I am in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, and as such, I have to experience what a south african world cup should feel like, so for the opening ceremonies, we went to Mbali, one of the townships, for what is called a “Fan Park” They set up a Big Screen and a stage in a soccer field at the local college, and have live music and stuff when the game isn't being shown, everyone dresses up in the south african colours and wears flags and stuff and playing their vuvuzelas (the plastic horns that annoy you when you watch the soccer game).
The whole game was one big party, everyone was hanging out having fun, then Bafana Bafana (the name of the african team) scored a goal, and everyone went crazy! Everyone was jumping up and down screaming, blowing their vuvuzelas, and hugging for like 5 minutes.
It was a good game, and even though we didn`t win, we still tied, which is a moral victory when bafana is playing mexico.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Connie's Kitchen
My one of my favourite Zulu foods are fat cakes, which is a deep fried ball of dough that you eat with processed cheese and polony. The best place to get them in maritzburg is a small whole in the wall restaurant called Connie's Kitchen. It is a popular hang out place in maritzburg with pool and a tv to watch the soccer games, and is always noisy.
After hearing about this place for months, I wanted to check it out, so when a friend of mine was going there, I tagged along. I should say point out here that everyone at Connie's Kitchen is black, and a big white guy walking into the restaurant with a small black girl is awfully peculiar. We got there, and as we entered the restaurant everyone suddenly went silent. We walked up to the counter and ordered 2 combos, the girl behind the counter asked me if I was having one of them, when my friend said yes, the last table still making noise, suddenly went silent. We paid for our food then left, as we exited the door, the buzz of activity suddenly returned.
This experience taught me what it is like being the minority in a situation, which is something that I have never truly understood before (I'm male, white, north american, etc). It felt really weird and awkward, strange, but it was still kind of funny.
Oh, a week or two later a friend of mine told me that when he went in there a couple days after my visit, they told him about the white guy that had been there earlier. It's nice to know that I am known.
After hearing about this place for months, I wanted to check it out, so when a friend of mine was going there, I tagged along. I should say point out here that everyone at Connie's Kitchen is black, and a big white guy walking into the restaurant with a small black girl is awfully peculiar. We got there, and as we entered the restaurant everyone suddenly went silent. We walked up to the counter and ordered 2 combos, the girl behind the counter asked me if I was having one of them, when my friend said yes, the last table still making noise, suddenly went silent. We paid for our food then left, as we exited the door, the buzz of activity suddenly returned.
This experience taught me what it is like being the minority in a situation, which is something that I have never truly understood before (I'm male, white, north american, etc). It felt really weird and awkward, strange, but it was still kind of funny.
Oh, a week or two later a friend of mine told me that when he went in there a couple days after my visit, they told him about the white guy that had been there earlier. It's nice to know that I am known.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
1 more round
There are exactly 2 months left in my time here, and more and more there are references to me coming home, whether it's me and Ruth booking tickets, or it's an e-mail from Darrel about saying goodbye, and reorientation expectations (which even though I am team communicator, I had to get through kyle), and more and more I don't know what to think about going home. On one hand I miss my family and friends, and I can't wait to go to Tyndale next year, but on the other hand, I have made so many good friends since coming here, that I don't want to leave behind.
sometimes I'm just ready to go home, it's so close to the end, and I'm tired, and I'm just ready to quit. During morning prayer this morning, I was really tired, and couldn't concentrate on what we were praying about, and all I could think about was going home. I know this is bad, I still have 2 months here, and I can't afford to check out yet, and then my brain started to sing a Barlowgirl Song (called one more round)
So take me one more round
I'll just keep fighting
One more round
You're messing me up but I'm still here
So I'm here, and I'm not checking out yet even though it would be so easy to. I'll be home soon, and then I'm sure I'm going to miss it here, so here's to pushing through the next two months.
