Holy Rosary School, Moyo Zoo Lake, Bedforview Methodist Church

Holy Rosary School

     Our day started with a visit to Holy Rosary School. The Holy Rosary School is a R(reception)-High School private all girls school with approximately 900 students. The school was initially started as a coed school through grade 3 until St. Benedict's College integrated the younger boys into their program. The school is very committed to missionary work and engages in multiple outreach programs one of which is Phumelela~succeed in Zulu~ Programme. Phumelela is financially supported through the debutante balls and generous donors. This is a Saturday school in which students from Dikatole in Germiston an informal settlement are transported to HRS by the brother school of Holy Rosary St. Benedict's College to engage in lessons  about life skills, academics, music and culture, sports and general knowledge. They are also taken on excursions during the year and provided with breakfast lunch and refreshments. In the spirit of Hope for Resolution and ubuntu we took up a collection and were able to be a monetary blessing to this particular community service endeavor at HRS and many have committed to finding ways to create long term support.

    The high school choir opened and closed the mini concert. The concert presentation was followed by both a meet and greet and a Q& A session with the students and those of us visiting from the United States. The group was well received by the students and they excitedly peppered us all with questions and exclamations of excitement. Vaneese impressed the students initially by singing the solo in Joyful, Joyful from Sister Act and then when describing some of her professional achievements including being one of the muses in Disney's Hercules. Her advice seemingly echoing that provided by their instructors previously was:

• Remember that your reputation precedes you.
• You must learn to be versatile 
• Work well with others. 
• Always be on time.

After the concert we were taken on a tour of the campus. The students across the campus respectfully and enthusiastically greeted us as we toured. We met R students, the equivalent of american PreK or K aged students who sang with us Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. We were invited into their classroom where they provided advice on what to do about the lions we will see tomorrow. We were told that if a lion comes near we are to stand perfectly still so it doesn't eat us. We also had a discussion about where the United States of America was in relation to their home country which they proudly stated as being South Africa

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Moyo Zoo Lake

Moyo Zoo Lake was a fullcourse family style meal experience complete with face painting. The meal included a potato soup dish, flat breads and hummus South African spinach, rice,  a pumpkin peanut mash, line fish, beans, dombolo and beef stew. Dessert was a chocolate mousse. The restaurant is situated on a lake complete with water fowl and artwork combining metal and glass to varying degrees. 

Moyo Zoo lake Restaurant

Bedforview Methodist Church

   This evening's concert was hosted by the Bedforview Methodist Church. It was an awesome spirit filled service. We were joined on the program by members of the choir from Central Mission Church. Swarthmore Brand New Day, Hallelujah to the King, and I Bless Your Name. FUMCOG ministered The 23rd Psalms, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing and I Believe. The combined choirs ministered Hope for Resolution, Freedom Trilogy, and I believe this is Jesus. The congregants attending the concert spoke of being moved by the spirit of the music and thoroughly enjoying our presentation.

Random factoids

• There is a high population of Zimbabwean refugees here. 
• Racial groups are colored, white, black, and indian. In the past each group was segregated by their group in terms of where they could live but today there is freedom of choice thanks greatly to Mandela and deKlerk.
• During apartheid if you were part of an interracial marriage you would have to go before a council to have yourself reclassified in order to live with your family. One of the methods of classification at the time included sticking pencil into the hair of the applicant. If the pencil stayed when they shook their head they were classified as black. Mixed race children often faced the stigma of not being accepted in school. In the 1960s the Chinese and Japanese were considered to be honorary whites. 
• Healthcare, medicine and hospital care is free for those over the age of 60. For those of low income a means test is conducted to determine your ability to pay and you are charged accordingly.
• Black economic empowerment is the equivalent in many ways to our affirmative action policies in the states.

Photos