this weekend

This past weekend was fun... Niel and Jen wanted to show me the flea markets around town on Saturday so we made plans to do so once Jen got out of her ladies church meeting at 11am... meanwhile, Niel and I were driving around town killing time when all of the sudden he pulled his truck off the road... I asked him what he was doing and he pointed at a tree in someone’s yard... he said “do you see those coconuts?” I said “yeeeees.” He said “do you see the ladder in the back of my truck?” I said “yeeeees.” He said “Jenny wants coconuts so that’s why the ladder is in my truck... just in case there’s a tree low enough to where my ladder can reach.” Me: “So, you’re going to steal the coconuts.” Niel: “yep”. Niel then told me that no one ever picks their coconuts off their trees because it’s too much of a hassle... So Niel hops over the security fence into this random yard, while I’m thinking ‘we’re going to get shot’. I handed him the ladder and up he went... he’d pick the coconuts and then toss them to me on the other side of the fence and I’d put them in the back of his truck... we had gotten about 4 of them when Niel peeked around the side of the tree and quickly looked at me with a look of terror... I asked “Did you get caught?”... he gritted his teeth together, winced, and nodded his head at me... I just started laughing... I couldn’t see the guy because of the security fence, but I heard Niel trying to be as pleasant as possible as he climbed down the ladder... Then there was silence... for like 2 minutes... I thought to myself ‘maybe someone invited Niel in for tea’. Just then, Niel came through the driveway gate with 3 more coconuts in his hands as well as his ladder... I was rolling on the ground in laughter at this point... I asked him what happenned and he told me that he asked the guy that caught him if he minded him stealing his coconuts... he said the guy just replied “carry on” so he did!
Okay, so we finally picked Jen up and drove into Durban (like a half hour drive) to see the flea markets. All along the streets are these little stations and booths set up selling nic-nac’s and what-not’s... There are also these guys (like in the picture) that tow around these carts called rikshas... basically it’s like a wheel barrow, but backwards... well, I guess like a chariot, but these guys haul you around in them if you pay them some money... I didn’t actually ride in one, but I did get a picture of this guy... they wear these ridiculous hats and the ‘chariots’ are all pimped out in paint and accessories... no stereo systems though... anyway, the flea markets were cool... not like the flea markets and art fairs you get along the lakeshore in Michigan... similar though. I picked up a few souveniers... I’m drawn to the hand-made, authentic, African stuff myself... so I was pretty stoked... and everything is super-cheap...
I also went surfing three times this weekend... I almost stood up on my board this last time I went, so I’m getting better... It’s so much fun... Jerry, I wish you were here to catch these waves with me man.. I think of you everytime I go out! Oh, and Saturday evening when we went out, we saw some dolphins out about 200 yards away from us jumping and putting on a show for us! It was cool...
Well, one month down and two more to go! Time here is really flying by, so don’t worry, I’ll be home in no time!! I miss all of you my dear friends and family!!

an African iPod

*DISCLAIMER*

This picture is to show South African culture. In no way is this an attempt to make fun of anyone inparticular. When I was a boy, I'd tie two sticks together like a cross and call it a sword... If I had a picture of those instances, I'd post it and title it "An American Sword". For those of you who are my "annonymous commenters", how about you show some spine and let everyone know your name next time if you feel so strongly about your opinions.

Much love to my faithful....

the past week...

Sorry I haven’t posted much in a while... I’ve been keeping pretty busy out here...

Last Friday was my first youth event... we played water games and then made our own pizzas... there was about 15 kids that showed up which was a very good turn out compared to the size of the church and the amount of kids that actually attend there... so I guess it was a success... those kids sure do keep you young. They ran me into the ground playing water balloon tag and a game called stuck in the mud... I was exhausted by the end of the night!

