CEDARVILLE - DAY TWO

Today we all distributed food to the poor deprived areas. We went to the cash and carry and bought a huge bulk of food. We all also bought paint and paint brushes to decorate the children's school on Wednesday. The people seemed very grateful for the food and the children enjoyed the toys and sweets given. We all split into groups to give the food to families. The sun shone very brightly today! We all enjoyed the sunshine and at lunchtime we all ate our soup outside. Tonight we are all playing cards together.

- Hannah

The supermarket was definitely very interesting, unlike Tesco's or Sainsbury's, most of the items were in bulk - it was amazing seeing the large bags of samp and miele meal. Today was also the first time we've seen ladies precariously balancing sacks of rice or fruit on their heads. After four trolley loads of shopping, we headed back to the palliative care office in Cedarville, where we organised the shopping into 26 piles, each containing one of each item we had bought. We then split into groups to deliver the food parcels - I was in the group who balanced in the back on a pick up truck and had sore bottoms from the bumpy dirt track roads! However, with the sun shining, and knowing that we were supplying families with food and items such as jumpers and toys, this gave me a really amazing feeling. I can't wait to show my church the photos of the children wearing the jumpers that they have knitted!

- Lydia

CEDARVILLE - DAY ONE

We were up bright and early... (but perhaps not for Mike and Tom). This morning we went to Cedarville Public School. It is here that we will be undertaking our painting project and we saw the three classrooms that we will be tackling on Wednesday. There are over 1000 pupils at the school from Reception to age 19, in a space the size of an average school plaground. Class sizes can be very large, up to 107 in a class with one teacher. We went into some of the classes for the yonger children but before long it was break time and we were mobbed, all of the children wanting their photos taken, though the cooler, older students lurked at the edges. Although the students were in uniform, it was obvious that they were hand downs and that the students came from poor families.

We then met some of the care-givers who work for the Palliative Care Project and split into smaller groups to go and visit some of the homes. This was an overwhelmingly emotional experience, to see families living in small spaces and who had so little. To see children playing with a balloon and getting so much from it, whilst hearing stories like that of a grandmother who had buried two of her daughters, one of whom had died only last week. Tomorrow we will be buying food and then distributing it with the care-workers, to some of the homes we visited today.

In the afternoon we brought out all of the gifts that we had brought over with us, it was the most amazing pile and we began to sort out where it would all go. Both Val and Cathy were overwhelmed by all that had been donated and there is still some money raised by others to use. Two schools will be getting books, papers, pens and sports equipment. A pre-school creche will have some toys, games and craft equipment. The Palliative Care Project will have some medical supplies as well as clothes, toiletries and games to give to those they feel are in need, including some that we hope will be given as Chrismtas gifts. When we distribute the food tomorrow we will be taking some t-shirts and sweets to give to children. In addition there is some money to buy additional stuff including musical instruments and other equipment and resources needed.

Today has given us a flavour of the town and the project and shown us some of the challenges that the workers here face trying to help those in need.

OUR JOURNEY

It was wet and dark at 7.00am on Saturday morning as we began to assemble at Truro Bus Station with coffee in hand. However everyone was excited and slightly nervous at the thought of what lay ahead in the next two weeks. Bishop Tim prayed for us and then it was time to get on the coach. There were a few tears from parents and then we were on our way.

31 hours later after five and three quarter hours on a coach, four and a half hours at Heathrow, ten and a half hours in the air, two and a half hours at Johannesburg Airport another hour in the air to Durban and then two and a quarter hours in which we met our guide, transferred our luggage and picked up our minibus before the final drive of five hours, we arrived in Cedarville!!

We are staying with the two nurses who run the project here, Val is hosting Hannah, Lydia, Kate, Tom, Mike, David and Claire whilst Cathy is hosting Megan, Holly, Emily, Yasmin, Rose and Sarah.

It was Kate's 18th birthday, so we sang her Happy Birthday on the plane and gave her a small present, we also got the Pilot to mention it over the tannoy! (She was slightly embarrassed). We all ate together at Val's house where we again celebrated Kate's Birthday and watched her struggle to blow out everlasting candles on her cake.

Then we turned in to our beds and all slept very well!

THE PILGRIMS HAVE SAFELY ARRIVED

Firstly may I apologise for not blogging sooner, but I was experiencing difficulties logging on at home so have come into work. So here goes:-

Everyone gathering at Truro Bus Station at 7.15 on Saturday morning. Bishop Tim was there to meet the group and prayed with them before they departed. A copy of his prayer is below:-

Our brother Jesus, you set our feet upon the way and sometimes

where you lead we do not like or understand.

Bless us with courage where the way is fraught with dread or danger;

Bless us with graceful meetings where the way is lonely;

Bless us with good companions where the way demands a common cause;

Bless us with night vision where we travel in the dark, keen hearing

where we have not sight, to hear the reassuring sounds of fellow travellers,

Bless us with humour - we cannot travel lightly weighed down with gravity;

Bless us with humility to learn from those around us;

Bless us with decisiveness where we must move with speed;

Bless us with lazy moments, to stretch and rest and savour;

Bless us with love, given and received;

And bless us with your presence, even when we know it in your absence.

Lead us into exile,

Until we find that on the road is where you are,

And where you are is going home.

Bless us, lead us, love us, bring us home

Bearing the gospel of life.

