Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika

“The journey had begun. And now the fear back again, the fear of the unknown…Deep down the fear of a man who lives in a world not made for him, whose own world is slipping away, dying, being destroyed, beyond any recall…The humble man reached in his pocket for his sacred book, and began to read. It was this world alone that was certain. “ Cry of the Beloved Country

“Sometimes in life every one of us finds himself out of control, caught in circumstances that he is helpless to change. When this happens, welcome such times! Often it is only then that we lesser spirits enter into the truth of Jesus’ statement from the fifteenth chapter of John: ‘Apart form Me ye can do nothing.” –Catherine Marshall

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Sawubona!!!

Last Sunday, after the Zulu immersion experience, we went to Durban! Durban is a big city a couple hours drive away. We went shopping at a few markets and then I swam in the Indian Ocean. Although it started raining, the water was rather warm, mid->high 60s, and we had so much fun! When we returned we put together an epic slip n' slide event in which the nursing students skills were called into action a couple times. Later that night we were reunited with the rest of our group as they returned from their Safari. I never realized 44 people could become so close. We had only been separated a couple days, but we all missed each other and were so excited to be together again. We had a wonderful time sharing our different weekend adventure stories with one another.

Last week I had clinical at Mason’s clinic. Tuesday I was in the ARV clinic and for the first couple hours I was working with the doctor. I charted and assessed the patients as he assessed, diagnosed, and prescribed. After the doctor left, I continued doing the same thing but with the nurse. In South Africa, it is legal for nurses to basically act as doctors when there are no doctors around. Thursday, I was in the main general practice/ family planning section and did the same type of charting and assessing as I did Tuesday plus lots and lots of injections. I did a lot of birth control injections, and a lot of Strep. injections for TB patients. They do almost all their injections in the buttocks, which is so rarely done in the U.S.A. that this was my first time doing so.

I found myself that week feeling slightly overwhelmed with the issues here. I’ve seen little girls in clinical who were raped and infected with HIV because of the myth that sleeping with a virgin will cure HIV. One of the CLCs told me that it is especially bad in cities like certain areas of Cape Town in which family members will actually arrange their daughters’ rape because they figure it is destined to happen anyways so it might as well be by the uncle or someone else close to the family so that they will be the ones “cured.” Other students shared that they have learned that it is really bad in the physically and mentally disabled population because men just assume they must be virgins, so despite them trying to tell otherwise, they are repeatedly raped due to this myth. You would think that people would start to realize it is false when they are still positive afterwards. How does a myth with no results to back it up last for so long?

A nurse told us at clinical the other day, and was later confirmed by my professors, that there used to be a big problem with people buying TB infected sputum to send to the government to get grants so they wouldn’t have to work, or patients trying to be sick with HIV for that same reason. She said it was because they were lazy and didn’t want to get a job. I would think it is maybe more out of desperation, and not being able to get a job…maybe it is a combination. This high rate of HIV has erased much of the middle-aged generation. Many households are run by grandmothers or are child run households. And then there also are the orphans who are taken in by foster families who do not take care of them but just use them for foster parent grant money.

At clinical the nurse also told us about how they would offer STI education, but patients would not come or they would receive education and still not change. We can give all the education in the world, but they have to want it otherwise nothing will change here. And it is also so much more complicated than just education, it is a battle with traditions and customs and lack of resources.

I have heard from several that a lot of pregnant women still get (and often die from) illegal abortions (which we see signs for everywhere) because they don’t want to do the mandatory counseling required, or by the time they get an appointment for counseling it is after 12 weeks and the sister (nurse) then won’t do the abortion so they take it into their own hands. Women are very strong here. In Zulu culture, women do the majority of the work because in the past the men would be away during the day in the army. Now, there is no Zulu army, but those gender roles have remained in many areas. Despite all the work they do, there are many women that still have little control in their lives or over their bodies. They are desperate to cling to any control they can which is where abortions and birth control injections come into the picture.

The issues here are not limited to health but continue onto things like police corruption and whatnot. It is odd and disturbing to see such rich houses right next door to squatter camps; the juxtaposition of the First World and Third World. The gap between the two is so wide here, yet so visible. When I was driving through a bad part of town after clinical Tuesday and starting to feel bogged down by all the need around me, I was reminded that I have the opportunity of just flying home and physically "escaping this," but the people here can’t. They can’t just snap their fingers and be free from this state of being. Although it is not impossible for someone here to break out of the situation they are born into, I believe it is much more difficult to do so here than it is to do so in the United States.

