Tuesday, February 28, 2012
My Secret Garden
Today was filled with the sweetness of happiness. You know when you feel so pure, and light, and free to the point where you can't stop smiling. It could be down pouring rain (which it is) and the song "I'm walking on sunshine" could be playing in my head (which it also is). Deep and thought provoking conversations are always so meaningful, as is the sound of sweet music to my ears and the feeling of growth, of maturity, and newness of life. Today is the kind of day where I just want to giggle and spread joy, cook a good meal, and get some work done. I went thrifting today in Mobwray with my good friend Lindsey and we had a fantastic time. Looking throw rows of colorful clothing, old childrens books and racks of shoes, I realized each and every piece of clothing has history behind it, and tells a story of the person who wore it.
During meridian, I went to the secret garden on campus. The one where purple and blue flowers are scattered, beautiful green vines creep up the old brick walls, grass creates a bed to lay on, and the sky is a canvas where your mind can paint whatever you want. Although my journey here so far has been full of questions and doubts, today I was woken to life. I was given sweet peace and full happiness knowing that my God IS leading me, and I CAN trust Him in all that I do. Miracles have been happening here and it has taken me this long to see them, because I wasn't looking. More and more people are finding God, sharing their testimonies with me has brought me full encouragement.
My past weekend was spent in a community in Fishhoek called Ocean View. I have a few blog posts to type up about the amazing learning experience it was for me. One of the main things I was reminded of though was the power of one. When someone gives everything to God, He opens doors, not even just doors, he opens up windows, he breaks down walls, he creates a world of possibilities. God has given each of us big dreams, but he hasn't given us the dreams just to dream them, no. God wants us to make our dreams reality! I want to thank Veronica, my host mom, for reminding me of this fact. Until next time, the peace of Christ be with you.
Love Mia
During meridian, I went to the secret garden on campus. The one where purple and blue flowers are scattered, beautiful green vines creep up the old brick walls, grass creates a bed to lay on, and the sky is a canvas where your mind can paint whatever you want. Although my journey here so far has been full of questions and doubts, today I was woken to life. I was given sweet peace and full happiness knowing that my God IS leading me, and I CAN trust Him in all that I do. Miracles have been happening here and it has taken me this long to see them, because I wasn't looking. More and more people are finding God, sharing their testimonies with me has brought me full encouragement.
My past weekend was spent in a community in Fishhoek called Ocean View. I have a few blog posts to type up about the amazing learning experience it was for me. One of the main things I was reminded of though was the power of one. When someone gives everything to God, He opens doors, not even just doors, he opens up windows, he breaks down walls, he creates a world of possibilities. God has given each of us big dreams, but he hasn't given us the dreams just to dream them, no. God wants us to make our dreams reality! I want to thank Veronica, my host mom, for reminding me of this fact. Until next time, the peace of Christ be with you.
Love Mia
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Race to the sea
I've always watched the sun set but I have never seen the moon rise. It is somewhat like a juggling act to see the bright ball of fiery gas racing towards the sea. The moon has chased it away in order to share his brilliant light in the sky. He winks at the sun and says 'the race has just begun' and with that wink bursts a thousand stars coming to life in the darkness, dancing, twinkling and twirling. The stars love the darkness that is always present at night for if the darkness was not present then who would admire their light?
Worlds above
There are no words beautiful enough to describe the night sky. Brilliant sparkling jewels hanging in the air, the brightest of all hangs the moon. The moon with it's halo of brilliant yellow light surrounded by a rainbow of colors, the circular color wheel. This sky reminds me that we are not so different you and I. We come from worlds apart and yet we are still people under the same sparkling gems in the sky, staring in awe at the beauty of the sky. The moon that shines deep into the darkness, appearing closer to earth, drawn in to catch a glimpse of all of the wandering people just trying to find their place in this world. And above it all, God looks at His creation. I wonder what He thinks. "God saw all that He made and it was very good."
Backpacker's Paradise, Outdshoorn
Sunlight beams cut through the rising mist.
Glitter in the morning sky. Yellow painted walls and bamboo lined ceilings. What a magical place this is. The antique globe sitting in the sunlit windowsill. How many travelers have stared at this masterpiece, dreaming out the next place to be discovered and explored. I know of at least one, of course it was me.
Glitter in the morning sky. Yellow painted walls and bamboo lined ceilings. What a magical place this is. The antique globe sitting in the sunlit windowsill. How many travelers have stared at this masterpiece, dreaming out the next place to be discovered and explored. I know of at least one, of course it was me.
Just One of Those Days
Today is one of those days that make you want to curl up in bed and read a good book. Today is one of those days that makes you want to snuggle near a f ire with good friends. Today is one of those days that makes you want to go to a coffee shop for a warm drink, people watching, and poetry writing. Today is one of those days.
I woke up to my house being surrounded by a cloud. The mist from the sky has managed to wrap itself around the school’s campus, and beyond. Looking up at campus, I can no longer see the mountains, just one big fluffy cold cloud, dropping ever closer to the students milling around from class to class. As I stand on campus and look out at the city, I see so much surrounded by the cloud too, almost as if providing a strong protection from the sunny days we’ve been so blessed with having here. After second period, the rain started to pour. Not a light misting in the air, but big powerful raindrops pounding the ground with the blustery winds making everyone wish they would’ve worn a rain jacket or brought an umbrella. It is these kinds of days that I relish.
I love when the earth is being made new from the rain and how the next day everything seems to be a bit brighter, a bit more green. Although I would love to snuggle up, read a good book, or go to The Alma tonight, my homework awaits. The readings I’ve got lined up for me are, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, A reader for my religion sexuality and gender course, two tiny papers to write, and preparation for Monday’s courses, as I will be doing a home stay this weekend.
Not everyday here is a vacation, although sometimes my mind thinks it is. I knew school was going to be a struggle, but tonight, my mind needs to get organized because my story is coming full circle. This is the part of my life where I become a UCT student, and not just a tourist in an unknown country. No not everyday is a vacation, nor is everyday easy, but it is always an adventure, and I intend to seize the day, even if the day calls me to do my homework. I am perfectly content today, with hopes that the misty weather will provide the perfect atmosphere to be productive.
I woke up to my house being surrounded by a cloud. The mist from the sky has managed to wrap itself around the school’s campus, and beyond. Looking up at campus, I can no longer see the mountains, just one big fluffy cold cloud, dropping ever closer to the students milling around from class to class. As I stand on campus and look out at the city, I see so much surrounded by the cloud too, almost as if providing a strong protection from the sunny days we’ve been so blessed with having here. After second period, the rain started to pour. Not a light misting in the air, but big powerful raindrops pounding the ground with the blustery winds making everyone wish they would’ve worn a rain jacket or brought an umbrella. It is these kinds of days that I relish.
I love when the earth is being made new from the rain and how the next day everything seems to be a bit brighter, a bit more green. Although I would love to snuggle up, read a good book, or go to The Alma tonight, my homework awaits. The readings I’ve got lined up for me are, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, A reader for my religion sexuality and gender course, two tiny papers to write, and preparation for Monday’s courses, as I will be doing a home stay this weekend.
