Beautiful Things

These beautiful people have been an incredible blessing in my life. I am so blessed to call them my friends and to spend days in BEAUTIFUL places like this with them! 

Drakensburg, SA

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us!" Psalm 90:17

Inhabit Your Moments

Inhabit your moments: This is a statement I am learning to live out. It is a paradox of time when in one moment it seems that I have been in Africa for a time much more significant than a month and a half, and in that same moment I feel as if that month and a half has been merely a day. So, to cope with this paradox, I am learning to inhabit my moments; to not let even one pass by without being IN IT with intention. This is proving to be a difficult lesson, but one with great value, I think. I want- no, I NEED to soak up all that Africa and the people that fill it have to offer. I need to submerge myself in all that God has to teach me and in all the ways that He loves me; because this place and this amazing God are teeming with lessons to be learned.

Speaking of time, there is a thing we call “Africa time” in which everything moves at a pace pleasing to the peaceful and being late is the norm. One of our professors told us, “Americans have the watches, but Africans have the time.” I think that has been my problem all along- I have lived my life being late to almost EVERYTHING and always being the last one out the door. I am convinced that I was born on the wrong continent.

Having said these things in regards to time- these are my excuses for taking so long to write another blog…I have been scolded and this blog post has been demanded of me by my wonderful, beautiful mother, whom I miss dearly :)

So much has happened since my last blog, it would once again be exhaustive and most likely boring to list it all, but I will write about the most significant stuff to catch you up on all the fun I’ve been having!

First of all, we are finished with the majority of our classes! Zulu class will continue for the next few weeks, but the intensity has been lowered a fair amount, which, needless to say, makes me quite happy. After we completed the finals in all of our other classes, we began the Community Engagement class that is required during Service Sites. This class is taught by Francis Njoroge, who is an extremely well known and renowned man in Africa. I believe that his class will prove to be extremely enlightening and helpful in both my Service Site and in my future profession in the field of Social Work. He has a lot to say about service, loving people, and empowerment…all of which spark my interest greatly.

Last week was one full of fun and excitement. We kicked it off with a Jesus Culture concert that rocked me in more ways than one (which I will have to write about in my next blog). The next day the group was split in half to begin what I’m calling the ‘Week of Wonder’. My half of the group began the Week of Wonder by heading off to safari for 3 days. Those were some of the most spectacular and tiring days of my life. We spent 3 days in what looked and felt like vehicles from Indiana Jones, in the wilderness of South Africa searching for game. I saw some of the most beautiful animals, sunsets, and sunrises I have seen and ever will have the pleasure of seeing. Sadly, I did not get to see any lions or leopards, but I saw my fair share of rhinos, elephants, zebras, buffalo, wildebeests, impala, baboons, etc. I also woke up earlier than I have in years in order to see these magnificent creatures. By the end of each day, Reg was asking me if I had been drinking as I suffered through delirium. I will never have an experience quite like it again in my life…unless of course, I visit South Africa again. When we returned to our campus 3 days later and swapped spots with the other half of the group, we had a night to rest, and the adventure continued the next day. Our group took a trip to the river and went cliff jumping! I could not get enough of the adrenaline and fun, so I jumped around 6 times. After jumping we enjoyed a Braii (BBQ) and chowed down to fuel ourselves for the end of the trip. It ended with the strenuous hike back up the extremely steep hills to arrive at the van, sweaty and sore. It was completely worth it. The next day we woke up bright eyed in anticipation of the event of the day- zip lining through the jungle. Oh my goodness, what an experience that was. 2 hours of zip lining through the greenest scenery, with the most beautiful, picturesque view. It was exhilarating, breathtaking, and fairly therapeutic. Laughing with overwhelming joy and excitement until my stomach hurt was very therapeutic for me- always is. I think this week reminded me of how much I thrive on adrenaline and enjoy doing slightly dangerous things…I just may go bungee jumping here in South Africa after all :)

