On Good Friday, we were stunned with some terrible news. The mother of one of our students called, trying to reach her daughter to tell her that her father had died unexpectedly the day before. Then the very next day, a father called with the news of a student's grandmother's death. (While talking to students via telephone, we also found that that two of our students had been to the hospital ER in Cape Town since we left on Tuesday with dehydration, and a spider bite.)
Jim and I felt terrible. We were almost back in Port Elizabeth when we got the first call. All the students were still in Cape Town. After being together virtually every day since February 1st, we were not there in person when either student received the terrible news of a death of a close relative. But, we knew our students: They would rally around both of them, and they did.
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| Our Memorial Service |
After some discussion, both students decided to finish out their semesters here, but greatly grieved not being with their families at this time to receive, and
to give, comfort. In the case of the father's death, we did arrange for a memorial service here. It was held last Saturday, April 14th, at the service site where our student volunteers: House of Resurrection Children's Home.
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| Reverend Nicolette Leonard |
Reverend Nicolette led the service and the children and housemothers sang. It gave a semblance of remembrance and closure for now.
We are very grateful to Reverend Nicolette for coming in on a Saturday and for opening her chapel to us. As our student said at the service,
"This week has shown me that the definition of family is limitless."
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