Friday, May 30, 2008
another african joy (or ANTics)
UPDATE: I pulled out my computer before going to bed and as I opened the screen up...... literally a SWARM of little black ants ran out of the keyboard and screen. I have no clue why, because I didn't find ants anywhere else. It really wasn't what I normally expect when I open up my laptop, but then again, I guess I'm in Africa.
a revolution!
I have a great idea on how America can be a little more economical:
Unannounced, Mandatory and Involuntary Power Outages
These seem to be all the rage here, as I woke up this morning chuckling at the huge coincidence that all of my light bulbs went out at the same time until I finally put the pieces together. I later on learned that areas in S.A. have random times of day that the power is shut down to conserve energy.....contact your local office! I'm sure that the U.S. would take that very well.....
Unannounced, Mandatory and Involuntary Power Outages
These seem to be all the rage here, as I woke up this morning chuckling at the huge coincidence that all of my light bulbs went out at the same time until I finally put the pieces together. I later on learned that areas in S.A. have random times of day that the power is shut down to conserve energy.....contact your local office! I'm sure that the U.S. would take that very well.....
Thursday, May 29, 2008
~click click click~
I just got done eating dinner here and now after a quick shower I'm sitting in the living room area and about to read a book. Contrary to popular belief, I am NOT sleeping under banana
leaves or fighting away titsi flies and Uncle Scar (Lion King....). The past few days have been good, basically consisted of taking pictures at Living Grace (an another branch of Living Hope...see link on far right of blog) in the morning and then going to the kid's camp at Red Hill. That place is so interesting. I've been spinning a bunch of kids around and fending them off of my back/head/neck/shoulders/legs/torso although they always have a way of attaching themselves to me. There's a very close similarity between the St. John kids and the kids here.
I hear that next week I'll be spending my mornings at refugee camps because tension is still happening between some of the different groups here. It's quite the historical event down here in South Africa and great timing that I happen to be there while it's going on.
Lots of footage has been taken of Red Hill. I haven't gotten to actually walk around as much as I did the first day when I only had my photo camera but I hope to get some shots of some of the "houses" in the area to use in one of the videos. There are two people in particular that have been leading the camps here for a long time after the children's school and they are really incredible. It's amazing that every afternoon...they are there. Playing with kids. Dealing with fights and arguments. Teaching kids. Keeping them out of bad areas. They must have the patience of Job because I feel like if it was only me for months and months at a time that I absolutely could not do it. Don't get me wrong, they're great kids, but some are a handful. Especially a boy named Keaps(sp?)
Keaps is a heavier set boy living in Red Hill. For the past few days, Keaps has come in late and tried to force his way on some of the other children. This meaning, if Keaps picks on someone such as taking a ball away from someone....he's fine. But then as soon as another child fights back against him or treats him wrong, Keaps is bawling. This works in the opposite way also: when I played soccer the past two days with the kids he reminds me every couple of minutes that "he's on my side!" I'm learning that Keaps is an extremely emotionally needy kid, much like the same way I can find myself being emotionally needy to God. Even as I type it sounds familiar to be obliviously angry or ignoring Christ. So, I live on, tugging on the shirttail of God. Selfish. Another valuable lesson to learn here in South Africa is an amazing lesson of self-humility and not just outward humility. I believe on some occasions that it is easy to act or appear humble. The hardest part is training your mind and your thoughts to become humble in nature. I've also found that if you want to be humbled, walk around the city of Muizenberg with this man (below) and listen to his story.
leaves or fighting away titsi flies and Uncle Scar (Lion King....). The past few days have been good, basically consisted of taking pictures at Living Grace (an another branch of Living Hope...see link on far right of blog) in the morning and then going to the kid's camp at Red Hill. That place is so interesting. I've been spinning a bunch of kids around and fending them off of my back/head/neck/shoulders/legs/torso although they always have a way of attaching themselves to me. There's a very close similarity between the St. John kids and the kids here.I hear that next week I'll be spending my mornings at refugee camps because tension is still happening between some of the different groups here. It's quite the historical event down here in South Africa and great timing that I happen to be there while it's going on.
