Off to Stellanbach!

A quick recap as my internet minutes are quickly passing!

Last night we attended the Anglican Church service and listened to the choir sing Vivalde's "Gloria" which was beautiful. It was a really nice service in this beautiful stone cathedral.

Today we visited Bahumelele (sp?) which is an orphanage in a township that was started by this amazing woman, Rosalie Mishale, whose story I will have to divulge later - truly inspiring. It was so heartbreaking to see the living conditions of the people in the township living in tin shacks - there were over a million people living in that particular township - packed in like sardines.

We toured the orphanage and saw where all the children live and go to school and eat and even where those who are sick stay. It broke my heart, the children were so beautiful and sweet and just wanted love and have seen more pain and brokenness than imaginable. Babies are killed all the time, unwanted. The orphanage has a "drop box" where people can leave babies through a window in a cradle that the attendants check daily. An alternative to leaving them in trash cans...so tragic, these beautiful children as unwanted, as too much. Tears were abundant and the experience was overwhelming, but definitely a lasting impression. I didn't want to leave them. Seeing their faces and waving good-bye was so hard, their smiles so full of hope, but their eyes full of difficult moments they have to endure each and every day. So much more to say about this experience...

Tomorrow we will visit the District 6 Museum and then rush to the buses as we are leaving Cape Town and heading to Stellanbach where we will work with Habitat for the next eight days. Being in the township today shows what an amazing help Habitat can be to families. Trading lean-to shacks for bricks, a HOME. There was a billboard on the way back from the orphanage that said "Building homes and building dignity." A real home, everyone deserves a home, shelter. Should be an eye-opening, amazing and challenging experience. Posts may be few as not sure of internet access.