It's a Dam Day!
 No, I'm not cussing. That's exactly the type of day we had, a day at the local dam. As a ministry, we took Thursday away from our usual, piled into a few cars, and headed to the "beach" for a little sun, food, and a special time of worship and baptism. The morning started out with clouds, but within the hour the sun was blazing hot, although I still had few goose-bumps from the wind. It was a great way to just relax and reflect back on everything that God had done throughout the year. One of the interns wanted to express everything that God had done in her and chose to be baptized. What a wonderful way to finish off the year! Some of the staff are beginning to head back to the States for early furlough and so this was our last time all together. It was fun to be around everyone, but sad that I won't be able to participate in things like this with them in the future. It's been a great year! Labels: Friendship, Fun, Spiritual
Dressing Up
 Halloween! Kelly and I love to host parties and Halloween is a fun one. Fake spider webs, candle lit pathways, twinkle lights, camp fires, and fun sounding food like devil's eyes (deviled eggs) and mashed bootatoes are a few of our many decorations. This year we even had tables with center pieces. We kinda like to go all out. It is really only an American/Canadian holiday, but since we're mostly Americans, we celebrate it every year! Some of the coaches heard that we were celebrating it and they couldn't wait to see pictures. They said they have always wanted to be a part of a Halloween party because they see it on television, but have never really known what it is like. I'm sure pictures won't really help explain it either, but it's still fun to share a little of our weird cultural "holidays". When you try to explain it, many people look at you strangely because the word costume here, is a swimsuit. So trying to explain how you are supposed to dress-up like someone else without using the word "costume" is very difficult! We had many eras of people show up last week. Adam and Eve, Fred and Wilma, a Persian Princess, a spy, a hippie, Pippy Long-Stocking, and even a Piston player. Over all it was a good evening filled with laughter and food! Labels: Friendship, Fun
How Old Is Too Old?
What does expired really mean? In reality, it just means that it isn't at the preferred consistency for eating. But preferred to who? Many Basotho drink soured milk and they enjoy it. So expired to me is actually the preferred time. I've come to terms with expired items after living in South Africa. Many times items on the shelves at the grocery store will be expired. I used to care, but not so much any more. Just this morning I ate a Kellogg's Pop-tart that "expired" in January 2008, over a year and a half ago.
It tasted just fine, which is kinda scary. Oh well, when you want an American treat, you eat it, even if it expired years before.Labels: Fun, Happiness, Life
American Goodies!
My car is fixed and so Aimee and I took it out to celebrate. We drove a little over an hour to another small town nearby and spent our day relaxing. Why would we drive an hour to another small town you ask? Well take a look:
 Yes, we drove an hour for goodies. But luckily we were able to make a full day out of it by eating at and Irish Pub and Grill and watching a movie. It was a day well spent and tonight we finish it off with a game night with some of the staff here. Gotta love those kinds of days!Labels: Friendship, Fun, Life
A Little Taste of Home
Even though it was 9:30 at night I still stopped by and ordered and BigMac. I couldn't help it. It just tastes so good. And then I even set my alarm so that I would be up in time to eat a Sausage Egg McMuffin. Sad, but true. My stomach ran my schedule for the day. It's not every day that I have the opportunity to eat at McDonalds and so when I'm in Johannesburg, I try and stop in to say hi to Ronald. The food and atmosphere are the same, bright yellow and red decor, screaming kids in the play area, and of course the identical smell of greasy fries. (Which they still call fries, even though everywhere else in South Africa they are called chips). It is as I'm just transported back to America for a little bit. Maybe that's why I crave it so much!Labels: Fun, Happiness, Life
Paintball Fight!
 I was ready to fight and fight I did. I haven't joined in paintball games before, afraid of the welts the game could leave. I'm still afraid of the welts, but it just makes me play harder. I haven't been hit anywhere, but my helmet, so it will continue to be a hard decision to play again.
After playing for four hours straight, my legs didn't work for three days. I now understand how adrenaline can keep you going long after you should stop. Going up and down stairs was impossible and I basically just fell onto the chair when I need to sit down, but it was definitly worth it.Labels: Fears, Fun, Happiness
Hiking It Up
This past weekend before the weather changed to bitterly cold, it was actually decent. A few of us staff headed out to the nearby National Park, Royal Natal. The area is beautiful, even in the winter time when it's brown.
