My beautiful friend of 12/14 years it all adds up to 42 anyways!

May, May, May…


I don’t even know where to begin. I could write about when we met (biology, McQueen) or when we became friends (listening to “Rockabye” on the way to and from that youth conference in Sparks, which at that point, seemed SO far away) or even the times we visited each other in Santa Barbara and Folsom and Fayetteville and Seattle. I could detail the future plans we have to visit each other in South Africa and Japan or the plans we are making for our “sisterchicks” vacation in 12 years. I could reminisce about the times we have commiserated over school and family and friends. I could even wax poetic about all the big decisions we had to make over the years, many of them coincidentally occurring at the same time. Our “big” moves to Fayetteville and Seattle and then our even bigger moves to Misawa and Capetown. Our frequent talks on the phone about visas and customs forms and passports, where one of us calmed the other down, only to switch places the next day. Those days I thought I would collapse from the stress, only to feel better knowing that you were facing the same situation and that I wasn’t alone. Yes, I could talk about a lot of the memories I have, some ancient past and others more recent.

Instead of writing about all of those things, though, I decided instead to write about how I feel about all of those things. Despite moving all over the world, changing jobs, graduating, making and losing new friends, our friendship has been one of the few constants in my ever-changing world. I always know that even if we haven’t talked in a while, you are my best friend and sounding board and venting buddy and prayer warrior and fellow world-traveler. I know you’re only a skype call (or facebook chat) away and that I’ll soon have a two hour conversation with you that will inadvertently make us both laugh, cry, and then laugh again at our crying.

I feel so lucky to have been a significant part of your first 30 years and am excited to continue in that role during the next 30.

Happy birthday, friend.


This birthday love note came from one of my closet and oldest best friends. I would say I have 3 best friends, actually 4 if you include the one I am gaining in South Africa, but yes I have a few close friends and when I meet them, I refuse to let them go and they for some reason stick with me for life. Kari Mischke Frazier and I met in high school and it is incredible to say that we have been friends for that long!! She got me like no one else had; was my protector and safety when home life sucked; she is my long term memory as I never remember ANYTHING; and she is the one who can complete my sentences or know what I am thinking without having to say a word. We have so many memories as thick as a dictionary and her husband could probably write a book on all our corky sayings and things that make his eyes roll…so thank you Ben for letting her keep me, I know we can be odd at times! 

So for laughter sake which only Bob, I mean Heennnry, I mean Kari will understand, thank you for the back rubs when I was sick in SF, that amazing lady in south Carolina or was it Georgia, spinning the wheel, finding 3 cheesesticks, protecting the house from a fire by blowing out the Buddha sticks, what’s that I see yonder…could it be a roundabout, RIGHT, llamas, the amazing slot machine in your house, meow meow cat cat, I wasn’t tipsy FYI, incredible photo album, Sacramento, pull the level, I got no money, you and trivia grrrr, Fort Pedro, Iphone views of Japan (hahaha,) and many many many hours of phone conversations including that one time where I didn’t talk about that one thing :)

Kari, your words at the end couldn’t be written any better. I know I can call you at a moment notice and you are always by my side, through thick and thin, you have been there and I know you will always be. I love that no matter the distance or length we may not get to chat, we always, always, are able to pick up where we left off. We may not understand why life gives us lemons, at times the people we are blessed to call family, and whatever else may come our way; we know that Jesus is our firm foundation that cannot be shaken and our friendship is like that. Kari you exemplify and live out one of the greatest commandments LOVE. “A true friend loves at all times” and “I will never leave you.” You love unconditionally and no matter how lost I am at times you are able to bring me back to the cross and what truly matters in the end. I am truly so blessed to call you my friend and thank God for giving me such an incredible person who stands in faith when I have none, hope when I have lost it, encouragement when I need it, and laughter, tears, and more laughter to feed my soul. I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!

P.S. I am sorry my mom can’t keep her promises! I don’t think you will ever get the eggrolls and a dinner from her.

Birthday Card!

A couple days ago I got an amazing birthday card from two incredible women Bryna and Erin. I was so touched that they remembered and they really had to remember in order for the card to arrive before my birthday! I would have to say that our paths started crossing in my second year in Seattle. Erin and I led a table together at a women’s bible study and I think that is where I got to know Bryna, and through that and time, Erin and Bryna are now housemates…in which I am just a tad bit jealous! You girls are absolutely incredible and although our season together in Seattle was short, it was incredibly sweet. Erin you are a gem! Your spirit, heart, kindness, and love for the lost are a gift from heaven and a reflection of our loving Father. I was truly honored to have gotten to partner with you in LBS and help lead what I would have to say was one of the best tables and group of women ever! I do pray that God will continue to surprise you daily! Continue loving on the women in Seattle as you are so very good at it and letting God use your hands and feet to touch, change, and allow these women to have an encounter with our heavenly Father in which so many are desperately seeking for that “Love” which is our Abba Father.

 Kasea with a  "K" is in the background, she is pretty darn awesome too!

Bryna, I do treasure our time together and table conversations about God, life, men, Cape Town, and everything else in between. Bryna lived in Cape Town for 2 years serving and loving the beautiful people of Cape Town in which I am also now falling in love with. She is one of those ladies where you could just sit at the table with a bottle of wine and not realize how time has flown as you just talk…like time stands still and there is not another care in the world as you get to just fellowship with her and in that you are engulfed in and with Jesus. That is a special gift where you truly feel that at that specific moment in time, nothing else matters but you. She has an incredible gift with little munchkins and patience that I will never ever have. You are absolutely beautiful my friend!

I couldn't find a good picture of the both of us :( so I stole this picture...one of my most favorite ones of you!

Thank you friends for remembering and loving on me with this amazing card even if we are 10,000 miles away, the pure fact that you thought of me means so much! I love and miss you guys along with all the other lovely ladies we got to share life with together, and they are moments I will forever treasure. Love you guys dearly and I look forward to hearing all the amazing things God continues to do in and through you guys!!

And for all you men out there in Seattle, what are you waiting for???!! You say you want a godly woman, a woman who loves the Lord and serves Him whole heartedly. A woman that loves adventure and also the simple things in life including just chatting next to a fire with a glass of red wine. Hello, open your eyes… Both of these women are a complete steal!!

Presents for my 30th birthday

About a month ago, I posted a note on Facebook and this blog of how my birthday was coming up and what I truly wanted from friends was a note describing their favorite memory or a story about our friendship or seasons together. What made me think of this idea was one of my best friends Kari always reminds me how bad my memory is…so I am wondering how many things I might not remember but you guys do  Over 30 years, there has been a lot of people who have been in my life and without knowing it, each one of you guys have been a part of helping me become who I am today and I wanted to bless you back with what you have meant to me.

This is what Emily Woo wrote…

One of my favorite memories of you May, ohh there are too many, I have magnum bars being devoured in your condo, watching Bridesmaids together on your couch, having fun on the see-saw, locking me in your flat because your secretly didn't want me to leave and living in Cape Town together! Your over-whelming generosity, kindness, love for God and orphans, you ability to just be yourself and be who you are are qualities that I admire about you, friend!

When I first moved in with you, you had gotten Buster and you were learning and doing awesome at driving stick. I remember we took that road-trip from Cape Town out to The Cape of Good Hope on Human Rights day. Here's a video =) Happy 30th Birthday Love + thank you for being YOU! (there's a card coming too via snail mail)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlrNyn-5GI0&feature=youtu.be

If you have been keeping up with the blog, you would remember that Emily Woo is my friend from Seattle who came for 5 months to Cape Town and I had the blessing to have her as my roommate for about 3 months of her stay. It was such a blessing in disguise as I had no clue how many tears, laughs, memories, and heart mending would happen during that short time. I had been in Cape Town for about 4 months when she came to live with me and I was doubting my decision BIG time on moving to Cape Town as work was so extremely difficult and I was wondering what the heck I had gotten myself into. Emily, you helped me daily to push through the difficult walls that Capetonians have; you taught me to pursue my dreams, ask for anything and everything that I want; restored my faith in roommates (incredible how different it is to live with 1 person instead of 7-24 people from IV days); showing me that worshipping and experiencing God can be done by just enjoying life and soaking in everything daily; and that we are never too old to enjoy all that a city has (I will leave it as that Em to not reveal some of our shenanigans.)

