This is the story of how we begin to remember.

Well here it is... the last few moments of this journey.

We filled our last morning with a tour of the oldest township in South Africa, The Langa Township. It was here that I saw what I expected to see when I arrived here 3 weeks ago. A community of about 80,000 people all living in what was described as "below poverty" but also people who were so welcoming and eager to teach us of their culture. Our tour guide showed us his home, probably the size of my living room at home, which he shares with 27 others. He showed us the traditional african healer in the community, the place where they prepare boiled sheep heads, and the place where they brew their own beer. I knew this was going to be a different place because while we were being introduced to the tour and given the rules and told what to expect, we heard the sounds of what seemed like a giant celebration. Our guide quickly informed us that it was a funeral. The sounds mimicked those that would come in a time of happiness, and it immediately showed the strong spirit of the township. He told us of the "initiation" all men must go through at the age of 18, of which I will not share the details on here because I don't think many would appreciate it. He also showed us the center where many locals create their own artwork and clay pieces and where a band practices. I got to drum with an African band today. Now Steve, when you finally get to read this I want you to know that I was nervous to get up in front of everyone but I immediately thought of you and how you would be right up there and so I did it and it was one of the best moments of my life.

So as these experiences turn to memories, and the comforts of home are so close within reach, I can't help but wonder what I will think most about on the first day of classes, next month, or even in 10 years. I believe that the children's faces with be burned in my brain forever and the sense of pride and all the other indescribable feelings I have from this trip will never fade.

See you tomorrow Mom & Dad... you can finally breathe. <3

"It always seems impossible until it's done."

Nelson Mandela has it right.

It was our last day with the children today and it was very hard to say goodbye. Not so much for the kids I don't think because they are used to volunteers coming and going, but for us it was tough. Without even knowing it these children have changed us forever. As I laid in bed last night I tried to think of every child I've been with through these 3 weeks. Their faces came easily to me. The looks we got when we would come onto the ward with toys, the way they would laugh at the littlest thing we would do, the way they would hold your hand just to know you're there when they weren't feeling good and had no one else with them, that will be clear in my memories forever.

Although we were not able to take pictures within the hospital,
the faces and memories will never fade from my mind.

As every one of us received a hug from the head of the Friends of the Red Cross volunteer program today, who had tears in her eyes, I realized just how much of a difference three weeks can make in anybody's life. And how much good there really is in the world.

All the way to end of the world.

Today was full.. no other way to describe it.

We started off the day with our last visit to Maitland Cottage. The spirit of this place is unmatched by any other hospital I have been in. The children are all suffering from orthopedic issues but don't show an ounce of pain and they do not hold back from anything. Being that they do not have a regular volunteer program, they light up whenever we come around the corner. Today we had nothing more to offer them than some crayons, stickers, chalk, and old halloween coloring books but they all had smiles on their faces every second we were there. We've talked many time in our group meetings about how refreshing it is to see children who are happy to have something as simple as one crayon and a piece of paper rather than an Ipad or some other electronic. These kids are the definition of what we have been talking about.

After we left the kids, we immediately hopped on our bus and headed down, down, down. We stopped along the way for a beachside lunch and to see the African penguins we've been hearing so much about. I still can't fully understand how I saw Penguins in the middle of the African summer today... but I did. Also something I can't understand is why about 10 minutes after we left we saw crazy baboons walking along the side of the road! They were EVERYWHERE. We've been warned about these guys and they were not kidding.

A bit further down the road we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, the south-western most point of the African Continent. More baboons here too, and they were climbing on top of cars! We also had to stop on the road for a couple minutes, but not because of your typical squirrel or bunny or anything like that. Nope. It was an ostrich. An ostrich that caught it's reflection in our bus windows and wanted to get reaaallllyyyyy close to check itself out!

Our final stop of the day was Cape Point. That's right.. today I traveled to the southern most tip of Africa. 

"Uh guys... something just flew into our room."

We think it was a bird... but we also think it's gone. We hope.

Ok. So this morning was our second to last day at the Red Cross Children's Hospital and it was a kind of quiet day. One of the children who has been with us this whole time was surprisingly not there. I think him suddenly not being there when we walked in was a bit of a wake up call as to what this Friday is going to bring when we say our goodbyes. My little friend who was feeling terrible last week was fully back into her usual mood: bossing us around and making us do goofy things so she could laugh at us. She had me draw a picture of my family and since my art skills only extend as far as stick figures and a pretty mean sun drawing, that's what she got. She laughed a lot. 

We had our final trip to Camps Bay this afternoon and I can honestly say I will never forget the feeling of walking onto that beach for the first time almost 3 weeks ago. It was truly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. To be with my friends, some new some old, all screaming and running around because of the beauty of a view and the realization of where we were was a memory I will hold onto for a long time. 

A nose in need deserves puffs indeed.

So that title isn't as random as you may think. I unfortunately had to miss out on our second day at Sarah Fox Hospital this morning because as my good bud Forrest Gump puts it.. i have a "cough due to cold." It was decided that it would be not only in my best interest to stay and rest today but also that of the children. The last thing these poor kids need is a cold on top of it all. I did get a full report on the day from my friends and the kids apparently had a BLAST with the sprinklers today. The weather has been hanging around 90 degrees with the slightest breeze.. it's almost cruel how windy it usually is and then when it's this hot it's as still as can be. I have a wonderful picture in my mind of the kids running around like the children they don't usually get to be in the cool water outside. I'm hoping to be feeling much better in the morning and back in action! 

Also, here's a picture of the group who we went surfing with on Sunday, and one of our instructors!

looking real good in our wetsuits, if I do say so myself!

Not much to report today... another good morning at the Red Cross and another beautiful afternoon at the beach. But in honor of Martin Luther King Day here's a song I think is fitting. It's been on my "Africa or bust" playlist since the planning stages of this trip and today seems like a great day to share it.

Another one off the bucket list.

I went surfing today!!!! And I actually stood up on the board... TWICE!!!
Also, it was in the Indian Ocean.

Muizenberg Beach
where we went surfing this morning