This week we being our Service Site visits and I absolutely could not be more excited. I have been placed at a site called ‘Riv-Life’ in the township, ‘Cinderella’. There is so much to be said about this place that my words will fail it. When I first visited Riv-Life, I immediately felt that it was the place I was supposed to be. I got this overwhelming feeling that I cannot explain. My heart yearned to be there. Cinderella is one township, like many in South Africa that is plagued with HIV/AIDS. The majority of people living in Cinderella are infected and living in desolate conditions. There are many children who are orphaned or living with parents or caretakers who are infected with HIV/AIDS roaming the streets and living in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness. Many of these children are also infected with HIV/AIDS for one of a few reasons. Most likely, either their mother was infected with HIV while she was pregnant with them, and therefore passed HIV to them through her blood, or they were the victims of a horrific belief taught by Isangomas, or witch doctors, in the past. This belief was that if a person was infected with HIV/AIDS, they could be wholly cured by having sex with either a young virgin or a baby. This resulted in an outrageous number of rapes and the rampant spread of HIV/AIDS. This is not unusual in South Africa, as it holds the largest population of HIV/AIDS infected citizens in the world, reaching around 5 million. Riv-Life is working to lower that number, starting with Cinderella. Riv-Life is an organization in connection with a church called ‘The River’ that is working to better the community of Cinderella by providing a variety of services, education, and support to end the cycle of poverty, HIV/AIDS infection, and to love and assist those suffering with HIV/AIDS. If you would like to learn more about Riv-Life’s mission, you can go to this website: http://www.rivlife.com/programs.html  -Check it out!

I feel so unbelievably blessed by this opportunity to serve the community of Cinderella. I am certain that this experience will bring so much knowledge, growth, both spiritually and personally, and that I will be forever changed. The team of APU students that I will be working with is absolutely incredible and shares the same excitement and eagerness to begin serving that I do. I am so looking forward to being completely broken; having my world shattered, my heart broken. I want my heart to be broken for what breaks God’s. I want my vision to be aligned with heaven’s so that I may see people with the eyes of the Father and love people to the best of my humanly ability. The people of Cinderella who are suffering with disease and poverty, as well as every other human on earth, need the love of Jesus desperately, more than anything else that can be offered. I may not be able to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, I may not be able to stop people from dying from it, I may not be able to heal people, and I may not be able to provide better living for every person in Cinderella, but what I can do is LOVE and PRAY. I can love to the absolute best of my ability, listen with not only my ears, but my heart as well, and serve the people with the heart of Jesus. I can pray until there are no words left- until I am on my knees, humbled by the power and love of God, and I can live in the confidence that God reigns over this place. Gosh, can we just start already?




YIKES: Sorry, about the length, y'all!

Paradoxical People.

The world is a place of paradoxes. To list a few:

I miss my friends and family at home so very much, but I am so happy to be where I am.

To quote Ingrid Michaelson:

 “We hate the rain when it fills up our shoes, but how we love when it washes our cars;

We love to love when it fills up the room, but when it leaves we’re cursing the stars”.

The bible says we are to find joy in our suffering.

            And because of Jesus, we have the status of kings and the duties of slaves.

It is this last paradox that really hooks me. It is a paradox that is very close to my heart and has been very apparent, and I believe will prove to be even more apparent, in my time here in South Africa. It is one that I think we may have all learned, but tend to forget or lose focus on.

I have been and am still learning the status and worth that the Lord places on me as His daughter; free from sin, white as snow, fearfully and wonderfully made. I think it is a struggle for any human being, but from experience, especially for girls, to find a self-image that matches that of God’s eyes for them. It is a struggle that I have contended with all my life, which my wonderful Mom (who I miss SO much) can attest to. It amazes me, especially living in a place of such beauty, that the God who created this land and all of its magnificence also created me and thinks that I am even more beautiful. To look outside and see lush, rolling green hills, waterfalls and stars that can take your breath away, and then to think that God sees me as more beautiful is almost incomprehensible. We are all beautiful children of the King. We must not simply learn this; it must be engrained in us, tattooed on our hearts and minds. Because we are children of the King, we are royalty; we have the status of kings.

But with the status comes responsibility. Because we are children of the King, we must serve the Kingdom. Fulfilling the “duties of slaves” sounds a bit harsh, but as faith and joy invade your heart it becomes a pleasure. These duties can encompass a lot of things, but what stands out to me in this place and at this time is giving your self away for others. I have always had a heart that loves to serve others, and that is something that I want to pursue all of my life, but God is teaching me new things in regards to service. I think that there is another paradox we should try to fulfill as Americans: we live in a very individualistic, materialistic society, but we must think in “Kingdom terms” and give all of ourselves as a collectivistic society of Christ. In all that we do, we should be doing it for the advancement and betterment of the Kingdom. Freely we have received; freely we must give.