Emily and I will always share the bond we have with mint magnum ice cream bars; they are divine and will be one of our comfort foods if we are missing Cape Town. For those of you wondering, I did indeed lock Emily in my flat, LOL! Cape Town is all about locking doors as there is a lot of break-ins and theft unfortunately. So my flat has a regular door and a gate. I lock the gate every time that I leave the house and on this one day, I took the keys on the counter and headed to work without realizing I took Emily’s keys and that mine were tucked safely in my purse, OOPS! Oh my when she called me….I laughed so hard tears were flowing down my cheeks. THAT IS HOW MUCH I LOVE EMILY!...oh and don’t forget that I almost took you to the airport without your luggage…Guess I couldn’t decide if I wanted to keep you or get rid of you!

Thank you Emily for the kind words, I miss you dearly and my flat is empty without you, but I am so excited for what lies ahead for you!! I think you will be back in Cape Town before you know it. You are called to move mountains and with that, I foresee Table Mountain again for you. Sad to know that bowling in slip slops and having our faces painted like African warriors still wasn't enough to help us win!

Happy :)

I am not going to lie about this, I am so excited! I found out this past week that Benjamin Dunn will be in CAPE TOWN this week! It was 3 years ago that God planned and led me to a conference in Santa Cruz. He planned it months in advance without me knowing that my Grandmother would pass away the week before and this would be where God would minister to me, help me find my joy, expose me to things that I thought was even out of my box, and heal me from the wounds of family. This was one my most favorite moments from the conference in Santa Cruz!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g98Nxdw8nQ&feature=related

Will let you know what happens...should be good!

Faithful!

Testimony time! Last weekend I had been praying about all that has been going on around me. With situations in church, family, people I love dearly, and work. I had told Zandi how while praying I felt things were shifting and that I thought it was going to be a crazy couple of weeks coming up (for the good!) and told her I was warning her now and if she was ready, haha. I had this verse in my head when I woke up on Monday morning

"And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." Matt 21:22


I felt like God was telling me to ask, ask for what I want and need, ask for the nations, ask and you will receive. So Tuesday night with one week before my 30th birthday, I wrote down a wishlist for my birthday week. I can't disclose it all as I really do believe everything on my list is going to be answered, but there was one that I wrote down, shook my head, and thought it was a far reach idea that was related to work. I wrote the verse above next to this one item and less than 2 days later God has answered it. The one that I looked at and thought couldn't and wouldn't happen just got answered today! This answered request I do believe is going to make my time here in Cape Town extremely more enjoyable and perhaps with it, work won't be a drag or a chore, but something I could just maybe wake up in the morning and be excited about the 5 days I do have to work. Ahhhh I really am so excited and happy for this change and for this coming year which I think is really going to be the best year to come for me.   Thank you Jesus that you hear our prayers, our requests, our needs, and our wants. Thank you for being patient and faithful when I do have little faith. Jesus, my heart truly is overflowing with thankfulness and hope of what lies ahead.

Foreigner

Got to blog about this as I feel like a complete idiot. If you are reading this blog and you were involved in seeing my idiocy today, know that I will probably laugh it off tomorrow, but tonight, tonight I feel like a foreigner and an idiot who should have gone back to bed. As I mentioned in the previous post, this has been a long week and with that not much sleep. Today, I didn’t go to bed until 5am and was up by 9am to get ready for the day. Note to self, know how long your day will be so you can mentally prepare and leave before the day goes downhill. I went to a women’s conference with a friend today in which they were all black and then there was 1 yellow person...ME. I loved the conference and the worship (although there were moments were I felt they spoke English just for my sake and made me feel foreign rather than letting me embrace Africa,) but by 4pm I was already exhausted. I ended up going out with some friends for the evening and honestly didn’t know how long the night would be and hadn’t had any coffee all day, BIG OOPS! Ever had a time where everything out of your mouth was something that you would think afterwards in your mind…so why did I say that…why did I do that? That was me tonight, I know I am famous for my mayisms, but boy today was ridiculous. So one of my downfalls of being so independent and growing up where I did, I am confident and self-aware of my surroundings and know that if I ever got in a difficult situation of being mugged or something, I could defend myself…with this, I have never had a problem going most places by myself including all the lovely parties on DP…I have the Lords protection, discernment to know when places are dodgy, and the ability to kick someone’s butt if forced to. One thing that is different here in Cape Town is that the Christian men are raised to be gentlemen (which honestly is not normal in the US) where they walk women to their cars, wait until they leave to ensure they are okay, open doors, etc. Since being here, I think it is amazing but to be honest I look at most of these men who are skinny, timid, spacey, and I laugh inside as they walk me to my car because if something were to occur I probably would be the one laying the smack down, haha. I know that numbers are definitely safer don’t get me wrong but that is something I do need the Lord to work with me on… and I do look forward to when I meet my husband and have that sense of security that he can protect me, that will be sweet! SOooo back to tonight. Tonight, I got a mini statement on not walking the streets alone (although it was just me not realizing the gang had stopped at a store…it happens) and for some reason that bugged me…they just don’t know so, these men are just trying to be protective and I see that, but at that moment it was a “give me a break” moment. It seemed dumb comments kept coming out of my mouth today including calling kids “it”! Since when do I ever call kids that….I love kids!!! OY VEY! The night ended with some bands and the last band reminded me of ska music from when Christian bands like OC Supertones, Five Iron Frenzy, and The W’s would play in Reno, good memories for sure! I was actually enjoying it when the whole crew decided to leave…I was bummed and right now I am more bummed at the fact that today made me feel more like a freakin idiot and foreigner than I have felt in a while…probably should have just ended the night earlier and gotten more sleep. Tomorrow, tomorrow I hope to be either a Capetonian or a tourist, but please not a foreigner Lord.

The Cost FOR Revival

This past month God has had me revisiting my time in ministry during my college years and reflecting on it quite a bit. I have shared with a couple people here in Cape Town how I have felt that some things that have been going on in church and people that I have been meeting here remind me of vibes from college. In addition, as my purpose here in Cape Town is becoming clearer, it seems to be leading me full circle back to 10 years ago. Although it seems quite similar, I am for sure a way different person who is older, wiser, and stronger in the Lord. With that, I am able to pray differently and see things in a whole new perspective as I walk and pray through the path the Lord is leading. I know this is vague and please forgive me if this is confusing, but I haven’t found the words to express what God is doing in me right now in Cape Town. With that, lets walk down memory lane which ultimately leads into the heavy week of prayer I have been in this week. This month, the old ministry I was involved in released a book called Jesus Burgers: True Stories of Love, Redemption & Miracles in a College Town.

This book has testimonies over the last 10 years of lives that have been changed and transformed due to this ministry. In 2002 was the first time that I got involved and was one of the first group of college kids to move into the house which has been labeled the “Jesus Burger” house in Isla Vista, California. If you were to walk through the streets today, there probably isn’t a person who wouldn’t know where to find free hamburgers on a Friday/Saturday night at midnight to help settle their digestive systems from the evening of beer drinking or craving after a heavy dancing workout session in one of the dozens and dozens of housing hosting free parties. It truly was an amazing and crazy experience in the 7 years I lived in that area with 3 years being in the house, but has and will always have a huge chuck of my heart. Although I haven’t gotten my hands on this book yet (can thank that to me living in South Africa in which getting a book takes a little longer) I believe it is mostly about the lives that have been changed and with that doesn’t give the details or depth of all that had happened and/or had to be laid down for the glory that is occurring in Isla Vista now and all the testimonies and are will continue to pour out in the coming years, that probably will a Jesus Burger Book Part 2 or something. My time and stories in that ministry would probably fall in the Part 2 book. A lesson we learned when we first started can be explained from this quote.