At home it is easier for people to live in a state of bliss and ignorance or in denial. We see commercials or news repots, but can then quickly just place it in the back of our minds and move on with life focusing on ourselves. But here, it is so in your face. I don’t understand how one could live here and not feel desperate to change the situation, to help their neighbors. However, I also understand how the nurses and many other people I have met here have become jaded and burnt out. It is too overwhelming to take on such huge problems alone, and frustrating when your efforts seem fruitless. We must remember why we are here and what our purpose is. Not changing the world does not make you a failure. You are loved and delighted in by the Lord-no matter what, and saving the whole world from all its problems is not what he has called us to do. He is the only one who can truly save us.

Matthew 22: 37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

"We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed." ~Brother Lawrence

Making a difference in even just one life, as insignificant as it may seem compared to the big picture, is still a glorious thing. God values and cares about every individual; Matthew 18:12-14-“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish" All countries have their own set of issues and the United States is certainly far from perfect. There are people around you who need the Lord’s love, who need a smile, or a helping hand. Compassion. You may not be able to solve world hunger or cure AIDS, but you can make a world of a difference to someone in your community. We are easily consumed with ourselves and our selfish desires that bring fleeting happiness. We are called to open our eyes and love our neighbor, and that requires a degree of selflessness, but it is worth it. Our true joy and blessings come from the Lord, not from the time focused on ourselves or from material possessions.

As I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed and feeling like the situation here in SA is hopeless, the Lord reminded me that anything is possible with Him, and I am certain that He is here and working. I absolutely love South Africa. It is a beautiful country. I love the people here. For the most part, the people are kind and charismatic. There are aspects of South African culture that I personally prefer over American culture. This is a wonderful country and it is obvious that God has worked here in the past and was apart of the Apartheid ending among other things. God is here and as I go about my time I am reminded that God did not tell me to come and fix all the problems here. He told me to come and love, and that is what I will continue to do. Give the Lord your burdens and do not become tired of doing good. It is all in His hands; we are in His hands.

Matthew 11: 28-30 " Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Galatians 6: 8-10: Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Ecabazini

Sawubona!

So far I am having possibly the BEST weekend of my life!!! The past couple days I was living at Ecabazini, a Zulu homestead, and it was amazing. The people are beautiful, the culture is rich and refreshing, and the landscape is absolutely breath-taking. I love being in rural areas- I have a country girl's heart. I love the simplicity of life, and the focus on family and quality relationships. I love all the animals and nature. God's creation astounds me. I wish we could have spent more time there.

The adventure started out Friday when we drove past zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, ostrich, monkeys, and warthogs to a rural Zulu area. After arriving, we got a tour of the homestead we would be staying at and the homestead "next door." We learned about the traditional clothing of the Zulu, the plant life and its uses, how one becomes a medicine man or is called to become a speaker to the ancestors, how the homestead is designed and who lives in each hut. We learned how to make ropes from grass, and mats from reed picked by the lake. The thing that impressed me the most though was learning about how they use cow dung. They have a fancy pit in the ground that they put the cow manure into everyday with a little water, and it allows them to utilize the methane gas for things like mini gas stoves. This gives them free energy, limits the amount of trees they have to chop for firewood which equals less destroying of oxygen production and less work for the people, and by burning off the methane gas they are also protecting the ozone. This is not a traditional Zulu custom, but something they brought over recently, from India I believe. Super cool!

Above on the left is a photo of the hut I spent the night in, and above on the right is the center of the homestead which is where the cows are kept at night. I love cows- so cute.

After our initial tour, we had an hour of free time so we walked down past the orange groves (whose perfume was sweet and lovely and filled the country's air) to the lake, and a few of us enjoyed a swim while the others kept a look out for crocodiles. It was wonderful. I LOVE lakes! The water was refreshingl, and I love the feeling of squishy lake mud in between my toes.

Then we came back and had a traditional Zulu feast. Red meat is only served for special occasions because it is expensive and also because if they are going to kill a big animal there needs to be enough people to eat all that is killed so they don't waste. When they do have meat it is served first before the rest of the meal so that the people can really savor it and enjoy it for what it is. For that portion of the meal the men sit on one side of the fire in a circle, the leaders sit together in the middle, and the women sit on the other side of the fire in a circle. They cut the meat and serve it with Zulu Bread (YUM!) with piles of salt. First the server takes a bite of the food to show you it is not poisoned and then you start eating by taking the meat and dipping it in the salt. Then, after that, we got into one big circle around the fire and were served individual plates with chicken, a white cous-cous like substance, a type of bean mixed with a grain, a cabbage dish, and a stewed tomato dish (sorry for the lack of appropriate dish names).

