Nelson's Prison - Lisa's Work- Happy Damn Birthday

Lisa has us on a schedule that was incredible for seeing and doing way more than I would have planned especially with all the reruns of Andy. Up this am to head to Robben Island - long a prison of different sorts but most recently for all the South African Political prisoners during Apartheid....amazing when you realize that it only ended in 1988...not that long ago!
We walked through the same gate Mandela did when he entered the prison.
We saw the building he lived in..
the cell he slept in
and....well I'll let you figure it out.
Again it is came as a shock that this was all not that long ago..
We did get some great views of the city including Lions Head
and Table Mountain with its famous tablecloth billowing over its ledges.

In the afternoon we got to visit a bit the reason for being in South Africa. As you know Lisa works for the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation

She has quite a few people working under her and spends a lot of time going to various townships and managing the people working under her. The kids, all HIV patients love her and are delighted when she gets time to spend with them.

Here she examines a tile that the children are painting to line the bath room of their new time out room. The were all proud of their tiles and

rightly so. I asked an innocent question, "Who likes candy?"

and this is the response.
All of the people who work under Mother Lisa, love her to death...in fact this young lady said when she heard about our car wreck, "I wish Chris was driving." I didn't get it either. Also got to visit with one of the doctors staffing the clinic. At this time they have plenty of drugs to treat the kids and he seemed to enjoy his job. Not sure if he painted this clinic sign but

I am pretty sure he was thinking, "I wish Chris was driving."
We then got to visit another township and the place where Lisa is 'in charge' of getting a youth center built. This was the primary goal of the job she took over here. The Township is called

but she/we just call it Masi. We got a walking tour and saw that kids will play no matter where they are living.

The place was right out of the movies and was very like Tiauana and other poverty areas we have seen in the past.
Great breeding area for mosquitos

Our tour guide was Mfundo...great guy who also loves Lisa. Watch for him in the upcoming Movie, Victory with Matt Damon. He was one of the rugby players and was very interested to hear about Tiffany and Kristian.
He showed us the several acre parcel where the Youth Center will be built and the temporary site building for the contractors. Hopefully the Center will be done by August. Ground breaking is in January.
Lisa hopes it will make all the kids in the area smile like this little jewel.
After work we visited the Orphanage where Chris and Lisa's little brother and little Sister live. They were quite happy to see them both (although they both did comment that they "wish Chris was driving.")

Mitchu and Divina joined us for a rousing game of Candyland and Mitchu, especially disappointed when Lisa muscled her way to the finish line first.

Lisa on the other hand was quite enthralled with her victory and gave another great big Guinea Fowl smashing YAHOO!

Then it was time to celebrate the birthday gilrs Happy Damn Birthday! So off we went to the African Cafe where Jane had her face painted
and so did Lisa..
Then the band came out and sang a fine rendition of
Happy Damn Birthday and We Wish Chris was driving!
It was a great evening of singing, dancing, eating and drinking and then since it was Jane's birthday we retired where she and I did the obligatory birthday
My teeth are whiter than yours contest!!!
love
ACC

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