Sunday, March 31, 2013
Sanibonani!
I hope you all are having a great Easter weekend, and a great Easter, too!
It's crazy how fast time is flying by. As of today, we have less than a week left in Pietermaritzburg before we leave our campus for good and travel to other parts of the country. This Saturday we'll leave, taking a week or so to get to Cape Town. That week includes bungee-jumping (next Monday!), sight-seeing, and much more--can't wait!
Last weekend wasn't too exciting, so I won't bore you with the details. I basically spent the entire weekend "relaxing" and working on my term paper for our Community Engagement class (and by "working" I mean putting it off, of course).
We had class on Monday again for the entire day. We spent a little bit of time reflecting on our service sites but mostly talked about the processes that go along with community engagement. Tuesday through Thursday were days spent at service sites. My group was at the creche (preschool) on Tuesday and Thursday, which was much less exhausting than it was the first time we were there. A third of the kids were gone on Tuesday (only 22 or so out of 35 were there) and only 14 of them were there on Thursday due to it being the holiday weekend. Good Friday is a national holiday here in South Africa and a lot of places close down for the occasion. On Wednesday my team did manual labor, though the guy in charge of it wasn't there so we had a hard time not having any explicit directions. We ended up plowing some and pulling weeds, which was fun. We really enjoy doing manual labor! (Not kidding, we really do.)
Friday was an incredible day. We had chapel in the morning, when select students shared about Christ's seven last sayings on the cross. After that our director began the first half of his Revelation seminar (which is tradition for the South Africa semester) but had to cancel the latter half because his wife was in the hospital (she's okay though, nothing too major). After tea time a good number of us walked a couple miles to Flavour Café for coffee and to relax. It's a really nice café with has a nice garden area and a little hole-in-the-wall shop attached to it (like what you'd find in rural areas). We made it back for lunch, after which we had a giant slip 'n slide on the lawn; it was probably the most fun thing we've done as a community so far. After slipping and sliding for a while things got a little crazy and turned into a mud fight, which was also really fun! To wash off we all went down to the waterfall right by our campus, which felt refreshing. We didn't do a whole lot for the rest of the day until after dinner when we watched "The Passion of the Christ". I'd just watched it a few weeks ago, which almost made me decide not to watch it again (I feel you can't watch it too much too soon; it takes quite the spiritual and emotional toll on you); I did though and I'm glad I did.
Yesterday we went back to Victoria's Street Market in downtown Durban. I got some pretty sweet stuff, but for the sake of surprises I won't say what I got since people on this email list could be receiving something. ;) After the market we spent a couple hours at the beach, which was a lot cooler than it had been the first time we went. It was nice to be in the Indian Ocean again for what might be the last time for a while (we might be at the Atlantic when we get to the beach next, i.e. during travel week). 15 of us left early to go to a farmhouse which belongs to some of the guys from the home group a lot of us go to. We had a brie (BBQ), hung out, and played some fun games; it was another good time to relax and enjoy each other's company, especially since we won't be seeing the home group people after this week (since we're leaving Maritzburg).
Today is Easter and not a lot is planned. A bunch of people went to an orphanage but I didn't go since I've been getting over sickness and have a lot to do today. I'll be going to church tonight though, which'll be good. What was cool about today though was that 21 of us hiked to the top of the game reserve (right next to our campus) to watch the sunrise, read the resurrection account, and worship. Waking up early was definitely worth it.
This week we've got our last three days of service sites, Tuesday through Thursday. Thursday's going to be an emotional day; we can only hope that we make an impact on the community and the people we're engaging with, but the truth is that they have an even bigger impact on us. It's going to be tough to leave them. I've heard tomorrow's a community day, probably pertaining to our class. I'm not sure what's in store but it'll be fun, whatever it is! Friday should be a relaxing day as we'll be packing up and getting ready to leave Maritzburg.
As far as prayer requests go:
- Pray for spiritual and emotional strength as we enter our last few days of service sites and leave our campus for good this week
- Pray for continual good health (everyone's pretty much over being sick)
- Pray for unity
- Pray for smooth preparations for what's to come and an easy transition into it
Thanks again for your continual prayer and support--you're a blessing!
