Molweni

Well folks, it's about that time. Today was our last day at the YMCA, tomorrow will be our last day in Mitchel's Plain, and Sunday will be our last day in South Africa. Very strange.

We began our day at the YMCA, waiting for our last meeting with Ricky to discuss our observations of the past 6 weeks. We were hoping to catch everyone at the Y so that we could have a proper goodbye, but unfortunately Friday's are quiet and only a few of our friends were there. While our meeting with Ricky went well, we left the Y lacking closure.

Feeling a bit unsettled we headed to Heinz Park for our final goodbye to Auntie Rosie. Thank goodness we went. When we arrived Auntie Rosie was beside herself. She had just returned from sitting in a clinic for 3 hours with a 6 year old boy from Heinz Park. He and his 3 year old brother were removed from their home this morning. The older boy had been beaten and starved and their parents had deserted them. Auntie Rosie was of course taking them in, making it six boys she is now raising. On top of all of this, a mother and her 5 children just moved into the shack out back. Lastly, Auntie Rosie showed us into a room where a terribly sick man was resting. His body was deteriorating and it was clear that his days were growing very short. This was overwhelming. Unfortunately, he was not the first man we had see in that condition in Heinz Park. It was not until later that we understood that the suffering man in the bedroom was Auntie Rosie's son. How this woman is standing is a testament to how truly amazing she is.

Susannah and I left briefly to run errands for Rosie and pick up juice for the sweet boys who had just been removed from their home. After giggling with the boys and watching the youngest eat apples, and bread, and peanut butter, and chips, and anything else we gave him, we suddenly realized we had our closure.

We left for dinner at the waterfront. After eating we returned to the car just in time to catch a broadcast of a program that had been recorded on Woman's Day (yesterday). The program was featuring women in the Cape Flats area, more specifically our Auntie Rosie. She was speaking about social work and her past life in District Six. Listening to her speak was the perfect gift to end our last day of work in Mitchel's Plain. We couldn't feel more honored to know this beautiful human being who is doing so much for others.

So as we begin to pack our bags and say our goodbyes, it is the spirit of those like Auntie Rosie that we will be making extra room for in our suitcases. While we are excited to return home to our people and our lives, this parting is truly a difficult one.