One more round
I'll come out swinging one more round
I'm telling you now I'm not gonna lose it here
sometimes I'm just ready to go home, it's so close to the end, and I'm tired, and I'm just ready to quit. During morning prayer this morning, I was really tired, and couldn't concentrate on what we were praying about, and all I could think about was going home. I know this is bad, I still have 2 months here, and I can't afford to check out yet, and then my brain started to sing a Barlowgirl Song (called one more round)
So take me one more round
I'll just keep fighting
One more round
You're messing me up but I'm still here
So I'm here, and I'm not checking out yet even though it would be so easy to. I'll be home soon, and then I'm sure I'm going to miss it here, so here's to pushing through the next two months.
One more round
I'll come out swinging one more round
I'm telling you now I'm not gonna lose it here
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Cape Town
So from the 15th to today I was on vacation. From the very first week we gothere everyone told us that we had to go to Cape Town, so after 7 and a half months of people telling us this, we've finally broken down and taken the 15 or so hour drive to Cape Town.
We tried to leave at 10 am in the morning, but the Shop took too long for our Car to be repaired, so we weren't sure when we were going to leave. At three o'clock, the car was ready and we drove to bloemfontein, where we stayed the night with Pastor Irvin, who is really Cool. He basically ran our convention (which you can read about in anna's blog).
The next morning we drove the remaining 12 hours to Cape Town, we got to Pastor Hilton's house with Just enough time to grab a bite to eat before going to Youth. At youth they had a World Cup Tournament on Bible Trivia focusing on the book of Matthew. They had us join the teams. I was assigned to one of the teams that lost the week before. we ended up winning that night.
The next day some of the youth took us around town, took us to the ocean, out for ice cream, and out for supper for fish and Chips.
The next day we went to church at the NZMI Church that Pastor Hilton started in cape town. we listened to Mother Rhoda preach, which was really cool.
we then spent the next two days driving around cape town, hanging out. it was really cool, we saw the penquins, the spot where the two oceans meet, as well as an awesome sun set.
we drove to Jeffery's Bay, spent a night in a Back Packers (basically a motel, or B&B)
We then drove to Mthata where we stayed at the sawatsky family's house. unfortunately our plans crashed with plan they forgot they made, so we stayed at their house while they were at a meeting with the Sudermans (colleagues of ours here in PMB). We watched an entire season of Friends, made popcorn and went for a picnic of a course of 2 days
Then we drove the rest of the way home today, overall it was great.
and yes it is only 2 1/2 months left in my time here.
We tried to leave at 10 am in the morning, but the Shop took too long for our Car to be repaired, so we weren't sure when we were going to leave. At three o'clock, the car was ready and we drove to bloemfontein, where we stayed the night with Pastor Irvin, who is really Cool. He basically ran our convention (which you can read about in anna's blog).
The next morning we drove the remaining 12 hours to Cape Town, we got to Pastor Hilton's house with Just enough time to grab a bite to eat before going to Youth. At youth they had a World Cup Tournament on Bible Trivia focusing on the book of Matthew. They had us join the teams. I was assigned to one of the teams that lost the week before. we ended up winning that night.
The next day some of the youth took us around town, took us to the ocean, out for ice cream, and out for supper for fish and Chips.
The next day we went to church at the NZMI Church that Pastor Hilton started in cape town. we listened to Mother Rhoda preach, which was really cool.
we then spent the next two days driving around cape town, hanging out. it was really cool, we saw the penquins, the spot where the two oceans meet, as well as an awesome sun set.
we drove to Jeffery's Bay, spent a night in a Back Packers (basically a motel, or B&B)
We then drove to Mthata where we stayed at the sawatsky family's house. unfortunately our plans crashed with plan they forgot they made, so we stayed at their house while they were at a meeting with the Sudermans (colleagues of ours here in PMB). We watched an entire season of Friends, made popcorn and went for a picnic of a course of 2 days
Then we drove the rest of the way home today, overall it was great.
and yes it is only 2 1/2 months left in my time here.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Sisyphus and prayer
In Greek mythology there is a story of Sisyphus. Sisyphus dies, and goes to Hades where he has to push a boulder up a hill before he can go to the land of bliss, but just as the Sisyphus reaches the top of the hill, the boulder slips and rolls back to the bottom, so he has to do it over and over again.
