We hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy your time with family and friends... This is such a special time of year! Here's a little snapshot of what you missed on Boxing Day in South Africa...
Friday, December 26, 2008
Boxing Day
Today is Boxing Day, which is apparently a big deal here in South Africa. The beaches were full with people out celebrating. What is Boxing Day, you ask? We have no idea. How did we celebrate Boxing Day? We went for a walk to check out the masses at the beach. We had lunch with Sharon (Hans' fellow staff member) and her parents who are visiting from Canada (her mom made yummy soup with the left-over turkey... a little piece of home!) We went to the mall to return a few things (yes, there are malls in Africa... and they look a lot like the malls in the states, just with different stores.) And we cleaned our house and got ready for our camping trip. (We leave in the morning for a 5 day camping adventure. We're driving east along the coast for about 5 or 6 hours to camp with two other couples who work with YWAM Muizenberg. We're looking forward to seeing more of the country and having a little vacation before starting up our 2nd quarter of SBS. We'll be back on the 1st and classes resume on Monday, the 5th.)
We hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy your time with family and friends... This is such a special time of year! Here's a little snapshot of what you missed on Boxing Day in South Africa...
We hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy your time with family and friends... This is such a special time of year! Here's a little snapshot of what you missed on Boxing Day in South Africa...
Christmas Day
What an unusual Christmas! This has definitely been different than what we're used to, but we are still enjoying this new experience of celebrating the holidays in the Southern Hemisphere. Hans and I celebrated Christmas with our fellow staff and students who were still in the area for the break. We had a lovely Christmas dinner with turkey and stuffing and the works... picnic style. Here's a few pics:
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Going for a Drive
Hans and I have a car on loan from a friend who is in the States for Christmas, so we've been able to do a little sight-seeing. Last Sunday we took a drive around the Cape...
The first picture is of the Indian Ocean side of the Cape (False Bay) and the other two ocean shots are of the Atlantic side. And I just thought these trees were beautiful.
Hansi driving... it's particularly fun to go for a drive when you don't have the option of going whenever you want! We drove by and ostrich farm.
The first picture is of the Indian Ocean side of the Cape (False Bay) and the other two ocean shots are of the Atlantic side. And I just thought these trees were beautiful.
Hansi driving... it's particularly fun to go for a drive when you don't have the option of going whenever you want! We drove by and ostrich farm.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Q and A with Hans and Susan
1. What is one thing you miss from home?
h-family and friends
s-people
2. What is somthing you don't miss that you thought you would?
h-food
s-american stores
3. What is one thing you miss that surprises you?
h-i don't know
s-our sweet VW van
4. What is something you wish you would have taken with you?
h-my chess board from greg/ping pong paddle
s-more shoes. all I brought were sandals and flip flops, but it rained the first 6 weeks we were here.
5. What is something you are glad you took with you?
h-my wife
s-my milk foamer
6. What is one thing you really enjoy about being in South Africa?
h-meeting new people/being challenged
s-my apartment.... and studying the Bible with people from so many different nations
7. What is one hard thing about being in South Africa?
h-being challenged
s-being a student... I love studying the Bible, but would love to already be functioning in a staff capacity. I have to remind myself to enjoy this year that I get to devote completely to studying through the entire Bible.
8. What is something that surprised you about your new life in South Africa?
h-that i need and use a cellphone and a laptop
s-the weather... I thought Africa would be hot hot hot, but I was freezing the first 2 months we lived here. And now, even though it's summer, the wind still keeps things cool.
9. What is one memorable moment since arriving in South Africa?
h-my teachings
s-watching the US presidential elections from a different continent... seeing the international reaction first hand...
10. What is a special treat you've discovered in South Africa?
h-biltong/chutney/samoosas
s-fried calamari... so good!
