A tale of two islands

Greetings one and all

Another busy week in the life of the Snellings....

IKHAYA UPDATE

 

We are getting stuck in with teaching the older kids which has lead to some "interesting" cooking lessons, the start of a worship drumming group and discussions on the Olympics, HIV and yet more moles! (the skin type that is!). On Tuesday we were able to skype with my parents and my class at Lexden...the children here haven't quite got the hang of the webcam yet as about 10 of them were all crammed round the camera but it was great to start making the connections!

 

Kirstenboch

 

 

On Friday we took the children out on the second trip funded by our supporters to Kirstenboch botanical gardens. Unfortunately the weather was a little on the wet side but all the groups (42 kids in total) managed to have a walk round as well as join in indoor activities including flower collages, plant investigation and interactive food chains. There were less people then planned so we all mananged to go on the coach arranged with Kirstenboch which was yet another opportunity for singing and dancing. This, topped with the extra lunches the children all received, made for a great trip for all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday we are having Market Day which is basically Ikhaya's summer fete to raise funds. There will be stalls selling second hand clothes, bric a bric and Mark will be on the braai. Having had a few weeks where funding has been a concern here, God has provided the finance for ikhaya to run fully until the end of January so hopefully this will be another chance to raise support.

 

 WHAT ELSE HAVE WE BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK?

 

Seal Island

On Wednesday morning the sun was shining and the sea was calm so we decided to take the trip to seal island which is basically a small island about 15 mins from Hout Bay Harbour which hosts a colony of 1000+seals. Beautiful!

 

 

 

Robben Island

Having enjoyed some fish and chips and live music at Hout Bay Harbour on Friday night, on Saturday we took the trip from Cape Town waterfront to visit Robben Island Museum - where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.

In true African time, the ferry was running a bit late but the bonus was a spontaneous performance by a gospel choir who were keeping themselves entertained while they waited. Music runs in the blood here. Amazing!

 

The island is named after the Dutch word for seal and before it was used for prisoners, was a site to send lepers, those with diasbilites and anyone else deemeed as "outcasts', unable to live with the rest of the city.

 

 

We had a tour of the prison by an ex-political prisoner which I found very moving as he described his experience and the conditions he and his comrades survived in. He said he didn't hold any grudges against the authorities and was obviously proud of his fight for equality here. Having recently finished Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom, it was interesting to see and here it all in real life. Very humbling...

 

 

 

 

In the evening we watched West Province thrash the Sharks rugby team in the Currie cup. I decided that I would support the winning team so changed my support half way through! A great time with friends at Melt's who is the leader of Kenilworth Vineyard church - another wine drinking ex-rugby playing vicar!!

 

Chapman's Peak

 

 

Not very far from our flat is the start of Chapman's Peak drive, a beautiful coastal route which we decided to walk yesterday. A bit tough on the old legs but so worth the view. In fact walking has been a bit of a feature in our time here as we take the half hour hilly trip to ikhaya every day and back. It's been the best way to get to know people around Imizamo Yethu (township)  which (as I keep reminding myself) we would have missed out on if we were able to afford a car here. Joe, you would be proud of my walking boots :)

 

 

Well nearly time for our computer class to start

With our love especially to what we hear is beginning to get a chilly UK xx