Guguletu

Yesterday I visited David – a friend of mine from my time on the Doulos. I went to the church for which he works amongst homeless people. The name of the oganisation is called U-Turn and is part of the St. Stephens church. They literally get people from the street to give them one of their twenty beds in an old storage hall. Everyone who knows David will say this kind of job is suits him really well! After the church service I met Nathan the guy with the crutches. Nathan is one of those people whom David gave the opportunity for a place to sleep. He is an Indian from Durban and a few years ago he left everything behind to "move" to Cape Town. He needs his crutches since he was shot a few times in his body, because he did ot want ot join a gang. After he woke up out of his koma he gave his life to Jesus. I would have loved to have heard more of his story, but David and I had to leave to go to Guguletu.

We took a taxi* to Guguletu the place in which David grew up and where his parents live. Guguletu is an expreience! When we arrived at 12:30 their church service was still going. Also Guguletu is one of Cape Town porest areas. Most of the living places are kind of shanty houses, but Davids parents live very comfortably and I had a nap for half an hour.

In the evening then we headed back to St.Stephens Church. They have a youth service there every sundaya evening. since I am here in Cape Town I have visited five churches, but I am still not sure were to stay.

*Travelling in a taxi is not the same as in Europe where you pay through the nose and its nice an comfortable. It's more like an overcrowded minibus – one of South Africas "must" experiences".

Kalkies

I went for fish and chips at "Kalkies" with Simtong from Nigeria tonight and we met a coloured man, called David. He works at the Kalk Bay harbour since he was fourteen, so for forty years now. He cleans the fish that the little fishing boats bring in during the day. He lives a bit further outside of Kalk Bay and can't afford to get back after work. So like many other he stays over night and sleeps on a bench or under a truck. Many times things would get stolen. If it rains the owner of Kalkies lets these men sleep inside. David also intruduced us to Nome.

Just as many South African black people Nome speaks Xhosa (the language with the many click-sounds). This guy even had been in the newspaper a few years ago. During a catch on the open sea Nome's fellow crew members gradually left him in by setting back home on a trawler boat. All alone he waited for three weeks for people to pick him up and take him back home, but noone came. He had kept himself and the motor running, but soon the food was empty and there was no other way to set back home all by himself, but he never learnt to steer or to navigate a ship, but he got home safely eventually.

Both David and Nome always mentioned that the Lord has helped them in their lives. Even though Simtong and I never said clearly that we were Christians David asked me in the end if I can give him a bible the next time I see him. "Preferably Afrikaans", he said.

Deep down South

Just as you have to see the "Roland" in Bremen or the "Muttental" in Witten, you can't live in Cape Town without having seen "Cape Point"

I am doing well and I am glad I am settling into the community here, eventhough some things take their time. I can say I have been accepted very well ,by my new collegues and that means a lot to me. Still I am waiting for my new computer so I have to work at my laptop for the time being, but that's ok.

In the meantime I can see in more detail what my tasks will be here at MediaVillage and I am looking foreward to tell you more about it.

Today the wife of the leader of MediaVillage (Diane) came back from Uganda. Together with a videoteam she visited various organisations and also she met up the First Lady of Uganda (Mama Jane). They also interviewed the president himself. Mama Jane is a born again Christian and is able to explain the condition of her country from a biblical perspective. The developement of Uganda is a good example for the fact that our faith can change large communities for the good. The AIDS-politics for example and the nationwide campaign "Love Waits" resulted in decreasing numbers of infected people by HIV. In all other African countries these numbers are rising.

At this time MediaVillage has 28 similar projects running. My task will be to design the covers for the DVDs.

Last Saturday I went to a local radio-station. I got to know some people who work there and they invited me just to sit in and watch. When they started the show the speaker started to interview me ... I am trying to get hold of the recorded tape so I can show it to you here on the web.