11. What is something that has challenged you?
h-typical support structure is gone(family friends church familiarity) still, God is binding us to Him and each other, in new wonderful ways
s-living on support... knowing people are sacrificing for us to be here. and also, having faces to put with the news stories about poverty and oppression. for example, 2 of my classmates and 1 of my staff are from Zimbabwe. they have families back home living through the horror and insantity of what's happening there. they don't have money themselves and are trusting God to be here, but on their minds all the time are their family members who don't have food or clean water and who are in a country being stricken by a devastating, but easily treatable disease.
12. What is something you're still getting used to?
h-people asking for money/food/help. i have been able to begin telling the difference between shysters and the genuine article. mainly by who is around the neighborhood consistently.
s-looking right when I cross the street!
13. What is something you've learned/are learning about yourself?
h-i enjoy walking with people through challenging issues. i love listening, and encouraging.
s-I am excited to teach the Bible... I am really, truly looking forward to teaching.
h-family and friends
s-people
2. What is somthing you don't miss that you thought you would?
h-food
s-american stores
3. What is one thing you miss that surprises you?
h-i don't know
s-our sweet VW van
4. What is something you wish you would have taken with you?
h-my chess board from greg/ping pong paddle
s-more shoes. all I brought were sandals and flip flops, but it rained the first 6 weeks we were here.
5. What is something you are glad you took with you?
h-my wife
s-my milk foamer
6. What is one thing you really enjoy about being in South Africa?
h-meeting new people/being challenged
s-my apartment.... and studying the Bible with people from so many different nations
7. What is one hard thing about being in South Africa?
h-being challenged
s-being a student... I love studying the Bible, but would love to already be functioning in a staff capacity. I have to remind myself to enjoy this year that I get to devote completely to studying through the entire Bible.
8. What is something that surprised you about your new life in South Africa?
h-that i need and use a cellphone and a laptop
s-the weather... I thought Africa would be hot hot hot, but I was freezing the first 2 months we lived here. And now, even though it's summer, the wind still keeps things cool.
9. What is one memorable moment since arriving in South Africa?
h-my teachings
s-watching the US presidential elections from a different continent... seeing the international reaction first hand...
10. What is a special treat you've discovered in South Africa?
h-biltong/chutney/samoosas
s-fried calamari... so good!
11. What is something that has challenged you?
h-typical support structure is gone(family friends church familiarity) still, God is binding us to Him and each other, in new wonderful ways
s-living on support... knowing people are sacrificing for us to be here. and also, having faces to put with the news stories about poverty and oppression. for example, 2 of my classmates and 1 of my staff are from Zimbabwe. they have families back home living through the horror and insantity of what's happening there. they don't have money themselves and are trusting God to be here, but on their minds all the time are their family members who don't have food or clean water and who are in a country being stricken by a devastating, but easily treatable disease.
12. What is something you're still getting used to?
h-people asking for money/food/help. i have been able to begin telling the difference between shysters and the genuine article. mainly by who is around the neighborhood consistently.
s-looking right when I cross the street!
13. What is something you've learned/are learning about yourself?
h-i enjoy walking with people through challenging issues. i love listening, and encouraging.
s-I am excited to teach the Bible... I am really, truly looking forward to teaching.
Friday, December 19, 2008
we made it
Well, we made it through our first of 3 quarters of our first SBS in South Africa. It was a busy week... Hans taught on Wednesday (he really did a great job with 2 Timothy). Susan had two books due, a test on Wednesday and a student teaching on Friday. We're both tired and Hans caught a bug that's going around. It feels a tiny bit like exams right before Christmas break in college. Except we don't get to run out of our last exam, hop in a crammed Ford escort and drive 6 hours to see our family! Instead, we get to look forward to a two week break with no deadlines, meetings or homework. A main priority for this time will be rest. Another will be taking some time to sit down together and process/evaluate our first 3 1/2 months living in Africa. Once SBS started, our lives just rushed from one thing to the next... so I think it's important for us to take advantage of this opportunity to process our transition so far. It's no small thing to move to another continent (we've realized!), and I think we could miss out on part of what God has for us in this transition if we don't take time to process what he's taught us (and is teaching us) through this experience. I'm actually looking forward to that.
