We are now past the halfway point of our stay here having been here more than 6-weeks. On Saturday Lydia took me to the La Motte winery for a wonderful lunch. This winery is owned and operated by the wealthiest family in the Cape area and recently opened a restaurant on the premises. In the evening we were invited over to the Pederson’s (principal of the academy) for a fish braai. On Sunday we went to Mountain View Church and enjoyed a wonderful time worshiping in English this time.
The tractor has been hard at work mowing down the high grass and hauling some familiar girls around the grounds. We started work on building the stand for our braai and fixing up the tractor barn.
Some of the boys are interested in pursuing a career in engineering and were very interested in how thing are designed, so Phil spent some time showing them how it is done using parametric design tools. They each got a chance to create a part on the computer.
The driveways, parking lots and perimeter path are now finished and the dust problem is much better. We got several of the bicycles fixed with the money we received from selling the pears. The kids love riding them around the new perimeter path. We are having a great time interacting with the kids, teaching the interested ones a fun lesson or two and mentoring them in a way they perhaps never got at “home”.
Dennis and Susan Wadley, the founders of Bridges of Hope arrived here for a short visit on Tuesday and have had a very full schedule while they are here. We have enjoyed a few meals together with them and always love hearing what God is doing here in South Africa.
This week at home, our son Mark got an opportunity to shake president Obama's hand as he visited Intel’s wafer fabrication facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. We were able to watch Obama’s address to the audience live while we are here in South Africa. Amazing!
Some relevant and interesting links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42DnTTBiHfY&feature=player_embedded#at=60
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/19/weekly-address-winning-future-intel
http://www.olsonduncan.com/bridgesofhope/
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Phil & Lydia's fifth week is SA
This week Phil and Bill began building the patio cover by the pool. We got a lot done before the wooden stringers ran out and we had to order some more. The pool also got finished and the kids have been enjoying it every afternoon after school. It has been pretty hot.
On Saturday Phil drove the girls to the Biscuit Mill Market in Cape Town. Pandora and Kathy then went with Debby to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for 27-years during Apartheid.
On Sunday we went to visit Saint Paul’s Church in Philippi. We had a great time there worshiping with the saints even though most of the words were in Xhosa. On the way home we stopped in Summerset West to purchase some more items for the Retreat Center including; umbrellas and bases for the tables out front, two wooden lawn chairs, a built-in braai, some paving stones and a gas powered blower to clean up the copious amounts of dust and leaves that collect regularly on the patios.
Wednesday we had stone tables, benches and fountains delivered. It took several men to unload them as they were quite heavy.
On Thursday Pandora and Kathy left to return back to their homes. We sure enjoyed having them here for their short stay. They accomplished a lot while they were here. This place will never look the same again. Thank you Pandora and Kathy!
The driveways are now finished and the path around the perimeter is ready to be paved. The path provides a very nice place to walk and ride bicycles. We have also been using the tractor with the mower to get the field under control and James has been using the tilting trailer to move dirt and dump the rubble where we need to fill in the area hoping to build an amphitheater there soon.
Here are some interesting links:
History of Apartheid in South Africa
http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.hist.html
Bill Duncan’s blog
http://www.olsonduncan.com/bridgesofhope
On Saturday Phil drove the girls to the Biscuit Mill Market in Cape Town. Pandora and Kathy then went with Debby to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for 27-years during Apartheid.
On Sunday we went to visit Saint Paul’s Church in Philippi. We had a great time there worshiping with the saints even though most of the words were in Xhosa. On the way home we stopped in Summerset West to purchase some more items for the Retreat Center including; umbrellas and bases for the tables out front, two wooden lawn chairs, a built-in braai, some paving stones and a gas powered blower to clean up the copious amounts of dust and leaves that collect regularly on the patios.
Wednesday we had stone tables, benches and fountains delivered. It took several men to unload them as they were quite heavy.
On Thursday Pandora and Kathy left to return back to their homes. We sure enjoyed having them here for their short stay. They accomplished a lot while they were here. This place will never look the same again. Thank you Pandora and Kathy!
The driveways are now finished and the path around the perimeter is ready to be paved. The path provides a very nice place to walk and ride bicycles. We have also been using the tractor with the mower to get the field under control and James has been using the tilting trailer to move dirt and dump the rubble where we need to fill in the area hoping to build an amphitheater there soon.
Here are some interesting links:
History of Apartheid in South Africa
http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.hist.html
Bill Duncan’s blog
http://www.olsonduncan.com/bridgesofhope
Friday, February 4, 2011
Fourth week in South Africa
This is now our fourth week at Bridges of Hope. On Saturday, friends Pandora and Kathy arrived to help out with coordinating the improvements we are making and to do some art projects as well. On Sunday we took the academy kids to church at the Rock in Paarl, about a 30-minute drive from here. In the afternoon Stephanie and Kristie (two of the teachers) set up a slip and slide on the soccer field. The girls had a blast keeping wet and cool since the pool is still out of commission. In the evening, the vice principal, Peter Sayers, did a braai (South African BBQ) for all the kids and those of us at the retreat center as well.
Pandora and Kathy have been busy with their projects, purchasing appliances, paints and working on crafts with the girls as well.
Late on Monday we finally got the Lamborghini tractor we had been waiting for. Since then we have started using it to knock down the weeds with the bush-hog and removing rocks and rubble using the trailer. The wood for the patio cover arrived late Tuesday so today Phil and Bill were staining it before it goes up.
The pool is now almost finished. Only thing remaining is to finish setting the cobble stones around the perimeter which should be completed on Thursday. The kitchen and bathrooms are still being worked on. The walls of the buildings here are solid brick and concrete so moving walls, doors and electrical outlets is very time consuming and dusty. We will all be glad when the demolition is finished.
Pastor Mlucki and Lulama from the township of Philippi came for a visit on Wednesday and stayed for lunch. We had a great visit with them.
Pandora and Kathy have been busy with their projects, purchasing appliances, paints and working on crafts with the girls as well.
Late on Monday we finally got the Lamborghini tractor we had been waiting for. Since then we have started using it to knock down the weeds with the bush-hog and removing rocks and rubble using the trailer. The wood for the patio cover arrived late Tuesday so today Phil and Bill were staining it before it goes up.
The pool is now almost finished. Only thing remaining is to finish setting the cobble stones around the perimeter which should be completed on Thursday. The kitchen and bathrooms are still being worked on. The walls of the buildings here are solid brick and concrete so moving walls, doors and electrical outlets is very time consuming and dusty. We will all be glad when the demolition is finished.
Pastor Mlucki and Lulama from the township of Philippi came for a visit on Wednesday and stayed for lunch. We had a great visit with them.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
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.
I will try to keep this post going so you can follow the progress. Hope you enjoy the pictures of life here.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Anticipating our trip
Phil and Lydia are heading for South Africa for three months heading out on January 4. We are so looking forward to going to serve there. Lydia and I have always wanted to serve the Lord in ways like this at this phase in our lives.
The Bridges Retreat Centre is situated in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley north of Cape Town.
http://www.bridgesworldwide.org/south-africa/retreat-centre/
The Bridges Retreat Centre is situated in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley north of Cape Town.
http://www.bridgesworldwide.org/south-africa/retreat-centre/
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