Monday, July 23

The team and some of the children at Fikelela

"All things are possible with God" Mark 9:23. This message was easy to see after an amazing day around South Africa. After being picked up from our homestays and a quick cuddle sesh at Gershwin's house,  the team made our way over to Fikelela Orphange Home. Almost immediately, children were peeking through bars to get a glimps at the foreginers. We met our new friend KAte who explained to us the basic operations and the origins of the orphanage. She has been in SA for eightenn months now, starting off with no intention of ever coming to Africa. She spent years traveling back and forth between Asia and her home country, Australia, (Aussi, aussi, aussi, oi, oi, oi!) eventually she came to Africa with a friend and fell in love. The orphanage has an amazing succes rate, lAst Year fourty-nine came in and fourty-one were adopted! All the children are looked after with each of their needs met- some of the kids have Down Syndrome, others have Cerebal Palsy, 50% have been diagnised with HIV, and 80% have TB. When our tour was finished, we got to see the children! They took one look at us and ran, with arms open, completely excited for new visitors, begging to be picked up. We spent the morning playing with the kids and even with the language barrier, the joy was plastered on each of their faces. After lunch, the children were put down for naps and the team started on our next project- making a mural on one of the walls. Surprisingly little paint was spilt and our masterpiece was coming together. All day long, one little baby kept coming back to me, Barney. Barney is not his real name, but comes from the route of barnacle since he sat on my hip all day long and became extremely upset if I put him down. This orphanage is truly an amazing operation. Even though most of the kids were unwanted and neglected at the beginning of their lives,  everyone happy, friendly, and love being loved. They are clearly looked after and given the necessary attention, even in the most extreme situations where others have turned their backs on them.

 One by one the kids woke up and came to view the new edition to their home. quote from the book of Mark, complete with an astronout in a spaceship, an alien, and the solar system.


It was hard saying goodbye to each of our little babies! We piled into our van, again with all the children looking at us through the gate. Muizenberg was our next destination but only by chance! There is an amazing little ice cream shop called Spendid that we have all been waiting to go to and finally we went! Muizenberg is lined by the ocean and surfers try and catch the best wave. We got our ice cream and took a stroll along the boardwalk, which led to taking pictures in the ocean, which led to a bit of getting wet. Especially one photo of our group, minus Gershburger and Kay, of the beautiful mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Before we knew it, a giant wave crashed behind us, drenching us all, with the little "warning" from Gershwin. We contiuned playing in the waves until our feet were numb from the cold ocean and our arms limp from carrying kids all day.

Standing on the beach in Muizenberg

Already on this trip we see the difficulties of living in third-world conditions, but we also see the hope and joy that simple love can bring.

Katie