On Saturday at 5.33 I received the first text from Sarah to say:-

We've made it to Heathrow, all well but tired. We're just about
to make our way to the departure gate and looking forward to a sleep!
David has barely stopped talking!

I don't know what she means by that last sentence! Anway tonight I received the next text at 7.00 to say:-

We've arrived, found our guide, picked up the minibus and arrived in Cederville. All well but tired! We celebrated Kate's 18th with a present and cake. Love to all at home.

As soon as I hear any more news, I will let you all know.

Meet the Pilgrims 10 - Yasmin

Another person who has not given a short profile to be uploaded to this blog is Yasmin. Yasmin comes from Perranporth and is an active member of the youth work being led by one of our leaders Claire.

On our overnight preparation session Yasmin scared us all by being scarily bright and cheerful first thing in the morning. She did later admit to this being unusual, but this retraction may need to be treated with caution. Also at that session Yasmin was appointed keeper of Trevor and at our last preparation session she assured us that Trevor is fit and well.

On her application form Yasmin said that she would like to be part of this pilgrimage not just for the experience but because she wished 'to help a cause close to her heart'.

Meet the Leaders 3 - David

David hasn't actually given us anything to put on this blog, but the following is possibly true. The picture shows David doing what he loves the most, which is talking. When he's not busy doing that he is priest for parishes of Boscoppa and Treverbyn.


Ever since David's first visit to Umzimvubu he has actively promoted the link and undertaking many fund and awareness raising initiatives across the Diocese.

This will be David's third visit to Umzimvubu and he has been instrumental in arranging our placement and some of the visits to other projects that we will be undertaking.

Positive Light

One of the first opportunities to tell everyone of our pilgrimage, will be at the World AIDS day service at Truro Cathedral. The service called Positive Light is being held on Advent Sunday, 29th November at 2pm and will also feature a Gospel Choir and input from CMS and Truro Methodist church. We hope to have a good representation from among the pilgrims, so please put the date in your diary and we look forward to seeing you.

Play and Sport Equipment

It was great fun here in the office on Wednesday as various parcels arrived containing the play and sport equipment that we will be taking with us to Umzimvubu. Thanks to some fantastic fundraising efforts we have purchased a parachute and accessory pack, skipping ropes and loads of different types of balls - footballs, playground balls, tennis balls etc including some oddly shaped balls that bounce all over the place. The aim is to use these whilst we are there so that we can play with the children that we meet and then to gift them to the local primary and secondary school when we leave.

At our final meeting last weekend we also saw some of the other gifts that people have been buying or been given. There is a lot of school equipment paper/pens/rubbers/rulers/geometry sets etc, some medical stuff, craft bits and so on. It was really lovely to see so much stuff and to know how gratefully it will be received. A couple of schools from Cornwall are also supplying some school stuff for us to take and we have also been promised some t-shirts from the Diocese and a local company.

Our next challenges are to pack it all up so that we can take it over between us, as well as think of a variety of gifts for our hosts, so that they don't end up with 13 tea towels!

But thank you so much to all who have been so generous, during our time we will ask what other items the project/school or Diocese needs and seek to use any surplus money that has been raised.

The pictures are of the extremely cute teddy bear and pig bean bags that form part of the parachute accessory pack.

Meet the Leaders 2 - Sarah

I'm the Diocesan Youth Officer and a year ago this pilgrimage seemed like a brilliant idea, now as it rapidly approaches..... I've been in Cornwall now for fifteen months having previously worked in youth work projects around the country, I am really enjoying my time here and have been helped in this by
meeting and marrying my now husband Matthew! When I get a moment I like nothing more than to curl up and read a book, however, these have been rather few and far between of late.

This trip to Umzimvubu is exciting for many reasons, not least that it is the first time a group of young pe0ple will be going. I know that we will all see and experience new things and I hope for myself and others that it really will be a life changing event. I'm sure that we will be inspired by the faith of those we meet, most of whom will hae so little but despite their circumstances have a really strong faith. As a leader I am obviously hoping the whole event will run smoothly and be hassle free, so please remember us in your prayers and I hope that we ill have some amazing stories to tell on our return.

Meet the Leaders 1 - Claire

'If you thought these young people were going on their own - now is your chance to meet the leaders. Firstly Claire ....'

Hello, I'm Claire, a youth worker working for the Activate Youth Project in Perranporth and St Agnes. I have lived in Cornwall for the past four years. This will be my fifth time to Africa. I am really looking forward to meeting the people from Umzimvubu, sharing life with them, sharing faith, encouraging and helping, being chalenged and learning and spending time with the team.

Meet the Pilgrims 9 - Mike

Now we hear from the second male member of the team.

My name is Michael and i'm 17 years old. I live in Lanlivery and currently attend St Austell College, where i am studying: 1) English Language 2) English Literature 3) Politics 4) Law.
My hobbies include reading playing sports and going out with my friends. Also i am a youth leader at the 'Friday Knights' Youth Club at luxulyan church where i help entertain the children through reading stories, playing games and arts & crafts.

On the trip i hope to improve my knowledge of how people survive in a developing country and how children get through each day without the comfort of their parents and also to see what could be done in this country to help install running water and give people proper houses so that they can enjoy thier lives and not just live from day to day worrying about food, water and allow them free medical treatment.