hello everyone... thanks to all who wrote encouraging notes to me today! it helps to know people are thinking about me.

today we woke up early to a clear clear blue sky (after a night of rain) and great view of table mountain from breakfast! what a beautiful city this is... i had no idea table mountain was so big!

perfect temp here... sunny but cool and very refreshing (sorry southern california friends). so we went to robbin island for a very moving tour and discussion with another former prisoner (it's amazing how many of them there are) who kept it completely real. robbin island is beautiful... although i think they planted most of the animals that we saw there today, after the prisoners were released. they say that when the dutch came many years ago, they stayed there becuase they were afraid the khoi khoi would eat them on the main land, but then they ate most of the penguins and bok and other wildlife there, to the point that many species are almost extinct. ahh. we did see some penguins though... so cute they are!


after getting lost from the rest of my group, i spent the afternoon shopping and eating fish and chips next to the water, took a little boat tour for 25 rand, and sat on the pier for a long while watching the sun go down. most of my thoughts while sitting there were... i'm in africa, i'm in africa, i'm in africa... along with some good reflection and prayer about God's purpose for me. i believe there are many things that he arranged perfectly to prepare me for this summer, and even when i don't feel ready, i am comforted by knowing He has chosen me. for what yet, who knows, but that is enough for today.