Saturday 23th - Sunday 24th - A weekend in Howick

I am going to try and not write too much about the past 4 days but here goes...
On Saturday (23rd) morning Ruth and I had an unpleasently early start. We woke up at 5.15am because we were helping out with the Ethembeni breakfast cafe just outside Howick in a place called Lions River. This happens every week to try to use the profits to raise money for Ethembeni and is essentially a group of people who work together to cook, serve and sell good value breakfasts to mainly old people from the surrounding areas. Despite the early start and hard work running around with a try of burnng hot plates, I really enjoyed myself. It was a really good opportunity to tell people about why we are where and what we are doing with Ethembeni. The rest of the weekend was spent in Howick with Sarah, a lovely lady who came out to South Africa with Tearfund last year and is now working full time for Ethembeni as their first Occupational Therapist. She took us to Karkloof Falls, a stunning waterfall just outside of Howick. However, in order to get to the area where we could get out and paddle (some of us swim!) we had to go up the most bumpy, dusty and longest track I think any of us have ever driven up! At the top of this seemingly never-ending track we were able to paddle/swim above the smaller waterfall above Karkloof (which was still pretty high - Chole, Eli and Nicola jumped off it!) It was amazing to sit right at the top, watching vast amounts of water rush down, it was so beautiful. The rest of the day was taken up with a fairly amusing trip to the supermarket, a yummy braie (a bbq) and a relaxed evening with a film - a recharge that was much needed!

Sunday was also spent in Howick, going to the Howick Community Church (HCC) in the morning and evening and in between we were invited to a lovely couple's house who are called Vernon and Jill, who have said to us that foras long as we are here, we are welcome in their home, for a swim or to relax and read a book and even if we need a good nights sleep! One very noticeable thing about this country is that everyone is so welcoming and generous. Ruth and I made a Lasange for Nkosi, the lady we are staying with and she was so pleased, it is her favourite meal and she never has it! And that concludes our weekend in Howick!