Not everyday here is a vacation, although sometimes my mind thinks it is. I knew school was going to be a struggle, but tonight, my mind needs to get organized because my story is coming full circle. This is the part of my life where I become a UCT student, and not just a tourist in an unknown country. No not everyday is a vacation, nor is everyday easy, but it is always an adventure, and I intend to seize the day, even if the day calls me to do my homework. I am perfectly content today, with hopes that the misty weather will provide the perfect atmosphere to be productive.
The Garden Route Day 5
The last day of the trip was finally upon us, and I couldn’t believe it was almost over. I opened my curtain and was taken aback at the brilliant sunshine coming through my window and the view of the beach ahead of me. I quickly dressed, went to the bar/dining area and grabbed some yogurt for breakfast, deciding if I was going to go surfing or not. Instead I decided on relaxing on the beach and swimming in the ocean for the day, because I knew I would be coming back to J Bay as the surfing here isn’t just a sport but a way of life. I was definitely intrigued by the atmosphere and the community. Everyone was so relaxed, so laid back, without a care in the world. I walked down the steps to the beach, laid in the sand, and listened to the waves crashing against the shore. I splashed in the waves and had a very entertaining conversation with Tina, Thembie, Tendaii, and Annie as we all were soaking in the sun.
Eventually the time came for us to pack up, and head to the airport to fly home to Cape Town. I wish that day was longer, I wish the trip altogether was longer, as I had one of the most incredible experiences not just on the trip, but learning more about myself through the people I met along the way. If there is one word I could pick to describe it, it would be Ubuntu. A word well known here, a word I had first heard from my friend Tessa who is know with God. Ubuntu means, we are human by virtue of our interaction with other human beings. In other words, I am who I am, because of who we all are.
Eventually the time came for us to pack up, and head to the airport to fly home to Cape Town. I wish that day was longer, I wish the trip altogether was longer, as I had one of the most incredible experiences not just on the trip, but learning more about myself through the people I met along the way. If there is one word I could pick to describe it, it would be Ubuntu. A word well known here, a word I had first heard from my friend Tessa who is know with God. Ubuntu means, we are human by virtue of our interaction with other human beings. In other words, I am who I am, because of who we all are.
The Garden Route Day 4
Today we packed up and drove to the Tsitsikama Park to do a short mile long hike. It was a cloudy day today, providing just the right amount of nervousness for the ever-looming bungy jump to come. First things first, a hike through rocky hills looking down on the ocean and cliffs surrounding the area. It was a beautiful park with waterfalls, suspension bridges, and the view of the water down below. We all tried to eat lunch at the park before getting back into the car, venturing to the highest bridge bungy jump in the world; Bloukrans.
We got out of the car and walked over to the stone wall, that allows visitors to look at the bridge and watch people jump. The bridge seemed so far away and the drop seemed so long, but I knew I had to make the decision right then if I was going to jump or not. Why you may ask did I chose yes to such a crazy thing to do, well when else would I get the opportunity and be willing enough to do it?
We went into the café, which is angled so people can eat and watch the jumpers. The café also provided a large big screen TV so that everyone could see up-close the expressions on the jumper’s face, and watch them take the leap of faith. My nerves still hadn’t kicked in yet, although it was the same for skydiving as well, I was never nervous. It finally came time to be weighed, strapped into a harness, and ready to jump.
After everyone was strapped in came the treacherous walk to the jump. The walk included a very long, very high suspension bridge, overlooking what we were going to be diving towards. Most people started to panic over the bridge realizing fully what they were getting themselves into. Me on the other hand, I was one of those people hooting and hollering trying to help everyone get psyched up! My friend Thembie just kept repeating, why am I doing this, I mean really, why am I doing this? As I wasn’t fully sure of why I was jumping, I didn’t exactly have a good answer for him, but thankfully we could hear the music. We were getting close to the platform under the bridge that holds the jumpers, and the music became louder and louder as we continued getting closer.
We finally reached the platform and saw people dancing to the beat of the music, trying to get all of their nervous energy out. I told myself that if I looked down I wouldn’t be able to go through with it, so I continued to look out, at the sky and trees and the ocean that lay in front of me. As I supported my friends and fellow jumpers, I danced even crazier to the techno music that was blasting in my ears. They finally called my number and I sat on the bench as my ankles were strapped in. The cameraman took a few pictures, everyone on the platform started chanting my name and clapping, and I continued to look out. The two guys who strapped my in had me place my arms over their shoulders so they could carry mean to the very edge of the platform, toes hanging over. I kept looking out and decided that I wanted to be one of the jumpers who jumped willingly and didn’t have to be pushed. As I heard the workers yell “3-2-1 bungee!!!” my heart leapt into my throat as I bent my knees and did the best swan dive I knew how into….nothing. It was instinct or me to close my eyes, and it was soothing as it helped me focus on my form and not on what I was doing. Nothing can describe the feeling of falling, falling, falling, falling for so long that it feels like the rope will never catch. Falling with the feeling that literally nothing is holding onto you. Finally the rope caught and I gently bounced up, until finally I was just left bobbing in the air. For me, just hanging there was the scariest part as it felt like my feet were slowly slipping from the harness, even though the harness is designed so your feet will not slip. Everytime I opened my eyes this intense feeling of being completely and utterly not in control took over. So I prayed. I prayed to the only being that had control over me, which of course is God. It was more like a chant I repeated over and over and over again “God you are good, you are incredible, you are awesome, keep me safe”. I am not sure how many times I repeated that but I can tell you that when the man came down to get me, he heard me, and told me that He had kept me safe. The way that it works after you jump is a man gets harness into a seat, lowers himself to you, connects your harness to his and pulls you into a sitting position. Then the whole team of workers pulls up the rope to the beat of the song that is playing up top. It was my favorite part of the whole jump seeing how skillfully the whole team worked to pull each jumper up. It was the happiest moment to see this mans face, and as he knew I was panicking because we were still hanging in the air, he asked me if I had watched the superbowl. What a comfort it was to see a kind face looking at you, knowing that yes indeed you would be ok. I will never again bungy jump but I am glad I experienced it. Many of my friends would do it again in a heartbeat. I even had one friend who did do it again, but the second time she jumped backwards. Me on the other hand, decided that indeed one time was enough.
Afterwards we all bought pictures and the dvd of our jump, hopped into the cars, and headed to Jeffrey’s Bay. I expected more of an adrenaline rush from bungy jumping, similar to my skydiving rush, but instead, I was instantly tired. We arrived in J Bay at the most amazing hostile we’ve stayed at so far. The hostel was called Island Vibe, backpackers hotspot and surfer’s paradise. Even though it was pitch dark outside I could sense the awestriking beauty of the beach, and the large ocean waves crashing on the sand. We were shown around to the bar, the pool tables, the porches, and the stone houses that set the feeling for this entire place. This was a total surfer’s paradise, looking like it was straight out of a movie. You know how in movies they have people talking saying things such as “ya bro, totally caught a sick wave today” well I kid you not, I over heard two surfers engaging in this exact conversation, sitting by the fire outside their tents. After eating dinner, instead of socializing back at the bar as most of my friends did, I thanked God for another night, and went soundly to sleep.
