My Dearest Friends and Family,
I am so excited to tell you that I am now in South Africa and made it safely!!! Now that I am down here, I don’t know how often I will be able to write, but I will try to keep you all updated as much as possible with what I have been doing. They told us we would at least get on the internet once a week.
I have started to miss you all very much. I don’t think I am quite homesick yet, but pretty close. The Lord has been so amazing with me and all my team-mates these past two weeks.
Week 1, Training Camp
The first day, was mostly spent getting to know each other. They also had a lot of different activities to do during that week. Most of our time was spent either doing some kind of team-activity where we learned how we worked with each other or in some kind of ministry church service. One of these events included an obstacle course where the whole team had to get through different things like a balance bar, a rope ladder, a large tire swing that we had to get through without touching anything, and finally a wall that we had to climb up. Though we didn’t complete most of the challenges we faced, we did learn about leadership and where we play a role in the leadership of our group.
Between the team builders, we got about three sermons a day about different subjects like children, spiritual warfare, ATL, “Ask The Lord,” and many more. Then we had worship almost every night. You could pretty much say that this week was full of things to do… and little time to ourselves. Finally we were able to leave Gainesville GA, and go to Africa.
Week 2 Up to this Point
Most of our trouble started right before we left. Three of the people had trouble with their passports and had to wait to come down here for a few more days. They will be here probably tonight.
When we got here, we realized after getting off the plane that most of our bags were still in Washington DC and we would have to wait for a few days before getting any of our luggages. On top of that, one of our team leaders lost her passport on the airplane and couldn’t get it back, so she was deported back to Canada. If she is to continue on with us, she will need to get a new passport and pay for another ticket down to Port Elizabeth. Please pray for her that she will be able to get the money to come back down here. She is very discouraged.
We got here about 11PM, so we pretty much went straight to bed. The next day, they gave us a little time to explore “downtown” Jeffreys Bay. I am so amazed by the beauty of this place. The beach is just a 3 minute walk from where we are staying. Pretty much anywhere you want to go, it is between a 2-30 minute walk. On one side, you have the rich housing and shopping centers. On the other side, the further you go, the worse the housing conditions.
At the beach, I picked some sea shells off the beach, I got a cell phone for me to be contacted by my team-mates and contact leaders, “mostly for safety reasons.” I also got an internet card to get on line, “we have to pay for internet access.”
Today we did a scavenger hunt that was really fun. We had to run all over the place in order to get certain items, or take pictures. Our only problem was at a gas station when Leah Rush put down her camera for some reason. She left and half way to Deo Doxa, “a international church here in Jeffreys Bay,” we found out she didn’t have her camera with her. So we went back and the people at the counter said they didn’t see a camera. But we are thinking they were being dishonest because when they opened the counter, they didn’t open it all the way, and the leaders said that they probably did take it. So Leah lost her camera already. Pray for her.
Our team did win the scavenger hunt. On the list, we didn’t get two things. So they gave us money to go and get a milkshake!!! Oh my gooness!!! THE MILK SHAKES ARE AMAZING!!! They are so much creamier than the ones at home. MMMMMM!!!! The food has been pretty good actually. It is different, but very tasty. “The mango soda is quite amazing if I do say so myself!!!”
With all the greatness about the place we are at, there are a few drawbacks. It is a campsite. So this week we will have to pack all our stuff again and move out for the weekend. We are going to a place called The Bush. I don’t know much more about it than that. I am having a hard time with this, mostly because I just want to feel settled before having to move out again. Please pray for all of us. I am not the only on having trouble with this.
I love and miss you all. I will try to keep you updated as much as possible. Oh, and please be patient with the emails, I don’t usually have that much time to write back when I get them because it is expensive to get on line, and I am not only on my time, but every one else’s. We can’t travel alone here, we have to be in pairs of three or four, “mostly so we don’t have any problems with the community.” Thanks again. And I still need support, so if you were thinking of giving, please send it in. I am about $3,000 to go. I will give you a better detail when I get the chance to look at my AIM account.
Love,
Andrew
