"Pt. 2..."

After about a 2 hour bus ride out of Durban and into the Kwazulu-Natal hills, full of Zulu communities, we arrived at Appelsbosch (meaning apple orchard in Dutch).    The road was full of curves and almost hairpin turns.  The weather, the higher we got, became more rainy and foggy.  When we arrived-cold wet and hungry, we proceeded to unload the two moving trucks and place things into the gymnasium.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to find anyone who too pictures that night~...

The view from our dorm area the next day...

Applesbosch has an interesting history....

Appelsbosch was established by the church of the Swedish Mission in Sweden.  They sent Missionaries to South Africa in the 1800's. The founder of Appelsbosch’s was the late Reverend J. Jungquist. It is said that the year was ±1883.


The aim was to bring the Gospel, the Light (schools) and health (hospital).  One of the oldest buildings built in 1886, was used for church services and as a classroom {both not existing}. The second Building built in 1923 and extended in 1951, was to be used as a Matrons – Sister’s Home. This was followed by a garage; Store Room and Mortuary room {not existing}. One main ward was built and used for all purposes i.e. out patients; attending small children; attending adults people; confinement cases, Dispensary, etc. {all in one block}.


The Hospital was established in 1926. The Additional Wards were added onto the Main Ward during 1951. Two Cottages were erected for Staff Nurses. These were later demolished. When one building was available it was used as a Staff Nurses Home or Residence.

During the year ± 1951 the superintendent of the Hospital was the Missionary / Priest in charge of the Church. The Missionary would stay across at the Mission House, the building is now falling apart. In those years - there was no Doctor on site, District Doctors were called to give help if needed. Additional wards were added during 1951.

During 1958 a Doctors residence was built. A Swedish Doctor (Doctor A. Anderson) was employed to stay on site at the above building. He only stayed for one year. The work was too much for him – to work from morning to sunset and through the whole night. He attended the Emtulwa Clinic and also Theatre cases, etc. In 1959 came a German Doctor (Dr W. Bodenstein) – born in South Africa. In 1951/62 came another German Doctor (Dr H. Schumann)


In the early 1990s, the apartheid government built Appelsbosch College of Education, which was used to train 800 black teachers at a time, although it was only in use for less than two years before the apartheid government fell and the college was closed.

Now in 2010, Mercy Ships has come and taken over the whole campus.  It has taken us weeks to get everything established...phone lines for the offices, Internet connections, water supply, etc...

Needless to say, everyday is an adventure!

Stay tunes for pt 3-a tour of Appelsbosch....our home for the next 4 months...or so....