Thursday, August 30, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Celebrations
Thursday 9 August was a public holiday: Woman’s Day. My housemate Fritz, with a little suggestion from another housemate (Cat, her former housemate’s cooked for her), made us breakfast. I had a nice breakfast of eggs and bacon that Fritz got up to make before I left for a hike.
The Sunday after I abandoned my car in Swellendam, I woke up with that “pit of despair” feeling in my stomach and then when I read through a devotional book that I have, it spoke directly to me (My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers) and I wanted to share that with you:
The Theology of Rest August 12
“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” – Matthew 8:26
When we are in fear we can do nothing less than pray to God, but Our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His Name should have an understanding confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the reliable ones. Our trust is in God up to a certain point, then we go back to the elementary panic prayers of those who do not know God. We get to our wits’ end, showing that we have not the slightest confidence in Him and His government of the world; He seems to be asleep, and we see nothing but breakers ahead.
“O you of little faith!” What a pang must have shot through the disciples – ‘Missed it again!’ And what a pang will go through us when we suddenly realize that we might have produced downright joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, no mater what was ahead.
There are stages in life when there is no storm, no crisis, when we do our human best; it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to trust Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking point and not break in our confidence of Him.
We have been talking a great deal about sanctification – what is it all going to amount to? It should work out into rest in God which means oneness with God, a oneness which will make us not only blameless in His sight, but a deep joy to Him.
The Sunday after I abandoned my car in Swellendam, I woke up with that “pit of despair” feeling in my stomach and then when I read through a devotional book that I have, it spoke directly to me (My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers) and I wanted to share that with you:
The Theology of Rest August 12
“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” – Matthew 8:26
When we are in fear we can do nothing less than pray to God, but Our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His Name should have an understanding confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the reliable ones. Our trust is in God up to a certain point, then we go back to the elementary panic prayers of those who do not know God. We get to our wits’ end, showing that we have not the slightest confidence in Him and His government of the world; He seems to be asleep, and we see nothing but breakers ahead.
“O you of little faith!” What a pang must have shot through the disciples – ‘Missed it again!’ And what a pang will go through us when we suddenly realize that we might have produced downright joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, no mater what was ahead.
There are stages in life when there is no storm, no crisis, when we do our human best; it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to trust Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking point and not break in our confidence of Him.
We have been talking a great deal about sanctification – what is it all going to amount to? It should work out into rest in God which means oneness with God, a oneness which will make us not only blameless in His sight, but a deep joy to Him.
Prefer pictures of me or Vuyo?
My housemate Cat playing with Vuyo. She holds him to keep him from coming to me. I think there might be some jealousy issues. :)
Vuyo being chased.
We had a team-building social Friday afternoon. One program had rented drums for a workshop and so we had some drumming, dancing and musical chairs. For musical chairs we were supposed to work together and ensure that everyone had their feet on the chairs. On the last chair, we sat on the floor and lifted our feet up.
Fritz in his 90's outfit.
A view to the north of Cape Town
Random Scenes of What I See
A bridge at Kalk Bay
View of Table Bay and the City from above Rhodes Memorial.
Every once in a while I see people with horsedrawn trailers and have been wanting to capture a picture for you. This one was while we were driving, so didn't get the whole view, but it was alongside a major multi-lane road. I have even seen horses near my old house. Sometimes they will have most of the body of a car on the trailer.
A kilometer sign on the way to Swellendam.Spice Girls invade Newlands
Dancing to some Spice Girls
What dress-up party is complete without a couple cross-dressers. :) 
The after picture, apparently a lot of time and effort was put into the outfit in the previous picture, including hair straightening.
Stuart, borrowed his sister's coat. The question is whether it is more concerning to wear someone's clothes for a time period party or that Stuart can fit into his sister's clothes.This past Wednesday night the young adults at Christ's Church had a Spice Girls/90's party. Spice Girls will be stopping in Cape Town for their reunion tour. So here are some pictures of that night. The best I could pull from my closet was goth. I'll try to dig up a picture of that to share, it was pretty mild though. :)
Thursday, August 23, 2007
My First Job Application Overseas
Work has been hectic crazy now. We are trying to fit in all the workshops for the year in one month. So on Tuesday co-facilitated two workshops with teachers and then a parent workshop in the evening, plus negotiating transportation without a car for those things. Another few weeks of that craziness and then two months left in my internship. I am in the process of setting up individual counseling at one of the schools and am excited about gaining that experience.
I also just submitted my CV for the disaster relief management position at The Trauma Centre. A bit of a long shot because I am still finishing up my internship and don’t know a second South African language, but I do know something about coordinating programs and crisis management.
I also just submitted my CV for the disaster relief management position at The Trauma Centre. A bit of a long shot because I am still finishing up my internship and don’t know a second South African language, but I do know something about coordinating programs and crisis management.
