Since You Last Saw Us...

Hello concerned parents and internet lurkers! I promise we're all alive; South Africa's incredible vistas and scrumptious food have lulled us into a relaxed state the past few days in which we have completely neglected our duties as responsible children to contact the outside world. I have the past four days to cover so buckle up, put your tray and seat into the upright position, and enjoy your flight with British Airways!
First stop: Atlanta (the least exciting place we've visited so far so let's fast forward nine hours.) We woke up to some quintessential fog in London. After donning our Hogwarts robes and best British accents, we hopped on the Tube. Upon our arrival in Leicester Square, we gobbled up some fish and chips then hit the town. We ran through the city at the rate of South African gale force winds (more on that later,) and hit all the highlights: Trafalgar, Big Ben, Parliament, the Eye, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and Picadilly. Exhausted from our whirlwind sightseeing, the team zombie-walked back to the Tube and on to the airport. Next stop: Cape Town!
We landed in the Cape early in the morning and everybody's new best friend, our driver Frans, picked us up and drove us to the Team House, our home for the week. The Team House is situated on one of South Africa's the world's most stunning beaches, Noordhoek Beach. During a quick introduction by American expat Danielle who is the "house mom" (we're in good hands Mom, I promise,) it began to pour so we cancelled our outdoor adventures and opted for a ukelele concert headlined by myself, JoJo, and Emma. Once our tinny strumming wore on the team's last nerve, Frans took us to the Pick n' Pay, a local grocery store. The shopping spree came to an end; JoJo left with a pawpaw (go Google it!) and Jeff with a Springbok Rugby shirt. That night, we experienced our first meal cooked by the Team House cook Nadine, who is my new favorite person in the whole wide world. No worries moms, we are more than well-fed. Day One on the ground ended happily with Magnum bars and Nerts (you can Google those too!).
Yesterday we attended two church services, one at King of Kings Baptist and one at Massiphumelele Baptist. The first is very much like Brookwood Baptist. Just imagine going to Brookwood but everyone has cool accents. The second was the most unique service any of us had had the privilege of attending. We drove through streets lined with tin shanties and stray dogs and arrived at a nondescript white building. Chill-bump-inducing African voices emanated from the church. These voices would bless us for the next hour. It was the first time I'd truly realized we were in Africa (up till then, I'd honestly felt like I'd been in a more beautiful version of Northern California). After a lunch of bobotie on the waterfront in Simon's Town, we drove to see African penguins (which crack me up because they walk hilariously... some Japanese tourists gave me dirty looks for laughing at the awkward featherballs.) Next, we drove to the end of the world, literally... the Cape of Good Hope which is the southwestern most point on the African Continent. It was definitely one of the more breath-taking things we've seen since we've been here, besides the awesome kids we worked with today (yes, we actually do work, the first two days are meant for orientation.)
This morning, Day Three, we split into two teams that are doing the same work in two different locations. My team spent the morning in Capricorn, a Capetonian township fraught with gangsterism and drug abuse; two awful aspects of the community that the kids we met miraculously overcome with their joy and love. We helped lead VBS (Africa style) in Capricorn which involved soccer, dance-offs, a skit from Logan as King Solomon, and science projects with Dr. Caleb. After a coffee break at a super hipster place on the beach, the teams switched work sites and my team helped with what Living Hope calls Teen Club in Overcome, the township the other team worked in this morning. After games and songs, Emma and I shared our testimonies and we all talked to the teenagers. We got back around five and have spent the past hours playing the name game.  Which brings us to now, sitting up in my room with a view of the Atlantic and praying that the house doesn't cave in. It's storming and the winds are louder than the female members of our team (Emma included because she rocks the guitar and every instrument ever.) Good night from Cape Town! Or as they say here: goeie naand!

PS: I promise we will be posting pictures soon. The WiFi is slower here and we have so many awesome ones to choose from.