1.) An unlimited supply of Rooibos tea, with cane sugar and milk.
2.) the surprising amount of times we passed the South African border during our time in Africa. For those who are wondering, I actually went to the country of SA 3 separate times this year. Fun travel facts.
3.) The incredible weight and immensity of the sky. Day or night.
4.) The freedom to dip my toes in an African river, just to feel alive.
5.) Bonding with my sweet squadmate Anna Bonita during our first few nights in the country. We sat under the stars together and shared deep chats and revelations. ??
6.) Conversations with God that break you into precisely one thousand pieces.
7.) Interceding in prayer for loved ones as they spend time evangelizing in town.
8.) Cute dresses after many months of feeling a little frumpy.
9.) Hugs when your heart is broken by the weight of what God has called you to do.
10.) When the closest thing you have to a brother prays for your broken heart and you feel the freedom to cry.
11.) Cooking chili with Stephanie and Mason in our Long Island accents that one night in Pretoria.
12.) Putting on a surprise variety show for my teammate’s birthday. Complete with Sound of music songs, an excerpt from Harry Potter narrated and acted out, and a miniature Prince dance party.
13.) Watching the worst-made televangelism movie I’ve ever laid eyes on with my sisters on our 10 hour bus-ride to our ministry host. We couldn’t stop watching it, even though we were spread all over the bus, and every time we stopped at a gas station we would laugh about it together.
14.) Arriving into Bloemfontein under the most beautiful sunset.
15.) Looking out at field after field of sunflowers on our bus ride.
16.) Walking up the steps to Eden Ministries on our first night there and knowing distinctly that this month was going to break me.
17.) The beautiful smile on our host daughter’s face. Her name is Ruth.
18.) The gift of being given individual rooms for the month, but loving each other so much that we chose sleepovers often anyway. Still, even after 6 solid months of sleeping together without the choice to sleep apart.
19.) Learning the name of each resident and getting to know the differences in their smiles.
20.) Mamukatie’s sweet, sweet hugs.
21.) The first day on housekeeping duty. Stepping into each room was like entering the mind of each resident. It was a hallowed experience.
22.) Meal planning with Stephanie. Also the first time we went grocery shopping and had to step foot in an immense, 6 story mall and felt like we were in another universe. The malls in South Africa are HUGE.
23.) Purchasing enough avocados (in budget!!!) to make homemade guacamole for Taco Tuesdays. (This was a huge deal for me.)
24.) The sign in our big, industrial kitchen that said, “Kiss the Cook!”
25.) Cooking on a huge stove that resembled a gargantuan Coleman grill that was hooked up to a gas tank that was taller than me.
26.) Spending morning quiet time in the peace of my own room, with sunlight filtering through the tree outside my window.
27.) Excruciatingly hot water for showers. This never happens, people.
28.) The sharp fear and intense adrenaline rush of being asked to cut hair for Betty, Wilma, Cookie and Ann-Marie. They loved their haircuts, even though I sure didn’t.
29.) The day Blair Grace and I went on a spree and painted all the fingers and toes for the female residents. Seeing their faces light up with joy at having pink, green, or red fingernails was one of the most special things I’ve ever been a part of.
30.) Coloring in color books with Lucas and Charles.
31.) Lucas and his fantastic smile, the scent of his cologne he wore with such pride, and the sight of him in the reflective vest he always wore whenever he was on gate duty. This man was gentle, and helpful and so amazingly sweet.
32.) Our funny resident Robin and how he would always show us his new paintings. He tried to sell them to us for 80 Rand a piece, and was always asking if we knew of any music producers he could “drop” his new album to.
33.) Kitchen duty with sweet Martha. She let us listen to our music as loud as we wanted, and the residents loved it. The best time was when Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing” came on and some of the older residents shot up and immediately began to dance with the biggest smiles on their faces. They knew all the words. ??
34.) Grieving over and fighting for Leony’s right to proper hospital care even though she was white.
35.) Soothing Wilma when she was sick. Typically so gentle, when she fell ill with the flu, she had a bit of a breakdown one day and kept trying to throw cups of water at us and take her clothes off.
36.) Trying to help a particularly crotchety resident eat his dinner, despite the fact he kept trying to eat paper towels and stab me repeatedly with his fork. I have to say, his gumption was strangely endearing.
37.) Waking up pre-sunrise on our overnight bus to Cape Town, and watching the sun come up over hills and mountains of beautiful wine country as we made our way into the Cape.
38.) Our first night in Cape Town: we chased a sunset all over Table Mountain, made friends with our taxi driver, ate a delicious dinner on the waterfront.
39.) Seeing Muzinger Beach for the first time. I’ve literally had clippings of the beach from Nat Geo hanging on my wall for years up until this point.
40.) Boarding a beat-up commuter train for $3 round trip and traveling all the way up and down the Cape, visiting so many beach towns along the way. Stopping at Boulder Beach to swim in the ocean with some penguins. What a life.
41.) Spending a Sunday morning with the Lord in His house, the ocean, honoring members of His creation, surrounded by white sharks.
42.) The undeniable joy of a really good Vongole.
43.) Boarding another overnight bus to debrief from Bloemfontein only to find half the squad already on the bus, as a total surprise.
44.) Soul chats with my good friend Marlin.
45.) The sweet comfort of a latter and a muffin after a sleepless night in a crowded Johannesburg bus station.
46.) The rolling, green hills of Nelspruit.
47.) Crying with dear friends.
48.) That one time Holden threw me in the pool fully clothed.
49.) Dancing with Steph and Ali under the stars to a live African band the hostel hired for our last night of debrief.
50.) Bittersweet goodbyes, and the excitement of team changes.
