It's not all doom and gloom.

Today was rough and amazing at the same time. I'm not even sure where to begin. We went to the Delft Township and worked with the organization Africa Takun. The first task we did was help clear out their gardens and surrounding plant areas of weeds and over grown plants. The second part of our time here is the part I am struggling to come up with words to describe. We got a tour of the Delft Township hospital by one of the sisters (nurse) of the facility and the images I saw kept and continue to replay through my head. At first it was very uncomfortable, we were walking through the different hospital sections such as the TB waiting room, maternity ward, HIV/AIDS area and child ward, and it was definitely over crowded. All the chairs were filled with people sitting on the laps of others and standing around and all staring at us as we were led from place to place. I felt like an intruder and felt wrong looking at them but rude for not looking at them in the eyes. Soon being uncomfortable was accompanied by sadness and just being overwhelmed by what I was seeing, walking to the hospital I felt as if I was prepared for what I was going to see but I definitely was not. Now I think if I were to go back again I would have better mental preparation and instead of looking at the sadness be able to see the hope and progress they are making with being able to provide almost free health care and advanced services to so many people. The woman who led us around was one of the most inspirational individuals that I have ever met. She has spent 19 years of her life working almost 12-hour days to help run and improve the hospital. Her passion for helping the Delft Community was unbelievably amazing. As she gave us the tour she talked with many of the patients personally who were waiting to be seen and you could tell everyone really appreciated her. Along with one of my other feelings a feeling I had once the tour was over was a feeling I hadn't experienced yet on the trip and was surprised at the timing of it was being home sick. I really wanted to hug my parents and be surrounded by the familiarity and safeness of home. I was able to call home and talk to both of my parents, which helped me a lot, and also there are so many amazing people I am on this journey with you always lift me up and help me get through everything. The other individuals on this seminar are so unbelievably brilliant and well rounded and they have given me so many insights and thoughts to think about. Tomorrow is another day at Africa Takun and I think the plan is to do home visits, which I know will bring out a lot more emotions.