Saturday morning some members of our church went and played another church in a friendly game of Action Cricket... it’s the first time I’ve ever played this game, so it was interesting... I’m not going to explain in great detail how this game is played, but it’s similar to baseball, but with only two bases... and when you hit the ball, you hold on to the bat and run... the first few times I hit it, I dropped the bat because that was what I’ve done my whole life after I’ve hit the ball... drop it and run! well, despite that fact, my partner and I ended up scoring the most runs on our team for the match! It was fun.... and hot.

Last week I also visited the Gateway Mall which is in Durban. It is said to be the largest mall south of the equator. There is a courtyard area in this mall and has this standing wave where people can surf! it was the coolest thing ever... I don’t plan on trying this because I hear you have to be good a skating and snowboarding to do this, and it’s concrete... my friend Niel said that everyone he knows who’s tried it has ended up breaking a bone, so needlesss to say with my track record, I think it would be a disaster.

well, three weeks down and about ten more to go!!! I can’t wait to see you all again...

my faulty apartment and my amazing girlfriend

Well, a few days ago I came home from doing some work and found that my electricity had gone out... I assumed that it was out most of the day because all of my food in the freezer and fridge were warm and spoiling... anyway, I called the land-lord and he said he’d have someone out first thing the next morning... as it turned out, the breaker had only fell, but it was in the lower level of the house where I do not have a key to... but I do now in case it happens again...
Yesterday as I was leaving to go to the studio, I shut the door behind me, and because it sticks quite fiercely at the bottom, I have to pull very hard to get the door to shut properly. As I did this, the door handle fell right out of the door! So, I called the land-lord again and he said he’d have someone out that day, but noone ever came... that evening I went to shut my door (I usually keep it open during the day because it’s so hot) and for some reason some of the gears must have fallen out because when I turned the handle to try and re-open it, the bolt wouldn’t turn... so I had locked myself in my apartment!! I once again called my land-lord and he said someone would be out in the morning... now I’m watcing two guys fix my door...
Also, yesterday Virginia surprised me with a special Valentines Day letter along with some pictures and flowers... I got home yesterday and they were just sitting there waiting for me on my counter... I was really confused as to how she pulled it off. In fact, I had to look around my apartment and make sure she wasn’t hiding somewhere... She had actually set it all up with Sara Hile to sneak over here and do it... She is a tricky one... and a sweetie... I miss her a ton... (:

my days

So far my days here have been busy. I have been gone for two weeks now and the time has flown by so quickly... I now know my way around town and have a pretty keen sense of direction here so it is beginning to feel more like home (even though I am leaving in 2 and a half months). So far most of my time here has been devoted to ministries within the church. That means worship, youth and media. For worship I pick the songs that coinside with what Bobby is preaching on, organize and run the praise team practice during the week, making sure the power point slides are accurate, creating the order of service for Sunday, having another run-through on Sunday morning and then leading the songs for the service. I am also responsible for training the musicians to play at a higher level and mentor a leader that can take my place when I leave. For youth I am in charge of basically creating something out of nothing. There is one teenager that consistantly attends the church here, but two others just started coming last week. All three are high school girls. My responsibilites include organizing youth events and Bible studies, growing the youth group and to mentor one or more leaders to take my place when I leave. In media there are a few video projects that Bobby wants me to work on so we go to the studio about twice a week. This is the most frustrating part of my responsibilities here, which I mentioned to Bobby, because I hate being cooped up in a studio all day where I am unable to interact with the people here I long to reach and minister to. I will also be teaching ages 5-12 at the church’s Family Retreat coming up in early April as well as taking my turn at the pulpit on Sunday morning, March 26. The orphanage that I was looking forward to working in I’ve been told is nearly 3 hours away from where I am staying and that I may only be able to visit it once or twice while I’m here. That was dissappointing to here, but I’m in search of one closer that I can go and volunteer in even if it isn’t connected with Bobby and Sara’s ministry.

