Go make disciples...

I have been here approximately 15 days and it feels like I’ve been here for months. I am finally starting to get myself in a routine…it’s taken me about 2 weeks to finally get a normal sleep pattern, seeing as how South Africa is 7 hours ahead of Indiana time.

Some of you may wonder what South Africans eat. Well their grocery stores are very comparable to what we have in the states…just not as much variety…no family size anything…and for the most part much cheaper than food in the states.

My South African favorites:

Braii: the braii is a South African barbecue…and consists of lamb, pork, ostrich, crocodile, steak etc. South Africa probably has the most delectable meats in my opinion…my favorite is pork strips.

Couscous: you can get this in the states but it is a common dish here in SA it is like rice but in smaller pieces…I absolutely love it!

Malva Pudding: this is a common dessert in SA it is a custard pudding poured on top of a vanilla shortbread…yummy!

Coca Cola: ok so you are probably like…that is so not South African…but let me tell you…the Coke in SA tastes much better than the Coke in the States. They use cane sugar here instead of corn syrup like we do in the States.

Tea: My favorite is South Africa’s Five Roses tea…mixed with milk and sugar….goes great with some Nuttikrust!

Appletizer: this is a beverage that tastes just like apple juice but is sparkling…with bubbles as they call it.

Fruit Chutney: Amazing sauce for any braii meat!

My South African not so favorites:

Ketchup: their ketchup here is very sweet…maybe because they use real tomatoes but I don’t like it so much.

Mustard: same thing with ketchup…too sweet!

Sour milk: Ami Maas…yuck. Grocery stores actually cell sour milk…people here like it on their mealy meal.

Tripe: dirty pig intestines…like whole intestines…stringy and all. I refuse to try it.

For the most part I have not tried anything here that I have not liked.


Here are some facts about South Africa

South Africa is about the size of Texas

Africa as a whole could fit 7 United States in its continent

There is no such thing as a self serve petrol station (gas station) Tenants fill up your car, wash your windows etc. This is a great way to provide employment for many of the struggling South Africans.

AIDS is not talked about here. It is a shameful thing to admit to someone that you have AIDS. Because of this, many people who could’ve been treated if they got the ARV drugs die because they don’t admit it. Even if someone does die of AIDS…they say they died of the 4 letter word. No one dies from AIDS really but sickness that comes as a result of the body’s lack of ability for its immune system to fight common sicknesses.

A year after a woman gives birth to her child she is prohibited from having sex with her husband for a year so she can tend to the needs of her newborn child. During this time, the husband will most commonly find other women…sometimes other wives in which the AIDS virus is contracted and spread to the wife. True story: One lady in Sandy’s Bible study had her child and adhered to the rule for 1 year but during that time her husband had an affair with another lady who had AIDS…the lady passed it onto the man and the man passed it on to his wife without her knowing.

Politicians here give their advice on how to cure AIDS. The current president encourages people to take a shower after they have sex with someone who has AIDS. I wish I was lying when I say this, but the people actually believe this.

Another politician said to take multivitamins and eat healthy. Again, people still believe this.

There is this myth that in order to cure yourself from AIDS you must have sex with a virgin…thus spreading the disease to innocent children…babies even.

In the squatter camps Saturday’s are funeral days…and believe me when I say funerals happen every Saturday…people are dying right and left. The whole middle generation of people is nearly obsolete because of the AIDS pandemic.

Funerals are a way for these people to please their ancestors. The family of the deceased is responsible for giving their loved one a proper burial no matter what the cost…in order to please their ancestors. Many of them go in debt for this very reason.


Driving here is a bit crazy…and as soon as the dust settles after Jake and Sandy’s kids leave I will be learning how to drive a stick shift in this crazy place.

Not only do I have to worry about driving a stick…I have to do it with my left hand…because I am sitting on the opposite side of the car as I would in the States…and on the opposite side of the road (the left side) in a city where there are no robots (stop lights). Welkom was designed by a woman who decided to put round a’ bouts in place of robots. Plus street names aren’t marked well so you have to go by landmarks.

I am going to be one cultured woman!

I taught Sunday School on Sunday to the Hani Park children. Oh, it was great! I didn’t realize how much I missed teaching. I taught about when King Solomon built the temple and what each part of the temple’s purpose was and how that all changed when Jesus died on the cross. What a great reminder that we can worship and praise God everywhere!

