Report from South Africa

Report 3

Sunday, February 17th, 2002 Guguletu, South Africa

It is said that if you go to Africa, it will leave a footprint on your heart.
- African Proverb

Editors note: Although we do not have a webreporter along on this trip to South Africa, we may receive an update or two from the group of 10 parishioners who left on Sunday, February 10th. These 3rd and 4th emails were sent by Pat Murphy.

Another day of vast contrasts. We woke to the howling winds, shimmering blue skies and warm summer sun. Our Group traveled to JL Zwane Church for Sunday services. We celebrated for 3 hours with the local community as they celebrated their efforts in supporting their church programs. We thoroughly enjoyed dancing and singing with our brothers and sisters as we celebrated our common faith. With the help of many back in the Twin Cities we were pleased to present a check close to $17,000. The community of Guguletu was visably moved and pleased by your generosity. On behalf of those we celebrated with today, we thank you.

We were blessed by the opportunity to enter the shanty of a young mother and child, both HIV positive. The husband and father had died last August from AIDS. We had the opportunity to pray with the mother and child and felt blessed by their strength and beauty.

Gotta go, late night. We will leave you with a Guinean proverb: "They who do not cultivate their field will die of hunger". Thank you for your support and nourishment.

Your Family in South Africa

Report 4

Tuesday, February 20th, 2002 Malungeni, South Africa

Sorry we don't have any pictures at this time but in the meantime, picture this!

Up early this morning and left Cape Town in route to Malungeni, hundreds of miles from where we spent our first week. We are reminded again of the hot summer temperatures that are found here in February. The journey to Malungeni also provides the Group the wonderful opportunity to enjoy the incredible beauty of South Africa. Our journey included the Garden Route taking us up the Eastern Cape into Ostrich country. Would you believe in Ostrich country we saw 4 camels and Charlie and Marlys became our brave camel girls by taking a quick spin on 2 old camels. Not to be outdone, the rest of the Group moved on to an Ostrich farm where Alex, Jerry, Kate, Marlys, Becky took their turn riding ostrich! We also had the opportunity to meet Adam and Eve, celebrating their 30th Ostrich anniversary as a couple.

We have travelled over the tallest bridge in Africa, 142 meters. Tonight we are on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Tomorrow we will arrive in Malungeni, a small rural town located in the Trans Sky. It is our understanding that the people in this village have even less to rely on for their daily needs than those in the Cape Town area. The last two days have provided an incredible panorama of the beauty and vastness of this land. One cannot help but contrast the beauty of the land to the beauty of those who inhabit this land. It is amazing for us to experience the joy and the hospitality of those who have so little of the basic necessities.

In closing once again, we thank you for your love and support in this most profound journey. We feel so encircled by your support, as well as the love and gentle spirits of our brothers and sisters in South Africa. We leave you with a quote from Kahil Gibran "Love is watchful, and while resting, never sleeps; weary, it is never exhausted; imprisoned, it is never in bonds; alarmed, it is never afraid; like a living flame and a burning torch, it surges upward and surely surmounts every obstacle".