Farewells

Easter Sunday was the day the vast majority left COTT. The single students+married people who are here without their families all went back home, with many leaving at the end of the service+therefore even before breakfast! Several didn't want to wait any longer+so hitchhiked home so they didn't have to bother waiting for a bus, which is how most get home apart from a few who got a plane (others don't as they cant afford it+so have to travel 8-16hours on a bus).

So right after the service many came to say bye to us+hug us. Many of these goodbyes were moments where you don't know what to say but what you say doesn't really matter as the hug says it all. I made sure to thank Gregory much though for looking after me. And later in the day we went to wave off Kholisilie, Nonto, Edward+Pinky. Nonto had earlier in the day given me a pen with a little message on. We hugged all (again!) +wished them well.

With regards Titus, the goodbyes started a few days before with him giving Dom,Jon+I a letter he'd printed out with a photo of him,Dom+I on. It was a lovely+funny letter which had me welling up in tears. It was titled 'Friends will also be friends', which I presume he meant 'will always be friends'. I made a similar letter for him. Then on Easter Sunday he said I could keep my copy of 'An African Prayer Book' by Desmond Tutu which we were given with our hymn books at the start of term+were meant to give back now. He said I could keep mine as a present+wrote a short message in it. He also gave Jon a book of his too. Jon+I gave him a book of ours which we too wrote a short message in.
I'll add the photo+some of the letters comments here at a later date.

When it came for Titus to go several others were also leaving including Johanna,Max,James +Luthando +it was rather sad. The others went in the first car trip to the bus stop+just Titus +Luthando remained for Fungayi to come back with the car to take them to the bus stop. We then all went to the bus stop so we could see Titus off there. Once there we hugged all,especially Titus,+said bye to all. Fungayi drove us back to COTT+I had to wipe several tears away. Somehow I managed not to cry too much+so I'm waiting for this to all come out soon at an appropriate moment -i.e. 1 without an audience!

By the evening all but about 3 remained in the college building we're in. We weren't in the mood to do much,couldn't think of much to do anyway+were tired from the early start so went to bed about 8:30!

The following day we prepared to leave COTT -i.e. packed our bags,did last min emails+this blog,etc. We were also invited to Fungayi's for some tea+cake, +then to Fr.Isaias for tea+cake! These were both in a row+were both big bits of cake!! Its funny that we've rarely had cake throughout the 3months here+today had 2pieces in a row! Fr.Isaias' wife Ilda had baked a chocolate cake as Dom said in the first week of term that he liked chocolate! It was still warm+was delicious! At Funagyi's, Lavington was there too,+at Fr.Isaias's Vicenti was there too. These are 2 of among 3students who are staying at COTT during the fortnight break as its too long +/or expensive to get back home during this time. E.G. Vicenti lives in Mozambique where his wife still is.
Some of these people will come to wave us off tomorrow morning.