3 weeks. Already?

Believe me when I say, it is so hard to believe that three weeks already have past. I guess time flies when you are falling in love with a country and a culture. I know that in the realm of what my whole experience will be like, I have only scratched the surface. It only makes me excited for what I know the future to hold, God allowing.

This past week has held a wide spectrum of experiences for me. By far this was the most class work intensive week we have held yet. The primarily academic portion of the semester is to last the first six weeks. So as we hit the half way point here, I had a mid-term, a 9 page paper, 5 page paper and bountiful pages for reading. Not trying to have a pity party here, but I had a nice little sinus infection to boot. But God is good and sustained me through completion, and blessed me with a beautiful weekend as a reward.

Every Tuesday over the past 3 weeks, we have visited our various options for service. For 4 weeks in the middle of this semester, we get to go out into the Pietermaritzberg community to minister and be ministered to. With a group of our size we have 5 options to choose from. The first week we visited a small Christian preschool where we would get to interact with the children and establish relationships. Our second stop was at Gateway, a prison (that Mandela possibly was held at) converted museum/non-profit headquarters. At this ministry we would have the option of working at Gateway Christian School, interacting with the children and helping the teachers on a daily basis. Another ministry that Gateway offers is a home for abused women and children. The most surprising thing about it is that they WANT men to step in and be an example of a Godly and NON-abusive presence in their lives to help the healing process. A third stop was Walk in the Light; a non-profit, community engagement center that provides people with a subsistence/cash crop to trade and live off of. Along with the farming, It provides medical services and a safe haven for outcasts amongst the community. Next came RivLife, a community center that combines a preschool, factory for the disabled, a special needs learning center for children and outreach working with elderly in the township. Tomorrow we make one more stop, I pray for God's leading to be used and serve in whatever capacity He places me in.

After such a long week of schooling and focus, (and believe me it is of UPMOST difficulty to focus when wherever you are on campus you can hear a waterfall, and I am in AFRICA after all:) we all needed some time to relax and unwind.

The activity planned hit the spot for all of us. We drove about an hour south east to the coastal town of Durban.

First we stopped at the downtown business district. So many sights and sounds to absorb. Although we stuck out like a sore thumb, It was so much fun interacting with different people and shopkeepers we would meet. My purchases included some small original paintings by some locals, and an Inter Milan practice jersey for 5 bucks. (Requests and orders accepted for those of you back home ;)

Next stop BEACH. It was a gorgeous summer day with temperatures in the 80s and water temperatures hovering in the 70’s. (I love the Indian Ocean by the way) I didn’t lay down on the sand at all the whole afternoon; far too much to do and see. Rugby is a new found favorite sport. Back at the campus we play whenever it is raining and we are free. The beach game was much more intense. Locals named Rudy, and Lucky were around to show 8 of us novices how it is done. Even Baba (daddy) Phillip, played. SO much fun. After a good four hours of sunburn for most of us, we loaded up in our Bakkie (truck), 2 twenty passenger buses, and Janet’s Avanza and trekked back to PMB.

Sunday, February 14, 2010 Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s was a bit different for me this year. We will get to this a bit later. I woke up at 6:30 for an 8 o’clock service at God’s Family Community Church. This was a church of about 300, the majority being of Zulu background. From the very moment we walked in, we were family. Not only because of the welcome we felt, but because of the unity that raising our voices in praise and exalting our Savior together provides. Rejoicing in the Lamb who was slain, He is the one worthy of breaking the seals and opening the scroll. (Revelation 5) The church was more charismatic than any church I have experienced, but it blessed me so deeply. Being able to dance and jump unashamedly before our Savior was one of the most liberating and intense experiences of my life. The pastor named Greg spoke with such passion, it would have normally been a distraction to me, instead, God worked in me to have it reach the core of me. One of the most powerful moments of the service was singing the words, “Falling in love with Jesus, is the best thing I have ever done!” at the top of my lungs with 300 strangers, who are really my brothers and sisters in Christ. God provided the exact thing I was in need of yet again. He is so faithful. He the source of love is my valentine.

Sunday night there was a fun Valentine’s dinner planned in the Jabulani hut. (means happiness in Zulu) I never knew chicken alfredo could taste so good. I miss pasta. We exchanged names and bought some 35 rand maximum gifts for each other. I received a nice card and a Bafana Bafana bandana. Such a good night, with good friends. I remember the anxiety felt coming into a situation with new and unfamiliar faces, but God provides. It is so good to see our group, even with 53 people, mesh and come together. I am excited for the depth and understanding that is growing with these new friendships.

God is teaching and revealing Himself in new and beautiful ways I could have never imagined.

I love Africa.