This story came to mind yesterday as I was carting bricks around church property for the third time, and it would be easy to feel like we are being treated like sisyphus. We are constantly being asked to do the same job multiple times either because they need something moved, or we weren't told about a step part way through the job. so the job get's done over and over and over again.
But as I thought about the repetitiveness of the tasks that we are given, I realised that it wasn't pointless doing the same job over and over again. Doing the same job over and over again creates repetition the same way monks recite scriptures in latin over and over again. IT allows allows my mind to wander and for me to contemplate and work out with God my theology, my insterests, my beliefs, my feelings, my calling and my very existence.
Currently God's working out my calling. Yesterday during brick moving, God reminded me of a promise that I had forgotten from years ago that he had made me. He reminded me that my education will be in pastoral ministry because it's going to prepare me for what he has planned for me, but that full time pastoral ministry as I see it, preaching in a church every sunday, isn't what he's calling me to. I had forgotten this, but he reminded me. I still don't know what the call is for me, so I guess I'll have to dig some holes or something.
I'm still not sure what he's going to with my life, I guess I'll just dig some more holes
This story came to mind yesterday as I was carting bricks around church property for the third time, and it would be easy to feel like we are being treated like sisyphus. We are constantly being asked to do the same job multiple times either because they need something moved, or we weren't told about a step part way through the job. so the job get's done over and over and over again.
But as I thought about the repetitiveness of the tasks that we are given, I realised that it wasn't pointless doing the same job over and over again. Doing the same job over and over again creates repetition the same way monks recite scriptures in latin over and over again. IT allows allows my mind to wander and for me to contemplate and work out with God my theology, my insterests, my beliefs, my feelings, my calling and my very existence.
Currently God's working out my calling. Yesterday during brick moving, God reminded me of a promise that I had forgotten from years ago that he had made me. He reminded me that my education will be in pastoral ministry because it's going to prepare me for what he has planned for me, but that full time pastoral ministry as I see it, preaching in a church every sunday, isn't what he's calling me to. I had forgotten this, but he reminded me. I still don't know what the call is for me, so I guess I'll have to dig some holes or something.
I'm still not sure what he's going to with my life, I guess I'll just dig some more holes
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
who am I?
Last night I had a question pop into my head that I didn't know the answer to. Who am I?
you see, all through high school, I was one of few evangelical christians at my school. So it was easy for me to know who I was, and what my purpose was, to get people to be more than just social activists, and to be more passionate about loving God.
Then I joined this program, and spent a month at Jesus People, where we all were all trying to be open, and honest, and just trying to follow Jesus every way we knew how. and I was on Cloud Nine, possibly even ten.
Once we got here to PMB, our church's youth are passionately on fire for christ, and trying to spread the word every way they know how. Evangelizing is done by others who know how to evangelize, and have an opportunity to evangelize (I don't know anyone here who is not christian). But now I'm one of a few socially conscious christians in a sea of evangelicals. Everyone here is really excited about following christ, but don't seem to know that this has social consequences (read irrestible revolution, or Jesus for President both by Shane Claiborne). And I try to be christ's love, to others through my daily walk.
But that isn't defining me like the opposite did back in high school. And I now that I'm conscious of it, I don't know how to define myself, I'm me. I'm a six on the anneagram (see blog from september), but that doesn't really explain much more than tgat I try to be as dependible for others as possible. I don't know what my gifts are, because the thing that I was once so focused my energies on no longer defines me. I no longer know what makes me, me.
any thoughts?
you see, all through high school, I was one of few evangelical christians at my school. So it was easy for me to know who I was, and what my purpose was, to get people to be more than just social activists, and to be more passionate about loving God.
Then I joined this program, and spent a month at Jesus People, where we all were all trying to be open, and honest, and just trying to follow Jesus every way we knew how. and I was on Cloud Nine, possibly even ten.