Monday, February 20, 2012
God's Creation
I am determined to seek God. To seek God and see God in everyday circumstances turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. It is not enough to merely desire God to come to me, I must put my whole heart into seeking God, therefore increasing my original desire. Right now I am seeing God through people, not just conversations but just by looking at a persons face. From the dreadlocked man standing across from me smoking a cigarette and carrying a guitar, to the woman who created a sling to hold her child close to her body. All of these people quietly passing by, and yet, their face speaks of a creation. It is like being at an art museum, looking at all of the interesting, beautiful, and different pieces of art that Gods created, and wondering, what’s the story behind this piece of work?
Valentines Day
Valentines day was spent with my ladies here, and it was such a great night. Annie, Anna, Hannah, and I got dressed up and went to Café Cubana for the evening. The backdrop of this café is of course the lovely table mountain, this time with the sun setting and the fog rolling in, it set the mood for a beautiful night. We shared laughs over past valentines days, hopes for the future, and funny little quirks we’ve noticed since we’ve been here. After being full from my seafood platter of prawns, calamari, and fresh line fish, we caught a cab to coco wah, all ordering our own desserts….A table full of girls, baked cheesecake, giant chocolate cookies and a platter of chocolate flapjacks was a great way to cap of the amazing night. And best yet, Hannah made all of us valentines and bought us cake pops from the old biscuit mill, boy oh boy am I blessed.
Garden Route Day 3
The Garden Route Day 3
The day started out to a visit to a Rastafarian township. It was by far one of the oddest places I have ever been to. They call their children Rasta kiddies and the majority of the people in the community have dreadlocks. We listened to what the beliefs of a Rastafarian are, at first the man who was telling us about the community told us they believed in everything the bible said, although they don’t worship the father son and the holy spirit, they worship the father, son and the mother. They also basically worship marijuana and believe that it brings peace and helps to fight poverty. I feel like the beliefs could vary from community to community but this was definitely an experience I will remember. We were taken into a shack so we could listen to one of the local bands, who all had dreadlocks and played many Bob Marley cover songs.
Afterwards we ate lunch and headed to the elephant sanctuary, which was one of my favorite parts of the trip. We were shown where the indoor area was where the elephants sleep at night so poachers can’t get in. We were driven to this open field with rolling hills and elephants big and small wandering all around. I bought food to feed some of the elephants, and it came in a big plastic bowl with large amounts of vegetables. For the babies, we had to toss the food at their feet, but for the bigger elephants we stuck out our hand s and waited for their powerful trunks to find their way to the fresh fruits and veggies in our palms. After we fed them we got to walk with the elephants, petting their sandpapery skin and marveling in their big and wonderous beauty. It was a fantastic experience to see the elephants up close and I have decided for me…that elephants are the dolphins of the land, judging on how much I love them.
After the elephants, we went to a place called Monkey World! The name alone makes me feel like it would be a very touristy place, although when I arrived there weren’t many people, just a gated forest and wild monkeys running everywhere. There were baboons sitting by the outdoor café, howler monkeys screeching up a storm, little baby lemurs making their way to the feeding areas. At first it was a bit frightening to walk into this forest because monkeys would jump on branches right above us, some would come very close to us, and the funniest part of the whole experience was the suspension bridge. We had to hike across a very long suspension bridge to get to the other side of the forest. Many, including me were a bit shocked to see a howler sitting in the middle of the bridge, growling at us, baring it’s teeth, and swinging from the metal lines that were holding up the narrow suspension bridge. After just quietly scampering as fast as I could past the monkey, I sighed with a sense of relief and was very entertained watching others scream, panic, and sprint their ways past one monkey, enjoying his time on the bridge. It was quite the experience to say the least.
That evening we had a braii at the hostel and it was such a great night on the trip, cooking food, laughing and having a great time, although in the back of everyone’s minds was the upcoming bungy jump for the next day.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
The Garden Route Day 2
Our first stop of the day was to Kango Caves where we ventured in to see the stalagmites and stalactites coming from the ceiling and floor. We were told that this cave use to host concerts until the concertgoers started taking rocks or vandalizing the walls. We got to see what the cave looked like with no lights on and being in absolute darkness, especially in a cave, was a very interesting experience; I can’t even imagine what it would have been like for the first people who discovered the cave. There were a few bats and rock formations that were named after what they resembled, for instance there was a honeymoon suite formation with rocks that were shaped like a bed and a champagne bottle.
After the caves we headed to the ostrich farm where we were given a tour and taken to an arena where ostrich riding takes place. It was actually very sad to see the ostriches being hurt like they were from the ostrich riding, their feathers being pulled out and their bodies having to carry others in the 90-degree heat. I was not one of the volunteers to ride the ostriches but I got to hold a baby ostrich and stand on an ostrich egg, which held my full body weight. We headed from the ostrich farms to a beautiful sightseeing place atop a hill. The water was clear and crystal blue, and the sight was absolutely amazing, reminding me how creative God is. We were lucky enough to eat lunch overlooking the sea, watching sailboats pass by secluded beaches. We went to a hostile that night and I was lucky enough to be in a two person room as oppose to the 16 person room that most people were placed in. We had some great group bonding time that nights near the campfire as we made make shift s’mores out of biscuits, pink marshmallows, and some Carmelo chocolate.
After the caves we headed to the ostrich farm where we were given a tour and taken to an arena where ostrich riding takes place. It was actually very sad to see the ostriches being hurt like they were from the ostrich riding, their feathers being pulled out and their bodies having to carry others in the 90-degree heat. I was not one of the volunteers to ride the ostriches but I got to hold a baby ostrich and stand on an ostrich egg, which held my full body weight. We headed from the ostrich farms to a beautiful sightseeing place atop a hill. The water was clear and crystal blue, and the sight was absolutely amazing, reminding me how creative God is. We were lucky enough to eat lunch overlooking the sea, watching sailboats pass by secluded beaches. We went to a hostile that night and I was lucky enough to be in a two person room as oppose to the 16 person room that most people were placed in. We had some great group bonding time that nights near the campfire as we made make shift s’mores out of biscuits, pink marshmallows, and some Carmelo chocolate.
The Garden Route Day 1
A few of my friends and I decided to go on a trip around the Garden Route, meaning a trip around some of the hot spots along the coast of South Africa. We went through a program called Southern Ambition, which was a great decision. We hopped in a van and were off to go wine tasting in Stellenbosch. We were taught the right ways to first swirl the wine, guessing it’s age from the ‘legs’ on the inside of the glass, to smelling the wine, and then tasting it. Wine is still a taste that I am not used to, but it was easy to tell which wines were better then others. It was so interesting to be told how the wines were made, how old some of the wines were at Moyo, and what makes an older wine much better then a younger one.
