SNAPshot a day: baragwanath

We went to see our friend Andile at Baragwanath hospital. She has now been there for 2 weeks and still no diagnosis. She continues to grow weaker and her condition has only become more severe.

Please continue to pray for her to be comforted by the Lord, for the doctors to have wisdom in diagnosing her and that she would get better soon.

This is only one of the buildings at the hospital. I have actually never been inside this building as usually when I go to visit it is in individual wards.

People say you go to Bara to die...

Some facts about the hospital:

Built by the British government during World War II to care for military personnel.

2,964 beds. 429 buildings. Largest hospital in the world.

Patients pay according to income.... R13-39 ($1.91-$5.73) per outpatient visit. R129-194 ($18.97-$28.53) per admission per month with all treatment included. Maternity cases and children under 6 years old are treated free of charge.

Info found here.

SNAPshot a day: plaited hair

We spent the day with Brenda... getting our hair plaited, talking about life and enjoying each other's company.

SNAPshot a day: taxi

We took a taxi ride to Joburg. On the way there, it was interesting with a drunk man who became our tour guide. He was quite hilarious. We enjoyed a conversation with the taxi driver about God on the way back.

I love meeting people along the way.

Side note: The driver's finger pointing up outside the window means he is going to downtown Joburg. I couldn't even tell you how many signs there are for the local townships throughout Soweto.

SNAPshot a day: first family

The first family I met in South Africa was Gogo Mumsi, her daughter Vuyiswa and her 5 grandchildren. I have loved these children from the start. It has been amazing to see them grow up over the past 2 years.

Two important things to remember in Africa are greetings and goodbyes. As my time is coming to a close, I want to spend as much time with my African family as possible. Over the next month, I am going to focus on spending time with friends and saying proper goodbyes. This time will surely be bittersweet as I'm saying goodbye to my African family and longing to say hello to my American family.

SNAPshot a day: heart of Joburg

We took a trip to downtown Joburg to celebrate Sibongile's birthday and for Stephanie to experience the city life. And she sure did with her bag being slit open and her phone being stolen. Nkosinathi was able to do a lot of firsts such as going to the Top of Africa (50 story building) as well as riding an escalator.

We had a good time spending the day together! I'm going to miss my friends so much!

SNAPshot a day: hospital

The hospital has become our new home. We have been quite a few times with pregnant friends as well as sick friends. But I'm thankful that I can help and support friends during very exciting times in their lives and difficult ones too.

We were able to meet Phila today :) A baby girl born on 25 April at 8:40am to Philani and Portia. Oh and it happened to be Philani's birthday... talk about an awesome birthday present! Please pray for Philani and Portia as they raise this child up to fear the Lord. Pray that Phila will grow up to love the Lord.

At the hospital, they only allow visitors from 2-4pm. And that includes fathers! No one is allowed outside of those hours, not even fathers who would like to be there for their child's birth.

While at the hospital today, we were able to visit another friend of ours, Andile, who is very sick. She has been in and out of the hospital for the past couple months. The current stay has been for a week and still no diagnosis. She is only getting weaker. I am truly worried for her if she doesn't get treatment soon. Please pray she will get the help she needs and for the doctors to have wisdom to diagnosis correctly. Pray she would grow closer to God during this time!

SNAPshot a day: market

I love African markets! Jozi brings together people from many different countries. We were able to meet people from Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe to name a few. I enjoyed learning what life is like for them as we stood around listening to them. At the same time, we were able to share what we as Americans are doing here. We hope to go back in a couple weeks and build on these relationships!

This is a game called Awale which is played in Ghana.

SNAPshot a day: samoosas

Joburg is a melting pot of the nations. There are many peoples here from all over the continent of Africa as well as peoples throughout Asia. Today, we were able to go to a festival in a part of Joburg where mostly Muslims and Hindus reside. It was interesting to experience such different cultures!

We went to the World of Samoosas for lunch. I'm a fan and will definitely be returning soon!

Samosas are a triangular pastry stuffed usually with spiced potatoes, onions, ground beef or chicken sometimes served with chutney (fruity sauce). They are known as samoosas in South Africa and are mostly eaten by peoples from Northern Africa and Asia.

SNAPshot a day: good friday

Most churches in Africa celebrate Good Friday. We were able to celebrate together as a body of Christ with five churches from throughout Soweto and surrounding areas...

Faith Baptist from Snake Park

Good News Baptist from Braamfischer

Kliptown Baptist from Kliptown

Immanuel Baptist from Diepsloot

Lehae Baptist from Lehae

Worship.

Testimonies.

Preaching.

Offering.

Lord's Supper.

Lunch.

Old friends reunited.

All smiles.

SNAPshot a day: bafana

Bafana Bafana. Boys Boys.

These boys are from our Life Orientation class that we teach at Dr. Mary Primary School. Today, school got out early for holiday so we found them in the street playing. Pray for these boys safety over holiday and that they would make wise choices.

SNAPshot a day: i heart...

i heart taking pictures.

i heart children.

i heart taking pictures of children.

SNAPshot a day: the challenge

The Gospel Bracelet Challenge... they had to learn what each bead meant not just what the color stood for. If they could come up and explain in depth each bead, they could win a soccer ball.