Once we got here to PMB, our church's youth are passionately on fire for christ, and trying to spread the word every way they know how. Evangelizing is done by others who know how to evangelize, and have an opportunity to evangelize (I don't know anyone here who is not christian). But now I'm one of a few socially conscious christians in a sea of evangelicals. Everyone here is really excited about following christ, but don't seem to know that this has social consequences (read irrestible revolution, or Jesus for President both by Shane Claiborne). And I try to be christ's love, to others through my daily walk.
But that isn't defining me like the opposite did back in high school. And I now that I'm conscious of it, I don't know how to define myself, I'm me. I'm a six on the anneagram (see blog from september), but that doesn't really explain much more than tgat I try to be as dependible for others as possible. I don't know what my gifts are, because the thing that I was once so focused my energies on no longer defines me. I no longer know what makes me, me.
any thoughts?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Mthata
This past weekend we went down to Mthata for a visit with the Sawatsky Family.
Mthata (pronounced UmThata) is located in the eastern cape, it's the birth place of nelson Mandela, and is where the Sawatsky Family is.
The Sawatsky Family comprise of Joe and Anna, and their sons Isaac, Moses, Levi, Jesse. Joe and Anna work with Bethany Bible College, a school that works with African Instituted Churches (churches founded in Africa, not connected to a western denomination). This past weekend they had a conference about Farming Gods Way (no tilling, no burning, crop rotation) with James and Joan Alty (the MCCers, I talked about them in an earlier blog entry).
So We drove in on Friday, And slept at a back packers (kind of like a bed and breakfast, but no breakfast). The next day we had a walking tour of Mthata, and then went to the conference for a little while.
The next day we went to Church in Mandela Park. Mandela Park is an old farm, that Nelson Mandela made availible to the poor to build on. We went to church in a small one roomed building, sitting on plastic chairs, singing a capella in Xhosa. It was really cool. Joe preached about Abraham's Journey, and how he prepared the way for his children (he traveled from Babylon to Canaan to Egypt, opposite of his descendants that traveled from Egypt to Canaan to Babylon). And he spoke about how we are called to prepare the way of the Lord.
On monday, we went to see the Nelson Mandela Museum, which apperently used to just be a collection of Gifts that he's recieved from different people, but about a year ago got revamped, and now tells his lives story. I found it interesting and kind of sad, that the Man the world looks to as a symbol of Reconciliation is the one who decided to arm the ANC. As well, when he was in prison he had the opportunity to be released if he would disarm them, but he refused, continuing to use violence as a means to an end.
We then went home and made donuts/ the girls made skirts, and watched a dvd of Michael Jordan's final Basketball game with the Bulls, which was awesome.
Mthata (pronounced UmThata) is located in the eastern cape, it's the birth place of nelson Mandela, and is where the Sawatsky Family is.
The Sawatsky Family comprise of Joe and Anna, and their sons Isaac, Moses, Levi, Jesse. Joe and Anna work with Bethany Bible College, a school that works with African Instituted Churches (churches founded in Africa, not connected to a western denomination). This past weekend they had a conference about Farming Gods Way (no tilling, no burning, crop rotation) with James and Joan Alty (the MCCers, I talked about them in an earlier blog entry).
So We drove in on Friday, And slept at a back packers (kind of like a bed and breakfast, but no breakfast). The next day we had a walking tour of Mthata, and then went to the conference for a little while.
The next day we went to Church in Mandela Park. Mandela Park is an old farm, that Nelson Mandela made availible to the poor to build on. We went to church in a small one roomed building, sitting on plastic chairs, singing a capella in Xhosa. It was really cool. Joe preached about Abraham's Journey, and how he prepared the way for his children (he traveled from Babylon to Canaan to Egypt, opposite of his descendants that traveled from Egypt to Canaan to Babylon). And he spoke about how we are called to prepare the way of the Lord.
On monday, we went to see the Nelson Mandela Museum, which apperently used to just be a collection of Gifts that he's recieved from different people, but about a year ago got revamped, and now tells his lives story. I found it interesting and kind of sad, that the Man the world looks to as a symbol of Reconciliation is the one who decided to arm the ANC. As well, when he was in prison he had the opportunity to be released if he would disarm them, but he refused, continuing to use violence as a means to an end.