“The community of the saints is not an "ideal" community consisting of perfect and sinless men and women, where there is no need of further repentance. No, it is a community which proves that it is worthy of the gospel of forgiveness by constantly and sincerely proclaiming God's forgiveness...Sanctification means driving out the world from the Church as well as separating the Church from the world. But the purpose of such discipline is not to establish a community of the perfect, but a community consisting of men who really live under the forgiving mercy of God.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

I am extremely excited to read it, and extremely happy to see and hear all that is happening in that town! God is so faithful and absolutely AMAZING! This week though, the same day as the launch of the book release, one of my old housemates that lived in the house for 2 years (I believe) went to be with the Lord in a rather tragic way. It is sad but no surprise that Satan would attack as Aslan (Jesus) is on the move in Isla Vista and so many glorious things lie ahead for this ministry. With the news of this, it has caused me to pray for many old housemates that I hadn’t really prayed for since we moved out of the house and think about my time there which leads to the title of this blog. When we first moved into this ministry house, not a single one of us knew what would lie ahead. We had no clue that our front yard would be where a church would form, loads of red cups would litter/decorate where normal people would want to plant a garden, or that burgers were going to be flipped, served, and become the platform of a love movement. Dozens prayed everyday to see revival in this town and to see lives transformed, but did anyone of us who lived in the house really understand the cost of joining this radical calling God was asking us to. If you lived in the house at all in the first 7 years I would say and the first 3 years due to my own experience, I would say the answer would have been “no.” I reflected this week on the people who come and left the house while I was there and thought about where they are now. The majority have continued to follow the Lord and the experience has strengthen their faith, but there are a few (which is still too many in my eyes!) who had/have walked away and the experience left deep scars in which only the Great Physican is able to heal. With any start up company/ministry, you learn as you go. The people who moved in the houses each year ended up being more solid and their foundation set upon the rock, but the first few years were years of amazing memories but perhaps people who may not have waged the cost of moving into a radical environment…and even perhaps somewhat the fault of older Christians who didn’t protect the flock who were new sheep…but as I said you learn and grow stronger but at what cost did it have. My housemate who is now with the Lord flipped and served burgers next to me. This person was part of the beginning of a movement and even though life may had been an uphill battle, that was a person who helped lay the foundation…and for me as intercessor in and for the house, I am left with wondering If I was just a little older, a little wiser; perhaps I would have known how to pray in the spirit to have assisted my friend in some of the life decisions that was made…There is no one to blame what so ever, but everything that starts is always at a cost…and this week I am on my knees again praying for the amazing people who I co-laboured with Christ for the revival that is happening in Isla Vista. For restoration, healing, and redemption for those who helped plow the field and may be struggling with life right now.

To my housemate and friend, I wish there was more I could have done to protect you as moved into the house which at the time had some gnarly spirtual warfare going on, wish I knew what I know now to walk with you through life challenges, and I am sorry that life was so harsh. I think of all the prayers that were lifted up to God over the years and I know they are not in vain, but I wish you wouldn’t have given up and more than anything I wish you knew that God wasn’t finished with you yet. I hope and trust that you have found the peace you were seeking, but here on earth we are mourning the loss of you, loss of a housemate, loss or a friend and brother in Christ.

Small Small World

After college when I moved back to Santa Barbara, I started to go to the Vineyard Church. While there, I met an amazing 13 year old girl names Selah who I honestly fell in love with. She was adorable, amazing Jesus seeking girl,and absolutely so much fun to hang out with. Although I was only in SB for a short time, we did get to hang out a couple of times..or more...Well, fast forward and now this 17 year old..recently got in contact with me through FB and without knowing it, found me about 2 weeks before she was heading out on a mission trip to Africa. Yes, 17...time flew and I am getting old! I wrote back and asked/hoping it was with Bridges of Hope as I knew that was a ministry that was from SB and works in Cape Town...and her response was YES! Knowing she was 17, I had to get in contact with the coordinator/founder of Bridges of Hope and we worked out a plan to meet up when they headed to Robben Island. I had assumed he had told Selah, and he had assumed I told her...both neither happened, which made it so much more exciting when she walked up the stairs and her eyes popped out and all she could do was laugh...and laugh...it was amazing!

It was so fun to see her, to catch up, and to see a familiar face :) Although I didn't get to catch up with Dennis, I am sure we probably will bump into each other another time. Thank you Dennis for giving me this gift on a wintery Saturday afternoon. Selah, sooo thankful I got to see you. Keep running after God, keep seeking him, and continue to be the light that you are for His Kingdom. LOVE YOU!

Adventures to Kruger Park Part 2

Sunday, I got picked up for the Kruger Tour and it literally took 8 hours to get to Kruger. We had a night drive and the highlight was getting to see a white rhino in the Balele Game Park Reserve and the African Sunset. Monday morning at 4:45am I headed out for a bushwalk with the tour guide Bongani and Marc who is 67 years old. We went on a 3 ½ bushwalk and Marc kept up for the most part…we had to have another tour guide pick us up as Marc couldn’t continue and the car we started in was pretty far away. I didn’t mind though as the malaria pills had gotten to me and in Bongani’s own words “ have marked my territory in Kruger” haha. On the bushwalk, we say elephant footprints and were trying to catch up to them with no luck. In the search, we did come across a giraffe that was only 3 miles away, it was magnificent to be in the open and see an animal that close! We also came across some hippos in the river. LOVED the bushwalk, it was my favorite out of the whole trip. Had an afternoon safari by myself with the tour guide Wesley. We watched a group of buffalo for a good 10 minutes but nothing else really on that trip. Bongani and I met up later in which he took me to the waterhole behind the lodge and we got to just watch a hippo and crocodile in the hole and talk about life in the bush. The crocodile didn’t care much for the hippo which was interesting. The talk with Bogani was another highlight of the trip for sure! I got transferred that night to the tree house lodge and got to stay in a cabin that was close to the river. That was also the night that I met a beautiful young lady named Pretty. I will discuss her in detail later. Tuesday I basically got a private safari…there were only a couple from the UK and me. We headed into Kruger Park and spent a full 8 hours looking for and at animals. One of the highlights was running into a couple herds of elephants. We were in the middle of the road and there was a herd in front and behind us with their babies. Complete, absolutely silence besides their large feet thumping and ears and tails swaying. It was a site I will never forget. We saw lions in the distance munching on a giraffe that they had killed the night before, a caracal (small cat) which is rare to see and saw a pangolin in the side of the road which is extremely rare. Bongani halted the vehicle and sticks his head out the window yelling, “Pangolin, pangolin…you are so lucky.” This animal is hunted in the tribes and given to the tribe leader as a special prize or used for special ceremonies. On the way back home, I was talking to some tour guides and they were shocked that I got to see a pangolin. One said that she had been a tour guide for 8 years and had yet to see one! It was a treat to get to see more of the rare animals than what you normally see in Safaris. My last day was the drive back to the airport. We drove through Blyde River Canyon which was absolutely incredible…so beautiful that there are no words to describe it…really breathtaking beyond belief. On the way back, got to see secretary birds fly by (another rarity!)