 I have felt convicted while being here about how materialistic and individualistic I can be. On Tuesday we visited the second of four service sites that we will visit as we discern where we are supposed to serve. We drove through the township where the Ethembeni site is located and saw one of the many parts of the country that qualifies as “third world”. We saw a number of houses that were unlivable according to American standards, some made purely of mud and sticks, and met some of the children that Ethembeni serves who have all been affected by HIV/AIDS, whether it be they lost a caretaker to AIDS or have HIV themselves. The next day we went to the mall. Yeah, the mall. A mall trip has never seemed so selfish. We take trips to the mall multiple times a week and it never fails that the majority of students come back with bags full of purchases. I came back from the mall with 3 new tops and a coffee in my hand. This is just after visiting townships full of people who barely have a home or running water. I realize that it is a little radical and out of the question to never buy anything or give away all of your possessions, but could you? If God asked you to, could you give away all you have? And even if you couldn’t, would you be willing to give some? Would I be willing to abandon all of my belongings and follow Christ?

It is not all about giving material possessions, but giving your self as well and utilizing your spiritual gifts. We have been given gifts and opportunities to give to others and it is our responsibility to respond in a way that glorifies God and serves His Kingdom. I hope that I can relearn to do this not only at my service site, but in every moment here in South Africa, and when I return to the states. I pray that God would give me a true servant’s heart. That I would have a heart of love and service, and of humility, and the knowledge that I am not the one who deserves the glory. I pray that my view of people, the world, and service of the Kingdom would be transformed into that of God’s view.

Part of this thought came from the feeling I had when visiting the service site on Tuesday. I am praying and trying my best not to hold on too tightly to Ethembeni and to discern where God would have me go, but it is difficult. “Ethembeni” means “place of hope” which describes it perfectly. I felt as though my heart might leap out of chest and my eyes struggled to keep the flood gates secure as we toured the site. It was a feeling of purpose and a presence of Christ in that small, shabby place that serves as a safe place and second home to many children. To be able to work with Zulu speaking, HIV/AIDS affected people, primarily children, would be an absolute honor and dream for me. If I could give even a glimmer of hope to someone, I would feel I had succeeded. I am staying open to the possibility of this feeling returning at other sites, but as of now, my heart is with Ethembeni.

I hope that at the end of this semester, this group of students would be a living paradox. That we would live out the truth that we have the status of kings and the duties of slaves; that we are selfish by nature but give selflessly.
            I could (and hopefully will) write about all of the other things I am learning while here, but I have a Zulu test to study for! But, here are some highlights of fun things we have done so far in Pietermaritzburg:

·     Dinner at Cappello for Janet’s birthday, where we all dressed up, had dinner, and terrorized/danced around the restaurant.

·      Gangsta themed dance party for Enoch’s birthday

·      Volleyball…lots of volleyball. We are having a 4v4 tournament on Sunday entitled “The 45^th Hunger Games”…the series is a big deal on campus.

·      Visited the Birds of Prey sanctuary where we got to see everything from owls to vultures.

·      Visited the site where Ghandi was kicked off of a train because he was an Indian in first-class.

·      We are going to an all-you-can-eat pizza night tonight where there will be a pizza-eating contest.

·      There is probably more, but my brain is failing me.

So, as the Zulus would say: Sizobonana! Sala kahle!

Lonelily Ramblings.

As I sit down to write this, I realize that this is almost the only moment I have had alone since I got here…and it was only by accident. About 20 minutes ago I was supposed to be getting into a van to go to the mall so that I could buy body wash. Looks like I will either be a little smelly, or will be stealing my chalet mates’ soap until the next mall run, as I missed the van. But what I’m realizing in this moment is that I will really have to fight for alone time. It’s not that I don’t enjoy every second spent with friends here, I truly do, but I will have to fight my own urge to constantly be social in order to have the God time that I so desperately need…and to get some homework done as well. Although we have already had a week of class, my brain has not yet fully engaged.