Lots of footage has been taken of Red Hill. I haven't gotten to actually walk around as much as I did the first day when I only had my photo camera but I hope to get some shots of some of the "houses" in the area to use in one of the videos. There are two people in particular that have been leading the camps here for a long time after the children's school and they are really incredible. It's amazing that every afternoon...they are there. Playing with kids. Dealing with fights and arguments. Teaching kids. Keeping them out of bad areas. They must have the patience of Job because I feel like if it was only me for months and months at a time that I absolutely could not do it. Don't get me wrong, they're great kids, but some are a handful. Especially a boy named Keaps(sp?)
Keaps is a heavier set boy living in Red Hill. For the past few days, Keaps has come in late and tried to force his way on some of the other children. This meaning, if Keaps picks on someone such as taking a ball away from someone....he's fine. But then as soon as another child fights back against him or treats him wrong, Keaps is bawling. This works in the opposite way also: when I played soccer the past two days with the kids he reminds me every couple of minutes that "he's on my side!" I'm learning that Keaps is an extremely emotionally needy kid, much like the same way I can find myself being emotionally needy to God. Even as I type it sounds familiar to be obliviously angry or ignoring Christ. So, I live on, tugging on the shirttail of God. Selfish. Another valuable lesson to learn here in South Africa is an amazing lesson of self-humility and not just outward humility. I believe on some occasions that it is easy to act or appear humble. The hardest part is training your mind and your thoughts to become humble in nature. I've also found that if you want to be humbled, walk around the city of Muizenberg with this man (below) and listen to his story.
The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm. The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin. A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst. Proverbs 11:2-4 The Message
Monday, May 26, 2008
I'm here.
Wow. So after a long time of waiting, I am finally here. It's the second day of my stay here in S.A., and things are fantastic. Uploads for photos are going to be tricky, because I found out that we only have a certain amount of bandwith space every week on the internet. This means that there's not a lot of any downloading or uploading I can do. But, there's a coffee place down the road a little that can do it. In the mean time, the new picture for the header of the blog is one that I took of a child today in a place called Red Hill.
To begin, I really enjoyed the plane ride to SA. Yes, it was about 10-12 hours long, but it was good. Yes, a lady blew humongous chunks a couple rows behind me, but it was still great. While everyone else was sleeping, I turned on my overhead light and read the Bible for a while. There were stories after stories. This was my favorite part of the flight. The rest of the cabin was silent, there was a blackness coming from the windows that I have never felt as we flew over a sleeping Africa. I listened to Matthew Perryman Jones' album a million times and I recommend getting it immediately.
At the airport, Jakes picked me up. She lives in SA and is very kind. One of the many friends I have already made here. I'm staying at a place called the Sundollar B&B. Well, after a few hours of talking, eating, and recouping from the flight, Mike, Pam and I went to a refugee camp because this is happening. I still can't fully explain what is going on, but there were many people that evacuated their homes and were gathered at a bunch of large tents that were put up by various volunteer groups including Living Hope. It was very very very interesting to say the least. Later on, Kirstin, Anna, Jakes and I went to Jakes' church. Her church was another "safe place" where there were close to a hundred refugees in the back. A lot of them came into the service and during one of the songs and because of this, there were 4 or 5 different languages represented. During one of the songs, people cheered and danced when the verse was sung in their language. Chills.
Today, I spent my first afternoon at a place called Red Hill. Living hope has a trailer there and we run a kids camp within the village. Red Hill is a extreme poverty area. Dirt floors and aluminum roofs. The kids there are crazy, but awesome and incredibly cute. I'm going to be working on a couple of videos in the next couple of weeks, which will be planned in a couple of days.
More later, but I'm going to bed due to jet lag.
be praying for the country of South Africa and the ministries of Living Hope.
To begin, I really enjoyed the plane ride to SA. Yes, it was about 10-12 hours long, but it was good. Yes, a lady blew humongous chunks a couple rows behind me, but it was still great. While everyone else was sleeping, I turned on my overhead light and read the Bible for a while. There were stories after stories. This was my favorite part of the flight. The rest of the cabin was silent, there was a blackness coming from the windows that I have never felt as we flew over a sleeping Africa. I listened to Matthew Perryman Jones' album a million times and I recommend getting it immediately.