I will be teaching again next week to bring some relief to Sandy as she has family in town. I just have to remember to talk slower because us Americans talk to fast sometimes which makes it difficult for others to understand. Pray that more kids from Hani Park will come to church and hear God’s word!

I had the opportunity to have breakfast with a man who works for the ANC (a corrupt political party in SA) he was staying at the B & B because the president was making his rounds to all the provinces. (Keep in mind this is the President who has the belief that AIDS can be cured by taking a shower)

Pray that I was able to plant some seeds in this mans life. He asked if he could join me for breakfast…so I said he could…it beats eating alone! He had just been out the night before partying and such….and had quite the hangover. God’s will is better than mine. So here I am conversing with this man about his job and all the places he has been and he asked me what I was here for. So I explained to him that I will be here the next 6 months working with missionary’s in the squatter camps…his face suddenly changed…I don’t know what was going through his mind at that moment but he seemed to have been processing a lot…some may say it was guilt…but I believe it was God creating in him an uneasiness about the work that is being done in Welkom.

Pray that I can talk further with him. He frequents Jenny’s so I know I will most likely encounter him again in the next 6 months, and hopefully it is when he is sober! God knows where he is placing me at the right moment and time, my job is to be as close to him so I can know the words to say and the things to do to be obedient to his calling.

Wow!!! I finally made it to sunny South Africa! I left Sunday February 1st at 6AM to fly to Atlanta where I had a 7 hour layover (not so much fun) but God had his reasons...

His reason: During my layover in Atlanta they were having an interfaith church service in one of their small chapels. Who knew airports had church on Sundays?! I didn't. I was a little hesitant not knowing what exactly was going to be preached. But I was blessed. The pastor brought to us many passages about finding God as our comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God's timing never seizes to amaze me. I needed to hear that. Here I've left my family, friends, boyfriend...everything that was "normal" or comfortable to me and I board a plane headed for everything I'm not comfortable with.

How reaffirming of this calling that I have to serve for 6 1/2 months in South Africa. After my layover in Atlanta I had a 8 hour flight to Dakar, Senegal then a 9 hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. Once I arrived in SA Sandy (the missionary/mentor of mine) came by to collect me where we drove 3 hours to Welkom, South Africa.

I have arrived. I've been here 10 days. And believe me it has been a whirlwind of events. Our first line of duty was to check out the Restore site, which is the new ministry site for the Hani Park people. I am amazed to see how God has worked in preparing the way for the building to be restored and renovated. We have got the auditorium roofed/carpeted...and hopefully church will start at the beginning of March. (I will be putting up pictures/video of the building to give you a better idea of what we are working with)

I now know what it means for "the harvest to be plentiful and the workers are few". There is so much work here that needs to be done. There are 35,000 people in Hani Park (the squatter village) that are seeking hope and restoration. The tricky thing is not doing too much...in that we will spread ourselves too thin. Pray for God's guidance as we look for ways in meeting physical but most importantly the spiritual needs in Hani Park.

In addition to working on work projects on the restore site, I will be involved in developing a outreach program for girls age 11-13 in Hani Park. The girls are harder to reach out too...they are not as visible in the village. So pray that God will help me break cultural boundaries to be relevant to these girls. I will be helping out with an adult Bible study on Wednesdays, Teen ministry for Hani Park boys on Friday, Ladies Bible study on Saturday, and Sunday school teacher on Sundays.

I will go into more detail about each of these later as time goes on.

I've been busy setting up my life here...got the cell phone, tazer, pepper spray, Bed and Breakfast situated....next I will learn how to drive a stick shift...on the left hand side of the rode...on the opposite side of the car...in a city where there are no stop lights...only round a' bouts. God has a sense of humor!

I have learned so much in the few days I have been here, things I am still processing. I am shocked at the corruption and evil that is so prevalent here. I never realized how blessed I am to be an American. I want to share with you the truth and history of this country that is made it what it is today...but I don't want to just dump it all at once.

I am very new at this blogging thing...and want to share with you my experiences but also be able to challenge you to grow closer to our almighty God. Please if you all have any specific questions that you would like to know about what I am doing...please email me at :hopeforafrica22@gmail.com

I will update more tomorrow with more details. I love you all and miss you! Thank you again sooo much for all of your prayers and support! We are on this journey together!!!