It's been over 5 years!

It's been over 5 years since I wrote anything on this blog.  In fact I forgot that it even existed.  Last time I wrote my family and I (minus the extra little one we have now) had just arrived back in the US after living in South Africa.  Time does go by quickly and it's hard to believe that all of my girls have grown so much from the little girls they were when we first arrived overseas.

This is a picture from last Christmas in Spain where we were blessed to spend with the holidays with Georgia's family.  Then there is another shot from when we drove up to New York City this past summer.  

Looking forward to more exciting adventures to come in 2016!

Back Home

Ok, so I have not written on this site for 3 months now, but I figured I would give an update.  The family and I have moved back to the States and are now waiting on the arrival of our 5th and most likely final member of the family.  God has worked everything out from giving us a place to stay to finding me a GREAT job.  We were sad to leave the field in Africa, but excited about the plans that he has for us here.  I want to remind everyone that there is still work to be done in South Africa and to continue praying for evryone who is still there.  Zach and Given are continuing the church that was started in Dobsonville and leading some amazing Bible studies.  Hopefully, I will get the chance to go see everyone this Christmas.  Anyway, take care and I will keep you posted on the new adventures in South Carolina.

Camping on the Vaal

Just got back in from a killer couple of days camping with my friends Trent, Amber, and Zach on the Vaal River.  It's great to get away from the city and into the “wild” of Africa.  Of course most of the time it feels like you are camping back home until you look into the trees and realize they are full of monkeys.  Then you know you're not in South Carolina anymore.  

It's winter here so the nights are very cold.  It was just above freezing which is something that I never associated with Africa before I arrived here, but it gets quite cold around where we live.  Anyway, the days are perfect with temperatures in the 70's.  We took the fly tackle and gear this time and had a blast wading into the Vaal River and trying our best to catch some Yellow Fish.  We didn't have any luck, but had a great time trying to stay up in the rapids and not sinking above our heads in the river.

Thanks to Trent and Amber we had amazing meals.  I usually go camping with hamburgers and hotdogs, but not these guys.  We had lamb shoulder, boerwurst,  chicken kabobs, pork rashers, and much more.  It was great! 

Before we left we spent time baiting the monkeys with fruit so they would come in closer for some photo opportunities.  They cooperated, we took pictures, and no one got mauled by monkeys.

  

Mini World Cup

We had our Mini World Cup Tournament in Dobsonville this past Saturday.  Seven schools that our team has been working with participated in a double elimination tournament.  We had a great turn out with all seven schools showing up on time and participating from 9am to 5pm.  It was a long day, but well worth it.  Following the matches Zach shared the gospel with everyone who attended.  Then we had a trophy and medal presentation for all of the kids.  We were so blessed with a smooth running tournament with perfect weather.  We hope that this ministry will aid in the development of a Baptist Church in Dobsonville.

African Funeral

Today, I work up at 5am to head into Soweto for a 7am funeral.  I didn’t know you had to get up so early to bury someone, but evidently you do.  Funerals here are somewhat like ones back home, but different at the same time.  It was somewhat organized with a program and order of events.  Basically, there was a speaker, then a song, a speaker, then a song, a speaker, then a song, a speaker, then a song, etc… for about two and a half hours.  It was actually quite nice, but a little long.  I was one of two white guys there and honored to have the chance to pray and share a bit of the gospel.  Anyway, that was part one. 

Then you go to part two in the program, which occurs at the burial site.  It was very sad to go to the cemetery.  There were fresh graves everywhere because there is so much sickness and death in this area.  At least six funerals were going on at the same time ours was and on our way out others were coming for additional funerals for the day. 

 

Men and women were pretty much separated with the women and family seated or near the tent and the men around the burial plot.  Unlike the burial plots that I have seen these did not include a vault in the ground.  There were only holes dug into the ground, at least 10 feet deep.  The body was in a casket much like ours, but with a plastic or glass covering over the face so you could see the body without opening the casket.  Before burial this covering was sealed with a wooden attachment.  The casket was wrapped in a blanket and lowered into the ground, then the family tossed dirt onto the casket, and finally the men filled the hole with dirt.  It was nice to see how the community all helped to bury the man and showed such respect for him.  It made me think about how quickly we do things in the states and do not always take the time to show respect for those who have passed.

We then returned to the family home to find a line around the home waiting for the family to return and the meal to begin.  Unlike the states where church members and friends provide food for the family, in Africa the family provides food for those who attend the funeral.  Something, I do not think I will ever understand. 

Standing at that cemetery, I think I realized for the first time since arriving in Africa how blessed I am.  To have been born into the loving Christian family that I have and the country that I know and love.

African Culture Shock (Not Really)

So, yesterday Given and I were ministering to a woman who lost her husband.  During our visit Given volunteered my services as “pastor” to receive the body into her home.  

Today I met Given there and did what I was recruited to do.  It was a great experience and extremely enlightening in the area of African culture.  I arrived at quarter to four and met with the woman.  She was grateful that I had come.  Promptly at four the body arrived from the funeral home, which is very odd since African time usually involves things running extremely late.  I met the body and pall bearers and led the procession into the home.  Here they take the body into the bedroom and spend the night with the deceased person.  I greeted the family in the name of Jesus and shared from John 14.  Following this I explained the passage and prayed for the family.  This went well and it was very nice to share God’s word with those that I had only met recently.  

We then went outside and noticed that there was a cow tied up outside.  I was a bit worried knowing that many sacrifice animals at funerals in ancestral worship.  However, this cow was being butchered for food for the guests of the funeral.  So, I was able to witness this activity and even asked to join in by my dear friend Given.  Fortunately, I wore my suit and did not get to get my hands dirty.  

It’s strange to me how people in this area have so little and yet culturally they are expected to provide so much for their guests.  The cow cost nearly $1000.00 US and is being prepared for those who attend the funeral.  Much different from the covered dish lunch that we have back home.  I am happy that God gave me the opportunity to share his word this evening and for allowing me to experience the African life and culture.

Holiday Soccer Club

Today the team went into Soweto and had a great day of ministry.  We began the morning with visiting and had a couple of nice visits, meeting parents of the kids we work with during the week in Girls Club and Soccer Club.  It's great to meet parents who are so happy that you are taking the time to spend working with their children.  It was nice to begin building relationships through this ministry and we hope that it continues to grow the Bible Studies in the area and hopefully a church within the year.

Following our visiting time we went to an open field and set up cones to mark off a soccer pitch.  As soon as we got there kids came out of every nook and cranny.  It doesn't take much to get the kids out of bed, just a soccer ball and a few white guys.  Anyway, we had a blast playing with the kids and sharing a story from the Bible with them during half time.  God is so good and gives us so many opportunities to share his word and have fun at the same time.