Arriving

We arrived safely in Wellington, Western Cape, South Africa on Thursday lunchtime, well over twenty-four hours after we'd left home in England.  Flying via Dubai may have been one of the cheaper options but it's certainly not the most direct.

Our leaving was somewhat emotional and a long journey doesn't give you time to sit quietly and get over things, but it helped to be met at Cape Town airport by a delighted Professor Jurgens Hendricks who was overjoyed that we'd finally arrived. Photos had to be taken and posted to the NetACT partners to prove that Fraser was in South Africa and would soon be chasing them up for the information needed to make a start on building the library portal. Delight is great, photos after a long overnight flight not so great.

We were driven straight to Hugenote College in Wellington which is providing accommodation and an office for Fraser. Esmarie, wife of the rector, was there to meet us with a tray of babotie and accompaniments, basics to get us started and a vase of roses. Needless to say, tea was very early that night and lights out before 7pm.

Everyone shivering in the British winter who was envying us our trip to summer in the southern hemisphere need not have felt jealous on Friday. We awoke to mist that would've done Scotland proud - they told us there were mountains surrounding the town but could we see them? As well as mist there was rain, very welcome to the locals as Western Cape is suffering its worst drought in many years, but not so good for us as Esmarie drove us round town to get orientated. Today however is much better and we can actually see our surroundings.

The afternoon brought a tour of the three campuses of Hugenote College, founded by Andrew Murray of Scottish extraction. It started as college to train missionaries but now also has a good reputation as a trainer of social workers, whilst remaining true to its aims of preparing and equipping people for Christian service. As Dr Willie the rector told us, they provide opportunities for study to people who often would have no other chance of continuing in higher education.  Many of the students arrive with terrible accounts of hardship and abuse in their families but here they can be encouraged to move forward. Supporting these students, helping them to see their value in God's eyes and the potential he places within each of us could possibly be one of the areas I'll get involved in.

Hugenote College (HC) is providing us with great facilities, welcome and opportunites for service. When not working on the NetACT portal, Fraser will be able to use his past experience at the Highland Theological College to help develop a blended learning system which will open access to more students.

It's early days and the wounds from leaving people in the UK are still raw but since we arrived here so many things are confirming that this is the place for us to be.

Rear of our one-bedroomed flat

Front door with security screen