Breathtaking Capetown! Diving and all the excitement

Hello everyone,

 

So it has been a while since we have written an update.  I am sitting in the Jo’berg airport and have 15 minutes before our plane leaves to head back to Canada.  Feel like I need to write one last update before we leave this wonderful continent!  So what has happened in the last 2 ½ weeks?  Well – we have flown all over South Africa (much cheaper than taking the bus).  We started our holiday with a wonderful visit to Kruger Park – where we became hippo experts and saw some giraffe (my favorites!) and many other animals.  We really wanted to see cats, but apparently they didn’t want to see them – however as we were leaving God told Kate don’t worry you will see lions – which she didn’t really understand – more on that later.  Following that we flew into Capetown and packed our three days there full of amazing experiences.  We went on a tour of Robben Island – the prision Nelson Mandela was in for many years (which was lead by old prisoners!).  We have had a very eye opening and interesting experience speaking with many people about politics, apartheid and the current state of affairs in South Africa!  It has been very eye opening and heartbreaking all at the same time.  Today we heard that 33% of the deaths in this country are related to AIDS – the largest cause of death in the country!  While we were in Capetown we went to the top of Table Mountain and at one point thought we were going to be repelling down (kind of got lost right before the thing closed at sunset!  Was a titch scary but we trusted the Lord and he guided our steps literally one at a time!).  We also went to Cape point and the Cape of Good Hope see pictures!  It was an absolutely beautiful place and we stayed at this lovely heritage home that overlooked the city – BREATHTAKING!  Did I mention that I drove the day we rented the car and it was by the grace of God that I didn’t kill us and we didn’t kill each other! (Yikes wrong side of the road!).  We then flew on to Durban where we stayed in this little town on the South Coast.  During this time I did my open water PADI course and Kate dove and relaxed.  It was exciting.  We heard dolphins in the water with us and actually swam within 1 ½ meters of ragged tooth sharks YIKES!  It was breathtaking!  Not so good news apparently I have a horrible problem with sea sickness and can’t remember the last time I vomited so much!  But hey I am now qualified to dive all over the world and I made through the qualifications amidst the chucking!  Back to the Cat story!  So the last 24 hours Kate and I have been with a dear friend and sister of one of our friends from work.  Today we went to the Lion Park AND Kate actually got to pet the Lion Cubs nevermind that we saw them up close and personal!  YAY GOD!!! So now we are about to board our 24 hours of flying that shall return us safe and sound to our home CANADA! We are both excited!  Thank you to all of you for our prayers – I’m sure I will post some more pictures and reflections upon our return!

 

Much Love,

Heidi

Onward From Mozambique

Hello Friends,

 

I must apologize as our updates have been few this trip – we have just been so busy doing all that the Lord has called us to (not to mention virtually unable to get to email for the last week and a half!).  So what have we been up to?  So MUCH!  Actually God has been up to AMAZING THINGS – we have just been obedient to do what he has asked us to do.  We finished our time in South Africa, having preached at church, 2 village outreaches and a cell group! (God was stretching us big time!)  During that time we saw a huge number of healings of old and young alike.  I think one of our favorites was when this man with a very sore and swollen knee hobbled in to the women’s cell group to ask for prayer for his leg (quite a severe limp).  We had been told about him the night before at an outreach and had been praying for him.  We joined with the women from the cell group to pray for him and after praying once asked him if he had pain.  He said there was still a little, so we thanked God and prayed again.  After the second time he reported no pain -  and so we told him to try walking so he did and was limping.  We then again checked that there was no pain and when he said yes Kate said to him “You need to thank Jesus and walk strong!”  And he started walking so strong and marched right out of the meeting so happy on his way home!  So that was South Africa!  And by far we were the dirtiest we have been in our lives – no showers!  And we both learned that we are not gifted in the painting world! – we painted a room African style – no straight lines and weird designs!  We are no longer perfectionists!

The last week we have spent at the Iris center in Mozambique.  It has been so good to be back and rebuild relationships with the kids and to see how much they have all changed.  It has been hard to only be here for such a short time, but again the Lord has had some divine appointments with other visitors – so I know why it was important to come.  Kate is also falling in love with the place and now loves the children as much as I do!  We have done outreaches and loved the children – tomorrow we leave to begin the last leg of our trip.

As for the last leg the next two weeks we will spend debriefing, reflecting, being renewed and seeking the Lord for the next stage of our lives.  We will be going to Krueger Park and then flying to Capetown.  From there we are not sure what we will be doing but I assure you we are going to be in a great land for a holiday.  Please pray for our safety; as much as we would like to think we are experienced travelers now, we are aware of the dangers of being single white females in South Africa!  We plan to keep in touch so feel free to email us and we will get back to you.

 

Blessings to you all,

 

Heidi and Kate