How I Spent Thanksgiving

• Not in the cool of winter ... Rather sweating in the heat of the summer
• Not watching the Macy's Day Parade ... But sliding down a mountain in a cardboard box
  
• Not eating turkey ... Enjoying chicken and dumplings
  
• Not with family ... Instead with new friends who are sisters and brothers in Christ

Johannesburg is also called "Egoli" which means City of Gold. Gold was discovered in the region in 1884 and active mining operations began 2 years later. Up until recently South Africa has been the world's largest gold producer. Mountains of gold deposits can be found all around Joburg which are the result of decades of gold extraction. They are actually being mined again because there are still minerals that the old machinery left. 

This is a snapshot of what we see everyday walking around Snake Park, Soweto.

This is Amber and I with Lorraine and Sibongile... anytime we do something whether ministry related or for fun, we always try to have our friends come with. They thought we were crazy for wanting to slide down the mountain but they ended up having such a good time and want to do it again!

This is Sibongile and I sliding down the mountain on cardboard boxes. I'm so thankful for Sibongile who has such a sweet spirit and truly loves the Lord. She has taken over teaching Sunday School at Faith Baptist which is an answer to prayer. She has become one of our really good friends!

This is the view from the top of the mountain overlooking Soweto.

This is the group minus Sibongile who was taking a nap on the side of the mountain when this picture was taken. It was certainly a workout climbing up.

Mlungu Dance

Go ahead and laugh it up...

This video is from our "Talent Show" that we had at our last Girls Club meeting at Mayibuye. Can I just admit that I don't know how to dance nor do I have any rhythm? BUT all that matters is that the girls had fun, right (even if it's at our expense)?!

They enjoyed our attempts to dance South African - the first move is "vuma" and another move is "cut the cake" which are both moves we have adopted from here. Kwaito or House Music is very popular in SA and is what we are dancing to.

This video is dedicated to Courtney who requested a video of us dancing.

Homestay

We had the awesome privilege of staying with a Zambian family for 3 days in the village. It was the highlight of my 40/40 experience, hands down.

This is Amber and I walking to our home in the village. I'm so thankful to the Chapanga family for opening up their home and hearts to us.

This was our hut for the weekend... we brought mattresses to sleep on and mosquito nets to create our "happy place" at night (according to Kevin our program director). Bambo Henry built this hut... the floors were made of some sort of concrete and the roof was made from branches found in the bush.

Below is my happy place... playing with children. News spread that some mzungu (white people) were staying in the village so it wasn't long before kids came to see us. Here you can see that Sandra and I are the entertainment as I'm trying to cut and eat a mango. I had fun teaching them games such as paper, rock, scissors and trying to learn Nyanja. I made the phrase "nipasekoni nshawa" into a song which they loved... it means pass the ground nuts... and sang it with them while we shelled ground nuts.

The Chapanga family treated us as honored guests... but they also allowed us to work. We shelled ground nuts, helped cook nshima, washed dishes, planted maize in the fields, shelled maize, and drew water. I learned that living in the village is not an easy life. Can I just say that I have a new appreciated love for Joburg?

We also had the opportunity to go to the maize mill. Maize is a type of corn that they use to make nshima (which is called mealie pap here in South Africa). We had to walk about 30 minutes to the mill where Daisy worked hard to grind the maize. What I found interesting is that they use every part... they use the leaves to feed the cattle, the cob is used for burning in order to cook and the kernels make animal food and lastly the nshima which they eat everyday for multiple meals. I am so impressed with how smart and resourceful these people are and have to be in order to live.

This is Amai Daisy and Bambo Henry who are now are Zambian parents along with many children who live in the village. This was our hang out spot... on a grass mat under a mango tree in the middle of the bush. Loved it!

Bush Camp in Petauke

Here are the top 5 things I learned at Bush Camp:

1. Scorpions and giant camel spiders come out at night.
2. It takes about 35 pumps at the well to get enough water for a bucket shower.
3. Your body begins to adjust to going to bed at 9pm because its pitch black.
4. Zambians know how to use a sling shot to kill snakes.
5. The squatty potty is not that bad.

We had an 8 hour bus ride from Lusaka which was not so much fun but the landscape was amazing... over the mountains and through the bush to the small town of Petauke.

It felt like two worlds were colliding as we drove in a luxury tour bus (with no a/c) through the bush as far as the eye could see... with small villages alongside the road in the middle of no where. It was a surreal experience as I thought about how many of these people have never seen what life is like outside of the bush. Makes me thankful to God for the many comforts I have and the opportunities He has given me.

Our humble abode for 2 weeks. I have never been camping before so this was a new experience for me. Overall, I enjoyed it but could do without the big 3: spiders, snakes and scorpions!!

The kitchen staff helped in Lusaka and then traveled with us to bush camp. I had a good time talking with these ladies (and 2 guys) and learning about Zambian culture. It was such a blessing to get to know them! I'm going to miss their smiling faces as well as the singing and dancing.

We had the opportunity to go out into the villages and just be with the people. We talked with them about life in the village which will be helpful to our ministry in Joburg. We have found that even though we live in a large city, many of the people still have connections to the village.