Africa- Fieldtrips: Spitskop and Augrabies

We went to two nature park, game reserve type places. The first one we went to wasn't far away it was called Spitskop. We drove through Spitskop in the three cars: Petrus's Mariana's, and John's. Mariana's car broke down in the middle of the park so it had to be towed by Petrus. At one point when we stopped we thought we saw a buffalo. We got pretty excited. It was a cow. We mainly saw springbok and wildebeest. Where we were in South Africa we wouldn't be seeing any of the big animals like elephants or lions or anything like that.

Spitskop

uh-oh, car trouble!

Wildebeest

Buffalo...I mean cow

When we finished driving through we went to a large koppie. A koppie is a large pile of rocks/boulders that is just there. They weren't placed there by man; God just thought a pile of rocks needs to go there and bam there's a pile of rocks. We climbed up the koppie. Upon reaching the top the guys tell us there are stairs we could of come up. Where's the fun and adventure in that! We did take the stairs down though because it was dark by then. We watched the sun set from atop the koppie. God paints beautiful pictures. And they're different everyday.

Koppie in the distance

At the bottom of the koppie we climbed

Beautiful sunset

God paints some beautiful pictures

The day is done

The second one we went to was Augrabies Falls National Park. Augrabies was a bit farther away. We had to wake up at about 5 am to leave. I really think someone was praying for me then, it would of been 10pm back home, because I had no trouble waking up and being the first one to get out of bed. Being the first out of bed was a feat in itself; I was normally the last girl to get out of bed (and yet still the first one to be ready). On the way there we stopped by Mr. John's friend Eric's bed and breakfast, The Overlook. Eric was going to bring his Land Rover and come with us. Ethan and I rode with Eric from his B&B to Augrabies. The 9 of us rode through Augrabies in the Land Rover and adults rode in one of their cars. Shortly after getting going we stopped at a spot and we really didn't want to get out. I don't think we really realized where we were stopped at and it was really cold. (I just overused the word really). We did get out though and we started climbing this large rock, Moon Rock. It was just one large, smooth, black rock. It was a kind of long way up to the top and really windy but the view was incredible. You could see all around in every direction.

The climb up (actually this was on the way back down) Moon Rock

Not quite at the top yet.

Sloan at the top. This picture actually shows one of the better views from the top.

View from the top of moon rock even though it doesn't appear to be from a height.

View from top. Pictures don't do it justice.

Then we got back in the cars and drove some more and came to Oranjekom viewpoint which means Orange River Basin. I was in awe of God's mighty works. Looking at it made me feel so small. I also thought about the Grand Canyon, which I've never been to, but if I'm in awe of this and feel so small then how much more so would I at the Grand Canyon. It was incredible!

Oranjekom (Orange River Basin)

me at Oranejkom (Orange River Basin)

We got back in the vehicles and drove some more. We saw some animals. More springbok and other similar animals. Mongoose, I think. Yes mongoose because, "You guys know the difference between a mongoose and a meerkat?" (I still don't know). We saw three zebras. That's about the extent of animals we saw. Some people go to Africa to see the big 5: lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and buffalo. We go to see the small 5: springbok, squirrel, cat, dog, and cow.

Zebras!

Springbok

We started heading back and had lunch at the Orange River lookout. We had hamburgers we had prepared the night before but Eric also had tuna sandwiches and drinks. He had litchi juice. We had that in Indonesia! He did say at one point that his mom was from Indonesia. After we finished eating we just hung out there for a little while. They had a bathroom at this lookout spot. That easily may have been the worse smelling bathroom I've ever been in.

The ride. Landrover.

Quiver Tree

Then we went to see the Augrabies Falls. There wasn't much water coming from the falls compared to what it is at other times. I mean there was still a lot of water but we were told in certain seasons the water is higher and falls from the sides that while we were there were dry. It was still nice.

The walkway to the falls

Looking down on the falls, kinda. (at certain times of the year water falls from the wall that is seen)

Augrabies Falls

What the falls are like at other times, NOT what we saw (pic from internet)

Again, NOT what we saw but how big the falls can be. That platform is where my pictures are taken from. (pic form internet)

When we left Augrabies we went to Eric's B&B. It was pretty nice. It had a great view of some vineyards.

View of vineyard from The Overlook, Eric's B&B.

There was another place we went to but I don't know the name of it. We went to try and see sand dunes but the cars couldn't make it all the way to where the sand dunes were. We still got to see some beautiful places. There were some camping type areas and a tree that became known as Pocahontas's home. At that same tree was a light switch. There was a video made. It was quite quotable. It was great. Hahaha!

The lake (I feel like the curve of everything makes this look edited or like some special effect was used. No effects or editing were done.)

There was a path we took that led us to a great view of the lake that was there. Along the path we found some bones. I was walking and thought I saw what looked like a vertebrae so I stopped to pick it up and it was. Then we start looking and found some more and a leg/arm bone. Wonder what animal they came from. It was probably a goat. We saw a herd of goat. It was pretty exciting. We were probably more excited about the goats then you would think but hey it was the most wildlife we'd seen all together like that. There was one goat that was sleeping and we all kept getting closer and closer. It woke up and poor thing looked, kind of shook it's head, realized we were all there, and took off running.

