Every day started early.
On that first day though I didn't start out in my own room, but on my way down to swap over stuff I met some of the cleaners who were collecting their cleaning trolleys and making their way to different floors.
I took the opportunity to practice my Zulu skills (hah!) by greeting them with a cheerful 'Sawubona!'
They looked slightly surprised as they greeted me right back with a smiley 'Yebo!'
I knocked on the door marked '109' where I was welcomed in by one of the team leaders, Rachel (not to be confused with Rachael who we travelled to Durban with who was on the same team as Jud and Betsi).
I had to tell them that we'd lost a teammate, Preme, as she had been switched to another project - working with a pregnancy crisis centre doing a pregnancy and AIDS education week with teenage girls. Again, I was confused. I felt bad, like I'd taken Preme's place. She'd been on Team 23-1 all along, and yet on arrival been switched. I'd only been put on this team 3 weeks before coming out to Durban. Also, why was she doing the pregnancy crisis stuff and not me?
I guess I had to trust God that He had me in the right place, though I was a wee bit grumbly inside, feeling really unsure. Plus I was needing sleep. And all I'd had for breakfast was water and stale toast.
We picked up our packed lunches and headed for our combi. It was 7.30 a.m. (6.30 in the UK). Usually I'd still be fast asleep at that time. We met our driver (whose name I still can't pronounce) and followed the other team's combi who was also going to be serving with Oasis Church, southwards to Amanzimtoti.
The first thing I noticed as we drove (fast) through central Durban was the lack of white people on the streets. Anyone walking, anyone jumping into a minibus taxi, all of them were black. Occasionally we saw a few Indian people. Yet I knew from walking down on the beachfront, and later going to Suncoast Casino, and the various churches that white people do live in Durban. But if you're white you travel everywhere in a car.
Walking somewhere leaves you as a target for crime of varying degrees apparently.
When we arrived at Seed of Hope we were taken to the grounds where Oasis are building their new church building. It was lovely to sit under a thatched roof with the morning sun (albeit winter sun....it's like Scottish summer sun though). We were told about the history of Seed of Hope and Oasis Church, and learned some Zulu from Ntuks who works for Oasis. Then we were given a tour of the area surrounding the centre, the church and Amanzimtoti.
The township that Seed of Hope is in, has basically got the highest concentration of people infected by HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu Natal. KwaZulu Natal has the highest percentage of people infected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. South Africa has the highest concentration of people infected by HIV/AIDS in Africa (I think?)
We were excited to find out that our teams made up of SITC delegates from Scotland (me), England (most) & Finland (three) would be joined by two more teams - teens from the Seed of Hope's 'Live Out Loud' programme giving them skills to help them become leaders in their communities and youth from Oasis Church.
Then it was lunchtime.
And guess what my food was full of? Yup. Beta Carotene.
Turned out this would be a trend for the duration of the trip. I basically had an orange for my lunch (which took me 20 minutes to peel much to the amusement of everyone around me).
By the time we returned back to the hotel I was so hungry, and basically took the first opportunity to visit the supermarket to stock up on snacks to keep me going for the next few weeks. Crisps, fruit juice without any colourings in it (this was difficult to find), bottles of water...
All the cheese and most biscuits and crackers seemed to have one key ingredient...colourings.
When we went to dinner there was only one option for someone who can't eat red meat. Macaroni Cheese. Covered in orange (ie beta carotene) melted cheese...sigh.
But never fear...when I returned from dinner I discovered I finally had a roommate in the form of the lovely Ruky and we made our first trip to Vineyard Church where we had most of our evening celebrations. We were so warmly welcomed by the crew at Vineyard - hugs all round, laughter, excitement, banter, old school disco music. Seriously, church in the UK has much to learn from church in South Africa.............
And an announcement to the team going to Oasis Church on Friday morning. Bring your swimming stuff. There's a pool at the beach so you can swim.
All in the name of bonding with all our Rainbow Team of course!!
The other teams were well jealous. Hee hee. :-)
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