In summary, what made this trip special were the people I met working at Kruger Park, the tour guides and the people who worked at the lodge. Sitting around the table and campfire talking about their lives living in the villages, their challenges, their faith in God, and their joys are things I will take away from this trip. How some of them sacrifice their time with family in order to bring home the bacon….you can see the pain in their eyes, but there is NOTHING in their village, so they HAVE to go, they have to do it so that their kids can have education and that there is food on the table. These people are priceless, these people changed me and I am forever grateful for them…for them just being them, real, open, and amazing. I will also take away how my Father wanted to bless me. He literally gave me 5 private safari tours, 5! My bushwalk, afternoon safari, the waterhole, Kruger Park, and Blyde River Canyon were basically by myself. At first I was disappointed in not having a huge group and wanting to share these experiences with other tourists, I found by the end what a gift that the Lord gave me. I would never be able to afford a private tour and this is something that so many people would wish they could have. I got to know the people who work at this park more intimately and it was the relaxing trip that I needed. Thank you Jesus!

Pictures can be found here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150891021234183.436733.719764182&type=3

Adventures to Kruger Park

I headed out on a train to Johannesburg on Friday, April 27th at 10am with Shob. Trains and arrived in Jo’burg at 1pm on Saturday. I decided to take the train as the scenery was suppose to be spectacular and thought it would be a great start to my first adventure outside of Cape Town. In addition this was my first real train ride. I apparently took a train when I was a couple years old…but that doesn’t count as I can’t remember it! It was long 26 hours, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has the time, just make sure it is one way otherwise it could be grueling. I booked a 4 person sleeper cabin and ended up with only one other person. It would have been crammed, so I am glad it was only one. Her name was Dominique and she is originally from Clarksburg which is approximately 4 hours by train away from Jo’burg. She is 20 years old and is studying to be an Estheticians in Cape Town. It was a delight to have here and she was extremely sweet. Two of my top highlights would have to be a place where we entered into the mountains, it was one of those moments where you expect a train to take you and the beauty of it was spectacular! The other memory is us stopping at a little town right after nightfall and these kids begging for food from outside. This town is in the middle of nowhere…and they truly have nothing or anybody. It isn’t like in a big town where they can sit on the street and people will drop money, they are in the middle of nowhere in which that isn’t an option, so begging when trains stop is what they have to do. Dominique and I looked in our cabins and luggage trying to find any food that we could give them. Unfortunately all we had was junk food…so we threw out a bag of sour jellybeans to these 4 little kids and they devoured the sweets within seconds. If I had known, I would have seriously brought a bag of food for them…so for whoever takes a train next, bring healthy food to give away!

When I got to the train station in Jo’burg I had arranged for the hotel to come pick me up…and 2 hours later they still hadn’t arrived. I called every 15 min in which they kept saying “we are coming now” or “we are coming now, now” yet “now, now” still doesn’t mean NOW apparently. I kept asking if it would be safe to walk and they person on the other line said no, wait we will be there, but after 2 hours I was honestly pissed and headed out the door to walk. The hotel was no more than a mile…but when everyone tells you it isn’t safe, you have to trust them. When I got outside a beggar offered to walk with me to the hotel as I refused to spend R100 for a taxi when the hotel was walking distance. So in and out of all the street vendors we went to find my hotel. The whole time I was praying and holding my luggage that was attached to this vendor in few I might get pick pocketed or him running away with my bags. Normally, I am not too concerned with safety as I feel I can protect myself if necessary, but carrying my camera, binoculars, my passport…there were a lot of valuables that were important for my trip. The beggar got me to the hotel safely; THANK YOU JESUS and I had a small scuffle as he wanted more money than the taxi! At this point it is 3pm and I only had one night in the town before the tour company was going to pick me up. Since it was that late, many things were closed or ending so I couldn’t do much. I wanted to go to the Apartheid museum, but the closed at 5 and it wouldn’t have been enough time to really soak up the information. I had tried to book a massage weeks back but the hotel told me that it wouldn’t be a problem getting one the day of…well 3pm apparently is too late and I couldn’t get a massage. The only option that the concierge could give me was to walk down the street to the Carlson Hotel which has an elevator that will take you 50 stories to “Top of Africa” for a scenic view but that I would have to back by 5pm. Thanks! So off I went to find this hotel and a lovely worker named A.V. walked me around the top and pointed out all the lovely things of Jo’burg. When I got back, one of the hotel workers named Steve took me to the township Soweto for a “true” African dinner. The township is about 20-25 min away and tourists would have had to pay him about R200-R300 each way, but the hotel felt bad and gave it to me for free! So Steve took me, I paid for his dinner, saw Nelson Mandela’s house, and met his friend Watu. Memory from that night was eating dinner and then it started pouring rain, amazing!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Here is my idea: My 30th birthday is coming up on August 29th. What I want to do is write a blog everyday in August featuring a story of a friend and me. It could be a story of your first time you met me, one of your favorite memories of me, one of the weirdest things we did together, etc. From the responses I get, I will post what you write and in return write a section on who you are to me or my favorite/ first memory of you, or a story in return. If you are willing to help me with this project please message me privately on FB,  I think it could be amazing to see what formulates...


Reason: Partly because I have a really bad memory and partly because I am 10,198.63 miles (Kilometers: 16,412.65) away from home and can't celebrate this milestone with my friends back in the USA...I thought this could be a great birthday gift for myself. It has been 30 years and there has been so many people who have come and gone, but we have still kept in touch. It is a chance to bless me with memories you have with me, and a way for me to express what your friendship has meant to me and/or how you have formed and changed my life.


Thanks friends!

Youth Day 2012

In South Africa, it commemorates the start of the Soweto riots of 1976, initially sparked by a government edict that all instruction in black schools would be held in the language of Afrikaans. A series of high school student-led protests and an estimated 20,000 students took part in the protests, in which roughly 176 people were killed.

This Youth Day Josh Gen Church was hosting a fun day in the township of Dunoon and was the movie premiere that the church/company had created which was filmed in the township. There were lots of activities including bounce houses, face painting, chalk drawing, soccer, and net ball. It was a wonderful to hang out with these beautiful children and laugh with them.

Sunday Night Dinner

After church on Sunday, Zandi and I decided to go out for dinner at a restaurant that was near to her house. When we got there, it was looked pretty busy but there were a couple tables that seemed open. Zandi walked into the main area and asked for a table and the lady said that they were fully booked. Here in Cape Town, you can easily walk into a deserted place and they will tell you that it is full because everyone will have reservations at 8pm. Zandi walked out and said that it was full. I said but there is a free table here and I pointed to an area by the door. I said “Maybe if they hear my American voice, they will let us have that table!” I have found here…even though I think it is SO WRONG that once people hear my AmeriCAN voice, I seem to get what I want…I consider it a perk at times, so use what you have right? I walked back to the waitress and asked again if there wasn’t any room just for 2 people and I said how about the table outside, in which she said yes we could have it. I walked backed outside to tell Zandi that we got a table! She looked at me…and just gave me this look…and walked in and sat down. I was like “see American has it’s perk” and she said it wasn’t because I was American…it was because I am white. I looked at her and was like, no I am yellow! Haha. I sat there and realized what had happened…it was because she is black that she was declined the table…I was and am utterly shocked as I hadn’t encountered this before or at least noticed it. I have heard stories after stories of things like this and it is apparently common in Cape Town…but I was and am so angry about it! I asked if she wanted to leave and she said no…we are here so lets eat.  I am thankful that I was raised to not see color…and Cape Town you are behind by 10 years, but come on! I just want to apologize over and over to her and everyone who has and is treated like that…they are 100% human as anyone else and to be treated like you is so disgusting and WRONG! This  is something that rings in my heart. You know my heart is about justice and if there is injustice my loud Asian voice will come out and this is one of those topics that I can’t comprehend how and why people would think they are better….It opened my eyes, but next time it happens there may be a fist fight or a rebuking revival in the restaurant!

