The first few days...

It's taken a long time to finally reach this place, my home away from home in South Africa. Funny how you can be oceans apart from close family and friends and yet feel so close and not far away at all. The internet probably helps.

Well, after a long couple flights (each went smoothly without any issues for those who know what I mean ;) I was greeted at the airport by my new flatmate and made the long trek from the Cape Town airport to my new home. It's a familiar place and although not filled with the friendly faces who I once stayed here with, there are many other friendly faces and people I am really becoming quite close with.

The first couple days have been about settling in, recovering from jetlag and getting a bit acclimated as to where I am in relation to everything else. Yesterday my friend Jakes drove me around Chapman's Peak which was full of breathtaking vistas. I wish I had brought my camera but we were eventually heading to the waterfront and I didn't feel like taking it along. There will be another opportunity I am sure.

Today has been a quiet day...mostly me and the house. It's been nice though, I probably needed that to get even more settled in preparation for my first day tomorrow. Some sad news...on Thursday I found out that Nozipo, a woman who was in the health care clinic when I was out here last year, passed away at 2am that morning. I was very saddened by the news because I had so desperately been hoping I would be able to see her again and spend time sharing and telling stories with one another once again. Last year she told me that if I ended up coming back, she would come and visit me. It was extremely humbling...here she is HIV+, frail, without transportation, barely able to walk because of two previous strokes, wanting to come visit me if I returned back. Then I arrive, and that very night she passes away. At the same time, I am comforted knowing that she is no longer suffering. A friend of mine here who spent time with her in her last week of life said that there were days that Patricia (Nozipo's English name) said that there was no one to talk to so she would just talk to Jesus all day. I'm glad that she is now with Jesus and that she can talk to him face to face.

I'm concerned about Thembeka, my friend in Kayamandi. I emailed her letting her know I was back in South Africa and I haven't heard from her. Lord-willing I will head to Stellenbosch next weekend to spend time in Kayamandi and see if I can find her.

Until later,

Brenda