I saw 5 African children walk by my apartment this afternoon. They barely had any clothes on, in fact two of the littlest boys had no clothes on at all. They each had an empty plastic pop bottle and were banging it on everything they walked past... they were competely entertained by this. It showed me how spoiled I am even while I’m here... in this nice apartment with a car to get myself around in... They had plastic bottles and thought they had the world... maybe they did have the world and we have it wrong... I want to find an orphanage... when I saw those kids it was the first time my heart fluttered since I’ve been here... I want to feel that again.

dead rat...

So like a day and a half ago I was walking down my stairs to leave my flat and in the grass was this huge, dead rat.... I was like, ‘gross’... so I just walked by it hoping maybe my maid or the guy that cuts the grass would find it and take care of it, but when I went down this morning it was still there, so I took a dish towel, folded it a few times to put as much distance as possible between my hand and this deceased rodent.... I picked it up with the towel and threw it, towel and all, over the fence into the tall weeds... I hope no one misses that towel.
yuk...

Niel and Jen (and my first surfing lesson)

I met Niel and Jen last Friday. They stopped in at the Hile’s because Niel was installing the fence around their house. We talked them into staying for dinner as well as to church on Sunday. Niel has lived in South Africa his entire life and Jen is from Florida. She took a job over here as a Nanny last year and met Niel then... They were married just 2 weeks ago in the states and returned to Ballito just over a week ago. Niel is 24 and Jen is 22. As Friday evening came to a close, Neil and I exchanged phone numbers because he told me he would teach me how to surf and that he may be going out the following day (which was Saturday). He ended up calling me at about 2 in the afternoon and told me which beach to meet him at... it ended up being just up the road from my flat... and about 3 blocks from Jen and Niel’s... He brought me into the ocean, told me how to balance on my board and paddle out. Once we were far enough we turned and faced the shore... he told me when I see a wave beginning to break, start paddling and try to catch it.... I attempted to do this several times over the next five minutes or so, but all the waves were just passing me by... It was about this time that I realzed even though I was paddling toward shore, I was drifting further and further out into the ocean! I started paddling harder towards shore and was just starting to gain some ground when all of the sudden... WHOOOOOSH!!! I was on a wave! Even though I stayed on my stomach the entire ride, I actually caught a wave... err... maybe it caught me... So Niel and I decided that was enough for one day because the water was particularly choppy and not the best for surfing.
Niel, Jen and I sat on the beach and talked for a while... I wasn’t too sure about where they stood as far as their salvation and their knowledge of Christ and the Church. Jen told me that she has always gone to church, but has never been able to settle in anywhere and that Niel hadn’t really gone until they were married. I was able to share with them where I am at in my spiritual journey, how my faith and walk with Christ has shaped me up unttil now and how much it means to me... I think it did them some good to hear that from someone their age. I hope that God will continue to give me opportunities to speak truth to them in ways that they need to hear.
Since then, the three of us have hung out a few times... they have quickly become good friends of mine and I already dread the day that I leave and may never see them again. It makes me think heavily on making the most of my time here especially with the people that I come to know.

the beach

here is what my beach looks like...

my car and my flat...

...and I don't mean flat tire! Let’s start with my car because it is the least exciting of the two... first of all I’m very thankful that I have access to a vehicle here... it would be the pits if I had to rely on a ride or public transport everywhere. One of Bobby’s friends is hiring it to me for a very reasonable rate. It is yellow (Do I really need to go on after that statement?)... and the make and model.... drum role... Daewoo Cielo. WHAT!?!?!? Okay, so I have actually HEARD of Daewoo before, but I just thought it was some sort of sick joke... I did have a good laugh when I saw it... Sometimes the handle falls off when you go to roll up the window and sometimes the driver’s side door doesn’t want to unlock while you’re in the car, so you have to roll the window down (if the handle doesn’t fall off) and unlock it with the key from the outside! ...but again, I’m very thankful for it none the less...

