Monday Evening, Day 5

Has it really been five days? I can't believe it! And today has been full to the brim, over flowing. God is good! Today, I stood at the end of the African continent!
Wendy arrived around midnight and we talked for 1 1/2 hrs. We were up at 7:00 and off and running by 8:45.
We arrived at the Center for the first class at 9:00 only to find the Living Hope board in a meeting in the room through which we must pass to get upstairs to our classroom, so we wait. At 9:30, we begin. This class is small but tomorrow more will come. There are five women and one man and all are upcoming graduates. This is the core who will serve as instructors for new classes and they are eager to learn, but somewhat intimidated by this "redheaded" American lady. Now, why would anyone be intimidated by little, old me?
I show them the problems with the master pattern that are creating some of the inconsistency in the finished products. The next step is demonstrate how to make a new master pattern and then how to lay it the same way each time. Each person in turn lays out the pattern, cuts one bag, and makes a personal pattern . They quickly understand that having the ability to cut out their own bags instead of having just one cutter and doing it the same way each time will facilitate an increase in the production, reduce fabric waste, and help in the quality of the final product.
We have already overcome the possible language barrier. Most speak some English, but not American Southern drawl. One of the ladies interpets anything the others don't catch and their questions to me. It reminds me of an old fashioned quilting bee as we banter and laugh while working along. We seem to have established a rythmn and time flies. Before we know it, it is 1:00 and Wendy has returned.
She has had a busy morning. She takes me across the street to look at an empty store in the stripmall. There is a possibility that a move will be needed by graduation. Things are moving very swiftly toward a full business that will allow the students to work from their homes. The stigma of the disease does not allow for many job opportunities, even at the lowest rung so the neccessity of this is pressing.
Then, we stop quickly at the apartment to refresh ourselves before our sightseeing. AH, what sights we see!
We drive along the coast to Cape Point. This is the southern most tip of Africa overlooking the Cape of Hope. It is where the Indian and the Atlantic oceans converge and fight for dominance. The waves come from all directions to crash against the cliffs. And everywhere you look, there are the waters and the mountains. David, this is the picture of Genesis', land divided from the chaos (water). Along the shore in the grasses, wild ostrichs feed and baboons groom each other.
How can anyone see this and not know there is Being higher than themselves? It is beyond description! And in the middle of my furiously taking pictures, my battery dies!!!!!!
After coffee and dessert at the Two Oceans Resturant, we return to Fish Hoek and run to Woolworths to buy a roast chicken for dinner. I like the way Wendy thinks...dessert first then dinner! Let's get the important stuff taken care of first!! And yes, I did say Woolworths.
Wendy is fixing the rest of dinner while I use the computer. Afterwards, she has writing to catch up on and I will read and work on tomorrow's lesson.
Oh yes, we have a winner! And the answer is... "robot" is indeed what South Africans call a traffic light. By the way, I think I'm getting use to driving on the left (wrong) side of the highway. Look out VA drivers!!!!
Cape Town Seamstress