Friends come and go, and God always provides

In a span of 2 weeks in the month of May, 2 friends moved who I had come to know well in Cape Town.

I had to say goodbye to was Emily Woo. Emily is from Seattle and our paths crossed through The City Church. We were in the same ladies bible study and roughly around the same time were both thinking of moving to Cape Town. I ended up coming about 3 months before her…but she was right behind. Emily volunteered for http://reciprocity.co.za/ where they are creating businesses in the townships. She was originally suppose to only stay for 4 months but extended it to 5 because she loved Cape Town so much (I still believe that the real reason was she loved me as her roommate!) Emily moved into my flat after 2 months and stayed with me until the end. She was a trooper as she slept on a blue inflatable mattress and/or my couch the WHOLE time and never once complained about it or stole my bed (although now that I think of it…why didn’t she ever cuddle in bed with me?!) Emily fell in love with Cape Town the moment she stepped off that plane and raved about it every chance that she got. She knows and has seen more of Cape Town in the first 2 months than I have to date…crazy girl. I hadn’t had a roommate in years and it was such a joy and relief at times to come home and know that she would be home when I got off work and would always have a smile asking how my day was. She even at times were prepared with a mint magnum ice cream bar in hand  We shared some great memories and I appreciated her passion and love for Cape Town and life, our comparisons of Cape Town and the US, her outgoing spirit, Godly wisdom, our crazy talks, and how she enjoyed my view from my living room as much as I do (so what if she liked the mountains and I liked the shirtless men playing soccer…same view..right?) Dropping her off at the airport and walking into my empty and silent apartment was definitely weird….but her short stay is something I will treasure. Emily Woo…I don’t know what lies ahead for you but I do trust God in knowing that He will lead you. I am thankful that he placed you in my life when He did and getting to share this experience with you is priceless. Thank you for supporting me and always encouraging and listening to me. I know that our experiences have been on separate spectrums and I hope and thank God that my trials didn’t effect the season that He brought you here for. I love you and miss you! Onward to more adventures!

Nadja, is a friend who I got to know through work and grew close to over the months. She is originally from Germany but got a job in Cape Town with Amazon and moved down. I remember the first time that we got to hang out together and God truly orchestrated the whole event without any of us having a clue. I had packed some games in my suitcase in the US and had trucked them all the way to Cape Town. I wanted to have things that could make me feel like I was “home” and a way to invite people and get to know them. It had been several months since I had moved into my flat and I had not hosted a game night yet…so on this Friday night in February, I invited a couple friends over after work including Nadja. During our girls’ night, she openedly shared some things that were going on in her life and the Lord was able to use me to minister to the circumstance but more importantly support her and we instantly became friends through sharing life together. We have gotten to share many laughs and tears during multiple game nights and several delicious meals and walks together. In May she had decided she needed to head back to Germany and my heart did skip a beat as I had fondly fallen in love with this amazing girl…even though she is German  We both know that it was the right decision for her, but it is never easy. So the last shindig we did was have a Sunday jazz brunch at the Winchester Mansion Hotels in Seapoint. With Zandi (who I will rave about later and indulge on this crazy black chic) and Nadja, we got all dolled up and headed to this fancy place for seriously one of the best times I have had in Cape Town. We ended up in the room where the live band was playing, vs. the other room where it was playing over the speakers…and we were right up front. They served us with champagne and the newspaper and we spent the next 3 hours devouring every item on the buffet table. It was such an extraordinary time of music, food, laughter, and sweet memories with these girls. It has been about a month since Nadja has left and I do miss her, but I am so dang proud of her. I am proud of the decisions that she has made and I look forward to seeing how God unfolds her story in this next season. Nadja, although it was a short time, you are such an important part of my story and season here in Cape Town and I thank you for sharing it with me. I thank you for loving me and letting me be part of your life and opening your heart to me. God does have so many good things in store for you and I know that God will truly honor you in the decisions that you have had to make in the last few months and although hard, God will bless you abundantly for your obedience and listening to His calling and heart.

I say in the title that God always provides that in the time that I had to say goodbye to Nadja and Emily, I met two sweet girls from Josh Gen Church. Candi and Zandi…how can you go wrong with those names?! You will hear more about them in the coming months, as they are a hoot (not south African terminology of a car horn…but the American terminology of hilarious and amazing!)

Dunoon and some mayisms

I can't leave this blog in such a depressing state...so let me tell you about the township and end with something I am sure will make you all laugh AT me.
This past Sunday I finally got to go to a township church! I have been attending Josh Gen Church here in the city the lasst few months and they have a church in a township called Dunoon. http://www.milnerton.info/nearbySuburbs/DuNoon/DuNoon.html
When the service started, my heart was beating in hearing them sing about Jesu...it was beautiful. I then looked outside and all the kids were downstairs, outside playing. I don't know if it was just a 1 day thing...or if they don't have a children ministry set up, but it didn't really matter...cause if you know me...you know where this story is going! I walked outside to the balcony and watched 3 little girls...who were probably watching me too as they talked in Xhosa and giggled. I talked to you them for a few minutes, they taught me how I should be dancing :) and I later ended up downstairs with them as they sat playing with rocks. It was a beautiful scene of kids just running around...just beautiful. I took the rocks that they were piling together and taught them how to play hopscotch, followed by duck duck goose in which the boys now joined us, to relay races and red light green light. Games are universal...they may not understood my english with my american accent...but we all can talk games! It was a wonderful 2 hours with these kids and them showing me "spinning" aka cartwheels and clapping games about "momma in the kitchen cooking (and you whip your hands like you are stirring,) daddy is the bedroom, sleeping...." For sure going back again and hopefully more equipped with games, sweets, and a kids bible.

Need a laugh...imagine this!
 I got thrown in last minute at work to handle flu vaccinations. My company ordered flu vaccines but not everyone took them; since it is late in the season, we can't return the flu shots, so it is use it or lose it...My company would still have to pay the cost...so desperate times = desperate measures! I started by advertising "shots, shots, amazon is offering free shots, they may be flu shots, but they are still shots :)" Later in the evening, I went even further and bribed people to get the shot! So not HR appropriate....but I am in Africa! haha. I walked around with a candy bar in my hand promoting a free sweet for a flu shot! I can say it was a success as we didn't have many left over! SCORE for the amazing, creative, American!

MISS AND LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!

On my mind

I know that it has been such a long time since I have updated you guys...and I promise that I will get to Kruger Park eventually....but since I am up tonight, this has been on my mind lately and I thought I would give an insight into me with where I am at now... It has been 8 months since I moved from Seattle and the last few months I have trying to push into the fact that "there is more God...There is so much more here" yet my heart is beating for familiarity, simplicity, and the sense of NOT having to fight. Many of you knew my struggles when I first moved to Cape Town and how it felt like I had to fight tooth and nail to get a place, a bed, furniture, and on and on it seemed. Today as I was reflecting while sitting in homegroup....it still feels that way..fighting. Fighting to find my place here in Cape Town both personally and professionally. I have contacted numerous orphanges and no one has emailed me back...my heart for kids! There will be a story coming soon about a township I got to visit...stay tuned to hear how I entertained 20 kids with only rocks, yes I am pretty amazing! Buster my car was busted into about a month ago, friends leaving who have made the season wa more memorable, and grappling with who I thought I was, who I am, who my family wants me to be, who God sees me, and knowing that there is MORE. I know this is such a loaded question but it really has been my life lately. There is so many good things happening here in Cape Town and I really do mean to share them with you...just not today I guess :) I have been going to a church that reminds me so much of SB days....and in some way it feels like I am pedaling backwards...which I know I am so not. So much has happened from SB to Seattle to Africa (I know you Capetonians, I know....I am in SOUTH AFRICA....but we can have a discussion about that later!)God seems to be getting my feet wet into things that I haven't done or seen in quite a long time...and it feels like he is just asking me "do you remember...do you remember who you are?" Seattle was such a time of healing for me and that season I had stepped away from things that had been so familiar to me...and now it is coming full circle and I am not the same person. I rejoice in seeing this...and yet timid for some odd reason. Today I feel like He is saying "can you fight a little longer for what is in store for you...can you push into Me a little harder." So although I am exhausted, today, I feel a little nudge, a little push, and some faith and grace that has been breath back into me. Thank you Jesus :)

