T-I-A (This is Africa)

It is Day 5 here at African Enterprise in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. School is in full swing, and we only started Monday.  What a whirlwind! I’ve been in South Africa for one entire week. My goodness, it feels longer…not in a bad way—just the way it is when you travel half way around the world, I imagine. Here, in South Africa, I am a student of Azusa Pacific International (API). Anyway, I think the best way to take this blog is by days, so here we go…(Feel free to read this is segments, by the way. So much has gone on, it is overwhelming to even me!)

Arrival: (Friday, Sept 9)

This past Friday afternoon, we arrived to a welcoming party like no other. There were women dancing, hugging us as we got off the bus and saying, “I love you, I love you, I love you.” It was enough to bring a person to tears. The spirit and way in which the whole staff here (as well as the people in general) has welcomed us is like none other. So inviting. So loving. So giving. So open—open to talk, learn your name, and teach you some Zulu (their language), in the process.

Day #1: (Saturday, Sept 10)

We spent this day touring Pietermaritzburg. We went to a spot at the “top” of the city where we could see everything (great photo op), and then we headed to a historic train station where Ghandi was ejected from a first class compartment of a natal government railways train on June 7, 1893. This event is significant because it marked the beginning of his political career in the 20^th century. After lunch at African Enterprise, we loaded back onto the buses (of which there are 4) and headed to the Birds of Prey sanctuary. Sound creepy? It was. (There are some great pictures in Upload #2).

Day #2: (Sunday, Sept. 11)

On Sunday, we were given the option of attending one of four different churches with our four main leaders, Sarah Jane (SJ), Reagan, Janet, or Reg (the man in charge of this whole operation). I went with Reagan because he advertised his church as the most charismatic, jump up and down, move with the Spirit type church. As we arrived, (myself and about 15 others), it was clear who the APU students were. We lined two entire rows in the church and worshiped along with the people in Afrikaans, Zulu, and English. Talk about diversity! I loved it. Surprisingly, the majority of the worship selections came from Hillsong, so we were able to follow along for most of the worship. The pastor preached in English on the baptism of suffering and his message was powerful. I went up for prayer at the end along with a few others, and myself, as well as those “others” ended up in tears by the end. Our CLCs (Community Life Coordinators)—who I mentioned above (minus Reg), encourage us to find a church while we’re here, get involved, and make it our home, so I’m excited to attend that church regularly in the future (at the moment I can’t remember its name, but when I find out I will let you know!) That afternoon, the entire group took an afternoon hike to waterfall #2 on the campus (waterfall #1 is right outside my back window along with a volleyball court, firepit, and watering hole—for swimming, once it gets a bit warmer). Ryno, an intern on campus, (pronounced Rhino—that really is his name) was our fearless leader, machete and all in hand, whacking down bush and branch—or anything that stood in our path, as we walked. The day ended with a team meeting in which I was given my moment to shine (for knowing everyone’s name). It was quite a feat I accomplished, especially when you have to stand up, look people in the eye, and name them out loud, but I did it (along with one other person), and I have been told that a reward is on its way (although I have yet to receive one).

Day #3: (Monday, Sept. 12)

By Monday morning, the games were over (which we’d played plenty of at that point—literally—monopoly, signs, kemps, you name it), and our first day of school had begun. I woke up at 5:30 AM. “Why so early?” you might ask. Well, I had signed up for worship team the night before and our first chapel was that Monday morning. Needless to say, we had to practice and I, along with a guitar playing junior named Max, had been nominated to lead for the first one. We have chapels Monday and Friday morning at 8 AM here in South Africa (no more complaining about 9:30 chapels, APU!). It was an early morning and a long day. After chapel was history, and after history was tea. After tea was biology until 1 PM--then lunch, then more biology from 1:30- 4 PM. Mondays are biology lecture (ALL DAY) and Thursdays are field trips (you can guess which day will be my favorite).

Finally, class ended. I went back to my dorm (or chalet, as they call them here), uploaded pictures, and relaxed for the rest of the night.

Day #4: (Tuesday, Sept 13)

Yesterday began with service sites. After these 6 weeks of school, all the students will choose from 1 of 5 “service sites.” We will be working/ministering at our selected site for four weeks straight, so for the next few weeks we are visiting the sites so we can get a feel for each one and discover where the Lord might be calling us in the weeks to come. After visiting two sites off campus, we came back to AE (African Enterprise) and headed to class. Tuesday is Life and Teachings of Jesus with Reg (short for Reginald). He is a white South African man, probably in his late sixties, and the executive director here at API. I look forward to absorbing every word that comes out of his mouth (and that is not an overstatement—he’s just one of those people). After Life and Teachings, I was done for the day. Then, the real challenge faced me…homework or hike on the game reserve that is less than half a mile away. In my normal responsible APU mindset, I would have chosen homework, but I’m in South Africa for goodness sake…I chose the hike, and it’s a good thing I did!! We saw Zebras--four of them. Just eating and grazing and walking and wandering, right in front of our eyes. It was amazing and I got plenty of pictures :)

Day #5: (Wednesday, Sept 14)

As this day (and this blog) comes to a close, I want to reflect back on my title for this entry “T-I-A (This is Africa).” When we first arrived here, Quinton (one of the directors who met us in Johannesburg), said it to us. It was funny at the time. It still is, but now (only a few short days later), it already holds much meaning. If class starts at 1 PM that most likely means 1:15. If the power goes out, it will eventually come back on again. If the hot water turns icy cold, just wait for a bit. If internet goes down, it will eventually come up. When things go wrong, no stress, no worries. This is Africa. It is an intensely different way of life over here. Time moves slowly, (even with our busy schedules) and with no cell phone and no facebook, I now have the time to take notice of people, landscape, and the tiny blessings that come throughout the day (like teatime, which I will be headed to “just now,” which in South Africa means, in a moment).  On Monday morning Reg spoke in our first chapel. He spoke on what it looks like for the Kingdom to come to earth. He said, as believers, our question should be, “What on earth can I do for heaven’s sake.” Then he talked about a funeral he performed where no one came. Not one person attended this middle-aged man’s funeral when he died. Reg recited the service to empty pews (about 30 years ago), and this memory, he said, will stick in his mind forever. That moment ingrained in him that he never wanted to be that man, who came and went from this earth, and when he left, there was not a person who knew or cared that he was gone. Reg said at the end of his message, “You will leave everything behind except the people whose lives you’ve touched.” Wow. What a way to start the school year, with that message in mind.

We sang a song that morning by Jon Foreman called “Your Love is Strong,” not knowing the topic on which Reg was going to speak. I think the lyrics of this song recap his message quite perfectly…

“Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life…

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?”

-Your Love is Strong