We then went home and made donuts/ the girls made skirts, and watched a dvd of Michael Jordan's final Basketball game with the Bulls, which was awesome.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Breaking point?
So a couple of days ago, we had just finished supper, and were getting ready to do dishes when my cell phone rings, I answer it and it is MY MOM CALLING ME FROM CANADA!!!! So I conveniently left the house and walked over to beside the church where there are some tables and benches, and talked with my mom.
Nothing overly profound was said, we just caught up with what's happening in each other's lives. But when she hung up I literally had tears rolling down my face, and I had to wait a couple minutes before coming home in order to compose myself.
As I think about it, I realize that this was the first time that I've actually missed home since coming to South Africa. the only other time since starting radical journey that I've felt this way was when I had to say goodbye to my parent's back in chicago.
While some of my other team mates have had struggles with being here, most of the time I've enjoyed it here, and the things I haven't liked I'd just let slide. And I actually haven't missed home, so I was starting to think that there was something wrong with me, because I haven't had the same struggles up to this point, and not missing home made me wonder how deep my relationships were with everyone back home. But now missing home has shown me that I do have attachments to people, I do have feelings and that I am Human.
I'm just sorry that it's taken me this long to realize it.
Nothing overly profound was said, we just caught up with what's happening in each other's lives. But when she hung up I literally had tears rolling down my face, and I had to wait a couple minutes before coming home in order to compose myself.
As I think about it, I realize that this was the first time that I've actually missed home since coming to South Africa. the only other time since starting radical journey that I've felt this way was when I had to say goodbye to my parent's back in chicago.
While some of my other team mates have had struggles with being here, most of the time I've enjoyed it here, and the things I haven't liked I'd just let slide. And I actually haven't missed home, so I was starting to think that there was something wrong with me, because I haven't had the same struggles up to this point, and not missing home made me wonder how deep my relationships were with everyone back home. But now missing home has shown me that I do have attachments to people, I do have feelings and that I am Human.
I'm just sorry that it's taken me this long to realize it.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Christmas in January
so on monday I finally got my christmas packages, one from my dear friends from my home church of River of Life In kitchener, and one from my family.
(important note, when mailing stuff to africa, use airmail, shipping it by boat takes 3 months or more to get there).
some of the contents from the packages:
(note: just because I didn't mention your item, doesn't mean I don't love it, It's just late, and I can only make so many jokes/insights after a certain time)
-Bubble Wrap!
this was especially good Bubble Wrap, it was the large kind that pops easily, and makes loud noise, it was crazy fun to scare both cats, and small humans with.
-Shane Claiborne Promise Keeper CDs
yes CDs, as in multiple copies of the same disk, it's great, I get one to share, and one to pass around. I love Claiborne's work, so it's all good
-KD
I am super excited to eat the three packs of mac and cheese I got, nobody here knows what it is, so I'll probably have to share with people.
-Timmy's Coffee
yes even in africa I can have coffee
-Archie Comics
I now have the first three issues of the Archie marries veronica story line, which I have been dieing to get my hands on.
-Jesus is the Light t-shirt,
It looks like Twilight, but it has a godly message to it- I guess this make me team jesus!
-Lots and lots of Cards
which I have read all of them, thank you
-Tiger puppet
wrong Continent, Tigers are from asia, not africa. Which is too bad, because lions and tigers will never meet, and we can't get Ligers outside of the Zoo
-Duct Tape
BEST. INVENTION. EVER!!!!
-Dove Necklace made from Bombshell
this is totally going all Isaiah 2:4 on me, soo cool
-Canadiana (Flag, and football)
these are fun because the americans complain about how if they got this kind of stuff, everyone would hate them, and accuse them of being pridefull, that and I can Chuck the football at people.
thank you very much for the mail, I greatly enjoyed everything, though I wonder how much of the food I'll actually get to eat :D
(important note, when mailing stuff to africa, use airmail, shipping it by boat takes 3 months or more to get there).
some of the contents from the packages:
(note: just because I didn't mention your item, doesn't mean I don't love it, It's just late, and I can only make so many jokes/insights after a certain time)
-Bubble Wrap!
this was especially good Bubble Wrap, it was the large kind that pops easily, and makes loud noise, it was crazy fun to scare both cats, and small humans with.
