Welcome to my home this month. I want to give you a tour of where I am living and where my heart has become a part of the community.
Meet Auntie Netta and her daughter Leslie. Auntie Netta takes care of Lauren and myself by cooking our meals, doing our laundry, making sure we are safe, and providing a place where we can rest at night.
(Auntie Netta)
Leslie likes to make sure that our room is kept clean and organized.
(Leslie)
This is where we live, a 2 bedroom apartment equipped with a kitchen, living room, and a bathroom with no sink but has hot water that comes out the side of the bathtub (Lauren and I have resorted to bucket showering because it is easier). We live on the third floor in the middle of the complex. We are soothed to sleep ever night by the sound of neighbors talking, singing, playing music with awesome base, babies crying, crickets chirping, doors squeaking, dogs barking, and the occasional car driving by. Everyone hangs their laundry on the line to dry which doubles as an awesome playground for the kids.
(Ours is the middle apartment)
(Our frontdoor, number 9)
(Our very blue bedroom)
(Laundry day)
These are some of our neighborhood kids. Every night as we are walking to our apartment, Laruen and I are mobbed by children under 4 feet tall trying to get as many hugs as they can before we go eat dinner. They love to play with our hair and teach us how to dance. And for the record I still can't dance!
(My 3 favorite apartment girls)
These are my precious children that I go teach every Monday through Friday. Every morning we open with the Lord's prayer followed by the Wheels on the Bus, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Hokey Pokey, and many other children songs. Then they go to their class where they learn shapes, colors, numbers, and really just how to get along with one another. They have snack time, lunch, nap time (my favorite part of the day since I usually get to sleep as well), another snack time, then it's time for them to go home (the other best part of the day). This whole process starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. The teachers arrive at 6:50 a.m. before the kids arrive to pray for the children and the day.
This is my 2 to 3 year old class (they are my favorite but don't tell anyone). They are full of love an just want a hug or kiss for a boo-boo then they are back to playing.
This is my 4 year old class. They are quite the handful. I usually have to get on to them for biting, hitting, fighting, and just not staying in their chair; however, they are sweet and desperately crave attention. They are also the largest class with 26 children.
This is my 5 to 6 year old class. They think they know it all and have to tell on anyone who is doing anything wrong. Most of them have a free spirit and enjoy life and playing.
After working and teaching the kids, I have a fresh appreciation for all my teachers and friends who are teachers. (Thank you!!!) It takes a lot of energy, effort, and patience to teach these kids but it is worth every second of it!
This is Auntie Alice, the woman in charge. She runs this daycare of 70 plus children out of what in the States we would consider her garage. She has been doing this for 20 years and has a lot of great stories of children and how they have grown into adults with excellent jobs and beautiful souls.
(Auntie Alice)
This is Teacher Dominque. She teaches the 2 to 3 year olds everyday with a smile on her face. The children are always excited for the tickle fights she has in her classroom. She always has my back if I were ever in trouble or need anything.
(Teacher Dominque)
Teacher Esrobyda but we all call her Byda, bravely tackles the 4 year old class with patience and love. I have to give her credit of how good of a job she does because the days I taught the class, there might not have been as much patience from me.
This is Teacher Rose. She takes care of the 5 to 6 year olds, treating them as if they were adults and not babies. Every time I see her she always has a smile on her face and the kids are laughing. I also taught this class, which was much easier than the 4 year old class, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
(Teacher Rose)
Welcome to Ocean View. It is considered part of Cape Town and about a 20 minute drive to the Indian Ocean (Fish Hoek beach) or 40 minute walk to the Atlantic Ocean (Long Beach).
(Long Beach – Indian Ocean)
(Fish Hoek – Atlantic Ocean)
(Ocean View – the new side)
(Ocean View – the side I work and live)
It is probably the most friendly yet dangerous place I have ever lived. Everybody greets each other on the street with a "Hello" and "How are you doing?" If I were ever in need of a shirt, it would be given to me off the back of the stranger I just met. There is a huge respect for everyone in this community. Ocean View was also built from the ground up. In the 1960s apartheid happened causing all the colored people to be removed from their homes and sent to a barren piece of land to start all over. The older generation who live in this community have a strong sense of pride and work ethnic because of their past.
However, the younger generation has found themselves in trouble with drugs. Ocean View is one of the largest drug dealing and usage in Cape Town. Part of the problem is that there are no after school programs for the kids because all of that was taken away with the apartheid and the community has not built it back up, nor do they have the funds to create anything for them. The other part is the way discipline at home is handled. When the apartheid happened, the man of the house became abusive to his wife to show that he still had control over something. This began the abusive cycle that so many children followed and are now exhibiting to their family.
This community has stolen my heart and become a part of my ever growing family. I desire nothing more than to see a revolution happen, an awakening of God in the community. Ocean View is a wonderful place filled with amazing people with some issues like every other community. My mission while I am in Ocean View is to exhibit Christ to all I encounter and to teach the kids and give them hope that there is a better life than abuse of drugs or family and they can get out if they desire. My prayer every night is that God create a revolution in Ocean View where they chase after Him and not earthly things. I have come to know, love, and be a part of this community and eagerly await the awakening that will occur!
Just another ordinary day in Ocean View…