March/April

Work has consumed me in the last month which has been a bummer. I was talking with a friend and concluded that work could be described as “character building.” That is one way to look at it! In the chaos of work, I had to learning how to drive Buster and the first week of driving I thought I was doomed! I stalled at basically every stop light/ stop sign and even trying to get the car to start and move! The thought that I made the worst decision in buying a car I couldn’t even drive crossed my mind, but with the help of my co-workers Varun and Helena, I was independent and driving on my own within 2 weeks. It only took 2 weeks yet felt so much longer! I can now proudly say I am driving on the left hand side, not stalling or rolling on hills, and can impress the guys if I ever go back to the states with my ability to drive stick and look cool in revving and screeching the wheels (that part is thanks to doing all the things you SHOULDN”T be doing before doing it right haha.) While learning, I took my first big trip by driving to Cape of Good Hope which is about 1 ½ hours away. The place was stunning in views, and I finally was able to see wild baboons! There was a huge family that we saw just chillin in the middle of the road and one was even sitting on top of a car that kept driving. As they would say in S. Africa it was “hectic” but amazing experience. It just brought back sweet memories of my time when I volunteered at the zoo in Reno while in high school. I was blessed with the opportunity to work with wild animals that most people don’t get to even after years of working at a large zoo. We had a group of 10-15 baboons at the zoo and a beautiful alpha male named Alphie…he was aggressive yet so sweet. Great memories for sure back at the zoo and on this trip to the point. Next adventure is going to Kruger Park and doing a 4 day/3night safari next week!

Meet Buster

I finally got a car on March 14th. His name is Buster and he is a 2007 Opel Corsa. This is my first manual/stick shift car in addition to the steering wheel being on the right. Here is my story of my first night with Buster. Since I didn't know how to drive stick yet after purchasing the car, the dealer said that he could drive it to my work. He was supposed to have arrived at 6pm and didn't come until 8:30pm. He came with his co-worker and my friend Varun and I were trying to inspect the car in THE DARK. Nice way to purchase the car huh? He then tells me he registered the wrong car under my name with the wrong license plates, presents the doc for the other car that is in the lot, and told me that he will come back the following week with the correct documents. If that isn’t funny enough here is the kicker....ready.....we were testing out everything before taking the car and of course checked the lights. The back right light was blinking at different speeds than the left… they had put in the wrong bulb! The guy then all of a sudden walks to the car he had driven in which luckily was a corsa, opens the trunk, removes the light fixture from the car and replaces it with my broken lights...then looks at me and smiles and says all fixed. HAHAHAHAHA. I am still laughing about it....cause that is MY LIFE in Africa!

Firsts

Wow the last 3 weekends has been pretty crazy! I have gotten to do a lot of firsts in the last few weeks. A couple weeks ago, it was Emily Woo’s 30th birthday and we drove down to Bettys Bay and Hermanus for the weekend. The ocean scenes were absolutely stunning! During that weekend, my firsts included staying at my first hostel, saw the Milky Way stars, saw a red grasshopper, first official hike in Cape Town, tasted my first braai (BBQ,) watched people make Poijke (kinda like a stew cooked on the grill,) and swam in both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. My favorite parts of the trip included Grotto Beach and clam digging with Emily and the locals. I also had my had my first stick shift driving lesson! I found that shifting gears wasn't too difficult, but the slopes are what got me. I either kept stalling or rolling back, YIKES! I asked the teacher if I could just put a sticker in the back that says Car will roll bc American is driving and then we would be good. She laughed. Last weekend I went to the World Soccer Cup Stadium and got to watch a game which was another first here. The stadium is beautiful and I can't imagine what it would have been like during the World Cup! Last week was also when I got sick for the first time here in Cape Town and got to discover the amazing delight that I had bed bugs in my flat…REALLY?! So this week was by far the longest week of my life so far in Cape Town. I called in sick from work on Monday yet couldn’t rest as I was getting bitten and was extremely uncomfortable. Wednesday, the exterminators came late which also meant I now had to work late and I missed part of my meeting at work. When I got home at 10:30pm, the flat still smelled of pesticides so I had to go out for dinner to try to let it air out. I was so sick, tired, and looked absolutely awful but probably looked good for the bar scene, haha. Thursday night I spent 3 ½ hours bleaching my whole apartment as the exterminators left footprints all over the place and the thought of all the dead bugs on the floor was disgusting. I scrubbed everything including all the baseboards. Hope this was the first and last time I ever have to deal with bedbugs. I am believing that they are gone forever in Jesus name! This weekend, I got to buy my first car in Cape Town and my first stick/manual drive. I bought a 2007 Opel Corsa and will be able to pick it up by the end of the week. I will post pictures once I get it and have a name for it. It is no Jasmine, but I believe this boy will be fantastic for my time here!

More pics on FB

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150583172304183.404792.719764182&type=3&l=9c13f7488c

Robben Island

A trainer from Seattle who is in town this week told me that she was going to Robben Island on Saturday by herself and I told her that I would join her. I have been wanting to go, but wanted to go with someone. I haven’t done a lot of tourist things partly because I rather share the memories with someone and partly because I know that people will be visiting me in the next two years and I don’t want to see all the tourist sites as then it would be repetitive. Maybe that is a lame excuse, but it is what it is. So this morning I got up and headed to the waterfront. I got off the bus further than I thought and a nice gentleman from one of the helicopter booths offered to give me a ride on his go cart which was wonderful. I got there and met up with Claudia and off we went. The boat ride was about 30 minutes as it was an overcast day so the waves were choppier and felt like an amusement ride…which I didn’t mind, makes the adventure more fun! The scenery all around was absolutely beautiful in getting to see the whole cape coast and then driving into Robben Island. We even saw a sea lion claiming a spot between all the seagulls. Claudia was saying that she thought it looked very nice and could live there.


Once we got off the boat, there was an awful stench! We concluded it was all the bird crap on the ramp that was causing it…it was bad! I asked her…if she still wanted to live there, and we laughed. From the boat, we got onto a tour bus and they drove around the island giving the history behind the buildings and areas. One thing that we didn’t realize was that we came on the island today, which is February 11th, and Nelson Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990…how CRAZY IS THAT!!! Very interesting is all I can say. Another thing is that this island was used in WW II as a training and defense station and there are many artifacts, cannons, and buildings reflecting this. So our tour guides were Tabo and Surge who were from Khayelitsha and Guguletu townships. Tabo was incredible in describing everything and also making random funny remarks. For example, we passed a church which they have now opened up for people to have their weddings at on Valentine’s Day. He says, “Here on this island, we take weddings seriously and they are a life sentence..As you can look around you and understand why.” Hahahaha. We drove past an area where they housed all the German shepherds who the prisoners believed were trained to be racist as they knew who to attack and who not to. We drove past a cemetery which buried all the lepers who were sent to the island to die. We got to see the limestone quarry where hard labor was given but also the base of where all political discussions occurred. They would hide notes and letters under rocks and every chance they got would stop and talk about politics. In 1995, a year after all the prisoners were released and apartheid ended, all the ex-prisoners were invited back to the island and they laid a mountain of rocks at this place which is a powerful representation of their suffering, that they won’t be forgotten, and a monument for their children, grandchildren, and many more down the line. We got to stop at a beautiful spot on the edge and take pics…Table Mt. was covered in clouds, but still spectacular view. The tour also included many different animals from penguins crossing the road, turtles crossing the road, and a springbok in the field (which apparently is rare.)