My flat is unbelievable... it has two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, huge living area, and a sweet veranda that overlooks the OCEAN!!! The living room has a wall lined with windows that also faces the ocean as well as my bedroom windows on two sides... needless to say, I wish I could bring it all back with me and have it overlook the Grand Haven Pier or some other beach on the shores of Lake Michigan, but still I know it would not do this sight justice! By the way, Jerry, the waves are nice...

Every morning the sunrise wakes me at about 6:30 am (though the sun comes up just past 4:30 am, I am able to fight it for a while)... You haven’t seen beauty until you’ve seen the sun rise over the Indian Ocean! I am able to spend about an hour or so reading and with God each morning... mom, did you ever think I would be a morning person?!?!

I also have a maid that comes in once a week that cleans for me and also does my laundry... her name is Caroline and we have a difficult time communicating because English is not her primary language. It took us about 10 minutes to determine which day of the week she would come and clean for me... I didn’t know this before I came, but the cost of having a maid is included in the rent payment for my flat! I also make my bed each morning which I know is a shocker to a lot of you...

I went and bought groceries the other day... that sure was an event... everything seems to look similar as far as labels and brands and such, though some are not the same, but being a person that is used to buying items in American Dollars, when I see things priced in Rand (which is about 6 times american dollars) I get a little disoriented... so that means if something sells for 5 dollars in the U.S. it will sell for 30 Rand in South Africa. So everything I’m looking at, I’m dividing by six, which can be difficult when you see something selling for R 8.59... I was walking up and down each aisle with that confused look on my face (for those of you who know me well surely know that look)... I was in the store getting the bare essentials (dumb and dumber) and it took me about an hour to pick up about 15 items... I am on a budget for everything I spend my money on, so I have to be very careful!

I’m sure I’ll start getting it after a while, but I’m also sure that I’ll have plenty more stories like this to share as well!!

meet the Hile's

Before I came to South Africa the only thing I knew about the missionaries I’d be working with were their names: Bobby and Sara Hile... I also knew that they had a few children, but I didn’t know their names.

Bobby and Sara are very cool people.. they are gracious hosts, great listeners, and help me with whatever questions I may have whether it has to do with cultural customs or driving directions. I’m at their house a lot whether it’s for staff meetings (which consists of Bobby, Sara and myself), lunch, dinner or babysitting their kids so they can go out together... They told me that they always used to have leftovers in their fridge, but since I’ve come, those usually disappear quite quickly! Some of you back home can relate to this I know...

Abigal

Abigal is their oldest. She is 10 years old and is in grade 5. She is quickly turning into the little sister I never had... our favorite thing to do to each other is pester one another... this isn’t too difficult to accomplish because we are both so mischievious at the core of our nature. Abigal is very enthusiastic about everything... when she talks it’s with great detail along with hand and arm motions. She is very smart too... I can’t talk her into believing anything!

Andrew

Andrew is 8 years old and is in grade 3. He is definately the quietest among the 3 siblings. He likes to play with the dogs in the household and also make sure his little brother is behaving properly! Andrew also has a sensitive spirit... he reminds me a lot of myself when I was his age.

Christopher

Christopher is 6 years old and is in grade 1. This one definately takes after his big sister when it comes to socializing... if he’s not telling you a story, he’s playing his gameboy or dragging the puppy somewhere pretending it can fly... He likes to watch movies and play twister as well... and when he's playing charades, you can't keep him from laughing hysterically!


All 3 children are very well behaved and are fun to be around...

Moody and Tozer

Moody and Tozer are the two canines in the household...
Moody (named after the great D.L. Moody) is an 11 year old lab mix. She loves to be around people and to be petted...
Tozer (named after the great A.W. Tozer) is a 7 week old lab-beagle mix... I love this little pup... not just because it is the offspring of my two favorite breeds of dog, but also the fact that he is a puppy... aren’t they all irresistable?

I have been meeting so many incredible people of different race and background here. I wish all of you could meet all of them... it definately helps to be making friends here to dull the pain of missing all of you!

