Update!

Well now that I've worried everyone with this Kombie strike it's over and was over on Tuesday.  Turns out it was more about standing by a Kombie driver who was on trial yesterday for murder?  I still don't really know, and nobody seems to know exactly which is odd, but I guess I'm really experiencing the culture!?

Now here is another week or in review of pictures:

The view of our balcony when my parents were staying with me

Dad waiting for some coffee where we ate breakfast each morning

I was about to attempt opening my first bottle of wine ever but decided just to pose and let someone else! (This is the bottle I won for climbing the mountain my roomates and I shared it over a nice pasta dinner)

At a rehabiliation center on our way to the karoo, they take in injured animals and then release them back into wild life at a game park or something when they are ready

We even got to feed the zebra, their stripes are so beautiful and so vibrant as you can see

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I think I got dessert after each meal when my parents were with me! I had to put this up so you can see just how happy I was when they were here, so much laughing (hopefully it helped burn off all those desserts I ate hehe!)

Pottery barn view of the pretty sititng area our hotel

It was such a neat place, there were only 9 rooms!

The "plunge pool"

Yes, that is me with a real live female chetah!  It was so nice and we all got to pet her, in this picture she was licking my hand, the roughness of her tounge was unbelieveable, it felt like sand paper.  These cheetahs even though they are fenced in while they recover can still reach speeds of 90km in 3 seconds... yikes.

We got to hold baby lion cubs again, they are just so sweet and cuddly

This view is from zebra national park in the karoo

Graaff-Reinet the "gem of the Karoo."  This is where we spent the past weekend.  It was a small little historical town that was so cute and surrounded by mountains.  The town was made up of bed and breakfasts, little cafes, museums, and shops!  It was fun to experience small town life in Africa.  We stayed in a bed and breakfast that was very nice and even had a pool that we all took advantage of!

The center of the city was called church square and rightfully so because there were many different churches.  This church however was in the center and was goregous.  It's a Duth Reform Church which in other words is an Afrikaner church.  We were able to look inside and were disapointed as it wasn't half as pretty and the people were not welcoming at all... too bad it wasn't a Catholic Church!!

As you can see I'm continuing to have a wonderful time.  This past weekend showed me how life used to be in South Africa to a greater extent.  When we were up in the mountains looking down on the city it was crazy how you could see the division of the city and the townships.  The disorganization and lack of infostructure in the townships was so easy to see, I continue finding myself asking the same question: why hasn't this changed yet?  The segregation is so apparent, so inhumane, why can't something be done?

I was stuck asking these questions again after learning about the Kombi strike and how affected people were by that.  On Tuesday Sandra at the House of Resurrection scheudled a tour for us at a care center in the Missionvail township.  The township has 130,000, so more people than Rochester.  But by turning 360 degrees I was able to see the entire township right there, that many people in one place.  Yet there are only 16 water taps in this area, yes only 16.  That means everyone still uses the bucket system in these shacks.  The unemployment rate is an astronomical 80% and the percentage of people who are have HIV/AIDS is 70%.  How is this possible?  How do people live like this? 

While the care center we saw was doing incredible things that I will blog about later I'm stuck on the fact of the poverty outside of those fences of the care center.  I can't tell you how many girls who looked like they were 10 years old were carrying babies on their backs.  People standing outside all morning waiting for some powder to make soup and half a loaf of bread so they could share that with their family for their one meal a day.  I've felt so sure of myself the majority of the time I've been here.  I've been praised by so many people for this blog and for what I'm doing...but I'm questioning myself now.  What impact have I made here?  Can I make an impact when there is such a deep need? 

I know the answers to my questions are that yes I can and am making an impact, but I want to be honest that it's hard right now and it's frustrating and I'm not always so wonderful!  I wanted to complain to my mom yesterday like a little girl and be able to have the comfort of my own home to cry and be sad about what I saw.  However, at the same time I was moved to tears because of how happy the people here are and that things are being done to help them.  I'm glad that God brings me to my knees when I'm here because what good would it be if I wasn't being challenged or asking myself hard questions?!  Well that is all for now, I miss and love you all!

-This was clearly written last week but I was unable to post it online!