After wine tasting, we went to a cheetah habitat located in the wine lands. It was amazing to be let into a cheetah’s habitat get down on one knee, and pet the soft beautiful cheetah, named Pedro. (Funny right?) Well Pedro was so tired from the sunny hot day that was upon us, that he just lazed around like a big dog, occasionally rolling over, which required us to jump aside so we were always near his back. It was a great day getting used to the other people traveling with us and I definitely chose the best car to go in! Thembie was our driver/helps run Southern Ambition/is a UCT student and we all bonded over the music he was DJ’ing in the car. We drove for a few hours, many people slept, but I was taking in all of the amazing scenery, mountains that rose so high scattered with rocks and boulders, and valleys that dipped deep down below us, sometimes holding rivers and trees. We also drove through farmlands and deserts until we finally reached Outdshoorn where Backpacker’s Paradise was located. We had a late dinner but it was so worth it as I got my first taste of ostrich, the leanest meat, and my new favorite food.
Long awaited update..Garden Route stories are coming soon I promise!
Heat beats down today as everyone finds comfort in the shade provided by the porch of our house. It’s the type of day that is so hot, it makes you tired and lazy, but for me, it’s a much-needed feeling of sleepiness. The days here go by so quickly because I have managed to keep myself busy since I’ve been here. After finishing up the first week of classes I realized that this isn’t vacation, and I am actually excited to get in a routine again, although I am also excited to see where God will intervene, and shake things up.
It has been an interesting journey since I have been here, a struggle, a period of growth, God is stretching me here and I am finally FINALLY starting to find my place here. It is days like these that remind me of what I am here for, for the little things, the beauty of a smile, the brightness of the sun God shines here, the comfort of a new friend, and a church that breathes authenticity, passion, and strong love for Christ.
Every day here is whatever I make of it, I’ve realized. So far every day has been an adventure, never knowing what person I am going to meet, what new places I’m going to explore, when God is going to speak to me or I to Him, what new foods I will be tasting, or new facts to be learned in the lecture halls. Everyday is an adventure. After classes ended on Thursday, my friend Anna and I decided to take a hike up to Rhodes Memorial, as neither of us had been there yet. We took the jammie to the north stop hopped off, and decided to find our own way. Climbing up hills scattered with trees, and the sun peacefully peeking through the branches, I knew this was going to be an adventure that God leads. Eventually Anna and I made it, and it was the most incredible view. The whole city was laid out right in front of us at this beautiful memorial, and seeing so may houses, the view of the ocean, the mountains, and the people who seemed so little, opened up a world of imagination and led to such a bonding conversation. Anna is the type of person who I feel entirely comfortable to talk to about anything, and although she is in a homestay and I don’t get to see her often, it is always a treasure to get to spend time with her. That night we took a cab to the Waterfront and found the place best known for their half off sushi, and it was definitely worth more then we paid for it because it was so delicious. We ended the night with gelato filled ice-cream cones and laughter that filled our bellies to the brim.
Friday after the end of classes I took the train to the beach with my friends Anna and Annie. We stopped by Anna’s house and it almost made me sad that I didn’t choose to do a home stay, although I am so thankful to have been introduced to an amazing family, I was reminded of the importance of family and how connecting with a family here would be highly beneficial to me. We hopped back on the train and went to Muizenburg beach, napping in the sun and skipping through the waves. Right before we were leaving the shark siren went off, and the shark flag was changed from red (meaning high risk for sharks) to white (meaning a shark has been seen by one of the shark spotters located up the mountain). It was interesting to see all of the surfers mozy their ways to shore, not entirely concerned with the fact that a shark was in the water but hey…T.I.A (This is Africa). After the beach we all got cleaned up, and walked over to my friend Sarah’s house who was hosting us for a tea party, which was quite lovely with finger foods laid out for all of us we had a good time.
Saturday everyone in our house woke up early in order to have our first CAP (Community action plan) where we journeyed to Bo-Kaap. Bo-Kaap is known for their colorfully painted houses and the people who lived in the area. We did a walking tour of the town and then were broken up into small groups and invited into the homes of some of the people who lived in the area. We all then got to participate in cooking some Malay food which was absolutely delicious. We made samosas, and bread that looked like pita bread. We also learned how to make these little balls of curry by putting a bunch of ingredients and spices into a blender and then putting them in a pot to be fried with vegetable oil. It was an amazing time to talk with the woman who was hosting us, and I got to learn about what a little bit of her life is like as a muslim, a woman, and an amazing cook. She made us all dessert and invited us to the towns craft market that is coming up in just a few weeks.
After getting back home I spent the day lounging around and deciding I needed to talk to all of you great folks from home. It had been a long day and I was in a very strange mood, so I walked to Coco Wah Wah, to have a smoothie and a night alone. Coco Wah Wah is one of my favorite places not only because their iced crushes and desserts are my favorite, but the people who work there are always friendly and comforting to see. Some of the people working there have gotten to know my name and I was delighted to see that Comfort, a man who lives up to his name, was working that night. He offered to buy me a meal of pasta, because it was half of pasta that night, but I was so full from lunch that I politely declined and instead we talked for a bit and I got to get online ☺ Sorry everyone for not e-mailing or replying to e-mails, or having to sign off quickly, it’s just the way things are here, and really only Americans are on their computers here more than anyone else. I was happy to see as I looked up my friend Thembie who sat with me for dinner. He noticed I was my happy bubbly self, as I was taking in all that I have experienced here so far, it was so nice of him to notice, he even bought me my favorite smoothie and we sat and talked for a while. It wasn’t a very long conversation, but it was the kind of conversation that was filling for my heart and soul. It was lovely, and because it was late he walked me back to my house, where I spent the rest of the night playing cards with my housemates. Unexpected friends here is probably the greatest gift I have found so far, and I am oh so thankful for deep conversations, laughter, good food, and knowing that everything is going to be ok.
Today I decided to try out a new church, that had been recommended by my friend Whitney. It is a church called His People, and my friend Erin and took the short walk over to see what it was all about. It was such a huge blessing to be welcomed into this family of God and before I left the woman next to me, and I prayed together, and I immediately went to sign up for a connect group. Now I am already part of a small group through a church I’ve been going to here called church on main, and we had small group yesterday for two hours. It was lovely and wonderful and I am so blessed with all of the girls as we are all on different walks with God, walking at different paces, I am learning so much from them. I love the small group, but at Church on Main I didn’t get the shivers of my spine, pure joy kind of feeling like I felt at His People. I am not sure where God is leading me, but I think His People is a place God has brought me to…Currently I am content and sitting on our porch, enjoying the occasional breeze, and the smell of fresh food in the kitchen as people prepare for our Harry Potter themed braii we are having tonight, and of course, I am going to be Ron Weasley, refusing to accept the Hufflepuff status that people place on me..haha…Laura I hope you read this….anyways internet should be better by Friday, so I will have more regular blog updates and e-mails I promise! I love you all so so much!
It has been an interesting journey since I have been here, a struggle, a period of growth, God is stretching me here and I am finally FINALLY starting to find my place here. It is days like these that remind me of what I am here for, for the little things, the beauty of a smile, the brightness of the sun God shines here, the comfort of a new friend, and a church that breathes authenticity, passion, and strong love for Christ.