We'll be blogging more frequently during this time as well (because we have time to do it!) I know that's perfect now that you are all busy with the holidays! We do think about our family and friends often... knowing how special this time of year is. We've resigned ourselves to the fact that Christmas won't feel very much like Christmas here, at least this first year, so we're going to make the most of it. We're going to enjoy it for what it is... our summer break! But we know that all of you are right in the middle of holiday activities and excitement and traditions... and we want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. We pray that you are able to rest as well, during this holiday season. And that Christmas wouldn't be a time of frantic activity, but a time of peaceful enjoyment of family, friends, and the celebration of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us.
We'll be blogging more frequently during this time as well (because we have time to do it!) I know that's perfect now that you are all busy with the holidays! We do think about our family and friends often... knowing how special this time of year is. We've resigned ourselves to the fact that Christmas won't feel very much like Christmas here, at least this first year, so we're going to make the most of it. We're going to enjoy it for what it is... our summer break! But we know that all of you are right in the middle of holiday activities and excitement and traditions... and we want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. We pray that you are able to rest as well, during this holiday season. And that Christmas wouldn't be a time of frantic activity, but a time of peaceful enjoyment of family, friends, and the celebration of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
weakness...
i finished my 2nd teaching today.
i taught 2nd timothy, the last book of the quarter. despite that, the students tracked very well.
it really is fun actually. i didn't really know that the person up front can tell if people are understanding/paying attention.
This group did. and for that i am thankful. it could have been challenging, with everyone disconnected, dreaming about christmas break. but it wasn't.
i am struck again by the absolute priviledge of doing what we are doing.
i get to spend over a month, studying one book of the bible, and then i get a few hours to share it. man, i can't imagine anything i would rather do...
another portion of my job, very different, is dealing with folks individually.
i have a few students i get to meet with regularily.
What a priviledge to walk through life with others! not only that, but to feel like my gifts are being used, even developed.
its actually quite humbling. i am recognizing more clearly all the time, that lives are affected by the power of the holy spirit-working through me. not by me.
scripture say His power is made perfect in our weaknesses, i am begining to think its actually true.
i taught 2nd timothy, the last book of the quarter. despite that, the students tracked very well.
it really is fun actually. i didn't really know that the person up front can tell if people are understanding/paying attention.
This group did. and for that i am thankful. it could have been challenging, with everyone disconnected, dreaming about christmas break. but it wasn't.
i am struck again by the absolute priviledge of doing what we are doing.
i get to spend over a month, studying one book of the bible, and then i get a few hours to share it. man, i can't imagine anything i would rather do...
another portion of my job, very different, is dealing with folks individually.
i have a few students i get to meet with regularily.
What a priviledge to walk through life with others! not only that, but to feel like my gifts are being used, even developed.
its actually quite humbling. i am recognizing more clearly all the time, that lives are affected by the power of the holy spirit-working through me. not by me.
scripture say His power is made perfect in our weaknesses, i am begining to think its actually true.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tanzania Team
I thought I'd give a little update on some of the exciting things happening in our department...
But first... a summary of what Hans and I are doing for those of you who are new to our blog: We are currently working with YWAM in Muizenberg, South Africa. While there are many schools, programs and projects that are running here at YWAM Muizenberg, we are specifically involved in the Biblical Studies Department. Right now, that means we are a part of a school called School of Biblical Studies (SBS), a 9 month school in which students study through the entire Bible using the Inductive Bible Study method. Hans completed this school last year in Montana, so he is on staff, and Susan is currently a student in the school and planning to be on staff next year. "Being on" staff includes teaching in the school as well as working one on one with the students, both in a discipleship capacity and through grading their work.
The Biblical Studies department also has a program called Titus Project. This program takes graduates of the SBS, trains them to teach the Bible, and then takes them on outreach to various locations around the continent of Africa to do seminars for local pastors and Christians who have not had training in studying the Bible.