-Shane Claiborne Promise Keeper CDs
yes CDs, as in multiple copies of the same disk, it's great, I get one to share, and one to pass around. I love Claiborne's work, so it's all good
-KD
I am super excited to eat the three packs of mac and cheese I got, nobody here knows what it is, so I'll probably have to share with people.
-Timmy's Coffee
yes even in africa I can have coffee
-Archie Comics
I now have the first three issues of the Archie marries veronica story line, which I have been dieing to get my hands on.
-Jesus is the Light t-shirt,
It looks like Twilight, but it has a godly message to it- I guess this make me team jesus!
-Lots and lots of Cards
which I have read all of them, thank you
-Tiger puppet
wrong Continent, Tigers are from asia, not africa. Which is too bad, because lions and tigers will never meet, and we can't get Ligers outside of the Zoo
-Duct Tape
BEST. INVENTION. EVER!!!!
-Dove Necklace made from Bombshell
this is totally going all Isaiah 2:4 on me, soo cool
-Canadiana (Flag, and football)
these are fun because the americans complain about how if they got this kind of stuff, everyone would hate them, and accuse them of being pridefull, that and I can Chuck the football at people.
thank you very much for the mail, I greatly enjoyed everything, though I wonder how much of the food I'll actually get to eat :D
Saturday, January 23, 2010
updates
So I need to blog again, here are things that you might like
1. Monday and Tuesday of this week we went to a game reserve, where we slept the night, and did a night drive. Unfortunately my camera is busted so you'll have to check out the other blogs from my team in order to see pictures, but it was really cool, the only things that could have made it better, is if we had seen cats.
2. This week is a church wide fast, so we are all really hungry. I am doing a liquids only fast. We mostly just complain about being hungry, but we are really doing quite good.
3. Life here has become crazy busy, Monday nights we have worship/prayer services which are usually good. Tuesday to thursday mornings are prayer times, where everyone just prays in the spirit for various things. I don't get much out of these meetings, but I still go because it makes me more disciplined in my faith, but the really hectic time is the weekends, fridays we start work at ten like every other day, but at three o'clock we have kids klub, which is a drop in time for kids, then afterwards we get like an hour or two before going off to Youth Celebration at 7. which are really awesome. After Youth Celebration, there is an hour or so before HALF NIGHT OF PRAYER, which starts at 10, and goes untill 1 in the morning.
1. Monday and Tuesday of this week we went to a game reserve, where we slept the night, and did a night drive. Unfortunately my camera is busted so you'll have to check out the other blogs from my team in order to see pictures, but it was really cool, the only things that could have made it better, is if we had seen cats.
2. This week is a church wide fast, so we are all really hungry. I am doing a liquids only fast. We mostly just complain about being hungry, but we are really doing quite good.
3. Life here has become crazy busy, Monday nights we have worship/prayer services which are usually good. Tuesday to thursday mornings are prayer times, where everyone just prays in the spirit for various things. I don't get much out of these meetings, but I still go because it makes me more disciplined in my faith, but the really hectic time is the weekends, fridays we start work at ten like every other day, but at three o'clock we have kids klub, which is a drop in time for kids, then afterwards we get like an hour or two before going off to Youth Celebration at 7. which are really awesome. After Youth Celebration, there is an hour or so before HALF NIGHT OF PRAYER, which starts at 10, and goes untill 1 in the morning.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Shelly Beach
So as stated in my past entry, this past week we were in Port Shepstone at Skogheim Christian Conference Center with other Mennonites doing a week long Retreat. It was good times, and we did a bunch of cool stuff.
Note:if you don't understand a term see my previous entry, it should be in there.
We sang hymns from the Hymnal: a Worship Book, which was cool, I haven't done that in a while. I was however, disappointed we didn't sing the good Doxology the entire week, yet did the slightly less awesome one like 3 times.