At the airport, Jakes picked me up. She lives in SA and is very kind. One of the many friends I have already made here. I'm staying at a place called the Sundollar B&B. Well, after a few hours of talking, eating, and recouping from the flight, Mike, Pam and I went to a refugee camp because this is happening. I still can't fully explain what is going on, but there were many people that evacuated their homes and were gathered at a bunch of large tents that were put up by various volunteer groups including Living Hope. It was very very very interesting to say the least. Later on, Kirstin, Anna, Jakes and I went to Jakes' church. Her church was another "safe place" where there were close to a hundred refugees in the back. A lot of them came into the service and during one of the songs and because of this, there were 4 or 5 different languages represented. During one of the songs, people cheered and danced when the verse was sung in their language. Chills.
Today, I spent my first afternoon at a place called Red Hill. Living hope has a trailer there and we run a kids camp within the village. Red Hill is a extreme poverty area. Dirt floors and aluminum roofs. The kids there are crazy, but awesome and incredibly cute. I'm going to be working on a couple of videos in the next couple of weeks, which will be planned in a couple of days.
More later, but I'm going to bed due to jet lag.
be praying for the country of South Africa and the ministries of Living Hope.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
mind the gap.
(actually posted later on...)
Greetings from London! But first let me tell you about the flight.
On the 7 hour flight over to London, I sat next to an elderly man from Pakistan named Farrukh who apparently is the “Dr. Phil” of his community. Within the first 10 minutes of the plane ride these words came out of his mouth: “Here is the key thing about that area (south africa) ….do not put your bottom on the toilet seat.” The instant that was said I knew two things:
1. Hilarious. I can’t wait to tell SOMEONE about this.
2. Although thoughtful, he kind of has his facts wrong.
3. Dang it. This is 10 minutes into 7 hours.
He went on to explain the key to happiness in life and especially marriage which is apparently a key to a number of things because he kept on saying “This is the key…”. I started in on my “yeahs” and “oh, yeah…definitely’s”. I did feel like there might have been some openings for spiritual conversation, but whenever I mentioned anything he quickly changed the subject. After my therapy session, I watched an in-flight movie and then fell asleep. The rest was not so bad.
I always get anxious to look out the window whenever a plane is landing in a new place that I have never been. For instance…in St. John all you see is water right up until literally the wheels hit the ground. I was in the middle of the plane, so although I couldn’t stare out the window, I got really excited when I saw the land outside and I knew that I had 12 hours to kill ( I had a 12 hour layover). So, thus begins my solo journey into London. I think that “wandering without a purpose” would be the best way to describe the majority of my day. I didn’t get a map, I just got the free Underground map that you get at the airport. Mainly because things are extremely expensive and it cost a ton just to exchange currency. So I hit the streets and took lots of pictures, which will be up on the Flickr account on the right of this page. To be honest, the only things that I really recognized was the London Bridge and the Globe Theater. BUT, I did eat real London Fish and Chips for lunch and went to a tea place before I left.
I’m very tired, and sitting in the gate waiting to fly to South Africa now. I can’t wait to get there and find out what God has planned for the next six weeks! For now I’m out.
Oh, by the way….I’m not sure how heavy 13kgs is in pounds….but that’s how much the cameraBOX weighs and it felt like I was carrying around a business-like boulder on my shoulder the whole day.
Greetings from London! But first let me tell you about the flight.
On the 7 hour flight over to London, I sat next to an elderly man from Pakistan named Farrukh who apparently is the “Dr. Phil” of his community. Within the first 10 minutes of the plane ride these words came out of his mouth: “Here is the key thing about that area (south africa) ….do not put your bottom on the toilet seat.” The instant that was said I knew two things:
1. Hilarious. I can’t wait to tell SOMEONE about this.
2. Although thoughtful, he kind of has his facts wrong.
3. Dang it. This is 10 minutes into 7 hours.
He went on to explain the key to happiness in life and especially marriage which is apparently a key to a number of things because he kept on saying “This is the key…”. I started in on my “yeahs” and “oh, yeah…definitely’s”. I did feel like there might have been some openings for spiritual conversation, but whenever I mentioned anything he quickly changed the subject. After my therapy session, I watched an in-flight movie and then fell asleep. The rest was not so bad.
