Many of you have been inquiring as to when I will start my blog. It could be just procrastination but I really think it is because I am overwhelmed and not sure where to start. I have been here for about 12 days now. Kevin Winge, Executive Director of Open Arms of MN, the organization that I volunteer with and will be representing for the next 6 months in Cape Town, and his partner, Kevin Shores, came to help "tuck" me in. We spent the first week getting my flat organized, getting a rental car, getting my computer set up with wireless, phone, etc. We also spent a lot of time connecting with our friends at the JL Zwane Centre (centre is not a typo, that is how it is spelled here!) in Guguletu, the township I will be working in, and visiting with friends that we have met over the last 8 years.
The Kevin's left last Thursday, needless to say I was very sad and cried quite a bit. I tried to hide it from them but it wasn't easy. Two friends took me out to dinner that night to make me feel less lonely but when I returned to my flat that night and laid in my bed I thought to myself, wow, I am now here on my own, Kevin won't be calling me to say "coming now" each morning. The next morning was a beautiful day, I felt like I had a huge pit in my stomach but I told myself to buck up and get on with it. I went driving in my car to practice, they drive on the opposite side of the road here and it can be a bit daunting. Everyone here is very concerned about me being alone but that is good for me since they call and SMS a lot. I won't be alone for long since John will be coming the end of Oct. for 2 weeks!
Once I figure out how to post pictures I will attach them so you can see where I live, the Centre and meet the people I will be working with. I think that pictures help complete the story.
Today I drove to the JL Zwane Centre at 7:30 AM to attend an adult Leadership Program and than to attend church service that started at 10:00. For those of you who don't know, the centre is part of a Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Spiwo Xapile leads the church and the centre, he is the gentleman that Kevin Winge met in 2000 which started the partnership between Open Arms and the JL Zwane Centre. There are many international organizations that visit the centre and today there was a group from Denmark (I was thinking of you Rita and Dick). They are visiting to learn more about reconciliation and hope in South Africa after Apartheid. Spiwo invited me up to the podium to introduce me to the congregation so they would know me and look out for me while I was in the township. The service was very energetic with lots of music and singing, it also lasts for 2 hours!
I officially start tomorrow so I will be updating my blog on a regular basis. Thank you for checking out my blog and again for all the support I have received from everyone, it means so much to me especially since I am literally so far away but with the internet I feel like I am right there with you! Please feel free to email me with any questions you might have, I look foward to hearing from you.
As they say in South Africa: Bye for now.
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4 comments:
Jane! This is Andy from all the way in Denver. I suppose I can relate to your feelings of being alone and having to fend for yourself a bit because of my current situation! It's great to hear about your adventure thus far and really cool that I can picture where you are! I am quite jealous of you now and would love to go back there sometime soon!
You are in my thoughts and prayers!
Andy
Hi Jane! It was good to read your blog. I'm sure the warmth and friendliness of the congregation at JL Zwane church, that Terry and I felt this past Easter, will help sustain you. Their song alone is an inspiration.
Have a great first day tomorrow.
(it is the third quarter and the Packers are tied with the SeaHawks--our Sunday afternoon biting our fingernails.)
Best,
Susan
Jane, lovely to see you've landed well and are all "tucked in." The world seems like such a huge place, especially when you're living on the other end of it.
But remember that we're only as far away as an e-mail, a phone call or an SMS. And Kent and I will be there in five weeks!
Thank you for doing such important work, and taking us all along for the ride!
YOU are going to see, experience, and create AMAZING things over there; your kind and warm spirit will protect and guide you, I can't wait to hear what happens next!
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