We did sharing and praying time, when the various families/ groups would share what their job discription is, what they do, what they struggle with and what various prayer requests, then we laid hands on them and prayed for them.
We swam in a pool and played a form of water polo where you had to get a ball under a chair. This game was complicated by the fact that their were little kids playing with us, and we didn't want to hurt them.
We built relationships.
I met a Rockway Alumni who graduated the year I started, and learned that things don't change.
We went to a used book store, where we got a bunch of books, then went and got Frozen Yogurt which was good.
We had good discussion times about how we experience God in a new culture, talking about both what we have to gain, and what we have to learn from the new culture.
We had chocolate fondue which was good,
We did communion, which was even better. It was cool sharing Christ's Body, with Christ's Body
We also went to the beach where I learned a few things
1.just because you haven't sunburned somewhere before, doesn't mean you can't (my legs hurt for three days).
2.Wind picks up sand blows it around. That's how a sand blaster works, and theres a reason you wear thick clothes for that.
3.Wind Barriers don't work if they are made out of sand. It just provides more ammunition for the wind to shoot at your body.
4.Sand can get into everything including your ears, and into your glasses (which turned out to be problematic, sand kept getting into my eyes, and it sucked trying to get it out).
Note:if you don't understand a term see my previous entry, it should be in there.
We sang hymns from the Hymnal: a Worship Book, which was cool, I haven't done that in a while. I was however, disappointed we didn't sing the good Doxology the entire week, yet did the slightly less awesome one like 3 times.
We did sharing and praying time, when the various families/ groups would share what their job discription is, what they do, what they struggle with and what various prayer requests, then we laid hands on them and prayed for them.
We swam in a pool and played a form of water polo where you had to get a ball under a chair. This game was complicated by the fact that their were little kids playing with us, and we didn't want to hurt them.
We built relationships.
I met a Rockway Alumni who graduated the year I started, and learned that things don't change.
We went to a used book store, where we got a bunch of books, then went and got Frozen Yogurt which was good.
We had good discussion times about how we experience God in a new culture, talking about both what we have to gain, and what we have to learn from the new culture.
We had chocolate fondue which was good,
We did communion, which was even better. It was cool sharing Christ's Body, with Christ's Body
We also went to the beach where I learned a few things
1.just because you haven't sunburned somewhere before, doesn't mean you can't (my legs hurt for three days).
2.Wind picks up sand blows it around. That's how a sand blaster works, and theres a reason you wear thick clothes for that.
3.Wind Barriers don't work if they are made out of sand. It just provides more ammunition for the wind to shoot at your body.
4.Sand can get into everything including your ears, and into your glasses (which turned out to be problematic, sand kept getting into my eyes, and it sucked trying to get it out).
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Mennonites in South Africa
This past week we went to a retreat, all of the Mennonite workers in Southern Africa were there. Everyone from SALTers to MC Canada Witness workers, to MCC Country Reps, IVEPers to us RJers to MMN workers. Now I know what youare thinking, none of these terms make sense, that's because we mennonites like Acronyms, so this entry will be about acquainting you with relevant Mennonite Groups, programs, people, and organizations that I like/ think are important.
ANISA- Anabaptist Network in South Africa, a network of Anabaptist minded groups in the beginning stages, currently a website getting 75-100 hits a day, with news, editorials, and a growing library of print and electronic resources. See: MC Canada
IVEP- International Visitors Exchange Program, a MCC program that allows people to come to Canada and the States and volunteer at various Mennonite organizations such as MCC thrift Stores, or Mennonite Schools (we once had an IVEPer at rockway). Think SALT, but reverse it. See: MCC, SALT
MCC- Mennonite Central Commitee, the development organization affiliated with the Mennonite Church. Founded after World War Two to help Russian Mennonite Refugees, and has since expanded all over the world doing various work such as helping Co-ops get started, and other cool stuff. The best thing about MCC is that they do not force themselves on people, they wait for other organizations to ask for help before entering an area. The family we know are the Altys, who like everyone else on this list are cool.
