February 26th,


Blair Atholl is beautiful here in Gauteng Province in Lanseria.  We continue to have busy days as we attend Rugby practice for Tom, piano lessons for the children, riding lessons at the stables, and playing golf on a most amazing golf course while having high tea after nine holes.  Today, Gruvers rented a golf cart for Grandpa and I so we can go places on the property on our own.  It has been most amazing going into town with the them, grocery shopping (one place everything was written in Afrikaans in a Dutch community- it was so interesting as they had fresh Dutch baked bread and wonderful baked goods with all sorts of fresh produce)  , and it has been wonderful meeting their amazing friends, some being missionaries  helping with the abandoned children. It is so tragic to learn about the many stories of children left in fields.   It is so amazing being around people like this.  Today I go to the Baby Haven to help with the abandoned babies with Holly. I am so excited but I know it will be difficult to see.  One day we went to the most amazing Casino which was an array of wonderful restaurants from all over the world, shopping in great stores and theaters and shows along with the gambling  which we did not go into.  It is great on days of their electrical storms because we were caught in one on the freeway and ducked into the casino as everything is inside. We had a grand time shopping and eating.

 The difference in economic levels for people is very disturbing.  One day in the car on a busy highway we saw a black man kneeling on the middle of the highway with his head down holding a sign for help. People had to swerve their cars to get out of his way. It is everywhere and it is so sad.   South Africa is beautiful with many things to do and animal sanctuaries to visit, wonderful grocery stores, clothing stores and everything we have in America, but all around is such poverty that it is overwhelming. Elections come in about 9 months I think, and Zuma says when the people ask him what his platform is  he says "I will tell you what I plan after the elections are over" as though he thinks for sure he will win and I say, "how in the world can people vote if they do not know what they are voting for"  - government here is ????? I still don't have my box of medicine held up in customs and now they asked me for money to get it out and I paid it and they still aren't giving it to me and it was sent DHL -- in our country it would be against the law and people's rights.

The bush baby sanctuary was one of my favorite days - one of the monkeys jumped on my head, liked it there and stayed there for a ride while I walked along. They drank out of our water bottles. We saw different species of monkeys and we had such a fun guide. I walked over a very high swinging bridge over a river to continue the tour - it was a bit scary but I did it and it was such a wonderful day.

 We also attended a Afrikaans funeral - dear Brenda VanZyl passed away of cancer (a Godly woman whom we were with on our mission trip to Zambia last year who was a prayer warrior in South Africa - our whole family just loved her and Gruvers were with her on Christmas Eve singing to her with her family before she died) Her husband does business with Will - a great family. It was a beautiful funeral in a Safari sanctuary with a worship center in it. Will gave the eulogy. I don't think I have ever been prouder of someone in our family. That Will is certainly a gift from God. It was simply beautiful!!!

Today after the Baby Haven, Holly,Claire, and Will are auditioning to sing at His People church for worship services and youth gatherings.  Grandpa is taking the golf cart to take Tom and Lex golfing and to dinner at the children's club house.   More later - Chow!!!

Les and Shann at Bush Baby Monkey Sanctuary

Brenda VanZyl Memorial Service

Will giving Eulogy for Brenda