Goats!

The lake. There was a two person little boat and a one person boat. Petrus and Mariana went on the lake in the two person boat looking all cute and stuff. Lindsay decides to go out on the one person boat. She didn't fall in but Morgan fell in the mud helping to push Lindsay off. Then Megan took a turn in the one person boat and almost flipped. She got wet but luckily did not flip. Oh good laughs.

Lindsay paddling out into the lake

Africa- Louisvaleweg: Church, Children, and Adult

I got the opportunity to go to church at Louisvaleweg two weeks. Our first Sunday there and our last. The first Sunday it was Whitney, Sloan, and me, with Mariana. Before church started we were outside with the children. We taught them some songs and they taught us some songs. We just had fun with them singing and playing some games. This one little girl, Chesvega, she was a cheeky little girl. Whitney would laugh and Chesvega would imitate Whitney's laugh. Then Whitney asked,"Are you mocking me?" To which Chesvega replied, "Are you mocking me?" It was quite a funny thing and it was captured on video!

Chesvega

I love that smile!

Whitney and me with some of the kids after church.

So for church we each shared our testimony and something God had been revealing to us in scripture lately. Whitney took one for the team and went first, then Sloan, then me. I shared 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." After we all three shared the pastor came up and reiterated what we said. Worshiping in Louisvaleweg was a bit of a different experience. They don't have sound systems or instruments or screens with the words or even hymnals but they sure do know how to worship and make their own music. Maybe you didn't know but the Bible also doubles quite effectively as an instrument. They would hold their Bibles and beat on them with their other hand for the music. Also if their was any pause in talking or praying someone would start up in song.

The pastor of the church and I think that is his wife.

The church building.

The second time I went to church at Louisvaleweg was with John and Liz, Lindsay, Sloan, and Eddy. Eddy preached. He preached on lukewarm Christians and how we are not called to be lukewarm but to be either hot or cold. We also had the Lord's supper that Sunday. Funny story from that. The guy who was passing out the bread on out side of the church passed Lindsay and the lady next to her more than once. Lindsay kind of raised her hand to try and get his attention and he started coming back but went to someone else. I don't know how many times he just kept passing them right up. Liz asked me, "How big is your piece?" I showed her and we both broke ours in half and gave the other half to Lindsay and the lady next to her.

Eddy preaching

We spent one day playing with the children in Louisvaleweg. Ethan was at someone's house giving piano lessons and Whitney went there to play with the kids there.Eddy, I don't remember where he went but I don't remember him being with the rest of us. The rest of us went to the church yard to play with kids. We blew bubbles for a while then we sang songs and just had fun with them Lindsay was playing soccer with a group of kids. Petrus told a story, Daniel and the Lion's Den, and every time he said Daniel the kids said, "Praise the Lord," and every time he said lion the kids roared. When we were just about to leave the police came to see what was going on. John started trying to explain and all he had to do was mention Hanah Milo's name. I guess she is so well known, known as being a Christian women, that that was all it took. John also said that while we were playing somebody came up and thanked us for what we were doing with the kids.

Morgan and me teaching some of the girls to play slide (Megan's photo)

Father Abraham (Megan's photo)

Petrus telling Daniel and the Lion's Den (Morgan's photo)

We also had a ladies tea one day with the ladies in the church. Much like the tea at Rosedale, but we had the one at Louisvaleweg first. Lindsay led a Bible study on Esther. Towards the end of tea we each prayed individually with the women.

Ladies' Tea (Megan's photo)

We also prayer walked through Louisvaleweg once. The group I was with while walking only got to talk with a couple of people. One guy we talked with told us that his son was murdered a couple of weeks ago and his body was found in the ditch.

There is a lot of darkness in Louisvaleweg. Louisvaleweg so desperately needs prayer.

Africa- Louisvaleweg: Youth

We had two youth meetings with the youth in Louisvaleweg. At the first meeting there were about 9 youth and their leader Howard. We were told the youth in this group were all saved. We had some discussions with the youth, I don't recall what exactly. I think at some point in the discussion it was actually asked if they were all saved and they all answered yes. Since there were 9 of us and 9 youth (although I think a youth might of left so it was 9 with Howard, not really the relevant oart though) we each got together individually with a youth. I don't recall the girl's name who I was talking with. I asked if she had any questions or struggles. She said no. She really didn't seem like she wanted to be there. She did finally say she wanted to know about God. Well, that's a pretty big topic. I asked if there was anything more specific she wanted to know? No, she just wanted to know about God. So I'm not sure what to say or where to begin. I start with some stuff about the Trinity and tell her it's hard to understand even for strong Christians. Then I start with the Matt Chandler podcast on Colossians, specifically Colossians 2:15, "He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation." He, Jesus, is the image of God. You want to know who God is look at Jesus. So I start telling her what I can remember from the podcast. None of that is what she wanted to know. I finally get out of her that she wants to know God more personally. So I tell her to know God more personally you have to spend time with Him. Pray. Read His Word. I tried but overall I don't think I did a very good job. Morgan comes back inside with the girl she was talking to and says the girl gave her life to Christ. The girl was baptized a few weeks ago. Morgan told us she was talking with the girl and she said she didn't know who Jesus was. The whole group is confused and in need of guidance. Many of them, and not only the youth but many people in Upington, believe they have to pray and ask God to save them each day. They don't understand that once you accept Christ you are saved. You don't have to ask to be saved again everyday. Some of the team described Louisvaleweg as feeling like it had a darkness in it. Not just the fact there was only one light in the building but an unnatural darkness. There is evil in Louisvaleweg trying to suppress the Lord. Louisvaleweg desperately needs our prayers.

