Head South: children's home in komga with jon, mike, jim, amy, mark, the volunteers, aunties, uncles, and the kids!

Our last stop in Komga was very important to all of us--we wanted to see all of the good work that Amy and Mark Rolfes were up to at the Children's Home. We met some great people--five volunteers that had just graduated from Notre Dame, Aunties and Uncles who keep the kids in order, and of course the kids!

We had a fun morning hanging out with the kids who didn't go home during the school holiday that was happening when we were there. Jon and I were able to secure a piece of metal from one of the tennis court stands that looked in danger of causing multiple wounds this year as kids were pedaling their bikes past it at top speed. We were bending metal right and left, but eventually prevailed in moving the nuts that hadn't been spun in 20+ years. Meantime, the kids were drawing pictures of me on the tennis court with rocks. Each drawing surpassed the one before it until I was a long-haired caricature with huge breasts and a skirt, ha ha! I was impressed with the playful creativity of the kids, but needless to say Mike was VERY impressed to the point that he had trouble keeping himself from laughing to tears.

Mark and Amy put us up for the night at a local lodge and we had some great Kudu lasagna that reminded me of all the times I ate my Dad's venison tomale pie.

This time in Komga sealed a great trip and ended our great adventure into the Eastern Cape of South Africa. We then spent a whole day at the pool, playing tennis, and doing nothing at the mansion to make sure the boys were recovered for their long trip home.

Thanks a ton for coming down here Mike and Jon! It made the whole South African experience more real for Amy & Mark and me & Jennifer--it is a long ways away from the people we care about and it means a lot!

Below is a joke to start the post, "continue the joke"

This is Mike's form of manual zoom--screenshot, zoom, screenshot, zoom, screenshot. Killer look from the Dossie!

Jon preparing some extra food to bring to the Komga Children's Home. If only we hadn't decided it was best to consolidate the fries into one of the trays, the salad into another, and the pies into another. We could have just left them all in their trays! Mike and I enjoyed watching Jon try to close these trays--the task was meant for more nimble fingers.

Jon and Amy under the Acacia Tree.

Mike using the universal tourist symbol.

Curious gazes from Jon, Amy, and Mike.

This is the ravine next to the lodge where we stayed in Komga.

Looking out away from the ravine.

Must be a typical scene at the Children's Home.

Mike and some kiddos enjoying a selfie.

The round buildings are called rondavels--they are a Zulu structure.

This is the main speedway for bikes, the field hockey court, the bouncy ball court, and I'm sure a bunch of other games.

Jon and Jim did eventually remove the piece of steel that was sticking out 8 inches in both directions from the top of this pole--now kids just have to avoid the pole.