5th - 9th May!

Saturday 5^th Evening!

After out time at the park we got picked up by Colin who is deputy chairman at project gate way and we had no idea really what we were doing with him other than that it had something to do with music. Turns out that we were sitting in on his church, in Northdale’s band practice. Mike is a self taught guitarist who doesn’t know cord, rob is grade 8 trumpet [but trumpets an worship bands arn’t always the best and all music need to be transposed], Anna plays a small amount of piano and I am tone deaf. It was a pretty cringey experience and I really just wanted it to end! The worship bad had no idea why we were there and we had no idea why we were there, but Colin was well into it! After that we went to colins house which is also in Northdale, Northdale is the predominantly Indian area of town, although apartheid is over the town is still pretty segregated. His house was really nice and he had an amazing car so it was quite a contrast to where we had been staying! We ate KFC which was so good and also had some curry. After that we went to mug an bean to try an cheer Kate up because her ear infection had meant she hadn’t been out the house all day!

Sunday 6^th

In the morning we went to church and it was probably one of the best services Ive been to. They had a guest preacher from the city and he spoke very well. The music was amazing an a woman who sounded like Cheryl Crow led it! After church we watched a dvd and then in the evening we met sarah at mug and bean [again!].

Heavens gates and hells flames the play at our church started that evening and 1800 people fitted into the hall, however 800 people had to be turned away! The queue was all the way down the street. That night 1000 people became Christian which was really exciting and pretty much a miracle.

Monday 7^th

First thing in the morning we went to Veronicas house who is a mum at the childrens home. She lived in the township so it was exciting being able to see a different side to south Africa. Where she lives is like one large room made of mud with a corrugated iron roof! We also saw where the new house is being built for the kids at duduza [the children’s home] which was even more exciting. Project gate way focuses on sustainability so to have a house for some of the children to go to live in the community is a big success. Veronica is taking full time adoption of 4 of them so they will be living in a new house right next to hers!

In the morning Kate and I went with Michael from PCC to a school to talk to 13year olds about safe sex and abstinence. It was really interesting and also exciting because Michael is going to train us up to be able to do the talks ourselves, which I’m really looking forward to. The talk was jokes though and I had to stop my immature self from laughing on a number of occasions. The other difference was how un PC the talk was compared to the sex education talks I have at school but I guess with the aids crisis here is probably best to be straight to the point.

When I got back I went to ester house [where the pregnant women live] and helped to assist with the sewing projects they are doing. At the moment it is run by a zulu lady [mental Zulu lady with crazy hair as I like to call her]. It was really difficult as she talked the whole time in Zulu and whenever I spoke to her or asked her questions she ignored me [even though she can speak English well]. So I didn’t feel like I could contribute much to the class however I’m sure it will get better. In the afternoon we went to the school and covered dictionaries. Rob and I were in one team and Anna and Mike in another. Needless to say rob and I were amazing we covered 22 in the time they did 14… we have mad skills.

After that we went shopping and Kate didn’t come [she is the accountant] so we could buy as much juice and biscuits as we liked! Rob and I also used the opportunity to put into practices the best plan ever, BUYING RUMMIKUB! We are amazing. We then played that for the rest of the evening.

Tuesday 8^th May

In the morning I went to PCC to do the craft sessions an it was pretty much the same as before. A lot of Zulu and not much to do. However I did what I do best and I did a lot of unpicking [all that practice at A level came in handy] I have also decided to buy the women’s love so shall be bringing in cakes next week. After grabbing a quick lunch Rob, Mike and I mished it out in the venture with Sarah an Rachel to go around town putting up stickers on about 100 Heavens Gates posters over PMB saying ‘extended, thurs and fri’ because of the massive numbers of people going to the production they have had to make it run on! There was a lot of running and jumping involved but I got into it and it was nice to get out of the prison!

In the evening we went to watch the play. It was pretty standard, nothing amazing but it was nice to see Ashley [one of our main south African friends] acting, he was awesome. The whole thing was pretty mental though, in England no one goes to plays, no one goes to church, however we watched as about 2000 people queue up to go to a both! At the end of the night about 600 people stood up to become Christians so it was insane but also exciting.

Wednesday 9^th May

This morning I went to do craft again, it was a bit better as I got to make crafts and I also learnt that if I talk very loudly and slowly the mental Zulu woman listens to me. Then this afternoon I went in to a township school with the Community Care Project to be part of and HIV talk. As the only white person in the building it was really funny to watch as people just stood and stared at me! The school was a lot more run down compared to the other ones I have been in as it is right in the middle of the townships. It was also funny hearing sex being talked about in Zulu and the teenagers acting just how they would in England in response!