Genadendal & Greyton

7-29am

I had heard of Genadendal,  but where it is or what it’s significance was lost on me until we came here to Greyton.  Genadendal is the tiny village just before Greyton.  The name means Valley of Grace. It’s ironic because grace was the last thing offered to it’s most highly celebrated resident. His name was George Schmidt.   After baptising his first converts, news got back to Cape Town.  Instead of the Dutch Reformed Church celebrating & encouraging him, they reprimanded him, saying only DRC baptisms were valid.  In short they crushed his spirit & after 5 years he returned to Europe leaving about 2 dozen converted Khoi. Fifty years passed before 3 missionaries  got permission to return. They found surviving family of the first Christian Khoi with the Bible Schmidt had given them. You can’t visit Genadendal today without seeing the legacy that these original missionaries left behind. There are Bible verses everywhere.   We visited the local museum which was an absolute step back in time to an era when things were simpler but strict…this was s piece of the journal of a young man learning to be a teacher…There were lots more amazing things to be seen in the museum, like this multi purpose ‘fire engine’… There were ancient pianos… And South Africa’s oldest pipe organ… All aspects of life in Genadendal have been preserved in some way in this amazing museum, even up to more modern day. It’s a bit harsh when the kind of tennis racquet you played with finds itself on the wall of a museum! After the museum we visited the beautiful flour mill… This would have been very important for the town’s bread needs. Driven by a water wheel, it was the non technological age! The historic church dominates the square. Built in 1891, it is still in use today & we could have a peak inside …

Many of the historic houses of Genadendal are well maintained. .

Life is slow & simple…

We soon were all museumed out so we took a drive back to Greyton stopping to enjoy magnificent snow capped peaks, rolling hills and acres & acres of lucern.  Tea & a snooze was followed by a walk through Greyton, where thatchers were thatching. 

Seen in Greyton. ..

Back at our digs, things looking a bit better. They have worked hard. It looked like a building site when we arrived.

Dinner last night was lovely.  We have celebrated our anniversary well!

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house,  they that build it labour in vain.

God bless you loads.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