I thouroughly enjoyed the hours around the fireplace-Good food, Great conversation, and beautiful stars (we could even see the Milky Way really clearly).

After dinner, we went into one of the huts and started off the evening with some Zulu Beer (non-alcoholic). Like the meat, the hosts drink first to show that it is not poison.

Then we got to watch some traditional Zulu dancing and singing, and afterwards I even got a chance to dance with them. I love the passion in their dancing. They were all having such a good time, and they have some very impressive moves, like their high kicks that I attempted.

This morning, after a frog catching and a lovely breakfast of malta bella (a porridge made from the same grain the beer was made of), toast, eggs and Roobios tea; they taught us how to make pottery. It is so much harder than it looks, but still- lots of fun!

Next we played with the baby goats...It is official-I want a goat!!! They are absolutely adorable (even when they try to eat my braids).

Then they taught us to how to bead. Below is the bracelet I made.

After bracelet making I got to learn how to stick fight like a Zulu Warrior. Thank you Trevor for the sword fighting lessons this summer, never knew it would come in handy here in Africa. (Below is a video of a tiny bit of it)

One of the highlights of the day was when I was taught how to clean the hut floors with cow dung...Yes- that is right, I was not cleaning up cow dung, but using cow dung as cleaner. (Picture below on left)

Below on the right is me and a couple of the Zulu women. They put red clay on their faces as sun block. For part of the time we were there they wore traditional clothing and the other part they wore more western contemporary clothing. Traditionally, the married women wear shirts, and the single women go topless.

I loved being immersed into the Zulu culture.

I am so thankful for this experience. God is so Good!!!

Sala Kahle!!!

I'm Lovin' It

10 Random things I am Lovin' this week...

# 1: McDonalds…”What?!?!? “ My family and friends at home must be exclaiming. Yes that is right, today I enjoyed McDonalds. Today was not the greatest day at clinical so our dear friend Reagan, the CLC, Community Life Director, (Basically a cross between a RD and an RA), sensed our frustrations and took us to McDonalds for free Ice cream on the way back to campus. I can hear you questioning me again…"McDonalds???? Ice Cream???? Shelly you don’t like McDonalds and you’re lactose intolerant” Yes, that is true, but I got French fries instead. Actually, what I got was chips. I did not see French fries anywhere on the menu but when I came up to the front of the line I asked for some and with a confused face the employee just stared blankly back at me. Then good old Reagan intervened and told the woman behind the counter that I would like some chips. (French fries are chips and chips are crisps and crisps come in all sort of funky flavors like fried chicken and beef.) And oh now I can hear you go again… "But Shelly, you don’t like french fries, in fact you don’t even like regular potatoes” Yep, yep that is true… But I enjoyed every single bite. This outing was precious and wonderful and I loved every minute of it- Thank you Reagan!!!

#2: Cows- and I am not referring to the kind at MickeyDs between two pieces of bread. When I come back to the United States, I already know that I am going to dearly miss having to stop the car several times on the way to my destination because there is a herd of cows in the road. I love doing nursing with cows in sight, and goats, and roosters, baby chicks, dogs, ect.

#3: Cats- Don’t get me wrong-I absolutely love my puppies at home, but I do miss having cats. We have stray cats on campus that were taken in by the director of the program, Reg, years ago. Jeana, my roommate, and I asked Reg if we could steal his cats. He said yes, however I don’t think he thought we were being serious. We have brought a couple of them to our room during this last week. Two of the students here decided to make a “television show series” they post online and they just told us they want to have us guest star as the “Cat Ladies of AE”…um, not quite the reputation we were going for…haha.

#4: Girl’s Night: Sunday night we had “A Night to Remember…” The girls dressed up and then broke into two groups in which we discussed what beauty really is, and what we think is beautiful about ourselves. We got a chance to read what the boys wrote on what they find beautiful in women (they wrote it not knowing we were going to read it). It was a good night of bonding and deep conversation…and some silliness : )

(This is a few of us after we had to put makeup on each other while blindfolded...Beautiful, don't ya think?)

#5: FROGS!!! The night before these pictures, a couple students played a prank and threw a frog threw the window into the Zulu class on the second story. It fell right onto the table in front of the teacher as she was lecturing. That same night they also put a frog in the dining room as a joke, but ended up losing it accidently. I found it at breakfast time, along with a couple monkeys that snuck in through the window during the night..but I didn't attempt to catch those too.