Still taking deep breathes
Life still feels a bit chaotic. Another week of hectic times with work and without a car. My car should be ready tomorrow though, apparently a cylinder was loose and that started it all. So the cylinder will need to be replaced along with a piston that ended up being damaged and melting. Wondering where I went wrong with my little beetle. :(
Feel like I am in a cultural slump these days. Since life has gotten a little more messy, my resources for managing being in an unfamiliar place have stretched to become thin. It has certainly provoked me to a lot of reflection. Thinking through what makes it so difficult at times to life in another culture and how my sense of neediness and loneliness affects my interactions with people. I feel like I am in a transition point. I have met plenty of people, and now bridging over to having some deeper friendships. Thinking on how that process works for people, what makes people decide to form those bonds with someone else? Being to cerebral about it sometimes. :) Some people have said that Cape Town is difficult for getting to know people. One thing i have found is that people have stayed in the area they grew up in and so have known people for a long time. But because I am tired from life, I find little energy to seek out people, which compounds things...must forge on though, so I am finding a cell group to attend at church and getting set up with mentoring there as well.
Along these lines I have decided to put in a shameless request for care packages. My younger brother James is in Iraq with the military and his wife posts on their blog all the care packages she and his friends are sending him and I think, "I live overseas too." :) Of course I am not stuck on a base in a desert. On a side note, part of my identity has shifted at having a brother living in Iraq. There is a different connection in thinking of and talking about the war in Iraq.
What to send is the next question, ne? I had my parents mail me Kraft macaroni and cheese, NM pinon coffee and hopefully other things that will arrive next week. At the moment I can't say I am having any specific cravings, just for things from home.
And where do they go? Just have to send an email for that one. :)
Starting to think of the what next? aspect. Mom is longing to see me and so gonna book a ticket home soon, probably for the end of November into January. I still want to stay in South Africa despite my current longing for the comfort of familiarity.
Feel like I am in a cultural slump these days. Since life has gotten a little more messy, my resources for managing being in an unfamiliar place have stretched to become thin. It has certainly provoked me to a lot of reflection. Thinking through what makes it so difficult at times to life in another culture and how my sense of neediness and loneliness affects my interactions with people. I feel like I am in a transition point. I have met plenty of people, and now bridging over to having some deeper friendships. Thinking on how that process works for people, what makes people decide to form those bonds with someone else? Being to cerebral about it sometimes. :) Some people have said that Cape Town is difficult for getting to know people. One thing i have found is that people have stayed in the area they grew up in and so have known people for a long time. But because I am tired from life, I find little energy to seek out people, which compounds things...must forge on though, so I am finding a cell group to attend at church and getting set up with mentoring there as well.
Along these lines I have decided to put in a shameless request for care packages. My younger brother James is in Iraq with the military and his wife posts on their blog all the care packages she and his friends are sending him and I think, "I live overseas too." :) Of course I am not stuck on a base in a desert. On a side note, part of my identity has shifted at having a brother living in Iraq. There is a different connection in thinking of and talking about the war in Iraq.
What to send is the next question, ne? I had my parents mail me Kraft macaroni and cheese, NM pinon coffee and hopefully other things that will arrive next week. At the moment I can't say I am having any specific cravings, just for things from home.
And where do they go? Just have to send an email for that one. :)
Starting to think of the what next? aspect. Mom is longing to see me and so gonna book a ticket home soon, probably for the end of November into January. I still want to stay in South Africa despite my current longing for the comfort of familiarity.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
And the last set for the day
The Bed & Breakfast I stayed at and where my car has hopefully just been towed from today.
Some people sitting on the side of the road on my short-lived road trip.
How I spent my Saturday waiting for my friend to come fetch me from the B&B
Vuyo, he is getting bigger.
The Jumble of Pictures Continues
Lunch on my trip to Kalk Bay
The scenery on the N2 on my drive to Knysna (that ended in Swellendam)
This was long before my car broke down, and that is the boot anyways, not where the engine is. :)
A sign in Kalk Bay at the railroad tracks. English, Afrikaans, Khosa
Cecil Rhodes...Cairo to Cape Town
Rhodes Memorial
Silver Trees, only found in the Western Cape, it is hard to see but they really have a silver sheen to the leaves.
Murray and Scruffy, she did get some attention. :)
Lots of people like to have their wedding pictures taken at Rhodes Memorial.The photos have finally come
Vuyo and me in the Cederburg
My absailing attempt
Kalk Bay, east of Cape Town
Coffee shop in Kalk Bay where good coffee is said to be. It was good, nice stormy day outside.Thursday, August 16, 2007
books, books and fluffy puppies
I think I will alternate posts between the fun times and the stressors. :)
Over two weeks ago, the last weekend in July, I went to Kalk Bay because a friend lost a bet and owed me coffee at the best place he knew. Went into town that evening and met a woman from the States who knew a professor at Wheaton and is a psychologist herself and then on to a birthday party at an Irish Pub.
