Come on, ride the train

So another 10 days has gone by and I'm just now sitting down to write. I guess it is easier than I thought to 'get busy' in Cape Town. I have had an amazing 10 days. So I'm just going to pick up where I left off.



Last week - Tuesday and Wednesday I had the privilege of serving/helping out with the INSIDE/OUT Camp. I/O is a high school environment created by NP that was just launched by SP. There were about 50 people (about 36 high school students) that went over near Hermanas(Hermanus sp) for an overnight camp. I was strictly there to help Pam sort out the meals. The camp facilities were beautiful and the kids all really enjoyed themselves. The purpose was to get the students excited about Inside Out. I/O had it's first meeting on Friday night and it was a huge success. I am positive that God is going to bless that environment and use it in a positive way in high school students lives.

I volunteered at Rainbow House again on Saturday. I was adventurous and decided to ride the train. It was an absolutely fine experience. It's funny - a lot of people looked at me like I had three eyes when I told them I had ridden the train. I guess it's not very common that you see a "white" person on the train. The train car that I got in was pretty full - I had to stand. There was a man preaching on the train. Come to find out it was also "Nelson Mandela Day" also known as Mandiba Day - Not sure what all it stands for but people are supposed to do 67 minutes of volunteering to represent the 67 years he spent in prison. (I THINK)

Sunday was the first time I've heard John Hasting preach - we've been watching a series by Andy Stanly. I think John did a sermon by Andy - it sounded familiar - about why SP does church the way they do and the whole reason they are so passionate. It was a clear message of Salvation - it was great.
Sunday afternoon I was at RH till around 8:30. I am really falling in LOVE with these children. I also really LOVE the vision and mission of Rainbow House. There aren't a lot of homes for children that function the way this home does. There are a lot of "institutions" out there that provide a safe place for children - but do not show the children LOVE. These children just want to be loved.

Monday I goofed around in the morning and then headed to the Rainbow House for the evening shift. I spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights there. I have enjoyed it so much. I believe I told you - there are 3-4 month old twins there currently. I have been doing the "night shift" staying in the room with them and tending to them as they wake up throughout the night. It's been a huge help to Alison - allows her to sleep the entire night so she is rested and alert for the day. I have really enjoyed "playing mommy" to these little ones - getting up in the night, feeding them, changing them, making there bottles, rocking them, ect.

The Rainbow House is located in an area called GoodWood. It is a primarily colored area. For those of you that don't know in South Africa the 3 main races are White, Black, and Colored. Colored is not the same as black - colored is more of a mixed race. I am really enjoyed being in GoodWood. There is a lot of activity. There are people out on the streets and lots and lots of shops along the main road. They aren't "really nice" shops but they are fun to go in. I have enjoyed walking the streets in the afternoon while the international volunteers are still at RH. The streets of Goodwood kind of remind me of the streets f Brooklyn - just busy with activity.

So I've been riding the train a lot from Pinelands to Goodwood. It is just 2 stops. Yesterday afternoon I was riding back from Goodwood to Pinelands and I got in a train car that was fairly empty with nice plush leather seats. I asked a man sitting across from me why the car was so empty. He told me I was in first class. Ha - can you believe it? They have 1st and 3rd class train cars in Cape Town South Africa. I just kind of giggled to myself. Then I got kind of nervous because I knew I didn't buy a "first class" ticket. He said if I didn't have a ticket they would make me pay an extra R40 (about $6.00). The ticket I bought was R5.50 - less than a dollar. I was sitting there nervously because 2 people in security jackets started asking around to see people's tickets. I just sat there. I knew I didn't buy a first class ticket and I didn't have R40 on me. I started thinking - what if they ask me for mine and I can't pay it - will I get arrested? Could you imagine - me being arrested and thrown into a South African jail because I didn't have the right train ticket. I'm sure my thoughts were a little dramatic. They made 2 people de-board that didn't have the correct ticket. The man I was talking to about the tickets at the beginning was a colored man. They asked to see his ticket and other people around me. Get this - they didn't ask me for my ticket. I don't know if it was a case of racial profiling - I was the ONLY white person on the train so did they just assume I had a first class ticket because I was white? Or could it be that I had FOREIGNER written all over my face? I guess we won't really know for sure. So needless to say I didn't get arrested and I made it to Pinelands and then back to Rainbow House later that evening.

I hope that you all are enjoying my blog. I hope you aren't expecting something really super deep from me. I've come to realize - I'm not that deep of a person. I don't think I have super profound thoughts to share with you all the time. I haven't blogged as much because in my mind I should be writing these super profound posts with reflection and deep thoughts and things to ponder - (I'm being inspired by Carrie Bradshaw LOL ) but that's just not me so much.
I guess I do have 1 thing. So my mom and I were talking about me finding my passion. I am passionate about children and serving. I really think I was created to be a wife and a mother. My mom does a devotion at wedding showers about women being created to help man - and play that support role. I don't know if it is because I have heard that devotion so many times that I really believe that - or it's just how God made me. When did everything change and there become such a huge focus on a woman's career? To be totally honest - I don't think I'm the "super career executive woman." My passion is to be the woman that God created me to be - a great partner, a helper, a supporter, and a mother.

Okay - that's my deep. Sorry I haven't uploaded any pictures lately. I can not put pictures of the children from RH up on the blog. It's for security reasons - some of them are placed there to protect them. I will have tons with me when I return so I'll be sure to show them to you then.

Well I must get ready - I am going to an "Off Broadway" show tonight with some people from church. It is called 3Tons of Fun - tomorrow night I'm going to a show Bravo with some other friends and then Saturday a Christmas in July Dinner Party.

Oh yeah - and starting Monday I'm going to live and stay at the Rainbow House. They have some volunteer quarters in the back. Have a great day everyone!
Until next time - I make no promises as to when I'll write again - hopefully sooner rather than later!

Cheers!

PS (I hope when you read the title some of you starting singing and even dancing a little in your chair) =) CHOO CHOO!