# 6: D-Group: I had my first D-Group meeting this week. For those of you who are not APU or former APU students, I should explain that D-Group stands for Discipleship group. They are like small groups, or life groups or whatever you would like to call it. The one I joined is an all girls group led by two of the other nursing majors and it is focused on intercession, confession, and sharing of what God is teaching us through our classes and experiences here in Africa. I am quite excited to get to know these girls on a deeper level and grow closer to God through it also.

# 7: Letters- There are 10 boys here from APU, and there are also 10 of us nursing majors here. One night the boys decided it would be a good idea to write us all letters of encouragement. They gave them to us at breakfast on Tuesday and told us we could not open them until lunchtime at each of our clinical sites. We all got really long thoughtful notes. Mine included a 4-stanza poem that had a rhyme scheme and everything. Totally Precious. I love our boys-they are amazing!

#8: Kids-Here are a couple of the many children that have stolen my heart.

#9: Sushi- Tonight, I went out to Sushi with Reagan, his amazing wife Leizel, and a few of the other students. It was half off night, so I got a lot of food for the price of what 1 really special roll would be back at home. Oh I love sushi. Wonderful night!

#10: And Last but not least I am lovin’ the Monkeys. By now, out of the 44 of us students here, only 2 of us do not hate the monkeys. They say I will come around, but I object- It will not happen!!!

Stay tuned- Zulu weekend immersion photos and blog to be posted "Just Now" not to be confused with "Now now" ("Just now" means soon, as in it could happen anytime in the future, whereas "Now now" means immediately in the next few minutes")

The Unexpected

“One of the wonderful things about living in the realm of uncertainty is that you find the journey with God is full of surprises.” Erwin McManus , Chasing daylight

“Many times when we claim we are waiting on God, He is waiting on us.” Erwin McManus , Chasing daylight

“You can talk all day about what God has promised to do through his people, but you will never live in those promises until you act on them.” Erwin McManus , Chasing daylight

Sawubona!

The past several days have not gone completely as expected (when does it ever? Haha), but that is what makes an adventure. It is full of surprises, and as I have said before, who doesn’t like surprises?

Thursday I was at Eastboom clinic again, but I worked in the pediatrics section of the clinic this time. I have worked with many amazing nurses here in South Africa; However, there are also many nurses here who treat patients differently than I believe people should treat people. They have developed a reputation of nurses in South Africa as being…well…mean. I worked with a pediatric nurse on Thursday in a sort of family practice setting, who was not just intimidating but very harsh, rough, and cruel. She used words in a way that made mothers feel inferior, embarrassed, ashamed, worthless, and ultimately that they were failures as mothers. I have been debating for the last several days as to whether I wanted to write about this. It is difficult for me to write these things because I do not feel that it is right to speak badly of others, but at the same time this was the truth of the situation. Although she yelled at the children also, it was for the mothers that my heart was broken. I was desperately wishing I knew Zulu so that I could speak with them. I wanted so badly to take each one of them out to tea and listen to them; hear their struggles; educate them, encourage them; show them love. All I could do was send them a comforting smile, but I wanted to do so much more.

Friday, I came down with the stomach flu. I missed some fun AE activities including volleyball games, a Braii, movie night, smores, and the Saturday hike through the Drakensburg Mountains to see 5000-year-old Bushmen cave paintings. I must admit that I was a little disappointed at first about not going to the Drakensburg Mountains; it was a trip that I was looking forward to for the past 6 months. However, the reality is that things do not always go as we expect or plan. Reg, the director of our program, asked the first day if we are here for our kingdom or for God’s kingdom. If I was here for my kingdom then I think the response would be for me to have a pity party and waste hours complaining that I missed out, but that is not why I am here. I don’t deserve anything. Its not about me. Its not about the fun expeditions. Instead, Saturday I found myself relaxing and recovering thanking God for who He is and also for all the ways He has blessed me here and has been working in my life, in those around me, and in this country. Saturday was a beautiful day. I got to have a day of solitude in the most magnificent weather. It was like the whole campus was engulfed in a magical mist. The jungle looked so mysterious and mystical. It was breath taking. It was a gift.

Tuesday was a clinical day. I was supposed to be at Mason’s clinic (where I will be working for the next couple weeks); however, some last minute change of plans brought me back to the family center at Ethembeni for one day to assist with vision screenings. Once again, not something I expected, but it was so good. Last time I was there, I realized as I was leaving that one of the young volunteers/older children of the center was disappointed that we nursing students spent all our time with the little kids and did not talk with her much. Today we were done with eye checks rather early, which left us with several hours of time playing with the kids. These kids are possibly the most precious children ever. Seriously I wish I could be a professional “cuddle-er” - I could spend the rest of my life just sitting with them in my lap. Playing with children, showing them love and giving them attention should be a profession. I guess that is what parenthood is intended to be- how exciting!