I always get anxious to look out the window whenever a plane is landing in a new place that I have never been. For instance…in St. John all you see is water right up until literally the wheels hit the ground. I was in the middle of the plane, so although I couldn’t stare out the window, I got really excited when I saw the land outside and I knew that I had 12 hours to kill ( I had a 12 hour layover). So, thus begins my solo journey into London. I think that “wandering without a purpose” would be the best way to describe the majority of my day. I didn’t get a map, I just got the free Underground map that you get at the airport. Mainly because things are extremely expensive and it cost a ton just to exchange currency. So I hit the streets and took lots of pictures, which will be up on the Flickr account on the right of this page. To be honest, the only things that I really recognized was the London Bridge and the Globe Theater. BUT, I did eat real London Fish and Chips for lunch and went to a tea place before I left.
I’m very tired, and sitting in the gate waiting to fly to South Africa now. I can’t wait to get there and find out what God has planned for the next six weeks! For now I’m out.
Oh, by the way….I’m not sure how heavy 13kgs is in pounds….but that’s how much the cameraBOX weighs and it felt like I was carrying around a business-like boulder on my shoulder the whole day.
a long time on a plane.
Welcome to my main form of communication with friends and family for the next six weeks (except for those “hip” and addicted enough to have facebook).
For the past few years, I have journaled from recommendation of Jay Strother. I started doing this when I was a sophomore in high school and created the most horrible Blog on the face of the planet. No really, it’s embarrassing and I challenge any of you to find it and I will keep it online unlike some people….Kaitlin….
One of my friends at WKU recently said, “I cannot conceive the process to what goes on behind people’s minds when they write their thoughts for everyone else in the world to read.” Now, that is very paraphrased but as I sit here in the airport, already having bought my first two-dollar bottle of water, I want to start by letting you know why I’m going to South Africa.
The concept of going somewhere different this summer first started at the end of last summer. It was my 20th consecutive summer in the wonderful town of Franklin (that’s not sarcastic, I really do like Franklin) but I wanted to be somewhere different for a while. I’m also going to misquote Donald Miller right here, but just deal with it. I read in his book Through Painted Deserts something that sparked:
“We had to get out and get away from the city. Once you hang around buildings and Starbucks too long, you begin to think that’s all that God created.”
Living in the Bible Belt my whole life, that quote takes on a whole new meaning. I’ll switch it a little…once I hang around Christians and other Christians too much, I begin to think that’s all that there is. So, after various talks with family, friends, and college ministers outside of chicken restaurants, I decided that next summer I would spend time in another part of the world and by that I don’t just mean “East Nashville” (which might as well be….well…..nevermind….) I visited different ideas of where to go, but I hadn’t landed on a specific place. I had heard of South Africa because of BBC’s involvement, but thought about how far away it was--literally on the other side of the world….so I put it away for a while. I returned to Nashville one weekend during the school year at WKU and was still struggling and praying about what to do for summer. I was excited to hear Mike Glenn speak again at church because he is always a well of wisdom to draw from. There was a guest speaker. He had a british accent. His name was Pastor John Thomas from Cape Town and was speaking to the church on helping the poor and needy. The passage that he read out of was Isaiah 58. I’ll spare you quoting the whole chapter…because it is THAT good….but he spoke out of Isaiah 58. Bam. Read it….and that will explain a little better.
God continued to lead me in the direction of South Africa, doors begin to open, and after meeting with Mike Talley over coffee in Cool Springs, I told him that the next time I see him… it’ll be in Africa! My parents have been very patient, supportive and extremely helpful the whole journey, even up to yelling my name and waving like lunatics as I approached the security gate this afternoon. Seth has been kind enough to loan me some of his pricy video equipment even though if any of it breaks it would put both of us in a little trouble. I’ll try not get sand in anything or “clean it” like Carter did. I will be shooting video for various ministries involved with Fish Hoek Baptist Church, Living Hope Community Center, and the Masi Choir, and then while I’m not shooting or editing video, I’ll be helping out with a kids camp in the afternoons. A plane with a large mural of a lynx just drove by the window…
I’m excited to go. I’m almost done with my first over-priced food purchase, but then again…there’s something about chewing two-dollar gum that makes you feel like the trip you are taking is important. The number of people that have said that they will pray for me is fantastic. This is an opportunity for me to be salt (Matt. 5….remember, b.s. guys?) and to go to the ends of the earth (Acts 1).
