Ron, Janie and Tim French
Sydney - Australia
23 April 2005
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I met the French family at their Guesthouse (Redbourne Hilldrop) and after
becoming acquainted we set off on a Cape Winelands tour.
Janie, Ron and Tim at the Afrikaans language monument
After a short tour of Stellenbosch we stopped in for a light lunch at Bellisimo in Stellenbosch
We travelled on to Middelvlei wine farm where we met Delilah who showed us all the staff community projects she was organising on the winefarm.
We moved on to the township of Kayamandi where all the pictures below were taken.
With the Sarafina girls
Tim having fun with the kids in Kayamandi
The French's met the kids of Kayamandi
Mzwake explains the principles of the Water Church to the French family
Joining in at a church night service in one of the many
churches in Kayamandi
Can you spot Ron, Tim and Janie? JJ
Janie (in background) enjoying the church service in Kayamandi
Click here to see a video of
the French's at church in Kayamandi
Please exercise patience when downloading this video as it is a large file.
Having fun with Bana Bagotso (Children of Peace) at the Ikamva Lethu centre
Click here to watch a video
taken of the French family joining in with the choir singing of Bana Bagotso
Please exercise patience when
downloading this video as it is a large file.
Click here to watch a video
taken of the French family enjoying the choir singing of Bana Bagotso
Please exercise patience when
downloading this video as it is a large file.
Listening to Shumi Ndlebe telling us her life story in her home.
Tim, Ron, Shumi and Janie in Shumi's house.
Day 2
Cape Peninsula tour
We started our day with an ascent of Table Mountain. Here we see Tim doing "the Titanic" on the mountain
Doing the Table Mountain shuffle. JJ
Ron spot6s a Dassie (Hyrax) on Table Mountain
We travelled through Cape Town Southern Suburbs and arrived in Kalk Bay where we went for a light lunch to the Money Tree Cafe.
The French's at the penguin colony on Foxy Beach.
Ron in "easy mode" doing a video at the penguin colony JJ
We moved on to the Cape of Good Hope Reserve where I took this fun picture of Tim at Cape Point. JJ
All four of us made it up and down The Point without the help of the funicular.
Ron goes ape about the Cape! JJJ
Close encounter for Tim J
The above is an important picture that had to be taken as we made it to the Cape of Good Hope
Tim decides to call it a day at Chapmans Peak. J
The French family on Chapmans Peak at sunset
Our last stop was at the Africa Cafe where we ended our tour with a wonderful African feast.
The French family were delightful companions to have with me on tour. They we wonderful company and at no time were we short of anything to discuss while touring. Our journey though Cape Town as a great one in that they weather played the game for us to enjoy all that we did. All in all a fabulous total experience
Thanks a ton for all
Ron, Janie and Tim
Received 14 June 2005
Dear Selwyn,
I’m sorry I have been so long in communicating with you. We have had an incredibly busy time since we got home. but that’s always the reason isn’t it.
I trust you are well and thoroughly enjoying yourself. My time with you was incredibly exhilarating and I want to thank you for working out who we were and coming up with a programme that just fitted perfectly. Thank you.
My time on Robben Island changed my life. God used the time I spent with Sparks as a guide to speak to me about the problems we were facing here at home and how we were to handle it when we got back. I thought, “Well, if Sparks can forgive his captors, then we as a Church can forgive those who are trying to pull us down.” So on return to Sydney I recommended to the Church Council that we forgive those who were giving us trouble and in love give them what they want and bless them as they go.
And that is what we have done. And it is so freeing this ubuntu. J
I have used you and Sparks and the folk at Kayamandi in numerous messages I have delivered in our church since returning.
The time spent in Cape Town and in Tanzania has been refreshingly good.
God bless you. I’ll be in touch
Ron French