At one point I literally ripped myself from a few children’s grips to go to the restroom and on the way I saw the volunteer from a couple weeks ago sitting at a table. I came over and I don’t remember what I asked, but right away she poured out her heart to me. She told me about how the woman who offered to pay her way through college just changed her mind recently. She is now in this confused state of not knowing what she will do with her life, and unsure of what God’s will for her is. She doubted her worth as a person, God’s love for her, and the truth of His promises. She started believing that maybe God was punishing her for some reason, or that she was not worth having her dreams fulfilled because she is as she stated “a poor girl in a township” and she doubted that God’s will for her future would be something that she would enjoy. I talked with her for a bit, prayed for her, and walked her through some scripture. It was a wonderful time. It became clear to me that we often do not take the Bible seriously and truly believe and trust what it says, and also that we tend to mentally add phrases to God’s promises so that we limit them believing that they don’t actually apply to us. It is very easy for us to say we believe something or even convince ourselves that we believe something, but does our life really reflect that?

I recently have gone through this in my own life. My whole life, and especially these past few years has been a process of me going from loving Christ to falling IN Love with Him, and going from knowing He loves me to believing He loves me. These past several years I have been through highs and lows and plateaus, but through all of it my faith in God has been strengthened and intimacy with Him deepened. I do not believe faith or our relationships with Christ is about having a “feeling” or having “supernatural” experiences; However, I have had a couple experiences over the past couple months in which God has met with me and completely overwhelmed me with His love to a point that the little doubt in me that I did not really consciously know was even there was completely wiped away and my life will never be the same.

Before all this I truly believed that I believed the depths of God’s love for me and the truth of His Word; However, my life did not necessarily always reflect this. I would still get anxious about the future, and I doubted my abilities in serving Him and the promises He makes to us about the authority we have in Him, and I often found myself subconsciously trying to not disappoint Him or upset Him as if He would love me less for it. Before all of this I had read through the whole Bible, and I thought I believed it and loved it and it truthfully did change my life and guide me, but now when I read... something is different. I can’t stop reading. I don’t want to put the Bible down, because it is impacting me in a way it never has before, because now I truly believe the words it says, like seriously believe. I know God’s love for me, like to the depths of my being I know His love for me, whether I "feel" it all the time or not, I know and believe He loves me in a way that doesn't compare to any other love. A love that truly wipes away all fear. A love that redeems, A love that transforms. A love without any conditions. A sacrificing love. A love so deep that it is overwhelming beyond what words can describe. A love that is free and freeing. A love that fills one with endless Joy. A love that delivers us; that resurrects us from being the living dead going through the superficial motions of life, to having life to the fullest. A love that ends striving and a love that brings peace. A love so magnificent you can’t bare to keep it to yourself but your heart breaks wanting all people to have the privilege of knowing and experiencing this incredible love.

I trust in His promises and am filled with excitement and gratefulness. I also am shaken by the fact that I also now take seriously the commands He has given, more seriously than before when I thought I was taking it seriously but not always living it out- and am now in a process of figuring out how to live this out (however before, the "figuring it out" was accompanied by stress, and now it is accompanied by peace. For I am confident in His promise to teach me and excited to learn). I believe that I am One with Him and have power and authority to do as He did and more. More importantly I believe that that is true RIGHT NOW. I have definitely listened to Satan and believed that I’m not ready-that I need to become more this or that first, and less of this or that, or that I have to be some super "spiritual" person first, and that I need more preparation. These are all lies from the Devil. Yes, we are not perfect and we can always grow in our relationship with Christ, and in that the Holy Spirit will continue to develop fruit in us (please catch carefully that I said the Holy Spirit will do this action-it is not out of us just striving to be a better person, but out of us surrendering to Christ). Although there may always be room for improvement, God delights in us now! God loves us now just the way we are! You are Beautiful; You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are a Heir of the King and a co-conqueror with Christ. He can use you now just the way you are, and you are perfect for the calling he has on your life…Perfect. He has great plans for your future, but He also has great plans for you right now, as in today, as in this hour; He is in You and willing to use You. It is our unbelief that is getting in the way. Our self-doubt, which in essence is also doubt in God. It is not God withholding. Believe Him when He says he wants to do these things in Your life. The overflowing fullness of His Grace is beyond what our mind can begin to conceive, and all we have to do is ask and we will receive. HOW GLORIOUS!!!

