Third week in South Africa

On our third week we started construction of some of the projects by taking down the existing patio cover. On Saturday we had the kids from the school help pick pears from the 27 trees that exist on the property. We then delivered them to a processing plant in a town about 45-minute drive away. The moneys from the sale of the pears will go toward making repairs of the bicycles for the kids to use around the property. Go figure, we had a bunch of singles picking pears for repairs. Saturday afternoon Lydia and Debbie delivered the quilts to the girls of the academy. They were so appreciated!
On Monday three contractors and their crews showed up to begin work on the pool, the kitchen, the dining room, two bathrooms and the roadwork. These crews are making a lot of dust, but by Wednesday much of the demolition has already been finished. The road crew is putting down curb stones along both sides of the driveways, moving a lot of dirt and they have cut the path around the perimeter of the property.
While picking pears we discovered that blackberries were growing on the eastern end of the property next to the pear trees, so Lydia and Debbie made a deal with the girls to pick some for us. They would get a lesson in pie making in return. I think Bill and Phil were the real winners. The pie was great with a little ice cream which we all had tonight. (The girls get to share one too.)
Bill and Phil worked on the shed getting the pool table, foosball, ping pong table and weight lifting equipment working. Biggest hit is the weight training machine. The guys are at it every afternoon working up a real sweat. After cleaning out the kitchen on Monday morning before the work crews arrived, Lydia and Debbie have been rearranging and cleaning out the workshop installing the old kitchen cabinets and getting rid of a lot of junk. In between the work of organizing and directing the work, Lydia and Debbie seem to always come up with great meals. We have been enjoying them at our table outside when the wind is not blowing too hard.
“Our prayers lay the track down on which God's power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.” Watchman Nee
Thank you for your prayers for us. We are enjoying the success that they bring to our work with and for the kids here.

Second week here in SA

This week we picked up the younger kids from the townships for the second week of camp with the team here from Rock Harbor Church. You will get to see some of the precious kids that come from desperate conditions, but the love of God and the hope for a better future is making a difference in their lives. Teams like this one from Costa Mesa using these facilities here at the retreat center are making it happen. "I believe He wants us to love others so much that we go to extremes to help them." — Francis Chan (Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God)

We also attended the dedication of the start of the school year at the Bridges of Hope Academy at the other end of the campus. The students have arrived back on campus and are getting settled into their studies. We are trying to learn the names of these students, but most of their names are in the language of Xhosa (pronounced kosa) and it is not easy.

Next week the action starts around here as we have three contractors starting their work on the grounds. We also are getting a load of wood for Bill and I to put the patio cover together. No more camps or retreats until all this work is finished toward the end of March.

First week in Franschhoek South Africa at Bridges of Hope International

On January 4th Lydia and I left our home in Manhattan Beach to come to South Africa for some needed R&R. That is Restoration and Repair at the Bridges of Hope Retreat Center in Franschhoek, South Africa. Now we have been here for our first of 12-weeks and have gotten a lot done already. We have scheduled three contractors to begin work on the facilities starting on the 24th after the Rock Harbor team from Costa Mesa leaves. They are here to have two camps. One for the Academy kids (7-12 grades) and one for the younger kids from the townships. School starts next week for the students from the Academy. The projects that will be starting after the camps are: Finishing the road and driveway work begun in December, refurbishing the pool and refurbishing the kitchen, dining room, one bathroom and rehanging the front door.
I will try to keep this post going so you can follow the progress. Hope you enjoy the pictures of life here.