Every day here is whatever I make of it, I’ve realized. So far every day has been an adventure, never knowing what person I am going to meet, what new places I’m going to explore, when God is going to speak to me or I to Him, what new foods I will be tasting, or new facts to be learned in the lecture halls. Everyday is an adventure. After classes ended on Thursday, my friend Anna and I decided to take a hike up to Rhodes Memorial, as neither of us had been there yet. We took the jammie to the north stop hopped off, and decided to find our own way. Climbing up hills scattered with trees, and the sun peacefully peeking through the branches, I knew this was going to be an adventure that God leads. Eventually Anna and I made it, and it was the most incredible view. The whole city was laid out right in front of us at this beautiful memorial, and seeing so may houses, the view of the ocean, the mountains, and the people who seemed so little, opened up a world of imagination and led to such a bonding conversation. Anna is the type of person who I feel entirely comfortable to talk to about anything, and although she is in a homestay and I don’t get to see her often, it is always a treasure to get to spend time with her. That night we took a cab to the Waterfront and found the place best known for their half off sushi, and it was definitely worth more then we paid for it because it was so delicious. We ended the night with gelato filled ice-cream cones and laughter that filled our bellies to the brim.
Friday after the end of classes I took the train to the beach with my friends Anna and Annie. We stopped by Anna’s house and it almost made me sad that I didn’t choose to do a home stay, although I am so thankful to have been introduced to an amazing family, I was reminded of the importance of family and how connecting with a family here would be highly beneficial to me. We hopped back on the train and went to Muizenburg beach, napping in the sun and skipping through the waves. Right before we were leaving the shark siren went off, and the shark flag was changed from red (meaning high risk for sharks) to white (meaning a shark has been seen by one of the shark spotters located up the mountain). It was interesting to see all of the surfers mozy their ways to shore, not entirely concerned with the fact that a shark was in the water but hey…T.I.A (This is Africa). After the beach we all got cleaned up, and walked over to my friend Sarah’s house who was hosting us for a tea party, which was quite lovely with finger foods laid out for all of us we had a good time.
Saturday everyone in our house woke up early in order to have our first CAP (Community action plan) where we journeyed to Bo-Kaap. Bo-Kaap is known for their colorfully painted houses and the people who lived in the area. We did a walking tour of the town and then were broken up into small groups and invited into the homes of some of the people who lived in the area. We all then got to participate in cooking some Malay food which was absolutely delicious. We made samosas, and bread that looked like pita bread. We also learned how to make these little balls of curry by putting a bunch of ingredients and spices into a blender and then putting them in a pot to be fried with vegetable oil. It was an amazing time to talk with the woman who was hosting us, and I got to learn about what a little bit of her life is like as a muslim, a woman, and an amazing cook. She made us all dessert and invited us to the towns craft market that is coming up in just a few weeks.
After getting back home I spent the day lounging around and deciding I needed to talk to all of you great folks from home. It had been a long day and I was in a very strange mood, so I walked to Coco Wah Wah, to have a smoothie and a night alone. Coco Wah Wah is one of my favorite places not only because their iced crushes and desserts are my favorite, but the people who work there are always friendly and comforting to see. Some of the people working there have gotten to know my name and I was delighted to see that Comfort, a man who lives up to his name, was working that night. He offered to buy me a meal of pasta, because it was half of pasta that night, but I was so full from lunch that I politely declined and instead we talked for a bit and I got to get online ☺ Sorry everyone for not e-mailing or replying to e-mails, or having to sign off quickly, it’s just the way things are here, and really only Americans are on their computers here more than anyone else. I was happy to see as I looked up my friend Thembie who sat with me for dinner. He noticed I was my happy bubbly self, as I was taking in all that I have experienced here so far, it was so nice of him to notice, he even bought me my favorite smoothie and we sat and talked for a while. It wasn’t a very long conversation, but it was the kind of conversation that was filling for my heart and soul. It was lovely, and because it was late he walked me back to my house, where I spent the rest of the night playing cards with my housemates. Unexpected friends here is probably the greatest gift I have found so far, and I am oh so thankful for deep conversations, laughter, good food, and knowing that everything is going to be ok.
Today I decided to try out a new church, that had been recommended by my friend Whitney. It is a church called His People, and my friend Erin and took the short walk over to see what it was all about. It was such a huge blessing to be welcomed into this family of God and before I left the woman next to me, and I prayed together, and I immediately went to sign up for a connect group. Now I am already part of a small group through a church I’ve been going to here called church on main, and we had small group yesterday for two hours. It was lovely and wonderful and I am so blessed with all of the girls as we are all on different walks with God, walking at different paces, I am learning so much from them. I love the small group, but at Church on Main I didn’t get the shivers of my spine, pure joy kind of feeling like I felt at His People. I am not sure where God is leading me, but I think His People is a place God has brought me to…Currently I am content and sitting on our porch, enjoying the occasional breeze, and the smell of fresh food in the kitchen as people prepare for our Harry Potter themed braii we are having tonight, and of course, I am going to be Ron Weasley, refusing to accept the Hufflepuff status that people place on me..haha…Laura I hope you read this….anyways internet should be better by Friday, so I will have more regular blog updates and e-mails I promise! I love you all so so much!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Hey everyone!
Sorry it has been so long since I have written! It has been quite busy down here at the moment, and paying for internet everytime I get online makes me so much less likely to use the internet, so I promise longer posts will be coming soon. I still need to fill you all in on my Garden Route trip! Currently I am sitting on campus with some down time before my Sociology lecture begins. It has been a hectic week with classes beginning, but to start, I love it here. The feeling of seeing a new person absolutely every where I turn is so exciting, also knowing that new friends await in my lectures or tuts. The classes I am taking are Religion,Sexuality, and Gender; Introduction to Sociology; African Instruments; The New Millenium in Historical Perspective; and the CIEE Seminar on Living and Learning in Cape Town.
Walking up to campus every day has been my replacement for going to gym. Let me tell you, I always get to class sweating and out of breath...but ready to learn! Lectures were hard to get used to at first as I had to train my mind not to wander off during the lectures. So far all of my classes are so interesting, and I also managed to sit in on some extra courses as well! (Because I thought I was in my class..turns out I was mistaken :)). I feel like I am watching a fashion show, sitting on Jammie steps I realize how elite this school actually is. It is the best school in the country let alone the continent, and if you are not wealthy or didn't attend a private school it is extremely difficult to come here. One of my friends, Alex, who I met in bible study, was telling me that UCT is not a representation of South Africa at all, but merely a representation of the small percentage of people here who are extremely wealthy.
Anyways, I have much more to tell you all but I've got to get going to sociology! Love you all, and for all of you who have been e-mailing me, even though I don't get back on time, I truly truly appreciate it...Thank you so so much.
Love Mia
Sorry it has been so long since I have written! It has been quite busy down here at the moment, and paying for internet everytime I get online makes me so much less likely to use the internet, so I promise longer posts will be coming soon. I still need to fill you all in on my Garden Route trip! Currently I am sitting on campus with some down time before my Sociology lecture begins. It has been a hectic week with classes beginning, but to start, I love it here. The feeling of seeing a new person absolutely every where I turn is so exciting, also knowing that new friends await in my lectures or tuts. The classes I am taking are Religion,Sexuality, and Gender; Introduction to Sociology; African Instruments; The New Millenium in Historical Perspective; and the CIEE Seminar on Living and Learning in Cape Town.