On our hike we encountered Baboons. They are pretty scarey in person. They actually attach humans and so we sang songs and carried rocks to throw at them if they got to close. Life is strange. I never though I would write that last sentence, but there it is.Labels: Fun, Life
Disco Party!
Birthday parties in the middle of no where are more fun than you would imgine. This month Jenn turned a year older and we celebrated by having a disco party. The night included a disco ball, costumes, strobe lights, (wii)bowling, music videos, dancing, pie, and a jello lava lamp. It was amazing. Just see:  All of us staff (back row: Kelly, Jenn, Aimee, ME, Charlene; middle row: Amanda, June, Matt, Jill, Marc, Katie, Abram; floor: Dave)  My roomies! Aimee, Kelly, ME
 Matt, ME, Dave And yes, I did win best outfit! Which means I got to keep the disco ball. (At least till next year's bash) Labels: Birthdays, Fun, Happiness, Humor
The New Me
I have been trying to dye my hair darker for the past, hmm year, and each time it comes out lighter. The lady that does it for me keeps saying she doesn't know why. I finally took it in my own hands and used a box dye. What do you think?
Before:
After:
 I really like it. It finally is what I've been wanting. I'm still trying to decide if I should put in highlights or not. They came with the box and I can't make up my mind so I decided to save them for another day. Labels: Fun, Life
Party Time
-761924.JPG) Being pretty far from any form of entertainment we have found good ways to have fun. About every to every other month we have a party. Not just a get together, but a full blown party. We decorate the house, dress in costumes, make appetizers, main dishes, desserts, and do anything and everything in between. Well since there aren't enough holidays in America to celebrate we steal from other cultures. May is known for Cinco de Mayo around here. Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrating the unlikely victory in the battle unlikely over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. (According to Wikipedia). Well this year was no different. Confetti, chili lights, fried ice cream and even a pinata! We had a good time:
Poor Little B. He didn't stay cute for long. Labels: Fun, Happiness, Life
Easter Break
 This last month, my department of the ministry has been pretty slow. The schools had break and so most of the ministry work I normal do was put on hold. This gave me some free time, which was very welcomed! Since minstry related work was fairly light I took a vacation. My housemate, Kelly, and I headed to the beach. We spent four days in the sun or at the movie theater. Even though the weather wasn't hot enough to swim and most of the time we had to leave our clothes on, it was so great to just nap in the sand. It was a much needed and refreshing break.
One of my favorite moments was having the opportunity to go to an English speaking church service. It felt like I was back in the States. We had worship with about 200 other people all singing English songs that I knew. It refreshed my soul. You don't know how lucky you are to have a great home church until you leave.Labels: Fun, Life, Vacation
Big Cats
 Driving mission teams on the weekends definitly has some perks. For instance I get to take up close pictures of lion cubs like these two. I actually had to crawl in their cave like den to take this one. Good thing they were seperated from their mother!  But then again, they are just big cats! Labels: Fun, Happiness, Life
Happiness
I mentioned in a previous post how much I love flowers. They make me smile more than most things do. The wild flowers are dieing off now as it is becoming colder during the night. It makes me sad to see them go. Kelly and I decided to go and have a photo shoot in the middle of them during one of our lunches so we can remember them throughout the winter months. I though I would share my happiness with you:
Labels: Fun, Happiness, Life
The Lengths I Go for Food
One thing that Africa has taught me is to be creative especially with food. Not only do I ask strange requests like having my own snickers mixed with Wimpy's ice cream, but I spend hours in the kitchen making things that would ordinarily take a few minutes to just drive and pick up. My housemates and I had a rather usual craving for Chinese one time, but this night we went all out, egg rolls and all. Orange chicken, rice (of course), and you can't forget the egg rolls. We home made every part of the egg roll, from shredding the cabbage to hand rolling the homemade dough for the shells. They were delicious. Well worth the effort!