Right now a team from our department is running Titus Project in Tanzania. Almost all of the students who are being trained to go out and teach are Africans. They will be going to different African nations, many for the first time, to teach the Bible. It's been so great to hear updates and to pray for them as they are preparing to take three teams on outreach. Here's a little update from the team in Tanzania:
Titus Tanzania is going full steam ahead. We have 15 students from: Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, USA, and India. The students are hard at work preparing their teachings and in just a few weeks leave for remote parts of Tanzania, Mozambique, and Rwanda to teach until the end of February. This has been years in the making and finally happening!
So while we are thoroughly enjoying our time in Muizenberg with the SBS, we are also excited to see the vision of our department for taking Bible teaching into other parts of Africa, and we look forward to being a part of that vision. We know these teams would appreciate your prayers. God has already provided for them in amazing ways... both financially and through getting all the visas necessary for their travels (which is always a trick in Africa) but more prayer never hurts.
Here's a picture of the staff and students of Titus Tanzania:
But first... a summary of what Hans and I are doing for those of you who are new to our blog: We are currently working with YWAM in Muizenberg, South Africa. While there are many schools, programs and projects that are running here at YWAM Muizenberg, we are specifically involved in the Biblical Studies Department. Right now, that means we are a part of a school called School of Biblical Studies (SBS), a 9 month school in which students study through the entire Bible using the Inductive Bible Study method. Hans completed this school last year in Montana, so he is on staff, and Susan is currently a student in the school and planning to be on staff next year. "Being on" staff includes teaching in the school as well as working one on one with the students, both in a discipleship capacity and through grading their work.
The Biblical Studies department also has a program called Titus Project. This program takes graduates of the SBS, trains them to teach the Bible, and then takes them on outreach to various locations around the continent of Africa to do seminars for local pastors and Christians who have not had training in studying the Bible.
Right now a team from our department is running Titus Project in Tanzania. Almost all of the students who are being trained to go out and teach are Africans. They will be going to different African nations, many for the first time, to teach the Bible. It's been so great to hear updates and to pray for them as they are preparing to take three teams on outreach. Here's a little update from the team in Tanzania:
Titus Tanzania is going full steam ahead. We have 15 students from: Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, USA, and India. The students are hard at work preparing their teachings and in just a few weeks leave for remote parts of Tanzania, Mozambique, and Rwanda to teach until the end of February. This has been years in the making and finally happening!
So while we are thoroughly enjoying our time in Muizenberg with the SBS, we are also excited to see the vision of our department for taking Bible teaching into other parts of Africa, and we look forward to being a part of that vision. We know these teams would appreciate your prayers. God has already provided for them in amazing ways... both financially and through getting all the visas necessary for their travels (which is always a trick in Africa) but more prayer never hurts.
Here's a picture of the staff and students of Titus Tanzania:
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Time Flies
Well, we are now a week past our Saturday Thanksgiving... which was very Thanksgiving-y and fun. It was even a cold, rainy day, so it felt like fall! We all pitched in different dishes (Hans and I made rolls... yes, from scratch.... and mashed potatoes.) We had so much delicious food, it was great! Someone even brought a football game on DVD which we had playing in the background, while we played cards and ate homemade apple and pumpkin pie... I tell you what. It was just like the real thing.
There hasn't been so much blogging happening because we're in the middle of a busy few weeks... lots of books due back to back, Hans preparing to teach 2 Tim, holiday parties, etc... It's good, but taking a toll on our communication efforts. We have already had 2 Christmas parties. The staff party for all YWAM Muizenberg was a big braai (BBQ) at a park with lots of food and volleyball and lounging on blankets in the sun... you know, just like most Christmas parties we've been to. Last night was the party for the SBS staff... also a braai, this time at the Lautsbaughs (the school leaders) home. Apparently, 'tis the season of braais and beach days. People from all over South Africa come to the coast for Christmas and New Year's. Our little town will be packed full with people celebrating at the beach. We've heard you can't even walk down the sidewalk by the ocean because there are so many braai's set up and people grilling and sunning and hanging out. So that will definitely be a different holiday feel for us. We'll post a few pictures.