Walking up to campus every day has been my replacement for going to gym. Let me tell you, I always get to class sweating and out of breath...but ready to learn! Lectures were hard to get used to at first as I had to train my mind not to wander off during the lectures. So far all of my classes are so interesting, and I also managed to sit in on some extra courses as well! (Because I thought I was in my class..turns out I was mistaken :)). I feel like I am watching a fashion show, sitting on Jammie steps I realize how elite this school actually is. It is the best school in the country let alone the continent, and if you are not wealthy or didn't attend a private school it is extremely difficult to come here. One of my friends, Alex, who I met in bible study, was telling me that UCT is not a representation of South Africa at all, but merely a representation of the small percentage of people here who are extremely wealthy.
Anyways, I have much more to tell you all but I've got to get going to sociology! Love you all, and for all of you who have been e-mailing me, even though I don't get back on time, I truly truly appreciate it...Thank you so so much.
Love Mia
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Today God has slowly been opening my sleepy eyes to the world He has laid for us. Rather than just being a church that studies Jesus, he has given me the greater vision of truly BEING a church. We are the bride of Christ, how beautiful and sweet it is to know that God wants us as his bride. And as his bride, we are called to the poor especially,we are called to not just give to charities for the poor,or to toss in a few coins into a cup, but we are called to live like the poor, not holding on to the riches of this world, rather, grasping for the greatest riches of all, those of his kingdom. How blessed are we to be the bride of Christ, it's time to start living like it. Live in purity, live in peace, live with passion for all of God's children and the world he created.
Beach and Blessings :)
This past Saturday, the week of adventures had finally begun. There is a very well known market near the city, known as The Old Biscuit Mill. It is on our list of top 100 things to do while in Cape Town, which was given to us at the start of the semester. The mill only runs on Saturday mornings from 8 to 11, but some of the shops around the mill remain open a bit later. My RA Jesse, was nice enough to take Hannah and I as well as our friend Lindsey to the market. It was going to be a house even, but many of my housemates stayed out too late and didn’t want to wake up so early, understandable enough as we left at 8:30. We got in a mini bus and took only about a 10-minute drive, getting out near a big shoe mart. Jesse said he likes to get dropped off a bit early as he enjoys taking a stroll outdoors to get to the market. I am glad we did opt to walk a bit there because the sun was glorious, with just a touch of a breeze, we walked a few blocks, rounded a corner, and I saw on the big brown building the sign for the Old Biscuit Mill.
Excitement started to build as I had been told for weeks how great the food is there, and seeing all of the people milling around I knew it had to be good. All of the food is organic, and there are booths to buy food, sample some, or just stare while drooling at the cupcakes oozing chocolate, or the salmon and cream cheese bagels that have now become one of my favorite treats. It took me about 20 minutes to walk around the entirety of the food market, and there were stairs leading downwards towards the chocolate factory reminding me so much of a chocolate store in my town called Chocolat where they have the best hot chocolate my lips have ever tasted. After picking a pig belly sandwich (sounds gross, but was quite delicious) I searched for my friends in the crowd and we sat down and enjoyed our feasts.
Then we left the market and made our way to the clothing booths surrounding the food section, all with clothes made by the sellers themselves. Some were so interesting and different, but most were very highly priced, although we did have a good find with a woman who had a sale, where I picked out a skirt that wouldn’t be blown up by the daily wind. Then we walked around the stores near by, there was a camera store making me wish I had brought the absolutely beautiful camera my sister Monica bought me. Monica they had the camera you bought me at this store I was so excited! I just had to tell you, and p.s the time spent with you before I left are definitely some of my favorite memories of all time. After browsing through bead stores, clothing stores, camera stores and such, we left the market and walked a block into a really neat antique store. The clothes were so unique, and I ended up buying a flowered romper to wear outside, it’s beautiful, with buttons up the front and cross ties in the back, I was happy with my purchase.
That evening, I waited to meet up with Lisa, a friend of a friend who had studied here previously. She picked me up at my house along with my friend Lindsey, and drove us to lower campus, where there were groups of people from the Church on Main getting ready to go to the beach and watch the sun go down. I met a few people while we were waiting to leave, and it was so difficult to tell which people were students and which just attended church, every just looks so young here. I piled into Lisa’s car with four other girls and we drove to Clifton Beach. The sun was so vivid it was unreal as boats sailed across the ocean, people splashed in the water and danced on the beach. I got to have some lovely conversations with people, all of whom recognized I am not from South Africa, therefore leading to me answering some of their dire questions. One was from a guy who wanted me to explain exactly what a corn dog is. This same guy proceeded to ask me if I could point to Iraq on a map, which I could, and he laughed and explained why he had asked. Apparently there is a you tube video of Americans not being able to point to Iraq on a map. Someone had baked biscuits (cookies) and also an oreo cheesecake in little cupcake shapes, Jessica Hulteen, you would have been in oreo heaven because these were delicious. It was the most incredible thing to look at the sky and see the sun still burning bright, but also to see the moon slowly starting to make its ascent at the same time. We stayed until the moon and stars were all out and aglow. The moon here is so bright, it definitely manages to light up all of the surroundings. There was a fire blower on the beach who entertained us all for a while, but it began to get late, so we all piled back into Lisa’s car and made our way back to our houses.
Excitement started to build as I had been told for weeks how great the food is there, and seeing all of the people milling around I knew it had to be good. All of the food is organic, and there are booths to buy food, sample some, or just stare while drooling at the cupcakes oozing chocolate, or the salmon and cream cheese bagels that have now become one of my favorite treats. It took me about 20 minutes to walk around the entirety of the food market, and there were stairs leading downwards towards the chocolate factory reminding me so much of a chocolate store in my town called Chocolat where they have the best hot chocolate my lips have ever tasted. After picking a pig belly sandwich (sounds gross, but was quite delicious) I searched for my friends in the crowd and we sat down and enjoyed our feasts.
Then we left the market and made our way to the clothing booths surrounding the food section, all with clothes made by the sellers themselves. Some were so interesting and different, but most were very highly priced, although we did have a good find with a woman who had a sale, where I picked out a skirt that wouldn’t be blown up by the daily wind. Then we walked around the stores near by, there was a camera store making me wish I had brought the absolutely beautiful camera my sister Monica bought me. Monica they had the camera you bought me at this store I was so excited! I just had to tell you, and p.s the time spent with you before I left are definitely some of my favorite memories of all time. After browsing through bead stores, clothing stores, camera stores and such, we left the market and walked a block into a really neat antique store. The clothes were so unique, and I ended up buying a flowered romper to wear outside, it’s beautiful, with buttons up the front and cross ties in the back, I was happy with my purchase.