Happy Easter! He is risen!
Sala kahle, (Stay well,)
Gary
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Friday, April 5, 2013
Sanibonani!
It's the last time I will greet you in Zulu as we are leaving Pietermaritzburg, the province of KwaZulu-Natal, and the eastern side of South Africa tomorrow morning. This time, it's for good. We finished our Community Engagement class this morning, during which we had our final presentations about our service sites. The video for my own service site, RivLife, should be on Facebook (or somewhere online) at some point. Keep an eye out for it!
Last Saturday we went to Durban, enjoying the market and Indian Ocean for the last time. It was a great final weekend in Pietermaritzburg, full of bries (BBQs) and fellowship.
Monday was a community day, which ended up meaning that we hung out all day. Some of us played volleyball, others relaxed, and we pretty much hung around campus all day. It was great to relax before things get crazy.
Tuesday through Thursday were our last three days at service sites. On Tuesday half of us went to the HIV support group again while the other half ran a holiday club (a kid's day camp sort of thing) at the creche. At the HIV support group we sang, danced, played games, and hung out with the kids there. I made sure to take in every moment as it was going to be one of my last times there. At the end of the day we all came together and began our legacy project: building a toy chest that would soon be filled with new toys for the kids at the creche and drop-in center. We went to the store, bought everything we needed, and took a long time building the chest (we were limited on materials and didn't have the right tools we needed so we didn't get much done that day).
Wednesday we all went to Nomvula's, the woman who runs the creche out of her home and feeds those in her community. There is also a gogo (older women) support group that occurs there. She made us Zulu bread and fat cooks (fried balls of Zulu bread) again, which were delicious! We spent a lot of the time hanging out with the kids there, talking with the gogos, and singing and dancing (as usual!). At one point I tried doing the Zulu dance but fell on my butt in the process, so that end pretty quickly. Haha. We spent the end of Wednesday working on our toy chest some more, though again it took a while, despite the extra tools we'd acquired. Screws were breaking, unnecessary wood panels wouldn't come off, and a lot of us couldn't do much since we were limited on supplies.
On Thursday morning we finished our toy chest, painting it and adding the final decorations. We also used the paint (wall paint, might I add) to paint the chest with our handprints. The downside to this was that the paint was near impossible to wash off and ended up staining our skin. Woops! I was genius enough to put it on my face like a warrior, only for it to start burning and me quickly realizing that that was a terrible idea. Note to self: don't put wall paint on your body! We spent the rest of the morning back at the HIV support group, doing the same things we'd done on Tuesday. This time though we had some of APU's board and staff with us (including our very own President Jon Wallace!), which made it all the more fun. We got to share with the women from the support group and vice-versa, thanking each other for touching each other's lives and making an impact on each other. It was an incredible time to share and I am so grateful we got to spend the time with them that we had gotten to. The rest of the day entailed hanging out with the older kids at the creche who were out of school; the preschoolers weren't around all week as they were on holiday and the creche was closed for the time being. This was sad for all of us as we didn't get to say goodbye to the preschoolers we had grown so close to! We did however get to present our toy chest to the kids whowere there; it was a mad frenzy as they trampled each other to get the toys we'd brought them. Every inch of pavement was covered in chalk, water fights broke out, and one of the balls we had gotten them popped. Overall it was a great last day and I am extremely grateful for the time I got to spend serving at RivLife.
Today and tonight we'll be packing up, cleaning up, saying goodbye to some of our church friends who are stopping by, and enjoying this community for one last time. I can't believe we're leaving Maritzburg already! This place has become our home and I know most if not all of us don't want to leave. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I thank God we get the good times though!
I'm not sure how internet availability is going to work over this last month or so of my time in South Africa, but I should have access. I may not update you as frequently but I'll do what I can! Travel week over the next week includes beaches, hotels, bungee-jumping, interacting with African animals, and much more! Can't wait!