Enrolled Vuyo in obedience classes the next weekend, sitting he has down quite well. And coming to me when his name is called, giving him treats when his name is said, helps with that.
Also waded through a book fair for charity and tried to constrain myself at the thought of books. Just bought 4. I think that was also the evening I played laser tag. I managed not to be last in points, but was the bottom of those on the positive side. Sunday was a walk up around Cecil Rhodes’ memorial. My friend brought his dog along and kept giving Scruffy encouragement as everyone bypassed her to meet Vuyo.
Over two weeks ago, the last weekend in July, I went to Kalk Bay because a friend lost a bet and owed me coffee at the best place he knew. Went into town that evening and met a woman from the States who knew a professor at Wheaton and is a psychologist herself and then on to a birthday party at an Irish Pub.
Enrolled Vuyo in obedience classes the next weekend, sitting he has down quite well. And coming to me when his name is called, giving him treats when his name is said, helps with that.
Also waded through a book fair for charity and tried to constrain myself at the thought of books. Just bought 4. I think that was also the evening I played laser tag. I managed not to be last in points, but was the bottom of those on the positive side. Sunday was a walk up around Cecil Rhodes’ memorial. My friend brought his dog along and kept giving Scruffy encouragement as everyone bypassed her to meet Vuyo.
Kicking the Car to the Curb in Swellendam
So I have a lot of catching up and making up to do for my lack of posting. Hope I haven’t lost any loyal followers with my delays. :) The computer issues as well as access to the internet have been abounding. Unfortunately the pictures aren't accessible just now, but I do have plenty to show. So first the words and later the pictures.
Since I last posted…my car woes have continued, culminating this past weekend. Last Thursday was a public holiday and so I took Friday off, along with the rest of Cape Town and managed to find a place to go that would let me bring Vuyo as well. In the interest of full disclosure, I wanted to see how well my bug could go now that I had fixed a few problems (replaced the starter, solenoid, fan belt and battery). I got it up to 140 KPH (60 mph), just briefly, I didn’t stay there. The car overheated and I sat in the middle of nowhere for an hour waiting for the car to cool down. Drove on a bit further, but things sounded worse and then the oil light came on. So I parked it and the realized I was on the doorstep of a B&B. I managed to take the last room as another car was arriving and they towed my beetle down to the parking lot.
The owner’s son and his family were visiting and so they found a mechanic to come look at the car the next morning and the step granddaughter and her boyfriend took me with them to have pizza. Being in a rural area, everything is closed on the weekend and there are no beetle parts locally. The mechanic said he would have to open up the engine and couldn’t order parts until Monday. Left the car there. A friend picked me up late Saturday afternoon (I was two hours outside of Cape Town in Swellendam). We drove to Hermaneus, which is the resort town for Capetonians and stayed in my friend’s family holiday home – and one person compared it to Monterey, CA. Sunday was lovely, walking around, spotting whales (they come to Hermaneus to mate).
Yesterday I upgraded my automobile association membership to include long-distance towing, must wait 72 hours to utilize it and will call Saturday to have my car towed to Cape Town. But now spending this week seeking out transport has been a bit hectic.
On top of that just emotionally worn down trying to navigate some relationships.
Since I last posted…my car woes have continued, culminating this past weekend. Last Thursday was a public holiday and so I took Friday off, along with the rest of Cape Town and managed to find a place to go that would let me bring Vuyo as well. In the interest of full disclosure, I wanted to see how well my bug could go now that I had fixed a few problems (replaced the starter, solenoid, fan belt and battery). I got it up to 140 KPH (60 mph), just briefly, I didn’t stay there. The car overheated and I sat in the middle of nowhere for an hour waiting for the car to cool down. Drove on a bit further, but things sounded worse and then the oil light came on. So I parked it and the realized I was on the doorstep of a B&B. I managed to take the last room as another car was arriving and they towed my beetle down to the parking lot.
The owner’s son and his family were visiting and so they found a mechanic to come look at the car the next morning and the step granddaughter and her boyfriend took me with them to have pizza. Being in a rural area, everything is closed on the weekend and there are no beetle parts locally. The mechanic said he would have to open up the engine and couldn’t order parts until Monday. Left the car there. A friend picked me up late Saturday afternoon (I was two hours outside of Cape Town in Swellendam). We drove to Hermaneus, which is the resort town for Capetonians and stayed in my friend’s family holiday home – and one person compared it to Monterey, CA. Sunday was lovely, walking around, spotting whales (they come to Hermaneus to mate).
Yesterday I upgraded my automobile association membership to include long-distance towing, must wait 72 hours to utilize it and will call Saturday to have my car towed to Cape Town. But now spending this week seeking out transport has been a bit hectic.
On top of that just emotionally worn down trying to navigate some relationships.
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