MC Canada- Mennonite Church Canada, their name speaks for themselves, it's basically all of the Mennonite Churches in Canada (hence the name) coming together and working alongside each other. I love going to their annual conferences, but have missed the last two.
MC Canada Witness- The missions arm of MC Canada, their work here in South Africa is in developing ANISA. The couple here doing this work is Karen and Andrew Suderman, a couple from my home town (kind of, they are also connected to Winkler). My team mates and I really like them because they are really cool and fun, and have had us over a couple times have an x-box, and teach the girls to knit/ crochet (we'd like them even if they didn't have an x-box, and couldn't knit)
MMN- Mennonite Missions Network, like MC Canada Witness, but American. Their mandate here in South Africa is to help their three church partners here develop Social Ministries. This is the organization that runs RJ. There are two families here with MMN, the Lindel-Detweilers (aka Phil and Christine) who live here in Pietermaritzburg, and are completely awesome people who invite us to their house, and help us wrestle with the things we are experiencing here. The Sawatzkys (I'm sorry if I'm spelling your name wrong) are the other couple, they live/ work in Mthatha, with Bethany Bible School, helping African Churches build a firm theological foundation, they've got 4 crazy boys who love sports.
RJ- Radical Journey, if you don't know what that is, start at the first entry of this blog, and you'll figure it out. See: MMN
SALT- Serving And Learning Together, a one year program By MCC, participants aged 18-30 (I think) work for a year internationally with various MCC Partners. A program close to my heart because both of my parents did it when they were close to my age. See: MCC, IVEP
I'll write about the Actual Retreat in my next couple entries.
ANISA- Anabaptist Network in South Africa, a network of Anabaptist minded groups in the beginning stages, currently a website getting 75-100 hits a day, with news, editorials, and a growing library of print and electronic resources. See: MC Canada
IVEP- International Visitors Exchange Program, a MCC program that allows people to come to Canada and the States and volunteer at various Mennonite organizations such as MCC thrift Stores, or Mennonite Schools (we once had an IVEPer at rockway). Think SALT, but reverse it. See: MCC, SALT
MCC- Mennonite Central Commitee, the development organization affiliated with the Mennonite Church. Founded after World War Two to help Russian Mennonite Refugees, and has since expanded all over the world doing various work such as helping Co-ops get started, and other cool stuff. The best thing about MCC is that they do not force themselves on people, they wait for other organizations to ask for help before entering an area. The family we know are the Altys, who like everyone else on this list are cool.
MC Canada- Mennonite Church Canada, their name speaks for themselves, it's basically all of the Mennonite Churches in Canada (hence the name) coming together and working alongside each other. I love going to their annual conferences, but have missed the last two.
MC Canada Witness- The missions arm of MC Canada, their work here in South Africa is in developing ANISA. The couple here doing this work is Karen and Andrew Suderman, a couple from my home town (kind of, they are also connected to Winkler). My team mates and I really like them because they are really cool and fun, and have had us over a couple times have an x-box, and teach the girls to knit/ crochet (we'd like them even if they didn't have an x-box, and couldn't knit)
MMN- Mennonite Missions Network, like MC Canada Witness, but American. Their mandate here in South Africa is to help their three church partners here develop Social Ministries. This is the organization that runs RJ. There are two families here with MMN, the Lindel-Detweilers (aka Phil and Christine) who live here in Pietermaritzburg, and are completely awesome people who invite us to their house, and help us wrestle with the things we are experiencing here. The Sawatzkys (I'm sorry if I'm spelling your name wrong) are the other couple, they live/ work in Mthatha, with Bethany Bible School, helping African Churches build a firm theological foundation, they've got 4 crazy boys who love sports.
RJ- Radical Journey, if you don't know what that is, start at the first entry of this blog, and you'll figure it out. See: MMN
SALT- Serving And Learning Together, a one year program By MCC, participants aged 18-30 (I think) work for a year internationally with various MCC Partners. A program close to my heart because both of my parents did it when they were close to my age. See: MCC, IVEP
I'll write about the Actual Retreat in my next couple entries.
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