God is GOOD.

“Do what you know you should do, and you will know what to do. God clarifies in the midst of obedience, not beforehand” Erwin McManus , Chasing daylight

“Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.” Mother Teresa

Sawubona Everyone!

The past few days have been a wonderful adventure as always. Friday, after a full day of classes, was Girl's Night. It was a relaxing and fun night of fellowship. We watched a movie, had popcorn and tea and painted each others nails. I have not had my fingernails painted since my high school prom, so it was exciting and different.

Saturday, the nursing majors got the option of joining in on the Intercultural Communication class's field trip, so we did, of course!!! We drove to a supposedly Indian community called Umzinto with the intention that the InterCom students would be able to interact more with Indians and we could all learn more about their culture. We spent a couple hours walking throughout the shops and went to the Mosque. There were almost no Indian people around though; the majority were Zulu, but I thoroughly enjoyed talking to some of the Zulu people we met, including the most adorable 3 year old and 2 month old. (Also, FYI-It is politically correct and not offensive at all in South Africa to call someone what they are. Here in South Africa there are 4 different identified groups-Black, Coloured, Indian, and White.) After Umzinto, we drove to the beach which was GORGEOUS!!! Huge Crashing blue waves of the Indian Ocean- God astounds me with his creation. We hung out in the soft sand and I got to hear one of my friend's testimony. Then we drove to a different beach and had a Braai (a barbeque) with an Indian church's youth group.

Sunday I went to the same church for the second week in a row and fell in love with it even more. The spirit is definitley moving there!!! And, I love all the church members I have been getting to know over tea after the services. After church almost everyone worked on their history reading paper. One of my friends did some of our reading for us out loud in a British accent. I quite enjoyed, but I should not use the word accent. Here, I am the one with the accent.

Monday, The Prince of the Zulu people came to African Enterprises!!! He is a HUGE deal here and is very active in politics. I have learned about him in my history lectures and have studied about his ancestors. I have been impressed by his moral character and for his strength to apologize for his ancestors behavior and stand up for reconciliation despite ridicule. A lot of the class got to meet him and listen to a conference he was holding here at AE, but I was not one of them. I was hanging out with Jesus at a pond and had no idea people were being invited to go see him. Its ok though; I'm not disappointed-I wouldn't trade anything for time with The prince of all princes, the King of all Kings.

Now that brings us to Tuesday, in which I was a VAMPIRE! (Nurses here literally ask "Are you a vampire?" or "Can you Vampire?" in referring to taking blood) I worked in an AIDS clinic drawing blood all day. I had never drawn blood before, so this was very exciting for me. I said a prayer before hand out of love for my patients that I would be good and not cause them much pain and the Lord answered for sure! I have never before been so immediately confident and quick at a skill. I am so thankful that I had this opportunity to learn to draw blood in Africa on dark skin as oppose to learning on fair skin. Now I don't need to rely on sight. I can feel with my gloved finger and get it every time, no matter how awful the veins of the patient are. The sisters (nurses) were super impressed, but they shouldn't be; it was all the Lord. The Lord was GOOD today (as always); He gets all the credit.

In the afternoon when the clinic got slow, I got put out of my comfort zone for sure. I am thrilled for every opportunity I can take to pray for someone, or talk about Jesus. Ask me to tell you about Jesus, and I'll talk to you all day and night...but, that was not the request I got yesterday. A woman told me her life story and then asked me to sing to her about Jesus. Sing??? Really? That is something I do alone in my room with my guitar, not around a bunch of people all staring at me. It took me a couple minutes to burst that comfort bubble and it ended up being an amazing experience. I was really nervous because I kept thinking that I only knew the chorus or a verse of songs by memory and I know I am not a good singer, but I said a little prayer and then after I started singing all the words came to me (unlike they were when I tried to sing it in my head beforehand) and not in a arrogant or prideful way at all, but I sang really well, like I was really confused at what was going on, but at the same time knew exactly what was going on-oh Jesus. Anyways it was good and it stirred more conversation about Him.