That evening, I waited to meet up with Lisa, a friend of a friend who had studied here previously. She picked me up at my house along with my friend Lindsey, and drove us to lower campus, where there were groups of people from the Church on Main getting ready to go to the beach and watch the sun go down. I met a few people while we were waiting to leave, and it was so difficult to tell which people were students and which just attended church, every just looks so young here. I piled into Lisa’s car with four other girls and we drove to Clifton Beach. The sun was so vivid it was unreal as boats sailed across the ocean, people splashed in the water and danced on the beach. I got to have some lovely conversations with people, all of whom recognized I am not from South Africa, therefore leading to me answering some of their dire questions. One was from a guy who wanted me to explain exactly what a corn dog is. This same guy proceeded to ask me if I could point to Iraq on a map, which I could, and he laughed and explained why he had asked. Apparently there is a you tube video of Americans not being able to point to Iraq on a map. Someone had baked biscuits (cookies) and also an oreo cheesecake in little cupcake shapes, Jessica Hulteen, you would have been in oreo heaven because these were delicious. It was the most incredible thing to look at the sky and see the sun still burning bright, but also to see the moon slowly starting to make its ascent at the same time. We stayed until the moon and stars were all out and aglow. The moon here is so bright, it definitely manages to light up all of the surroundings. There was a fire blower on the beach who entertained us all for a while, but it began to get late, so we all piled back into Lisa’s car and made our way back to our houses.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Faith
Here is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Sometimes I struggle with pride, but this needs to be told. Since I have been here, with the busyness of traveling, the chaos of South Africa in general, and my lack of talking to God, I had slowly begun to drift away, struggling to see what His true purpose for me here was. Satan has been pulling at me hard, but tonight I fought back. I felt Jesus' presence all around me as I journeyed with my wonderful new friend Lisa, to campus. Lisa has connected me with a church called Church on Main, with a very diverse group of people and the most free worship I have ever seen.
I felt the pull of God as I got closer to Jammie Hall, and I also felt my nerves going a bit haywire at the courage I knew i would have to muster up to introduce myself to all of the people that I have never met before, which was just about everyone at the worship.
After awkwardly making my way into different conversations, we walked into Jammie Hall. Everyone was spread out, the band began playing and although my heart was not as connected with God as it normally is I felt the pull, slowly starting to come back, the reminder of what faith means pounded once again in my head, and life began pumping through my veins again. I was told that the type of worship here is free worship and I finally got to see what that meant. People kneeling on the floor face down, tears being shed for the glory of God's kingdom, feet moving and people jumping up and down dancing like crazy. Others praying out loud constantly, singing to their own tune, languages from all over being spoken together, as we, children of God were united as a family. I only knew a few of the songs but one of the final songs that we sang was Your Love Never Fails, a true reminder that my God is the same through time, and no matter where I go, my God is the same, my God is faithful.
Hebrews 11:1
Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
My life ambition: find out what pleases The Lord, and embody it.
P.s-Garden Route stories to come
love to you all my dear brothers and sisters in Christ
-Mia
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Old Biscuit Mill
Bounce, bump, bounce.
The blue balloon rides the winds to The Old Biscuit Mill. Crowds of people swarming the tables of fresh food. Succulent meat that would make any vegetarian nauseous, and the smell of freshly made chocolate wafting up to the floors above. Brightly colored fruits, blue berries and blackberries galore. Stones lined the floor, holding the massive amount of shoes that trampled the ground, taking up lives of their own, marching the owner to buy one item to the next. Bright red tomatoes fresh from the picking topped with play-doh like mozzarella sliced so intricately, decorated with the vibrant green leaves of basil. Pomegranate and lemon mint smoothies awaken my taste buds to life; cool, refreshing, delightful. Stores and shops lining the food market. Photographs capturing the essence of beauty and wonder, history and hardships, the essence of South Africa. Antique shops keeping the old new, selling one objects story in order to create another. Musicians lining the streets setting the atmosphere of the day. My heart bounced, and just as the blue ballon, I floated, through shops and markets, crowds of people tasting in the splendor that is, The Old Biscuit Mill.
The blue balloon rides the winds to The Old Biscuit Mill. Crowds of people swarming the tables of fresh food. Succulent meat that would make any vegetarian nauseous, and the smell of freshly made chocolate wafting up to the floors above. Brightly colored fruits, blue berries and blackberries galore. Stones lined the floor, holding the massive amount of shoes that trampled the ground, taking up lives of their own, marching the owner to buy one item to the next. Bright red tomatoes fresh from the picking topped with play-doh like mozzarella sliced so intricately, decorated with the vibrant green leaves of basil. Pomegranate and lemon mint smoothies awaken my taste buds to life; cool, refreshing, delightful. Stores and shops lining the food market. Photographs capturing the essence of beauty and wonder, history and hardships, the essence of South Africa. Antique shops keeping the old new, selling one objects story in order to create another. Musicians lining the streets setting the atmosphere of the day. My heart bounced, and just as the blue ballon, I floated, through shops and markets, crowds of people tasting in the splendor that is, The Old Biscuit Mill.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Being filled with blessings
Tonight was just one of those nights where Jesus takes your hand, picks you up, and like a child you immediately follow. My Jesus has shown me bits and pieces of the path I am to be set on, and has given me confirmation little by little that yes, this is where I was sent to go. Jesus tonight carried me to the path of love, and friendship, fellowship, and music, dancing, and hope, fullness of life.
These past few days have been busy to say the least. Two days ago I used the train system here for the first time, and rode it to Fishoek Beach. Most people go to Muizenburg, but my friend Anna, said this beach was highly recommended by her home stay family, and for good reason. It wasn’t crowded at all except for a few people playing soccer, swimming, or lounging on the beach. The black flag was out, meaning the waters aren’t clear enough to judge if there were sharks or not, so I just dipped my toes in the cold salty ocean, becoming euphoric almost, finally realizing, South Africa is my home for the next 6 months. I doused myself in sunscreen and yet still managed to get sun poisoning, with welts all over my body, and a need to itch, almost as if I had the chicken pox. Needless to say, I did not go out with my friends to celebrate Anna’s birthday, although I healed quite nicely from a full night of sleep. It was also our RA Jesse’s birthday so we baked him a cake and waited for him to return from his futbol match. Upon his arrival we sang to him, chatted with his girlfriend Sharon who is such a sweetheart, and then I headed to bed. I have been quite proud of myself lately with my cooking and baking skills improving, as my money has gone quite quickly from eating at restaurants frequently. Today I made a smoked salmon sandwich with cream cheese on a roll, yesterday I made caprese salad with grilled chicken, and today peanut butter and apricot sandwich.
Aside from those random facts I wanted to fill you in on, I will talk about my real excitement, which is that of the works of Jesus and the people God has created.
Something that we were told not to do here was to reach in our purses for money, if we want to give someone money we must already be carrying coins in our hands. On the train I was struck by the quietness of the South Africans, compared to the noisiness of Americans, but the whole train car grew quiet at the sound of two voices. A woman carrying a blue cup in front of her was walking forward and people cleared a path for her….This woman’s eyes were set straight ahead, making contact with no one in particular. Behind her, she was holding the hand of a taller woman who appeared to be blind, leading her through the various train carts and batches of people. It was not only the voices of these two women that struck me as stunningly beautiful, stopping any conversation in their tracks, but it was the words of their song, being repeated over and over until eventually they became like a broken record, but the kind you want to keep broken, so the beautiful music is constantly on repeat. They were singing “Jesus, sweet Jesus, you shine brighter, and brighter, than any star, Jesus, sweet Jesus”. Sung in perfect harmony, the song is something that I hope will permanently be ingrained in my memory, as a constant reminder that no matter where I am, in what situation, Jesus is always there, shining brighter than any darkness. The people on the train all dropped coins into this woman’s jar. All that could be heard other then their song was the clicking of coins dropping into the jar at the name of Jesus. These voices of these women were such a sweet aroma, sweet sound, sweet gift to Jesus, he must have been smiling, dancing, clapping his hands in heaven.