We have two weeks of class before our two week Christmas break. We are really looking forward to some time off. Quite a few of the SBS students are also staying, so it will be good to have some time free of deadlines and homework to do fun things and get to know them better. We may have access to a car, so we'll be able to see a few of the sights we haven't had a chance to see yet. We are going camping for a few days over New Year's with two other couples. Apparently that is also a popular holiday activity here. We'll be driving 8 hours up the coast and camping somewhere along the ocean. So we're looking forward to that as well.
I sometimes feel like my posts make it sound like we're on a big, fun vacation. And we are definitely enjoying ourselves. But we do stay busy with our work and studies. And we feel like, really, we're still adapting to being here. It's easy to write about the fun we're having, and a little more difficult to write about all the things we're still processing and adjusting to. I think, because I'm an internal processor (YWAMese) I like to have things figured out before I verbalize them. But know that we are still in the transition, adjustment phase. And that we do appreciate your prayers.
I know the holidays are going to be the most difficult time to date of being away from family. Already I've had those tearful moments of realizing we won't get to share this holiday season with our families. Last year I got to spend 6 weeks with my family, which was a huge blessing. The holidays are such a special time. But we are also excited to experience a different culture's holiday season. We love seeing how life is lived in a different part of the world... what is valued, what isn't important, etc. It's an adventure, to be sure.
So enjoy this holiday season. Bundle up and sip hot cocoa by the fireplace for us!
There hasn't been so much blogging happening because we're in the middle of a busy few weeks... lots of books due back to back, Hans preparing to teach 2 Tim, holiday parties, etc... It's good, but taking a toll on our communication efforts. We have already had 2 Christmas parties. The staff party for all YWAM Muizenberg was a big braai (BBQ) at a park with lots of food and volleyball and lounging on blankets in the sun... you know, just like most Christmas parties we've been to. Last night was the party for the SBS staff... also a braai, this time at the Lautsbaughs (the school leaders) home. Apparently, 'tis the season of braais and beach days. People from all over South Africa come to the coast for Christmas and New Year's. Our little town will be packed full with people celebrating at the beach. We've heard you can't even walk down the sidewalk by the ocean because there are so many braai's set up and people grilling and sunning and hanging out. So that will definitely be a different holiday feel for us. We'll post a few pictures.
We have two weeks of class before our two week Christmas break. We are really looking forward to some time off. Quite a few of the SBS students are also staying, so it will be good to have some time free of deadlines and homework to do fun things and get to know them better. We may have access to a car, so we'll be able to see a few of the sights we haven't had a chance to see yet. We are going camping for a few days over New Year's with two other couples. Apparently that is also a popular holiday activity here. We'll be driving 8 hours up the coast and camping somewhere along the ocean. So we're looking forward to that as well.
I sometimes feel like my posts make it sound like we're on a big, fun vacation. And we are definitely enjoying ourselves. But we do stay busy with our work and studies. And we feel like, really, we're still adapting to being here. It's easy to write about the fun we're having, and a little more difficult to write about all the things we're still processing and adjusting to. I think, because I'm an internal processor (YWAMese) I like to have things figured out before I verbalize them. But know that we are still in the transition, adjustment phase. And that we do appreciate your prayers.
I know the holidays are going to be the most difficult time to date of being away from family. Already I've had those tearful moments of realizing we won't get to share this holiday season with our families. Last year I got to spend 6 weeks with my family, which was a huge blessing. The holidays are such a special time. But we are also excited to experience a different culture's holiday season. We love seeing how life is lived in a different part of the world... what is valued, what isn't important, etc. It's an adventure, to be sure.
So enjoy this holiday season. Bundle up and sip hot cocoa by the fireplace for us!
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