day eighteen: table mountain

I like to think of myself as a hiker. Intermediate, if I was forced to choose. (In reality, that may be a stretch.) But, no doubt, I can hold my own going up a mountain... as long as the mountain isn't too difficult. But in this case, I ate (only) a huge slice of triple chocolate mousse cake for breakfast (yes, breakfast. but don't judge...it was my birthday! post on that coming later) before starting the hike, plus something about an altitude difference, lots of wind and mildly strenuous rock climbing and this birthday girl wasn't too sure about what she had signed up for with this Table Mountain hike (aka, Turkey Hike in honor of our Thanksgiving Day). There were a few times I wondered if I was going to live to see 26 years + 1 day. Nah, I'm mostly kidding... but kinda serious. However, I kept plugging and chugging and when I made it to the top, I knew why I had pushed forward: I unknowingly was surging ahead to the most beautiful views my eyes had ever beheld. See for yourself.

(fyi, this is what Table Mountain looks like: click here. It's literally flat on top, like a huge table.)

a sign posted at the top of the mountain

a dassie

is that beauty or what?!

day seventeen: camera pics

On my camera alone, I came back with 1,065+ pictures. 

We all shared pictures, and from the most I can tell, here is a count of *some* of the others' photos:

Bethany: 600+, Liz: 275 ish, Kara: 390+, and Adriana: who even knows, but a lot!

From just the four people I listed, that's over 2,300 pictures! I'm lucky my computer hasn't totally crashed yet, and here's to hoping that it won't. Nevertheless, we had a great time snapping pics of the breathtaking scenery and landscape (and people!) we saw while we were there. We also had a fun time taking lots of pictures of us taking pictures (?). It seems odd, yet I like to think it's 'artsy'. As I looked through the thousands of photos when I returned, I couldn't believe how many we had of our team members just posing with a camera! I love it.

day sixteen: the team

Meet the Team:

Top Photo: All the girls on our team! 

Amy, Katherine, Bethany, Lindy, Leah, Liz, Kara

 Joanna, Erin, me, Adriana

Bottom Photo: All the guys on our team!

Jeff, David, Ricky, Harrison and Scott

We had a pretty darn special team! We are gelled and meshed together like we had been friends for years. This was my first mission trip, so it seemed great to me, but according to others even this was a supernatural and exceptional blessing. We had so much fun together and all really enjoyed each other's company and being on this adventure to Africa together. It was many of our first time to Africa, so that became a special memory for us. I would do it all over again!

day fifteen: Arise

We visited an after-school kids club while in Capetown called Arise. We were able to spend the whole day at Arise helping to prepare for the afternoon program and also getting acquainted with the mission of the organization. Arise ministers to vulnerable and at-risk children in the neighborhood and surrounding communities. Brigitte, one of the sweet workers there, told us that children walk from far, far away to come to the after school program here. What a blessing that is! The organization and this experience sure was a blessing to me.

(Arise had a policy that we couldn't take photos of the kids there and/or post them online, so the few we were allowed to take, I'm not allowed to share. I wish you could see their adorable faces!)

day fourteen: south african money

I'm not totally sure why, but I was completely enamored and in love with the South African paper currency (and coins, too). All of the money had safari animals on them! You can barely see in this photo, but the 2 rand coin is a picture of a kudu. 

You can see more examples of the money with animals on it: here!

day thirteen: capetown scenery (& beauty)

These pictures speak for themselves. I had a few "extra" that I wanted to share, but that didn't fit into the categories of the other posts - previous or coming. They sure are beautiful!

(photo courtesy of Bethany) 

I love the brightly painted walls in the picture.

a video of hand jives

The kids in Khayelitsha taught me a few things about hand jives and foot games. Check it out!

day twelve: phumezo's house

After Phumezo gave us a tour of Mandela Park, Khayelitsha, and Look Out Point, he graciously welcomed our team into his home to meet his wife, children and the neighborhood children that he often looks after. This was such a treat for us, and for me especially. The kids who lived nearby flocked to his house as soon as they saw two kombis full of "white people" pull up to Phumezo's house. They were thrilled to let us take their picture and they showed us a few hands games and foot dances (I'll post a video of that!).

I'm not sure how this was possible, but I somehow left and returned to America without any of these kids! Aren't they the cutest, biggest hams you've ever seen?

(more look out point)

I've already shared my 'Capetown Post of the Day' (and I thought the photo below spoke volumes by itself), but I couldn't stand not to share more photos from this breathtaking scenery.

day eleven: look out point

While visiting the township of Khayelitsha, we went to a spot, called Look Out Point, that gave us an incredible view of the area. This is such a stunning photo; it represents everything we saw and felt in this neighborhood: beauty, sadness, grandeur and poverty. This is one of my favorite pictures from the entire trip. These boys quickly became our good buddies!

day ten: khayelitsha

Khayelitsha is reportedly the largest township in South Africa (and growing). For this post, I must let the pictures speak for themselves because my words can never do justice to my experience there...

If you want to read more about the township of Khayelitsha (which I would highly recommend), click here to see some of the staggering facts (which seem to be outdated since 2005). I'm also interested to read this book, Khayelitsha, of a journalism student living here while he did an internship for a Cape Town newspaper. It sounds fascinating.

day nine: mandela park

One of the days we spent in Cape Town we visited a subdivision in the suburbs called Mandela Park. We visited a church there and talked with Phumezo, the pastor, about what his vision is for this area where crime is rampant, HIV/AIDS is affecting a majority of the community, and most all of the kids there are considered vulnerable and at-risk because of broken families and violence. It was an extremely humbling experience, while also extremely encouraging. Phumezo's vision for the community is one of a true servant. More about this neighborhood in coming posts. I wanted to include these pictures of Phumezo's church, below, although there aren't many.

day eight: nelson mandela's prison cell

As I mentioned in yesterday's post about Robben Island, we visited the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for the majority of his time in prison. And we got to see his actual prison cell! It was tiny and cramped, as you can see. But very special for us to be there and see such a significant piece of South Africa's history in person.

If you're interested in reading more about the racial struggle in South Africa, check out Nelson Mandela's book (that he wrote while in prison, in this cell!): Long Walk to Freedom.

day seven: robben island

Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela was held in prison for 18 of his 27 years in prison. We were fortunate enough to be able to visit the island that was so rich in the history and culture of South Africa. We took a tour of the entire island (which is beaaautiful!), and then the prison. Our tour guide for the prison was a former prisoner with Mandela (!) and his perspective and story were fascinating. He ended the talk by thanking our countries for support during the apartheid, which ended only in 1994. It was so moving to hear him say that South Africa is now a "rainbow nation" where all colors are equal!

We're on this journey together.

Penguin Crossing

"Leper Graveyard"

My roommate Katherine and me

Stunning views of Cape Town and Table Mountain from Robben Island.

Our team, plus a few extras who wanted to jump in the picture on the left!

I found the apartheid to be extremely fascinating, and also so moving in many ways because I experienced similar racial tensions growing up in the South, albeit 30 to 40 years later. This was one of my favorite days in South Africa because it was so encouraging to hear the former prisoner's story of love and forgiveness despite being so mistreated.

day six: camps bay

In my opinion, Camps Bay was one of the most beautiful places we visited while in Cape Town. It was the picture perfect paradise that you imagine when you think of the Cape Town you've seen in pictures: a picturesque beach landscape with crystal blue water overlooking a beautiful mountain backdrop. Gasp! Now, I have the pictures to prove that it's real...

I miss this beautiful African sunset!