This week has been a whirlwind. It has been a week of firsts: the first time I set foot on another continent, the first of many conversations with some of the most interesting people I have ever met, the first Zulu conversation I have ever participated in, the first time I have ever seen Zebras, and the list goes on. I would list each and every thing that I have done while at AE, but that would prove to be exhaustive and extremely lengthy (which my blog already is). So much happens in just one day, but the movement of the day is a much slower, more peaceful pace than in the States. I am definitely learning to enjoy the small moments, really indulge and engage in them. I hope that the way that God is so evident in everything here carries into my life back in the States. I know that God is the same everywhere and all the time, but it seems so much more evident in this place. God is recapturing and captivating my heart more in every moment. I can’t wait for all that God is going to teach me and use me for in this time. My prayer is that whatever each of us here in South Africa learns, whatever breaks our hearts, whatever heals us, whatever inspires us, will follow us back to the States and throughout our lives. That this wouldn’t be just another high, but that we would reach a high point and would only continue to escalate in growth. That it would be exponential growth that would affect us in an unforgettable way that penetrates our souls.

Sawubona, South Africa!

Disclaimer: anything written most likely does not or will not do justice to or adequately explain the experience of South Africa. It is fairly impossible to explain with mere words.

 The first day that we arrived at our new home, African Enterprise (AE), in Pietermaritzburg, Reg, our main man, said to us, “welcome to heaven”. No three words could be more fitting. The word “Zulu” translated to English actually means “heaven”, and I have never felt closer to heaven anywhere else in my life. Each aspect of this country and of this adventure so far has been heavenly; absolutely and completely perfect, of God, from God.

The only way that I can even attempt to do the beauty of this country justice is to tell the story of my entrance into Durban. As we climbed onboard the bus that would take us to Pietermaritzburg and began the drive through Durban, the song “This is Africa” began playing, and I began crying. I was completely and utterly overwhelmed by the beauty of the land and the reality that THIS IS AFRICA (TIA) and I AM HERE. Ever since we landed in Africa we have not been able to stop gawking at the landscape and aching to explore and experience more of the beauty that lies in this place. God is so present.

Not only is the land consumed by beauty, but the people are as well- both on and off campus. Never have I felt so welcomed and loved without so much as an introduction or explanation. The 49 other students that I am on this journey with are incredible. It has only been about 4 days and it is already feeling like family.

The beauty and love of the people of South Africa was shown extremely well yesterday when we attended church. It was an experienced that placed me fairly far outside my comfort zone in the best way possible. The church that I attended was primarily “coloured”, with a mix of “black”, “indian”, and “white” people. (All nonderogatory terms used to classify people in South Africa). As about 20 students walked up to God’s Family Life Center church, were Reagan and Liezel belong, each and every one of us was greeted with a hug from 2 greeters of the church. The hugging did not stop there. When the point in the service where the pastor usually instructs attendees to shake their neighbor’s hand and say goodmorning, the pastor issued us about 5 minutes to walk around and hug people. We proceeded to be hugged and blessed by just about every person we came into contact with. The service then proceeded with about an hour and a half of worship in 3 different languages (English, Zulu, and Afrikaans). The sermon was about 20-30 minutes long, but was packed with enthusiasm and thought. After the service I stood with a group of girls as we waited for our ride to get ready to leave, when an older man approached us. He welcomed us saying, “You are God’s walking flowers. We are so glad you are here. Please come back.” That first sentence melted my heart in a way that built it back up again, enlarged it for this people, and made me stand taller.

Later that day, a group of us decided to take a leisurely walk to the game reserve just down the road with our cameras in hand, hoping to see some of God’s exotic creatures. Little did we know, that leisurely walk would actually be about an hour and a half hike, and that boat shoes or TOMs wouldn’t be the best option. I ended up with blisters and blood in my shoes by the end of it, but it was all worth it because we saw ZEBRAS! (Apparently pronounced zeh-bra, not zee-bra). It was completely surreal and unbelievable. They were so beautiful and just enchanting. We were so close to them and they had no complaints about our presence. I can’t even put into words just how COOL it was.

Then, after orientation, during which it rained a wonderful warm rain, there was a spontaneous mud pit adventure. We all ran down to the stream/mud pit and completely covered ourselves with mud as we rolled, sank, and threw mud at each other, with the occasional mud-angel as well. We then rinsed ourselves off in the waterfall and raced to shower before dinner in 20 minutes. It was an absolute blast. We are determined to make it happen many more times while we are here at AE.

All that fun in just one day! I feel like I have been here for a month already with all that we’ve done! I will have to write another post about what has happened in the past 4 days, but I can feel writer’s block coming on right about now, and it’s almost lunchtime! But, overall, this experience has been overwhelmingly wonderful and almost inexplicable. I cannot wait to see what is in store and what God is going to reveal to each student here. Marvelous are His works and marvelous they will be. He is so present and active and I am constantly being reassured that He is great and is working!