Our town

This is our town "Kokstad." We live about 15 min. from town on "Stoneybrook farm." We love Kokstad, but are VERY happy that we do not live in town. It's nothing like a town you would see in America and after being here for a while, not much shocks us! You can just about see it all in town. We can get any basic thing we would need in Kokstad, which is very nice! For everything else we travel to the coast which is about an hour and half away. The people we have met and the things we have seen in Kokstad have changed our lives. We are blessed to be here.

This is us traveling to town and having to wait for the cows to cross the road. This is a VERY common occurrence in S.A.

These are Xhosa women doing their traditional dance.

Always pot holes! Their dirt roads are shocking and painful to drive on.

This is the largest maximum security prison in
the southern hemisphere. Oddly, in Kokstad.

Rural area homes.

Dodgy Dr.'s office. A lot of people "proclaim" to be Dr.'s, but it does not take much to understand that they are not.

They have a cute little art store. "Dog On A Leash"

There are abortion signs everywhere (a lot taking place at those dodgy looking "Dr.'s offices"). You can get an abortion here for $35. Unfortunately, many, many women and young girls turn to abortion as it is very easily accessible. Most people have no idea who these "Dr.'s" are or where they are located. It is highly advertised, but very secret.

Apparently this one gives a "free cleaning." You would be shocked at what is written on these posters.

Typical "Mama" selling her produce on the side of the road.

Someone brought a dead sheep to town to sell it on the side of the street. Very common sight.

Baby carriers do not exist here. Women use towels or blankets and wrap their babies to their backs as they work or do whatever they have to do. Most children are on the backs until 2. These women are TOUGH!! It's common to see a woman carrying a baby on her back, her hands full, and a bucket or basket on her head. Can't say I can do that!

There are more churches and denominations in this town than we can count.

This is the entrance to "Shayamoya." We talk about this section of town in our letters. It is where the poor black community resides. We have some dear friends in Shayamoya and enjoy being there, but its not a place to be after dark. I (Molly) could never walk in this section alone. There are a lot of great people that live there and there is also a lot of crime, drugs, prostitution, etc. The poverty in this place is very sad, although some in this area have much more than others in surrounding towns.

This is a shot of Shayamoya from the road. No one can tell you how many people live here, something in the thousands.

Typical home

There are lots of run down buildings and homes.

This is the Kokstad dump site that is located in Shayamoya. You will often find people digging through trash trying to find some scrap metal, etc. to make a little money.

There are so many precious children here.

This is back in town where people sell "things" on the side of the road. Here they are selling old t-shirts for rags, etc.

We had to show you this sign. There is not a sense of modesty in a lot of the cultures here, so signs like these are very common and not at all shocking. Breastfeeding is a huge topic here that is being pushed by the government, because they can not afford to supply milk to all the mothers (because girls are having babies at 14 and up, etc.). There is a lot of research being done and a huge push for HIV positive mothers to breastfeed. Its a very sad reality here but it "has" to be done. The Dr.'s say that its better for the child to receive the HIV positive mother's milk and get treated with ARV's (Aids medicine) than have them die from the water the mothers use for bottles (they get severe diarrhea and die).

More homes.

This is a building Kokstad is very proud of. Its the "Oprah School." Oprah built this school a few years ago for some of the children in Shayamoya. Apparently she came for the opening and several people were able to meet her. Unfortunately they have been dealing with some big issues, but its a great thing for kids in Shayamoya to have a school in their community. Most of the children walk miles upon miles to get to school everyday.

There are also some very nice homes in Kokstad. If you see a nice home, it will be surrounded with gates and security systems. I'm not sure there is one "white person's house" without gates and security.

Ok, so this house isn't in Kokstad, but is a good example of the vast difference between the homes here! There are many in Kokstad like this and then down the road is poverty.

Gas station (Petrol Station)

This is the private hospital where I was for pnemonia. We go here for our Dr.'s appts and it makes us miss the states health care!

Downtown street

Downtown

Typical sight in the streets

This is the center we go for restaurants, clothing, and groceries.

HUNGRY? This is some of the LOVELY meat they sell in the grocery store!

This is "tripe," which is cow intestines, also sold at both grocery stores. Unfortunately we tried this. It's DISGUSTING!!! Please take my word for it and spare yourself!

Shayamoya houses

This is the "black tavern." Drinking is, unfortunately, a real problem here, which seems to only enhance the poverty.

Someone's home in town.

It is very common to see police walking in the streets with rifles and they are not afraid to use them. This one was nice enough to pose for us.

These are some precious little boys I found playing in the streets with their homemade toys.

This is a shot on the way to Shayamoya. There is so much beauty here!

Dave had to have this pic. As much poverty as there is here, there is also a lot of wealth. It's so interesting to see the two side by side. There is just such a stark contrast, its unbelievable