The last few weeks and CAPETOWN

With Dr Pozza, Professor Moorefield, Leslie, and our SA professors at dinner!
Community project group!
assessing!

So much to talk about! The last few weeks have been insane…We had to fit 6 weeks of coursework into 2 and a half because we knew that internet in CapeTown would be quite sparse. So a little run down….We did our community project which was child assessments at the family center. We found HUGE cavities, heart murmurs, cardiovascular problems, respiratory problems, failure to thrive, malnutrition…and lots more. Extremely heartbreaking. Then we put together Philip’s (the bus driver) engagement….I was in charge of the whole thing. She (Nomusa) went to seven different stations were some students had decorated and she received a quote or bible verse about love and a rose…the seventh station Musa (Philip’s 11 year old son) was waiting for her…and he walked her to the waterfall where we all had gathered with candles that lined the path down to the bottom of the waterfall.. Philip was there with 5 roses (making a dozen) and proposed. Then they had dinner just the two of them at the bottom of the waterfall at a table we had set up. Leslie and Reagen were the waiters. So fun! She was so happy! Then we had our thanksgiving farewell dinner. That was the hardest. We had to say goodbye to all of the relationships we had built over the last two months. I was crying so hard! After that, we took a 4 day trip down the coast. Along the way we climbed through caves, bungy jumped off the highest bridge in the world, sat on ostriches, and went to a wild animal park. So fun!

On Monday we arrived in Capetown. We will be here until we leave in two weeks. First, it is possibly the most gorgeous city in the world. Beautiful blue waters, mountains, so pretty! We are staying at Bible Institute of South Africa…it is literally RIGHT across from the beach. We love going running here! J

Tuesday we took a walking tour through downtown Capetown…we had to find certain things, go in museums, and interview people. It was definitely a cultural experience! Once again, gorgeous! Wednesday we had class and chapel. Today, we took a tour of a township called Langa. We also had AMAZING chicken at Mazoli’s Meat Market J.

There are so many differences between Capetown and Pietermaritzburg. First, it is completely evident that Capetown is MUCH wealthier. As a result, the gap between the rich and the poor is HUGE. There are seriously HUGE mansions within a few miles of EXTREMELY poor townships. People are begging for money, and other people have so much money they don’t know what to do with it all. It makes me think about the role Christians have in things like this. As followers of Jesus, is it our job to help bridge that gap between those that have and those that don’t? Aside from Socialism…how do we do that? This town is once again opening my eyes to the injustice of racism and poverty. Lord, I’m ready for my heart to be broken again for what breaks your heart.

I could really use prayer right now. Switching to a new place is really hard. It no longer feels like home, and it makes my longing for home even greater. We do homestays tomorrow (stay the weekend with local people), and I’m very nervous. I also want to have a positive attitude, and to be able to be completely open to God teaching me things in Capetown. Please pray for me in those things! Miss and love you all! Only a few more weeks until I come home!