Then after clinical the adventure started. The honest truth is that I am sick of talking about it so I am not going to write the whole story up here. Super long story cut short is that I found myself with two other girls abandoned on the side of the street for a few hours in a bad part of town in bad weather and sun setting with no money, no phone, no phone numbers, no directions, nothing. People did not just "forget" us, the staff at the campus did not even know we were gone, and our fellow students did not notice we were not at campus. TIA. Like I said Super Long story cut short-there was a GOOD samaritan (and I mean REALLY GOOD) and we are now back at campus safe. God protected and provided for us. He is SO GOOD!!! The staff was very upset that this happened, and extremely apologetic. The head of the program left in the middle of his church meeting and rushed to us immediately to hug us and apologize over tea. And we had one-on-one meetings with Janet (our sort of RD here at campus) in which she apologized and hugged us (there have been lots of hugs). She knows that area of town and felt awful. She was so freaked out when she realized we were left there. The staff feels awful, but thankfully this helped them find some of the holes in their staff communication systems and from now on nursing students will have cell phones. So thats the condensed summary of the story, or adventure as I like to call it.

I am learning so much about the culture here and have been amazed how God has been meeting me in new ways that I have never experienced. Some of the ways in which God has met me have more significance and meaning in South African culture than they do in America. It has been really exciting to see how God is not just sovereign everywhere, but that he also reaches different people groups in different ways, meeting them where they are, working through their culture, not making them break through stiff religious barriers and speak His formal language. He speaks our language, whatever that language may be. Oh, how amazing is God's love for us!!! I am in Awe that he would sacrifice his only son for us. That He would reach out to us knowing the state of our sinful hearts. That He would seek a relationship with us, and not just any relationship, but one of deep deep intimacy. He is patient, but also jealous and persistent. He wants YOU! He chooses YOU!!!! He LOVES YOU!!!

Above on the left is me and my Chalet mates. We live in a Chalet called Festo which has 4 bedrooms and a community bathroom. Above on the right is me and my close friend and roommate Jeana. I love her. She is AMAZING!

Ethembeni

“Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” James 2:5

I have officially been at the AE campus for one week. It does not sound like a long time, yet I find myself bewildered wondering what to write in this blog right now, for so much has already happened. Perhaps I will attempt to write more often as to avoid this predicament again. As for today, there is no possible way I can attempt to update on all that has been going on, so I will instead just share a little bit about my clinical experience this week.
On Tuesday and Thursday I worked with Ethembeni in a township called Mpophembeni. Ethembeni means “Place of Hope.” It is a non-profit Christian organization that works with community members with HIV and AIDS. They run a home visit program, a small hospice program, a child day care center, and they teach skills like knitting and gardening to community members.
I visited several homes each day. Tuesday I walked with a couple Zulu church volunteers beside goats, cows, and chickens, among other animals, over the littered dirt roads from house to house. It was scorching hot, but early on a couple community members offered us some umbrellas to help keep us cool. I once again was touched by how the Zulu people care for one another. The day did not go as I expected- It was cut short because the volunteers I was with were not feeling well and went home. So I then visited the kids for a few minutes, which was very refreshing. After listening to Zulu all morning and trying to work through language barriers, it was wonderful to be with children. Kids all speak a universal language of smiles and laughter. I was then sent back to the hospice center where I took lots of blood pressures and then had the opportunity to take lotion and massage a 28-year old women sick with HIV and Cancer. She was in tremendous pain, but fell softly asleep as I rubbed her legs. It may not seem like much, but I was overwhelmed with extreme gratefulness; I am so thankful that the Lord would give me the privilege of being His hands.
The second day was freezing cold and wet. It was over 20 degrees (Celsius) cooler than the previous day. One never knows what weather to expect here. It is always a surprise, but who doesn’t like surprises? Anyways, first thing in the morning I got to visit with the hospice patient from Tuesday and got to get to know her roommate. After taking the roommate to the restroom, I rubbed her back, and held her hand as I calmed and distracted her while she went through an uncomfortable procedure. I got to then sit, pray, and talk with her for a little while as we held hands. Holding hands is common while talking here, and important in building relationships. My love languages have been changing over the last couple years, and if touch wasn’t fully one of them before this trip, it sure is now. After getting to know the hospice patients better, I did home visits with a church volunteer and with the chairman of the board of Ethembeni (the doctor who started the organization.) We only visited two houses, but it was absolutely wonderful.
The first house was of a woman with HIV and TB who lives with her sister. When they visited her a couple weeks ago, she was extremely ill. Her sister was crying expecting death to come soon, just as it had happen to all her other siblings. This Thursday it was a very different atmosphere in the home. There was joy, lots of joy and praise. The woman is now being treated for her TB and is doing great, besides some lymph edema and some slightly abnormal lung sounds. She was full of energy and was all smiles. (She has a low count of 71, but will start ARV treatment once the TB treatment is done) We shared Psalm 139 with them and asked them what it meant to them. Tears flooded down the patient’s face as she recognized the depths of God’s love for her. We continued the bible study, then prayed for them, and on our way out gave them some food for the week.
At the second house of the day, we met with three different patients. They all live near one another and have formed their own little support group. I got the chance to talk to them about the stigma of HIV, why people are scared of getting tested or admitting they are positive, and what they have been through by openly displaying that they have HIV. The chairman told them about a woman who this week shared her HIV story at a factory and it inspired 11 people to get tested (9 of which were positive). We had a good conversation about how they think we can continue to de-stigmatize HIV, and encouraged them to share their experiences, support, and encourage those around them. Each one of us has a story that can help someone near us. It may not be as dramatic as HIV, but it still can make just as great of an impact. It could be as simple as you have struggled through the same class as someone, had relationship issues, busy schedules, anything! You can guide others focus on to Jesus and bring hope to them in their situation. You may not think you have a story, but you do, and it matters!
Anyways, we also jumped throughout the Word- Psalms, Romans 8, James 2, and the Gospel. One of the women testified that before she was sick she did not recognize her need for God, she could keep with drinking and dancing. However, once she became sick she realized how weak she is, how much she needs God, and her faith has grown stronger since. She is poor, sick, hungry and dealing with loss and various family burdens; however, like many I have met in the townships, she has more joy, gratefulness, selflessness and compassion then I have seen in the majority of the “rich” at home. At home we have so much “stuff” we fill our lives with. We replace God’s joy with the temporary unsatisfying happiness of things like television and Internet. We try to fill the holes in our heart with broken love from people who could never come close to having the perfect love and care for us that God has. We choose control and planning over surrendering to God and trusting Him with our lives. We may think our way is the best, but God promises that he has plans that are better than we could ever imagine.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, -‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