And please keep in mind, English is often times their second, third or even fourth language. My constant prayer is that these girls and boys would understand God's truths in spite of the language barrier. God is big... He created language therefore He can move in mighty ways!

After only 1 week, Lesego was able to complete the challenge.

In case you were wondering...

Gold=God... God created everything. God created people to be in a perfect relationship with Him. John 3:16

Silver=Sin... But people sin and are separated from God because God can't be with sin. God is Holy. Romans 3:23

Red=Jesus' blood... Jesus is God's Son who died on the cross so we can be forgiven of our sins. Romans 5:8

White=Forgiveness... If you believe in Jesus, what He did and trust in Him, then you will be forgiven. You can have a relationship with Him. John 1:12

Green=Grow... Once you have a relationship with God you grow by... going to church, praying, reading the Bible, worshipping God, ect. Philippians 3:13

The gospel is simple. God is Holy. We are sinful. We need a Savior. Christ lived a perfect life, died, rose again to save us from our sins. We can now be in relationship with God through Christ.

Pray that these girls and boys would understand this Good News and accept Christ as Savior and trust in Him fully!

SNAPshot a day: up before the sun

Let me just say... I love sleep. But I love my friends more!

We took Portia to the hospital this morning at 5:30am because she had an "appointment" at the maternity ward. Unfortunately, after 3 hours of being there they told her to go home and come back on Wednesday. Typical. I'm glad I could help since taking a taxi would take hours to get from Portia's place to the hospital compared to a 30 minute drive in the car. We will do this all over again on Wednesday morning...

SNAPshot a day: coming generation

Philani has a passion to lead the next generation. He desires to be a Godly role model because he did not have that while growing up which led to a rebellious lifestyle. He is investing in the lives of the youth at Faith Baptist Church. Praise God!

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

Psalm 78:4

SNAPshot a day: rain

Rain, rain, go away, come back another day...

SNAPshot a day: freedom

During the time of apartheid, on 26 June 1955, over 3,000 people of resistance organizations made their way to Kliptown, Soweto to draw up a Freedom Charter. This Freedom Charter was to be an alternative to the repressive laws of the apartheid state.

A memorial of the Freedom Charter can be found at the Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown.

SNAPshot a day: more baby time

God's gift of life is amazing! Makes you want one of your own :)

I wasn't able to be in America for the birth of my niece or nephew which was a very difficult time for me. But Sibongile is my African sister... I have been able to be a part of her pregnancy, the birth of her baby girl and now I am an aunt to this sweet niece of mine!

Big brother love.

SNAPshot a day: pay as you go

Days like this remind me that I am still in Africa...

Apparently the city is trying to change electricity to pay as you go. A man came to our gate to say that if I don't let him install the new pre-paid meter that day, they will cut my electricity off. I tried to call the electricity company but no answer. So, we went ahead with this pay as you go system. The man began installing the meter and gave us a 'cashpower' card.

Top Left: He then told us that we must go to the civic center to buy electricity. We went there only to find that we needed to go to the city hall. We found the city hall by mistake, thankfully. After going to the city hall, they said they don't deal with this but gave us a number to call. We called the number to try to activate the card, the number didn't work. We called another number only to be put on hold for a really long time. Finally, we spoke to a lady who said that maybe our card was activated now.

Top Right: We decided to go ahead to the grocery store to try to buy electricity. It worked!

Bottom Right: Afterwards, we headed back to the house. The man had said that he would wait for us but he wasn't there. He left a note with his number and said to call him for assistance. I called him and he came back shortly.

Bottom Left: He proceeded to come inside and show us how to use the electricity machine. Each time I buy electricity, I have to dial in numbers from a receipt to recharge. The machine also lets you test how much electricity you have by plugging it into the wall.

This should be interesting...

SNAPshot a day: commitment

True Love Waits commitment cards signed by our grade 7 girls at Hector Pieterson. Some of the girls took cards home to fill out later. We tried to make it difficult to sign the cards so that they would not just do it because a friend did. We pray they are serious about this commitment to God.

Pray that these girls would understand what true love is according to God, who is love. Pray that they would hold true to this commitment to wait till marriage to have sex. Pray they would live God's way and not according to the ways of this world.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

SNAPshot a day: bojangles

A taste of home... thanks to Lori's mom.

SNAPshot a day: coffee

I heart coffee.

We had a nice coffee break at our local casino to end our lovely holiday.

SNAPshot a day: rest

This weekend has been an amazing time of rest. We spent a lot of time by the river... reading, talking and enjoying the great outdoors.

SNAPshot a day: a walk in the bush

Today was quite the adventure but can't be summed up in one SNAPshot! Lori and I walked through the bush finding wilderbeast, hartebeast, and kudu.

We went out to watch a beautiful African sunset.

On the walk back, we found a wilderbeast on our path. She made some interesting noises to warn us to stay away. It was getting dark so we were nervous about how we would make it home before the sun completely set. We decided it would be best to go on the path less traveled to make our way around her. As we passed her, she made the noise again and we began to run. Quickly. We made it home safely but will refrain from walking through the bush at night again.

SNAPshot a day: holiday

Lori and I have headed out of the city into the bush. We are staying at a B&B in a nature reserve. We are excited for some time away!