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.