Destination: Transkei

From 'blikskud' (fundraising) to sanding and painting walls;  taking of old roofs and replacing it with a brand new one;  from tents blowing away (and leaking!) to evangelising and building relationships;  from chasing pigs and running away from snakes to riding in taxis packed to the roof . . . 2 weeks in the Transkei had it all and even so much more!!!

2 Weeks ago we left the comfort of our base camp in Jeffrey's Bay, heading to Coffee Bay in the Transkei.  On our way there we had to stop over in Port Elizabeth to raise more funds (‘blikskud’) to pay help pay for our transport there and back again.  after almost the whole day we on the bus, we arrived at our destination in the Transkei - Coffee Bay.  A small little town on the Wild Coast, and as soon as we got off the bus, it was as if we were in a foreign country.  The feeling of the locals, the atmosphere and surroundings, even the offerings of 'magic mushrooms' made me realise - we are not in J-Bay anymore...

Our campsite and ministry point for the week was a Christian school founded by the most amazing women I have met in a long time - Judy.  Selflessly she gives all she has to not only give education to the local kids, but she also gives shelter and food to a whole bunch of orphan or abandoned kids.  Through her live, and that of the people that helps, you truly see a live of faith, depending only on the Lord.

Every team had a certain project for the week, helping to renovate the school, and to also spend time with the kids.  Our team - Northbound - got the seemingly impossible task of renovating one of the class rooms - 'Plankie'.  'Plankie' was a wooden classroom with a leaky and rusty tin roof, and to make matters even more complicated - it had no support structure, so it was leaning dangerously to one side!

[ The cross-structure was put in place some time after the building was first raised.  These 2 braces, as well as a couple of wire anchors on the outside was all that prevented the building from falling over (to the left of the photo)]

We jumped in immediately, and in 5 days time we sanded the whole inside and outside of the building, and re-varnished it.  We ripped of the old roof, and all the walls almost fell over.  We added a strong supporting structure on the inside of 'Plankie', pulled the building upright again, and replaced the roof.  Looking back it seems quite easy, but no words can tell of the sweat and dust that went into sanding;  the amount of nails and meters and meters of wooden planks we used;  the lunches and dinners we worked through;  not even to mention the rain or the strong winds that hampered the placing of the new roof.  An enormous and challenging task for about 15 people, but so rewarding.  And yet the best part for me is not all the long hours, the planning, or even the completed building.  The best part to me is when I look back and see God's hand in everything that we did, from blessing us with money and even with the needed building material, to keeping us safe on the site, and bringing us as a team together to work and live as the body of Christ.

A truly amazing and Spirit filled experience!

After a week in Coffee Bay, we left in a couple taxis, leaving the Wild Coast and all it’s splendour behind.  We travelled more inland, to the town of Canzibe.  Yet again we pitched our tents, but this time on the grounds of a mission station.  Wikus and his family, the missionaries at the mission station, welcomed us with most humble and spirit filled hearts.  In our week at Canzibe we went out to the locals and also helped out at the mission station with some renovations.

Going out into the Xhosa community was easier said than done.  Not only was there a language barrier that made things challenging, but the believes and worshipping of forefather spirits posed an even greater challenge.  Even with a translator we had some difficulty with communicating, but the people in the area was so welcoming and open to us, that we soon found ourselves immersed in conversation with a single household for a few hours!  We were not only invited into their homes, but also into their lives, and soon started sharing their stories and their culture with us.  Even though their culture and way of doing things is important to them, some are willing to sacrifice it for the Gospel of God, to live whole heartedly as a follower of Christ.

And then it happened:  At a Bible study at one of the houses, without warning or preparation, I was asked to lead the Bible study!  As one of friends put it, “now that’s being thrown into the deepest end of the ocean, high up from a helicopter, with bricks attached to my legs”!  With no understanding of the language or the culture (where women sit on the ground and only the men on chairs), I started sharing the Gospel.  Out of my depth, I started sharing Psalm 23.  It fitted in so perfectly, with sheep and goats and cattle walking around, being herded into the kraal f0or the evening.  Once again I felt the Holy Spirit working through me, even though I stuttered and stumbled, and at times forgot about my translator (sorry Tuli!).  We got interrupted a few times during the time – by snakes chasing frogs, dogs chasing chickens, and even the greeting of passers by – still the Xhosa families listened intently, taking what they heard to heart.  As I walked back to camp, I wasn’t able to do anything but worship the grace and love of the God that dwells with in me.

After a week of being lost in translation and culture, we left Canzibe early the Saturday morning, heading to Mthata to start our journey back to Jeffrey’s Bay (of which I will tell more in my next blog).

A busy and action packed two weeks, filled with the love and grace and leading hand of God.  If this was but a taste of the rest of the year, then I say:  BRING IT ON!!!!
Destination:  The World!!!