Hello from an internet cafe in Cape Town!
We have arrived safely and are settling in well. The people are extremely welcoming and great fun. We have already enjoyed a Braai (traditional South African BBQ) and I have begun to learn to play dominos. I wasn’t very good but provided plenty of comedy moments for our hosts!
Yesterday we were shown around Elsies River, the township where we are staying. We visited the local health centre, an advice centre, an AIDS hospice and some of the rougher areas where the gangs operate. It was a real eye opener. So many people and so few services and resources.
We are living with an old lady called Aunty Rose. She has been very welcoming and is good fun. She reminds Isla of her gran! She has some interesting stories about living under apartheid and enlightening political views which she shares often!!
We have met some of the young people which was fun. I’m not sure what they make of us, I think it will take them a while to get used to these weird British folk who have suddenly turned up. One of them asked if we kew David Beckham! There are a lot of issues which make an impact on their lives. Alcohol and drug abuse is common. The gang culture is sometimes looked up to and admired. There are lots of local ‘Shebeens’, which are basically informal (and illegal) bars that sell alcohol and drugs. Some young people use these. The parents in the church are very concerned about the possibility of their kids getting involved in this stuff (last week a church member’s son stabbed another lad and killed him). They also have high hopes that we can input something useful which is very flattering but very daunting!
Well. It’s still early days so we’ll have to keep watching, learning, praying etc. For now though we are feeling welcomed and at home and are enjoying this adventure!
Please pray for us, that we’ll know how to repond to the needs of the church and community and that we’ll discover what it is that we can offer to our new friends!
Written by Dave but posted by Richard
