Back from travels

I just returned from a two week run of travels. School ended on the 28th of November. I moved out of my apartment and into a new one on the 29th, then visited a friend in Umtata 4 hours north where we spent the weekend on the beach at Bulungula on the wild coast. Amongst the highlights was the unfortunate sunburn of Megan who fell asleep in the sun, canoeing up an inlet, and being offered sexual services by a local for 8 rand. I quickly declined the offer.

Following the weekend retreat I volunteered at itipini the place where Jesse works (another volunteer also going to Uganda). Working at the clinic was very moving. The living conditions of folks there is astounding. The health of the dogs was the most worrying, while the people seemed somewhat healthy, the dogs were skin and bones with hair missing. They were almost like large rats. I attended a funeral of a missionary in Umtata. While I did not know the man, I was very inspired by his work and love for his patients and drive and passion to see god's work done. The man was a spinal surgeon, and a professor at the local university and father, and helped start and run the aids clinic I helped at.

From Umtata I went with Jesse and Megan to Klerksdorp. This was a 11 hour drive that we broke up into two days there and drove the whole way back. Another volunteer and friend Stephen was being ordained a priest, a culmination of 7 some odd years of university and seminary. It was great to be a part of his big day.

We then drove back to hogsback a mountainous region of the eastern cape where I helped as an instructor at a camp "Hobbiton". Hogsback is where J.R.R. tolkien got many ideas for his setting of Lord of the Rings. I spent 4 days with kiddos from the grahamstown shelter. What an amazing opportunity to get kids out of their environment to see new possibilities.

I will post pictures when the computer is less funky. I will spend the rest of my week in Grahamstown then head for Uganda from December 28th to the 10th of January.

Guitar Lessons with Andrew

Here is something funny: most of my pictures are taken while I am wearing the same sea foam green shirt. Andrew is my guitar teacher. We meet every Wednesday at 12:45 on High Street.

Jacarandas

This picture does not do justice to how beautiful the Jacaranda trees are when in bloom in Grahamstown. If you get above the valley you can look over grahamstown and see this amazing view of little clouds of purple dotting the town.

Look at my big black bass!

High Veld

This is a picture of what the high veld looks like. Farming at 6,000 feet elevation on rolling hills/mountains.

Matt Kellen

This is a photo of my buddy Jason, Joanne's Grandfather and I doing grandfatherly things on the farm in the high veld. Jason is reading the paper, I am doing a sudoku, and Grandpa is building a fire. I always said I was ahead of my time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello all,
Well, it was a pleasant thanksgiving here in Grahamstown. My digs (house) mates had a thanksgiving dinner in my honor, which was spectacular. I missed home a lot and phoned home at 12:00 pm. I carved the chicken, and helped eat the pumpkin pie. I also tossed the football with Simon a 13 year old in the house I am staying at. I also tried to teach him cribbage..... the card game my grandpa, uncles and father play every thanksgiving.

Matt Kellen