A man just came over the intercom, “Will Sarah Thompson please come to the terminal and claim her cat.” ironic…..
Things you can pray about is that the videos that will be made down there will show God’s glory, trip safety, that my heart will be in the right place, and that it will be a growing experience.
For the past few years, I have journaled from recommendation of Jay Strother. I started doing this when I was a sophomore in high school and created the most horrible Blog on the face of the planet. No really, it’s embarrassing and I challenge any of you to find it and I will keep it online unlike some people….Kaitlin….
One of my friends at WKU recently said, “I cannot conceive the process to what goes on behind people’s minds when they write their thoughts for everyone else in the world to read.” Now, that is very paraphrased but as I sit here in the airport, already having bought my first two-dollar bottle of water, I want to start by letting you know why I’m going to South Africa.
The concept of going somewhere different this summer first started at the end of last summer. It was my 20th consecutive summer in the wonderful town of Franklin (that’s not sarcastic, I really do like Franklin) but I wanted to be somewhere different for a while. I’m also going to misquote Donald Miller right here, but just deal with it. I read in his book Through Painted Deserts something that sparked:
“We had to get out and get away from the city. Once you hang around buildings and Starbucks too long, you begin to think that’s all that God created.”
Living in the Bible Belt my whole life, that quote takes on a whole new meaning. I’ll switch it a little…once I hang around Christians and other Christians too much, I begin to think that’s all that there is. So, after various talks with family, friends, and college ministers outside of chicken restaurants, I decided that next summer I would spend time in another part of the world and by that I don’t just mean “East Nashville” (which might as well be….well…..nevermind….) I visited different ideas of where to go, but I hadn’t landed on a specific place. I had heard of South Africa because of BBC’s involvement, but thought about how far away it was--literally on the other side of the world….so I put it away for a while. I returned to Nashville one weekend during the school year at WKU and was still struggling and praying about what to do for summer. I was excited to hear Mike Glenn speak again at church because he is always a well of wisdom to draw from. There was a guest speaker. He had a british accent. His name was Pastor John Thomas from Cape Town and was speaking to the church on helping the poor and needy. The passage that he read out of was Isaiah 58. I’ll spare you quoting the whole chapter…because it is THAT good….but he spoke out of Isaiah 58. Bam. Read it….and that will explain a little better.
God continued to lead me in the direction of South Africa, doors begin to open, and after meeting with Mike Talley over coffee in Cool Springs, I told him that the next time I see him… it’ll be in Africa! My parents have been very patient, supportive and extremely helpful the whole journey, even up to yelling my name and waving like lunatics as I approached the security gate this afternoon. Seth has been kind enough to loan me some of his pricy video equipment even though if any of it breaks it would put both of us in a little trouble. I’ll try not get sand in anything or “clean it” like Carter did. I will be shooting video for various ministries involved with Fish Hoek Baptist Church, Living Hope Community Center, and the Masi Choir, and then while I’m not shooting or editing video, I’ll be helping out with a kids camp in the afternoons. A plane with a large mural of a lynx just drove by the window…
I’m excited to go. I’m almost done with my first over-priced food purchase, but then again…there’s something about chewing two-dollar gum that makes you feel like the trip you are taking is important. The number of people that have said that they will pray for me is fantastic. This is an opportunity for me to be salt (Matt. 5….remember, b.s. guys?) and to go to the ends of the earth (Acts 1).
A man just came over the intercom, “Will Sarah Thompson please come to the terminal and claim her cat.” ironic…..
Things you can pray about is that the videos that will be made down there will show God’s glory, trip safety, that my heart will be in the right place, and that it will be a growing experience.
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