Correspondence from our trip

While we were in Africa, internet access was spotty and cumbersome. I did, however, manage to get out some emails to friends and coworkers. In reflecting on the trip, I thought these excerpts would make a good blog entry. -Brian

Greetings from S Africa

I'm writing to you from a computer lab at the Education center where I'm updating about 10 computers with Adult Education and literacy software. Outside my wife and kids and the rest of our group are talking with about 150 local children about life skills and the gospel.

It's amazing the idiotic policies that the gov't has to deal with the poverty. They're building brand-new slums and concentrating all the poor into high density living areas outside the cities. No jobs, no transportation. It's like they're building hopelessness intentionally. Frustrating to see firsthand.

Gotta go - good to hear from you.

And an email from just before we left Africa:

Final update

Our work at the township has concluded. Another group of young missionaries has arrived at the education center, and we've driven down to the Indian Ocean coast to a town called St. Lucia for a couple days R&R.

Serving at the education center was a privilege - the children and adults served by the center are so grateful for our visit. During our time there we played a lot of soccer with the children, upgraded a lab full of computers with adult literacy training software, and even started a business. A group of disabled adults served by the center have banded together to start a car wash business, and will expand to create an internet cafe in time. Kevin, a businessman that traveled with us, has been consulting on the business plan and has started a micro-finance program to assist with startup funding. This program will persist and is targeted at helping the people of Nellmapius rise out of their poverty by thier own hands. The enthusiasm of the people served by this program is a joy to witness.

For the Dupras family, we have two more nights in South Africa and then we travel back with a layover in London for a few nights. Pray for safety health in travel - we have a long way to go.