Hello, van Kaapstad, Suid-Afrika/ Hello, from Capetown, South Africa. Our squad and I have officially been in South Africa since Monday January 11, but oh boy, travel days are hectic. We checked out of the Holiday Inn approximately at 10am on Sunday, January 10, and our flight was that evening around 7. The route was scheduled for 16+hours, but we received flight tail wind favour and arrived 14 hours later; thankfulness was an understatement. I slept approximately 10 to 12 hours of the 14 because I honestly had no choice; I had the window seat (I asked, and He provided), but along with that gift came an elderly couple in their 70’s;needless to say, I went to the loo (toilet) once. Upon our arrival, we received a sweat dripping African welcome at O.R. Tambo International Airport; the first of many American comforts left behind on the aircraft. Once we were allowed into Johannesburg through immigration, we rallied around to pray, and depart ways with several teams until end of the month debrief. Several of us, including the team of ladies I am on, Warriors of Peace, met up with our lovely South African teammate, Bron, and her family. We were given a warm welcome with a delicious dinner and floor space to rest before our additional 17 hour trek to Capetown. I wasn’t prepared nor excited for the bus ride to the Cape, but again, I had no choice and needed to get over my quick-fix suggestion of flying (duh..) because this was the most economical manner to mobilize two teams. The trip did not start off well because my pack was six, you heard right, six pounds over the weight limit; my gracious teammate, Laura, allowed me to stuff a couple of items into her pack, and since the counter clerk wasn’t fond of giving me a free missionary discount, I paid 25 rand or less than $2 USD for the remainder load. Honestly, the entire bus ride was a blur except for two instances; the unforgettable gentleman in front of me that insisted to recline his chair into my lap after repeatedly reminding him that I am mama long legs and these knees of mine were in pain, but he did not care. At one of the fifteen minutes loo stops, he suggested in his broken and limited english that I stay behind and not continue on to the Cape. The other was of a mummy and her boy from Zimbabwe heading to spend quality time with her husband for three months; I offered to give her a hand with baby Scott, and she kindly and respectfully called me his auntie. The people here have kindred spirits; I have so much to learn and soak up from them. After 17 hours, we arrived at the bus station and John, our ministry host, came to fetch us; we live with John, his father, Papa, and Luciano, a Brazilian Pastor . John is a single father of two beautiful children Azariah and Mishael. Azariah currently is in grade 11 and has the opportunity to commune in a prestigious boarding school in SA, and Mishael is in discipleship training school with YWAM-Capetown. We’ve settled in and have commenced ministry with John’s non-profit, New Season Foundation, working with youth in public schools, community evangelism, visiting the local convalescent home, and much more. We have heaps to look forward to for the month of January, but one thing for sure is that this journey is far more than what I signed up for. Thank you again for the opportunity at hand, and stay tuned for the following blog about home and ministry. xx- love you all!
Seëninge/ Blessings,
Denise