The girl I got to talk with and pray for.

we had a second meeting at Louisvaleweg the next week. We started out this meeting by playing some games to show the youth that you can have fun at youth meetings. It doesn't have to be all sitting and talking. We played I never. In I Never someone stand in the middle of a circle and says something they've never done, or never been, etc. . Then everyone who has or is gets up and runs to find a new chair in the circle. Well, a girl is standing in the middle and says, "I've never been a boy." So all the boys have to get up and run and find a new seat. Somehow a girl (not the one who was originally in the middle) ends up in the middle. I think something got a little lost in translation on that one. I was really distracted at the meeting. I'm not sure why and not I can't even remember what was on my mind. During the meeting we had a discussion on the Lord's supper and baptism. I don't really remember to much from the meeting because I was so distracted. At one of the meetings, I actually think it might of been at the first meeting with them, John taught them how to share their testimony using the three parts: life before Christ, how you came to know Christ, and your life since you accepted Christ and what He's doing in you now.

Us with the youth after the first meeting (Eddy's photo)

Africa- Paballelo

We only had one youth meeting at Paballelo. It was on a Monday night, our first Monday in Upington. Let's go back to the beginning of that day. We got to sleep in a little later than usual because we had nothing really planned for the morning. We went to John and Liz's to check email and whatnot for the first time. We were there from sometime in the morning until at least 4:30pm. I had enough time to start and finish a bracelet there. So the day was long and kind of boring. Someone even said ,"This day is so boring, I just wanna die." Surely they didn't really want to die but you get the gist of how the day was going. Our first youth meeting was planned for that night at Paballelo. Most of us, if not all, didn't have big expectations about it. We didn't really know what would be happening or what we would be doing there. Originally not all of us were supposed to go. We were only supposed to send a few so we didn't show up in overwhelming numbers compared to how many youth would come. I was okay with that and okay if I didn't get to go. We all ended up going and how grateful I am we all did! Over the course of the night there were 4 youth. Monica and Olwetu who were there the entire time, a lady with her kid who left after we played a game or two, and Elliot who didn't come until much later. So we began by playing I Never.

After the game Eddy shared his testimony. At one point he used the word "conviction." We had a discussion about what conviction means. In that discussion someone used the word "repent" so we then had a discussion on what it means to repent. After that I shared my testimony. After I shared Petrus used the waiting for sign then realizing I don't need one part from my testimony to lead a discussion with Olwetu and Monica (Elliot was still not here yet). He asked them if they were waiting for a sign. They both said they didn't need a sign. Morgan and Lindsay took them outside to talk with them and some time shortly before they went outside Elliot arrived. While the girls went outside Ethan shared his testimony. So then Petrus used that to lead a discussion with Elliot and then John and Ethan went outside with Elliot to talk more.

Olwethu, Patience, Monica

While they were all outside talking. Petrus got a call from his daughter-in-law that she was getting ready to have her twins! So we prayed for the conversations that were happening outside and for Petrus grandkids that were on their way. Then Petrus was like, "Tiffany, I have a word from God for you." He shared it and later that night when we were having a group devotion Tiffany told us how true it was and how much it meant to her. So there was amazing stuff happening inside and outside.

They all come back inside, and we have 2 new sisters and 1 new brother in Christ! Amen! We thought this day was lame and nothing was going to happen. How wrong we were! God showed us and showed up in mighty ways!!

Lindsay joked more than once, before and after the meeting, that she was going to journal about me that night. That morning had been my turn to lead the devotion and share my testimony. Devotion on Mark 1:35 and Luke 22:39-46. Jesus went out "as usual" to pray, He went to a "solitary place", He prayed so earnestly that, "His sweat fell like drops of blood." How much more should we be praying if Jesus prayed that much and so earnestly. Follow it up with Philippians 1:3-6 as a prayer for John & Liz and Petrus & Mariana and then we prayed with them. I was like I am nobody but God uses nobodies. Petrus is the one that then took my testimony to guide a discussion if it were up to me it would of just ended after I gave my testimony. Ok, so maybe it was still my testimony that was used but it weren't for Christ I wouldn't even have a testimony. I don't want to take any credit for what He did.

Throughout the rest of our time in Upington we were not able to have another youth meeting in Paballelo but the 2 girls, and another girl Patience who has not yet accepted Christ, came to a cultural party we had and we were able to spend a girls day with them shopping and hanging out. We ended the day getting milkshakes/desserts as Wimpy's with them and talking to them about the Bible and suggestions of books and passages to read.