After mastering sushi, egg rolls, orange chicken, calamari, we need to move on to food from a different part of the world. Perhaps we'll try Greek food next. Who knows!Labels: Fun, Life, Memories
We All Scream for Icecream!
Ice cream here is completely different than it is in the States. Really the only good kind is vanilla. I'm the type of person that likes chocolate and then a ton of stuff inside the chocolate. My absolute favorite is cake batter from Cold Stone, but I can only have that in my dreams here. The other day, Jenn and I were driving a team for ministry and we stopped for lunch at our local One Stop, which is just that. One stop for everything: gas, quick groceries, antiques, crafts, a few restaurants and so on. Well we had just finished lunch and had a craving for a snickers ice cream blizzard type thing. Nothing like this really exists here and so we had the idea of buying a snickers from the gas station and asking the fast food place to put it in the ice cream.
So we tried it. We explained that we wanted it mixed in the ice cream, but they put it on the bottom and top of the cups. It actually turned out nicely. Next time though we will definitely be using the word "blend" so that it can actually look more like a DQ blizzard. Not bad for a first try though!Labels: Fun, Humor, Life
God is in the Radio
The greatest possible thing happened to me today. Well, not the greatest, but pretty darn good. Today I went back to the same school that I got stuck in the mud while delivering books. I decided to go a different way, for obvious reasons, and again there was a mud puddle. I wasn't alone this time and Kelly emphatically encouraged me to go through it and so I began.
Just then, like God was cheering me on through the radio, "Chariots of Fire" began blaring through the speakers. I felt empowered and able to drive through any mud puddle that was before me. There was nothing that could stop me from reaching the top of the ever increasing hill. It was glorious! I don't think I could ever have a better driving experience in my life.
Thank you Jesus, for making me laugh, smile, and take on the mud!Labels: Dreams, Friendship, Fun, Humor, Life, Memories, Spiritual
Playing Dress-up
Not having anything to do can be boring, but out here, we see it as an opportunity to find something creative to do. In the past we have cleaned a swimming pool, looked for dinosaurs (don't ask), hiked the same mountain countless times, picked flowers, steal coasters and put them up for ransom, and the list could go on.
One afternoon this past month, Kelly and I were a little board and decided to go see a friend. Unfortunately no one was home, so we decided to try on her clothes and take pictures. I guess you find new and interesting ways to have fun when you live in the middle of no where!Labels: Fun, Humor, Life
Life As A Rock Star
Last year Brian's Circus came to town, but this year we were treated to an even smaller circus, Dream Catcher. A one ring, 10 man circus complete with two and half hours of pure entertainment. We arrived 20 minutes early therefore receiving front row seats, giving me the opportunity to be pulled up front by a clown that spoke through a whistle. As part of the act, I jammed out on an imaginary keyboard along with a guitarist, drummer, trumpet player, and violinist. I will not easily forget my debut!Labels: Fun, Humor, Life, Memories
Changing Lives
All of the trouble in getting to the schools was well worth it! Having the opportunity to see the student's faces as their new books were passed out was priceless. After each class I became more energized and strengthened for the next. In one day, I had the opportunity to give 2,025 books to students whose lives can be forever changed by the contents of the book and the sacrifice of the coaches teaching it.
The "Break the Silence" curriculum touches on 10 hard topics that are not talked about in schools, churches, or homes. Topics like drugs and alcohol, sex, pornography, self-image, and many more. The classes are designed to provide small group discussion on each topic to help students begin to talk about issues that have never been discussed before. The book then focuses on the truth about each topic taken straight from the Word of God. I am so excited about what God has in store for the students this term.Labels: Coaches, Fun, Life, Memories, Spiritual
Where Am I Again?
I feel like I'm in America. Right now I am sitting in a coffee shop and surfing the Internet while watching people walk by in the mall. Later on tonight I will be catching a movie before heading back to the hotel. No I'm not on vacation, but waiting to pick people up from the airport. I'm enjoying my evening off though. It's nice to be back in the hustle and bustle of the city (at least for a little while). If I stay too long though, I miss home. I crave my bed, my bathroom, my squishy couch, and my food. You know how it is. I guess I should soak it up while I can!Labels: Fun, Life
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