Grant and Mira (and my first Braai)

Braai is pronounced brye...

I met Mira first last Wednesday at my first Bible study here. She is Bulgarian and also a new believer. I didn’t meet her husband Grant until church on Sunday. Grant is not a believer, but Bobby and Sara tell me that he is close to becoming saved. We were invited to come to their house Sunday evening for a braai, which is the American equivelent to a barbeque or a cook-out. Grant and Mira’s son is named Dillion who they usually call Dill or Dilly (and everyone here who speaks with a British accent, so they would say it like “Deal” or “Deal-ay”)...

The Meal was delicious... Grant grilled up this meat only served in South Africa called Boerworse (pronounced Bora-voce) which means farmers sausage in English. It tasted alot like Kiabasa (sp?)... we also had chicken, salad, rolls, freshly baked bread (which is served at almost every meal here), vegetables and chips...

After the meal, Grant entertained us all with stories of his travels and business ventures... He is very animated when he talks using many hand motions and speaks loudly and passionately... He is also a very kind man, as is his wife Mira... He also talked about the latest things Dillon has been saying... Dillon is 2 and will be 3 in March... He reminds me of Nate and Lindsey’s Micah as far as his blonde hair and size of his body... We all cracked up as Grant described what Dillon had said to him the previous morning as Grant was getting him out of bed... He said: “This is what Dillon said as I woke him up... ‘Daddy (with his arm extended), just relax and calm down, or I will have to send you to your bed’.” Can you imagine a two-year old putting a sentence like that together? It’s obvious that he’s just repeating what he has heard before... Mira also told us that his new favorite word is ‘unfortunately’... I don’t even use that word!!!! unbelievable...

It was a nice evening and it’s been great getting to know so many interesting people! Being here definately makes the world feel a little smaller...

there are lizards in my apartment!

So, I have been in South Africa for nearly a week now... my town is called Ballito which is just north of Durban. One of the first nights I was here, I saw this little friend minding his own business on the wall of my flat (what an apartment is called here). I watched for a couple of minutes and then I decided that I was going to catch him and put him outside... I went to my kitchen cupboard, grabbed a glass and a small tea plate and began my hunt. I sneaked just close enough to capture the little guy underneath my glass and he scampered away... he was so fast that it startled me a bit. It was nothing for him to travel the distance of about 4 or 5 feet in a split-second... it was so fast that it was blinding... After about 3 minutes of this game I finally caught him and put him outside... I told Bobby and Sara (the missionaries I’m working with) about it the next day and they told me it was a gecko... like in the giecko commercials... they also said they were good to have around the flat because they eat all the bugs... so I went through all that work to find out that I should have let him stay and act as my ally.

Since this incident I have seen two other geckos in my flat. Now when I see them I just smile and tell them to keep up the good work... and if they start slacking off, they will meet my glass and tea plate.

Shaved!

prior to my departure...

...I shaved my head! It turned out to be the best thing I did in preparing to leave... it is so hot here during the day that there is no way that I’d want to mess with having hair on my head. I also figured that it would be mostly grown back by the time I come home, but I’m liking it so much that I just may keep it! I originally cut it off because my brother did on the night before I left... so we decided to make it a brotherly affair. We originally agreed to not cut it again until I got back, but I don’t think I’m going to keep my end of the bargain... sorry Nick, it’s going to stay short!

AFRICA!!!!

Well friends, I'm here... I haven't found a fast enough connection speed to where I'm able to post pictures yet, but hopefully soon...
The missionaries I'm here working with are cooler than I thought they'd be... so that is a big plus!
I was able to walk to the beach this morning, which is about a two minute walk from my apartment here, and it is soooo beautiful... I can't wait to show you all pictures and share these memories that I am making... thank you for your prayers everyone... continue to pray that my support keeps coming in because I am still short!!! and I don't want to come home early! I really feel like God has some awesome things in store for me here! I'll keep you posted......