So, for the last time in Pietermaritzburg...
Sala kahle!
Sincerely,
Gary
--------------------------------------
Friday, April 5, 2013
Sanibonani!
It's the last time I will greet you in Zulu as we are leaving Pietermaritzburg, the province of KwaZulu-Natal, and the eastern side of South Africa tomorrow morning. This time, it's for good. We finished our Community Engagement class this morning, during which we had our final presentations about our service sites. The video for my own service site, RivLife, should be on Facebook (or somewhere online) at some point. Keep an eye out for it!
Last Saturday we went to Durban, enjoying the market and Indian Ocean for the last time. It was a great final weekend in Pietermaritzburg, full of bries (BBQs) and fellowship.
Monday was a community day, which ended up meaning that we hung out all day. Some of us played volleyball, others relaxed, and we pretty much hung around campus all day. It was great to relax before things get crazy.
Tuesday through Thursday were our last three days at service sites. On Tuesday half of us went to the HIV support group again while the other half ran a holiday club (a kid's day camp sort of thing) at the creche. At the HIV support group we sang, danced, played games, and hung out with the kids there. I made sure to take in every moment as it was going to be one of my last times there. At the end of the day we all came together and began our legacy project: building a toy chest that would soon be filled with new toys for the kids at the creche and drop-in center. We went to the store, bought everything we needed, and took a long time building the chest (we were limited on materials and didn't have the right tools we needed so we didn't get much done that day).
Wednesday we all went to Nomvula's, the woman who runs the creche out of her home and feeds those in her community. There is also a gogo (older women) support group that occurs there. She made us Zulu bread and fat cooks (fried balls of Zulu bread) again, which were delicious! We spent a lot of the time hanging out with the kids there, talking with the gogos, and singing and dancing (as usual!). At one point I tried doing the Zulu dance but fell on my butt in the process, so that end pretty quickly. Haha. We spent the end of Wednesday working on our toy chest some more, though again it took a while, despite the extra tools we'd acquired. Screws were breaking, unnecessary wood panels wouldn't come off, and a lot of us couldn't do much since we were limited on supplies.
On Thursday morning we finished our toy chest, painting it and adding the final decorations. We also used the paint (wall paint, might I add) to paint the chest with our handprints. The downside to this was that the paint was near impossible to wash off and ended up staining our skin. Woops! I was genius enough to put it on my face like a warrior, only for it to start burning and me quickly realizing that that was a terrible idea. Note to self: don't put wall paint on your body! We spent the rest of the morning back at the HIV support group, doing the same things we'd done on Tuesday. This time though we had some of APU's board and staff with us (including our very own President Jon Wallace!), which made it all the more fun. We got to share with the women from the support group and vice-versa, thanking each other for touching each other's lives and making an impact on each other. It was an incredible time to share and I am so grateful we got to spend the time with them that we had gotten to. The rest of the day entailed hanging out with the older kids at the creche who were out of school; the preschoolers weren't around all week as they were on holiday and the creche was closed for the time being. This was sad for all of us as we didn't get to say goodbye to the preschoolers we had grown so close to! We did however get to present our toy chest to the kids whowere there; it was a mad frenzy as they trampled each other to get the toys we'd brought them. Every inch of pavement was covered in chalk, water fights broke out, and one of the balls we had gotten them popped. Overall it was a great last day and I am extremely grateful for the time I got to spend serving at RivLife.
Today and tonight we'll be packing up, cleaning up, saying goodbye to some of our church friends who are stopping by, and enjoying this community for one last time. I can't believe we're leaving Maritzburg already! This place has become our home and I know most if not all of us don't want to leave. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I thank God we get the good times though!
I'm not sure how internet availability is going to work over this last month or so of my time in South Africa, but I should have access. I may not update you as frequently but I'll do what I can! Travel week over the next week includes beaches, hotels, bungee-jumping, interacting with African animals, and much more! Can't wait!
So, for the last time in Pietermaritzburg...
Sala kahle!
Sincerely,
Gary
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| Me with a kid at the HIV support group |
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