I have been gradually meeting more South Africans throughout my journey here thus far. I met two people today who run a tour of the Garden Route which I will be taking this next week, one’s name is Moses and I can’t recall the other’s but I am looking forward to the five day trip coming up. And lastly my favorite experience of this trip so far was going to the Alma Café. Recommended by my friend Whitney, who studied here last semester, I had to see for myself. It was a gem of a place to say the least. The tiny room found in the middle of a street, full of eclectic collections ranging from knitted socks and hats hanging from a string, tin cans everywhere, a small stage at the front of the restaurant, machines for drinks, and tables which were all pushed together. I journeyed there with my friend Hannah and my new friend Lindsey, who I am sure, God brought to me. One of my favorite parts of this restaurant were the tables that were all conjoined, forcing every one to sit next to each other. This place started to become very crowded as people were pouring in to hear the live music that is free for students on Wednesday nights. I grew a bit nostalgic as this wonderful environment reminded me so much of my favorite coffee shop at home, Lemonjellos.
A group of older couples sat next to me on my left, and on my right, were two young men, Stefano and Daniel. Most of the people surrounding us noticed that we were not South Africans and thus began the adventure of meeting and conversing with new people forming bonds that may or may not last. All that I know is I will never forget last night. We got to know Stefano and Daniel and by the end of the night we were all laughing and swaying to the music. The lights were dimmed and all that we had were the sparkling Christmas lights and the voices of the musicians and instruments pumping through our veins. Hearing a band sing so sweetly about Jesus made my heart race into a euphoric beat pumping along with the music. Time went by quickly, and then slowly, as I immersed myself in the music, and the best chicken wrap I have ever tasted. Stefano and Daniel, who are students at UCT offered to give us a lift back to our house, and it was a much safer offer then walking around at night, or paying for a cab. Lindsey came back to our house and we chatted for a long time about God and the dreams he has put in our hearts, the journeys he has taken us on thus far, and what lays ahead of us. It was a fantastic night and left me lying in bed smiling at the memories that were just created, so thankful that my sweet Jesus brought me to this place, still so mysterious to me.
These past few days have been busy to say the least. Two days ago I used the train system here for the first time, and rode it to Fishoek Beach. Most people go to Muizenburg, but my friend Anna, said this beach was highly recommended by her home stay family, and for good reason. It wasn’t crowded at all except for a few people playing soccer, swimming, or lounging on the beach. The black flag was out, meaning the waters aren’t clear enough to judge if there were sharks or not, so I just dipped my toes in the cold salty ocean, becoming euphoric almost, finally realizing, South Africa is my home for the next 6 months. I doused myself in sunscreen and yet still managed to get sun poisoning, with welts all over my body, and a need to itch, almost as if I had the chicken pox. Needless to say, I did not go out with my friends to celebrate Anna’s birthday, although I healed quite nicely from a full night of sleep. It was also our RA Jesse’s birthday so we baked him a cake and waited for him to return from his futbol match. Upon his arrival we sang to him, chatted with his girlfriend Sharon who is such a sweetheart, and then I headed to bed. I have been quite proud of myself lately with my cooking and baking skills improving, as my money has gone quite quickly from eating at restaurants frequently. Today I made a smoked salmon sandwich with cream cheese on a roll, yesterday I made caprese salad with grilled chicken, and today peanut butter and apricot sandwich.
Aside from those random facts I wanted to fill you in on, I will talk about my real excitement, which is that of the works of Jesus and the people God has created.
Something that we were told not to do here was to reach in our purses for money, if we want to give someone money we must already be carrying coins in our hands. On the train I was struck by the quietness of the South Africans, compared to the noisiness of Americans, but the whole train car grew quiet at the sound of two voices. A woman carrying a blue cup in front of her was walking forward and people cleared a path for her….This woman’s eyes were set straight ahead, making contact with no one in particular. Behind her, she was holding the hand of a taller woman who appeared to be blind, leading her through the various train carts and batches of people. It was not only the voices of these two women that struck me as stunningly beautiful, stopping any conversation in their tracks, but it was the words of their song, being repeated over and over until eventually they became like a broken record, but the kind you want to keep broken, so the beautiful music is constantly on repeat. They were singing “Jesus, sweet Jesus, you shine brighter, and brighter, than any star, Jesus, sweet Jesus”. Sung in perfect harmony, the song is something that I hope will permanently be ingrained in my memory, as a constant reminder that no matter where I am, in what situation, Jesus is always there, shining brighter than any darkness. The people on the train all dropped coins into this woman’s jar. All that could be heard other then their song was the clicking of coins dropping into the jar at the name of Jesus. These voices of these women were such a sweet aroma, sweet sound, sweet gift to Jesus, he must have been smiling, dancing, clapping his hands in heaven.
I have been gradually meeting more South Africans throughout my journey here thus far. I met two people today who run a tour of the Garden Route which I will be taking this next week, one’s name is Moses and I can’t recall the other’s but I am looking forward to the five day trip coming up. And lastly my favorite experience of this trip so far was going to the Alma Café. Recommended by my friend Whitney, who studied here last semester, I had to see for myself. It was a gem of a place to say the least. The tiny room found in the middle of a street, full of eclectic collections ranging from knitted socks and hats hanging from a string, tin cans everywhere, a small stage at the front of the restaurant, machines for drinks, and tables which were all pushed together. I journeyed there with my friend Hannah and my new friend Lindsey, who I am sure, God brought to me. One of my favorite parts of this restaurant were the tables that were all conjoined, forcing every one to sit next to each other. This place started to become very crowded as people were pouring in to hear the live music that is free for students on Wednesday nights. I grew a bit nostalgic as this wonderful environment reminded me so much of my favorite coffee shop at home, Lemonjellos.
A group of older couples sat next to me on my left, and on my right, were two young men, Stefano and Daniel. Most of the people surrounding us noticed that we were not South Africans and thus began the adventure of meeting and conversing with new people forming bonds that may or may not last. All that I know is I will never forget last night. We got to know Stefano and Daniel and by the end of the night we were all laughing and swaying to the music. The lights were dimmed and all that we had were the sparkling Christmas lights and the voices of the musicians and instruments pumping through our veins. Hearing a band sing so sweetly about Jesus made my heart race into a euphoric beat pumping along with the music. Time went by quickly, and then slowly, as I immersed myself in the music, and the best chicken wrap I have ever tasted. Stefano and Daniel, who are students at UCT offered to give us a lift back to our house, and it was a much safer offer then walking around at night, or paying for a cab. Lindsey came back to our house and we chatted for a long time about God and the dreams he has put in our hearts, the journeys he has taken us on thus far, and what lays ahead of us. It was a fantastic night and left me lying in bed smiling at the memories that were just created, so thankful that my sweet Jesus brought me to this place, still so mysterious to me.
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