Sanibonani!
Simply “Hi” in Zulu.
When we arrived in Johannesburg, it was 5am. The sun was rising as we found our rooms, and everything fell effortlessly into place.
We are staying on Impact Africa’s base, with mentors Nano and Erinn (a married couple who met while on the race). It’s been a huge blessing as they know our world. The base also is a home for interns and staff from around the world. I was happy to witness the large amount of staff employees that were local south africans (most of the staff are local), as there is always an issue with finding a job in SA.
Staff positions vary, and are highly coveted. One position is a driver, who drives the Impact busses to ministry, etc. (South Africans drive on the other side of the road!) ((Very excited to be learning about SA demographics as we go))
Our drivers, Mutsu and Lazarus have been so kind. They have entertained many conversations about the Bible and local languages. (There are 11 official languages in SA, so It’s pretty difficult to learn, and there’s some weird tension behind the Afrikaans language post-apartheid) One morning, Lazarus and I had coffee and talked about the different translations of the Bible, and how the words can offer completely different meaning from language to language. Reading from Ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek can offer a more multi-dimensional view of the Bible and what God is trying to speak to us.
That’s one of my searching points on the race. I want to view the Bible in a more 3D way. More on that later.
Every morning we are hugged by a red African Sunrise. Our host makes us coffee and sometimes we feel a little too lucky.
In our first days, a baby slung her head into our dining room winder. Smiling, she started speaking to us. A staff member welcomed her in, she was the daughter of “Auntie Priscilla” and had somehow avoided preschool for the day. Giggly and excited, we learned sweet Lolietta’s name.
Loli for short.
The next few days a few squad mates and I made sure to hang out with her. Not for any other reason but because it was fun and sweet and she was so giggly.
One day she came home from her last day at preschool, and proudly showed us the ducks she drew. Even within the langauge barrier, we figured out how to play “TAG” and “duck duck goose”.
and we rolled down some hills.
The next day Loli left with her mother back to Zimbabwe.
Anticipation grew high for our squad as we prepared to start our first ministry. Long travel days and flights on the AMAZING QATAR AIRLINES left us tired but excited.
After training, which included lots of songs, dancing, praying, learning, we headed off to our first ministry, which is located in Diepsloot, a squatter camp down the road.
I haven’t processed those communities yet, and I want to do so in a way that is honorable to the people of that community, so I will be touching on this topic later.
Throughout the week we are involved with multiple other ministries in the high schools, and baby ministries. We haven’t yet started those ministries as of yet, but i can’t wait to update you on what they look like!
New handshakes are amongst many cultural cues that have trickled into every day life. Its all new right now.
Fresh.
Beautiful.
It’s home.
Yes, it’s dusty here, and the dust isn’t shy either. I am trying to savor every second with Impact Africa as we are told our stay is a rarity of World Race finds.
Zimbabwe is next and I’m hoping there’s a chance i run into a giggly Lolietta on the streets.