The last stop was at the maximum prison where all the prisoners were held including Mandela. It was interesting to see the cells with stories of different prisoners, the different building that they split people in, how they were given 4 thin blankets and a rug basically to sleep on, and so much more. We walked past the kitchen in which as the tour guide said was where all the action happened. Since he worked in the kitchen he was able to give us rare information about how they put notes, newspapers, and anything else they could in the sandwiches and food to the prisoners to try to keep them informed and continuing talks on freedom. How nuts is that! He also talked about food portions and how 1 ounce was given to the Indians and colored, and ½ ounce to the blacks. Something that was such an honor is that our tour guide was an ex-prisoner. All tour guides in the cells are ex-prisoners, but there will be a day where that part of the tour won’t happen anymore…thought it is so cool that I get to experience this now. The tour guide showed us where Mandela hid his first set of transcripts for his book Road to Freedom which the guards found and took away…and no one has seen it since. How they would play soccer and purposely kick the ball over the wall to another building which wasn’t guarded as heavily and the balls contained notes inside them from the prisoners. The last place we saw on our tour was the cell of Mandela of course. The whole experience was amazing and at the same time so sad. How people could be treated that way, how people think they are superior to another, and also just how this history spot is also such a tourist spot where they are trying to make money off of. The guide told us about all these different areas that are being renovated for use. How someone’s pain and suffering is the gain of the country who threw them in that in the first place. Such a mix of emotions and things to process. Claudia and I ended with lunch and ice cream at the waterfront before she had to catch her flight back. I joined Emily later in the afternoon to go to the District Six Museum which is the history about the part of Cape Town that was claimed as “white only” and kicked 60,000+ poor people into other areas which are now the townships you see all around the outsides of the tourist spots. I think the trip to Robben gave me a lot to process and so this was an overload and I couldn’t soak up this museum, will go back again at a later time!

Games

Game Night - When I was packing up my stuff in Seattle for my move, I insisted that I got to bring most my games with me, even though Tracy rolled her eyes. I thought that it would be great way to invite people over and play board games and hang out. So when I invited some co-workers out, they were quite impressed that I had actually packed it in the suitcase. We started to play Jenga which was a wonderful game and played like 4 rounds, and then moved to Uno. Nadja and Rosemary were great company and said I had a nice place even though it feels kind of empty…maybe I need more pics. We all had a blast with great conversations and laughter-I definitely think it has to be a once a month thing.

Saturday I had a full agenda of wanting to get coffee, car shop, and then go to a rugby tournament. On the way to the bus stop, I thought I would get my ticker to the tournament and be on my way. Once I got the ticket, I kind of got sucked into the field, and basically spent the next 7 hours tanning, watching, admiring and eating. It is a wonderful game of violence and strategy and it for sure doesn’t hurt the eyes with all the HOT shirtless men…I had a blast on the stands! I did have a Mayism moment though when I went to grab lunch. It was quite hot on Saturday and while I was standing at the bus stop I was talking to a guy about the weather. After several minutes, his friend comes up and is sweating a storm. I look at him and continue my conversation by saying “see he is hot…I mean he is hot, but he is sweating, which shows how hot the weather is.” I was probably already pink from being hot…but my face was probably a whole new shade of pink…so funny!!

Sunday, I ended up staying at the mall a little too long after church and learned a valuable lesson. I got to the mini bus station at 8pm and it was basically a ghost town. I asked a couple people that were waiting how long they had been there and they said 30 minutes. I went to the gate keeper and he said the next one wouldn’t be for 75 minutes…which would mean that it would after 9pm before I even got downtown and still would have to catch another bus to get home. Knowing that the main station is pretty dodgy I had to find another solution. I am not kin on taking regular taxis as they are expensive (relatively, as I typically think about how much sushi or chocolate I can get) but knowing the risk I would be putting myself in wouldn’t be worth it. So I forked over R100 and got a taxi at a hotel. The attendant at the hotel, named Damian was extremely sweet and bargained with the cab driver so keep it at R100 and take me completely home and not just downtown. The cab driver was named Eshad and was from Congo. A lot of taxi drivers and car watchers are from that area. We had a fantastic talk about “Living” and defining when you should say I am living in a city and call it home. He said, “if you are in a place for more than 2 days, then it is home. You need to make it home, take it as your own, it is home, so you are in Cape Town, so this is your home.” He was a sweet man, and I am grateful that I got home safely. Lesson learned…May it might be time to get a car!

*Things I could use prayer for- I really do want to get a car and need to decide if I should want until my co-workers have time to take me or to just go to a car lot by myself. I have been waiting for a month, but our schedules keep interfering and we have had to cancel multiple times. I would like to travel a little further than what the buses and my feet can take me. Also, I seem to be having trouble getting my police clearance from the US. They refuse to email it to me, and have sent it to my US address which it never got forwarded and now they have sent it to Cape Town…and who knows how long that can take. I have until the end of March to get it and if I don’t, I might get shipped back to the US…

Pigalle

Saturday night I was invited to an Amazon post holiday party. Our building has two different divisions and this division that was hosting the party isn’t the one I work in, but have had the opportunity to help with over the past year both in Seattle and in Cape Town, so they invited me. They told me that I could invite someone and without hesitation it was Emily Woo of course! We got all dressed up, and we looked hot! When we got to the restaurant, the front doors were closed. For an instance I was thinking “Oh crap! I have the wrong place,” but then some waiters from the balcony was yelling at us and told us to walk around the corner. It was a nice chuckle. When we got inside, it was beautiful. The place was very elegant and then there were these pics of Elvis Presley holding a gun…it seem out of place for me, but randomly fun. I enjoyed having Emily meet some of my co-workers and we devoured our shrimp cocktail, Steak and salmon, and our chocolate fondant with unlimited wine. Emily and I headed onto the dance floor at the end of the night, and danced to some of the songs. When Shakira’s song “This Time For Africa” came on, we just looked at each other like “YES,” and then danced some more. Here is the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFdZ10rtv2Q&feature=related
Pigalle, thank you for the wonderful evening!

Simple Things in Life are Sometimes Always the Best

This was the title of the sermon last week that Pastor Lucinda Dooley spoke on at Hillsong church. The message wasn’t that profound but I have found that it has resonated in my week. Over the last couple of months as I have ridden the MyCiti bus, it always drives by an area in which I can see a sign that says Seattle Coffee Company. I tried visiting the place a couple weeks ago on a Saturday and it was closed. On Wednesday I got up early enough t drop my laundry off (as most places don’t have washer and dryers, you have to take it in to a laundry mate and they do it for you…kind of a perk and kind of not) and still make it downtown for coffee. I walked into the place and the smell…the smell of coffee was refreshing. When they handed me my grande vanilla latte and I took a sip, it felt like home! You know when it is snowing outside and a cup of tea or hot cocoa soothes the soul…it was like that! Absolutely amazing! Although my day at work was the same as any other days…this day, on this Wednesday, nothing could have dampened my day all thanks to a cup of coffee…it’s is the simple things. This week I had to have all my performance reviews done for work and it was stressful to get them all done but was also a good time on reflecting this past year and all that that happened at work. It was an exhausting and emotional week for a variety of reasons and on Friday I came home to an orange envelope in my mailbox. When I grabbed it and looked who it was from on the top left, my emotions kicked in and there I was standing in the foyer at 9pm at night crying….a simple letter without even opening it yet, but reminds me that I am loved, not forgotten, what I have left behind, and yet knowing that this year is going to be better than the last, and God has so much in store for me. This letter was sent over 2 weeks ago and God delivered it sooner, as most letters I have gotten has taken a month! Work was extremely challenging this week and there have been thoughts of “What am I doing here!” PJ will probably have no clue, but that letter breathed life back into me, in that moment, it was just a reminder that God sure does have me in the palm of His hand. Ek is lief vir jou, vriend! On Saturday, I went grocery shopping and it was the first time since I have been here that I picked up flowers for my place. I have been staring at these flowers the last few days and what a difference it makes in my flat and in me…I love looking at them, smelling them, it has brought joy to me this weekend…It really is the simple things in life that are sometimes the best!
Since this week seemed to be a reflection on week, I thought I would finally get to thinking about what lies ahead this year. Last year I created a prayer wall at my Seattle home, and when I left, I took a picture of it and was amazed to see all the things that God said and answered for me and the people I felt called to pray for. I bought the materials at the beginning of the year, but just finally got around to doing it today. It was a good time of prayer in seeing things that I get to intercede for and the promises that He has in store…It is going to a great year!

