The First Few Days

I have been having a problem with posting to the blog because the bandwidth is pretty low here, so I am going to try to git videos up another way, hopefully an easier/faster/better way.

I do need to get you guys an update because so much has happened the last few days.

It is incredible to think that I have only been here for 3 days now, every minute has been so filled with new things that I feel like it has been at least a week.

The First Day

I arrived and was greeted in the airport by David and Jean and big hugs- which if you've read my last post you know were sorely needed.  I was immediately just so happy to finally be there and not be moving any longer.  We drove the 30 or so minutes to their home and had seamless conversation the entire time.  I heard stories and learned about everything we were passing along the way. 

We arrived on the reserve (7 land owners got together and put their land together to make a conservatory to protect the land and everything indigenous to the area, it is more than 150 hectares- whatever that means) and I met the whole team, all of whom I will eventually get little bios on and put them up for you.  I was shown my room, which is perfect by the way, and I unpacked.  I desperately needed a shower though, and quickly got to it.  I felt like a completely different person afterwards.

Jean gave me the tour of the place, through the entire grounds and trails.  Apparently there has been a whole lot of rain, which is very uncommon for this time of the year, so it was overcast and not too hot.  The rest of the day was sort of orientation.  I observed and had a lot explained to me and was even able to sit with David and Jean and talk about history and expectations.  The longer the day went on, the more excited I was to be here, with these people. It was quite clear by the end of the day that this was God's chosen place for me.

Day Two

I slept like a rock, except for the very confused rooster who sleeps beneath my window until 3am when he is convinced it is time to get everyone up.  I watched my clock tick to 15 minutes before my alarm and got up.  Every morning we have devotion at 6:45 and a sort of team gathering as a way to keep everyone connected and to start the day in the word.  We read Psalm 118, a classic psalm of thanks to God for his creation and sovereignty and love.  It was the perfect way to start my first day of work, mainly because that is exactly how I felt.

We left the house shortly after 7am, to host a group of 15 year olds who were at a school for drop-outs and expulsions, delinquents, and "bad kids".  I have never been so stunned in my entire life.

The kids were fantastic. They listened, the were respectful, they engaged in the things we were doing, and I was surprised to hear that they all had come from backgrounds of such poor behavior.  I was even more surprised, however, when David got up and told them that we were terribly disappointed and if they couldn't step up to our expectations, we would just pack it in and call it a day.  I didn't get it.  I had to ask David later that night to explain why he had felt that they were so bad. 

Turns out that kids here are expected to be very respectful, and not to show any attitude.  I of course saw some attitude out of the kids but nothing like the stuff I see at home.  The other thing was that they mostly all had a way of being too cool for the tasks we had them do and that they had no motivation.  I had to agree that I saw that too, but no more (even less) than about 90% of any high schooler I have EVER met.

I learned that I need to be very aware of the what I am to be expecting of the kids here. Also, this has made me much more aware of my own actions.  And I am worried lol.

Today

I didn't sleep as well last night, and when I woke up it was already hot.  I could tell that the day at the Durban Botanical Gardens was going to be a scorcher.  We had a great morning devotion, looking at Acts chapter 2.  We talked about how Jesus was only man, but so in tune with God  and God's will for him, that he was able to do incredible things.  That we should strive to seek God's will in everything we do because miraculous things can happen.

Talking to Jean last night made that very clear to me.  We sat up, a bit later than we should have, and I was able to listen to a beautiful stream of stories from her and David's years of ministry.  She told me about their work in Zimbabwe and there is no way that I could do it justice.  I told her I was going to have to get her to let me tape an interview with her.

Anyhow, this morning we went to the Gardens with Hillcrest Christian Academy, a private Christian grade school.  We had a great time with about 30 4th graders.  Any hotter and I would have melted, but I managed to stay rather cool (always :).  Nonetheless, my farmers tan is officially here, thank you very much.

When we got home I took a quick swim and now I am here on my bed trying to get some information to you all.  I will be taking photos soon so you will be able to see the magnifisence of this place.

I hope all is well.