered by a very gifted lady.

Although I am still enjoying a wonderful holiday with my family in South Africa, I am missing my family on St Helena - I have been away for nearly 3 weeks now.

Welkom

I had a lovely trip on the bus from Durban to Welkom - over 8 hours long. On the way, I enjoyed staring out the window at the wide open spaces of the Free State. Then, as we were approaching Welkom, I saw heavy thunder clouds building up in the distance. (I sooo want to experience a thunder storm again) Although it did not rain where we were, I did enjoy watching the lightning in the distance.

It was good to make contact again with my older brother, George, and his wife and son, and with my mom, Helena.

It will not be my family if there are no pets and disadvantaged people living there. George and his wife, Elizabeth, have 3 dogs, a cat, a parrot and a Zimbabwean now living with them.

Here is Lloyd with Zoro the cat. Here I am being greeted by Zieg.

My brother has tried to create a garden that looks like the one my dad had when we were growing up. He has definitely succeeded. Rows of fruit trees in the back garden, and rows of home made jam and chutney in the kitchen (My sister-in-law makes jams and chutneys out of the excess fruit - just like my mom used to)

Last night we had watermelon after supper. Then Elizabeth busied herself in the kitchen baking peanut butter cookies, while Lloyd, ouma and I played Scrabble. IT IS GOOD TO BE HOME!....

(My brother is a minister in the evangelical Church of England in SA, and his wife works in an AIDS orphanage)

Good friends

Yesterday I went to my old church, Hillcrest Baptist Church. The church building has been enlarged, and there are MANY more people attending. It was so good to meet up with old friends, and catch up with what has been happening in their lives. I spent the time between church services with Evan and Nadine Lewis, and got to know them a little better. Everyone was so good and kind to me, it felt like I was swimming through a cloud of kindness and good will.

Visited more friends today, did a bit of shopping, enjoyed driving in 5th gear on the highway (as opposed to 2nd gear on a single lane twisty, steep track)

Am missing little Hannah. Here is a photo taken of her in her pram just before I boarded the RMS on the 8th.

Another Sunny Day in Africa

I ran a few erands, then met with one of Arthur's old friends at the Pavilion. It was such a blessing to chat about how God had been dealing with us individually, and in our separate churches, since we had last seen each other. Pumeza said something to me that challenged me hugely regarding the way that I am interacting with people in my church and with my friends... She said that sermons and Bible studies are where leaders tell her facts that she can read for herself in the Bible i.e. they fill her head with knowledge. But Arthur showed them how to live the gospel i.e. how to translate the principles that they were taught, into daily living.

I bought my bus tickets to Welkom, then bought a family size KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) meal to take home to the humans and pets living in Queensburgh. It was so-o-o good to eat one of SA's favourite take away meals. The humans get the meat, and the pets get the juicy bones, and everyone goes to bed with a smile on their faces.

Tomorrow I hope to be attending my old church in Hillcrest, and meeting up with Christian friends.

In Sunny South Africa

When I finally got on board the RMS, the cabin steward took me down to cabin C41 - a 4 berth cabin. What a surprise when I entered this spacious room with only 2 beds made up. Then the steward picks up 2 of the suitcases and says "This lady is moving out. You are on your own". What!? A spacious 4 berth cabin all to myself!? I could almost feel God smiling down on me.

Here is a photo of James bay taken from the RMS as we left the shores of St Helena.

I had a lovely voyage. The seas were a bit choppy all the way, and I thoroughly enjoyed the bobbing motion - especially when snug in bed at night. I spent 4 days doing whatever I felt like - slept, read a novel, participated in a quiz, took morning and afternoon naps, watched a documentary or 2, ate good food, met some interesting people.

It was wonderful watching the South African coastline grow from a smudge on the horizon, to actually putting my feet on its soil again. My daughter was waiting for me, and took me straight to Camps Bay for a few hours of sitting on a wide white beach, digging my toes into the sand and enjoying the lovely view of 'the mountain'.

We then went into a Pick n Pay store just for me to look at shelves of fruit and veg....

Then we went to "Mama Africa" for supper - a lovely restaurant that specialises in African food. I had bobotie, and Brenda had a springbok steak and pap. We ended the evening by driving up to Signal Hill to look at the lights.The following day we had a lazy breakfast then spent the day at the waterfront. It was good to hear different accents and languages, smell the smells of Africa, and just enjoy the feeling of being in familiar surroundings. It was also good to 'catch up' with my daughter.

At 4.00pm we made our way to the air port where I took off for Durban. Brenda will be flying back to London on Friday.

In Durban, I was 'hit in the face' by the 'thick' air. It felt like I was trying to breathe through soup. I had forgotten how muggy the place can be. I was met by my brother-in-law and nephew.

I have spent the last few days going to the optometrist, dentist, pet shop, bank, supermarket, jeweller, pharmacy, etc. Also having good, happy chats with my sister-in-law and family AND PETS. People on St Helena think the Becketts are strange because we have 3 cats and 2 dogs. Well, the Jollivets have 4 cats and 9 dogs.... all of them loved and spoilt.