More Pictures

More pictures can be found on FB. Hope you enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150371274234183.374953.719764182&type=1&l=76349c77e7

Past Weekend

This weekend was full. I woke up Friday and just missed Seattle. I can’t explain it, but there are days that I just wake up and miss people and this was one of them. When I got to work, Andrew my co-worker who I share an office with just looked at me and said you are off today…aren’t you. I just nodded and he said yeah, I can tell. Not sure if that meant you look like CRAP…or what…but yes I was having an off day. I opened my emails to get a response from my old boss in Seattle who told me the gender of her baby, which is so exciting! We then had an hour meeting/training and listened to a video that corporate had created and I recognized the voice as Michael who I worked with at orientations quite a bit over the last 2 years…didn’t help my homesickness at all. What topped it off was in the middle, they posted a picture of my friend Ebony as she works on this project/training that we are going through. Ebony was in my small group this past year and have gotten to know her and love her more and more. When her picture came up, my eyes got all teary and I was ready to cry. Lord, next time I wake up with this feeling, could you warn me that I am going to have reminders about how much I miss people, because it was kind of cruel..not that it was the Lords fault, but I do love and miss my people in Seattle and that was an intense morning. I have been trying to connect with this small group in my area and they told me that they were meeting at a beach on Friday night. I wanted to go, but couldn’t figure out a way to get off work in time and make it to the beach as I would have to take several mini buses or pay for a metered cab, which I am too cheap to pay for. I decided I wasn’t going to go but then Andrew told me right before I left that he would take me. He has been such a blessing to shuttle me around and take me home when it is pouring rain. He dropped me off at the beach where they said they were going to meet. I was not prepared for the beach as I was in long jeans and a long shirt…because I didn’t think I was going. I got to the bottom of Clifton Beach #4 and tried calling the group, but no one picked up the phone. I sat there and took some pictures as it is absolutely gorgeous. Walked the sand a bit, as this was my first time at the beach beach in Cape Town. I have driven around, walked the rocky Atlantic, but not walked on the beach. The group called back and told me that they had moved the event to a pizza place at Camps Bay. I was like okay….I will figure out how to get there. I hung up the phone, walked up the stairs and started walking. I was thinking I would catch a mini taxi, but none of them drove by, so I kept walking and taking this opportunity to soak up the African sun, take pictures of the beautiful scenery and laugh at how this went down. When I first tried to meet a group of people in Seattle, there were some minor communication issues, and here I am in Cape Town with the same thing. The walk wasn’t far at all, maybe 30 minutes but I made it to the pizza place and had to play who and where is this small group. I got up to the place and looked around and couldn’t figure out who this group might be. I called but no one picked up. The waitress asked I needed help and I told her that I was waiting on a call. The group didn’t call in 5 minutes so I walked around the restaurant trying to guess but I couldn’t. The waitress came back and I told her I was meeting people. She asked what they looked like and I said that was part of the problem. I don’t know what they look like; it is like a blind date. She goes ohh...nice, another awkward moment and eye rolling session of Jesus could you please make meeting people easier. So, I took all my extravertedness that I had left in me and walked around the tables asking, “anyone in this group named ***, ****, etc” until one of the tables said I am this name. Hahahaha. Now I can laugh about it, but at the time, I was hot, sweaty, probably really pink and unattractive, and embarrassed. Thankfully and sadly, no hot men at this event. I met this wonderful woman named Lauren that I do look forward to getting to know. She was kind enough to take me home at the end of the night and we had a really good, honest conversation. It was a sweet ending to an emotional Friday.





Saturday I went to the bank to try to get a loan. I have been wanting to get a car, but don’t have all the cash with me. It would be easier to bargain if I had cash, so I was thinking of different ways I could get the money. I didn’t think I could get a loan as prior events with South African Bank gave me little hope and also people at work were saying the same thing. I went in and decided it wouldn’t hurt to try, and within 30 minutes I had gotten approved for a loan and the money transferred into my account! I couldn’t believe it; God’s favor for sure was on this as I forgot my proof of address but got the same lady who helped me set up my bank account. I then had a wonderful breakfast at the grocery store I loved when I lived in the hotel and then took the mini taxi to meet up with Emily at the Biscuit Mill. Emily is from Seattle and was in my small group off and on last year. She is staying in Cape Town for 4 months working, before traveling around to Ukraine and Europe. It was amazing to see a familiar face and to hear the stories she has from being here the last 3 days. We had a wonderful day of catching up, seeing Cape Town, and sharing experiences and memories. We met this man on the street named Musa (Moses) who sold me this craft item that he made. I love meeting people on the streets, hearing their stories, and laughing with them. I took Emily on a mini bus experience and her grin from ear to ear tells it all. We got on this mini bus that had a British flag painted on the front and the driver was low ball driving and had the music blaring. Emily was like, I love this song, and he would turn it up more. The people next to me were laughing as they were as entertained as I was watching Emily on her first experience on something I dearly love. We walked the Waterfront, chatted, and headed to her flat before dinner at Mama Africa. Her place has a beautiful view of the city and is close to my work. Sushi buddy…I think so! We sat at Mama Africa for 3 hours, talking to people, eating, and learning musical instruments. When the band came, they grabbed Emily to go play the bongos and she loved it. I then got pulled into it…and I got no rhythm, but if I watched the guy, I could follow him…that was the key for me. We also learned how to play the kashaka which is this instrument with a string and a ball on each end. You hold the string between your first and middle finger and have one ball in your palm. You then swing the other ball round your thumb to hit the ball in your palm and then swing it the other way around your pinky and catch it. It was difficult, but the guys enjoyed watching us. I love South African people, they are amazing! It was an amazing Saturday with Emily and I look forward to seeing her over the next several months and hearing all that she gets to see and experience.

Mexican dinner

Earlier this week, I got to go out for Mexican dinner with my co-workers. This was the first time I had Mexican here and it was delicious. We went to the Observatory which is where the University is at. It is full of college kids and is a little on the dodgy side. We parked in a parking lot, which was the first parking lot I have seen in Cape Town besides at the mall. Random observation. The Chicken Flautas was wonderful, and the 2 glasses of strawberry margaritas were so yummy. Strong, but it was good. When I got to work the next day, the co-workers were making fun of me, as I was slightly tipsy. I normally wouldn’t share this…but I know that someone reading this may need a laugh…so here it goes. They told me that on the way out, I saw that one of my co-workers hadn’t finished her glass, so I took and drank it. I then told her that she couldn’t ever do that again otherwise I would have to call the margarita police! Hahaha. When they told me this…I totally remember saying that, and we busted up laughing in the office. Laughing is good for the soul, and I enjoyed my margaritas and then some!