1 Corinthians 2:9 “…No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Luke 9:23-25 “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?"

After praying with the women we gave them food for their households and then I played with the children at the day care center. The kids here long to just be held. There were a couple different boys who shared sitting in my lap for about 2 hours. These kids are simple. They don’t need video games and fancy toys, but can amuse themselves with a stick they find on the ground. They are happy with the love of your smile, and the simple touch of your affection.

As I said before, this is only part of my experience from part of 2 days of this week. I wish I had the time to tell you all that God is doing here and about all the things He is teaching me. I hope all is going well at home. Sala kahle (stay well).

Ubuntu

"This is a new country, a strange country, rolling and rolling away as far as the eye can see.” Cry, the Beloved Country

“If there is mist here, you will see nothing of the great valley. The mist will swirl about and below you, and the train and the people make a small world of their own. Some people do not like it, and find it cold and gloomy. But others like it, and find in it mystery and fascination, and prelude to adventure, and an intimation of the unknown.” Cry of the Beloved Country

The words above whispered quietly through my soul this morning as we drove by the train tracks and lake to the airport under a light misty blanket. I spent the last couple of nights in Johannesburg. Yesterday, we went to the Apartheid Museum and toured Soweto. I have started to learn more about African culture and ubuntu. Ubuntu means to be human; to have a concern for the well-being of others. Here in Africa, a person’s value and self worth comes through relationships; how you treat others. “Motho ke motho ka botho” is an African proverb that translates- A person is a person through other people.” The people here are very interdependent compared to those in the United States. I will never say that one society is better than another, but I will say that we can all learn different things from one another. The hospitality and selfless love for others displayed by many here in South Africa is definitely something our country could learn more about.

This morning I flew from Johannesburg to Durban and then drove through beautiful never-ending green hills and deep red saturated African soil to Pietermaritzburg. I will be staying here at the African Enterprises’ campus for the next couple months. I had seen photographs online of the campus so I knew it would be beautiful, but when I arrived I was astonished. It is breath taking. Pictures do not do this place justice. From my bedroom window I can see a waterfall (I am listening to it’s soothing melody as I type this), deep green hills and trees, and monkeys everywhere. It is absolutely heavenly. I feel extremely blessed.

To the left: The 10 nursing girls at the Apartheid Museum

Below: The 10 boys at the Apartheid Museum.

Below on the left: Nelson Mandela's former home

Below on the right: Soweto Township

Below on left: Freedom Charter Monument

Below on right: 10 Pillars of the Freedom Charter/ Foundation of 1996 Constitution

Below on Left: Hector Pieterson Memorial

Below on Right: The largest hospital in the whole continent of Africa.

Below on Left: My roommate Jeana and I standing right outside our bedroom.

Below on right: My neighbor who stole an apple.

Below on left: A picture taken from my bedroom window

Below on right: My backyard.