I write this with both feelings of great excitement, yet also filled with sadness!

This will be the very last weekly mass from South Africa. The weekly mass actually began about 8 years ago as just that....a weekly mass email about our adventures in South Africa! And as the years have gone by it turned into a monthly mass update, but kept the same name! 

As we spent our last 4 weeks in the Kei Region, we are filled with excitement, nervousness, sadness, joy, peace and much, much love! We are going to deeply miss the friends and really family that we have made here. This has become "home" to us over the last 8 years....our children were born here and this is the only home that they have ever known. We have lived here longer than anywhere in our lives, as a married couple. We have wonderful...no amazing memories of all we have experienced and learned in this place.

However, we are thrilled to be going home to see our families and to spend some time getting reacquainted again! Our kids cannot wait to be spoilt and do so many fun things - they have a list going already! We are looking forward to the freedom of no walls, gates, alarms and clickers! We are going to enjoy Mexican and Vietnamese foods and the joys of such places as Barnes and Noble. AND we are going to be doing a lot of traveling with Global Ministries to share the stories of our brothers and sisters here in South Africa. It will be an adventure over the next 7 months!

As for things happening here in the Kei Region over the last month? It has been mainly winding down of everything. Everyone is sad to see us go, but understands and are supportive. May begins the monumental tasks of "farewells." It is uncomfortable to be the object of such praise and thanksgiving, yet I know it is a gift from the folks here to us and we have to sit humble and take it all in!

The Samaritan Care Centre is about to purchase their first vehicle - a 14 sitter passenger van, with removable sits for wheelchair accommodation. It is so exciting to see things actually falling into place! The gardening project is thriving, thanks to the 2 women who are working diligently in the soil. The caregivers are carrying on in their tasks and the patients are all being well cared for. The centre will carry on in its mission!!

I spent the day with the Bedford Congregational HIV and AIDS Project last week. I sat with the caregivers and taught them how to use their donated laptop! They were so funny and so excited. I showed them how to use all the forms that I had been doing for them. So they will practice and I will go back to them in 2 weeks time to do another training. They are so organized and have added several new patients this last month. They, too, will carry on with this task as they are called by God in this mission!

The Thembani Project is also doing well. I visited with some of the kids while I was in Bedford last week. They really need someone trained to come in and work with the special needs of the kids, but at least they are loved, cared for, well feed and given a safe space to come each day. Louisa Nxele will continue to spearhead this project as her heart is filled with these children.

The Masakhane Project in Peelton continues in their task of home based care and the creche for the kids. They are doing well in all their work and they keep me posted almost weekly on their progress. I shall miss them and their hard work in this rural area. The women in this community will keep this project strong!

The LLC Duze Stutterheim Project is near completion. This is an agriculture project including veg tunnels and an in-ground garden. Jon and Nozuko have worked diligently with the community to put this project in place. The local folks are committed and are eager to get the project up and running.

The Peelton agriculture project continues to be spear headed by Rev. Michael Saule. He is the push (and often times the worker) behind this project. He is so proud of his beans, potatoes, spinach and pumpkins. He has a well known reputation for his pumpkins! The worm farm there continues to thrive and he has lots of queries about these worms!

The Ezolo Chicken project is one of the best success stories of our time here! This project has carried on for almost 2 years now and the chickens remain quite happy (that is until they go to market!)! It will carry on as long as their is a need for meat (inyama!)!!!

So that is that...work wise!

Personally....Yolie is going to work for a friend who has 2 children. She will be their nanny, for a while anyway. I don't think it her ideal job, but it is a job nonetheless. We will miss her sorely, as I know she will us and the kids. She is like the energizer bunny though...she will carry on despite any circumstances! The kids are already getting sad saying they are going to miss their friends, but are very excited about the jazz and glam of coming to the USA! Khaya is doing superb in his reading and maths and we will have to find a way and the time to carry on learning on our journeys across the USA! Aly is still the artist but is taking quite the interest in her letters and numbers....trying to keep up with Khaya.

Jon graduated from the University of KwaZulu Natal on 19 April. He is the real and approved Rev. Dr. J. Barnes now. It was a thrill to be present for the graduation. A bit sad in that we missed his friend and professor, Dr. Steve DeGruchy, however. But it was an experience and an honor. Jon's highlight was being able to walk out of the graduation with the rest of the professors....as "one of them!" We also had a lovely Easter, just around here. We had a small Easter tea for the kids with eggs and games and that was a lot of fun. Seems like a long time ago!

So there you have it....the whole story (but I am sure I have left out plenty!). Hope you and yours are well and know we send our love. Keep in touch as we will keep the same email address. Until we meet again in .....Mozambique!