Argentina/Mexico

In the spirit of World Cup, I feel the need to post about every game that I have been to. I have always loved soccer so the excitement in Africa right now is contagious! Originally I was just going to 3 games but I have just bought another ticket to a Quarter Final match. Can't wait!

Amber, Zach and I headed to Soccer City to watch Argentina vs. Mexico. We hopped on a bus with Kurt and one of his friends to take us to the stadium.

I love listening to other countries' national anthems and hearing the fans sing along. This time we were seated beside a bunch of Mexicans. Since studying Zulu I think I forgot most of my Spanish... Except for sometimes when a Spanish word will pop in my mind while I'm speaking Zulu. It seems my brain just tries to find any words other than English.

The final score was 3-0 Argentina. The referees have not been the best this World Cup. Argentina was definitely offsides on one goal... They put the replay on the big screen and the Mexican players saw it and ran to the referee to object. Because the referee has the final say, they usually don't have replays in the stadium so that fights don't break out... which is what happened after the first half.

This was one of the legitimate goals by Argentina.

A big part of the World Cup experience is the fanatic fans... I love watching people to see how they dress in support of their team. I love seeing South Africa fans even though they were knocked out early. And of course vuvuzelas.

Multiple times during the game balloons and paper rolls were thrown onto the field by crazy fans. Even the goalies had to clean up paper while the game was being played.

Soccer City is where the Final Game of the 2010 World Cup will be played on 11 July. Wish I could be there! Soccer City is beautiful with the outside of the stadium designed to look like a calabash, an African pot.

Polokwane

Polokwane is located in the heart of the Limpopo Province in northern South Africa. Polokwane is one of the host cities for the 2010 World Cup. It is also the home of our good friend Given! It is absolutely beautiful driving the roads of Africa... where else can you see landscape like this?

This is Given with his Gogo (grandma). He grew up in the rural area until moving to Joburg at the age of seven. His Gogo was happy to host us for the afternoon.

I could see myself living in a rural setting, enjoying the simple things of life. But it doesn't come without hardships... many of these people do not have electricity or water in their homes. As we drove by, we waved to many women who were standing in lines waiting to fill jugs with water.

As I travel and see different places in Africa I am constantly reminded of how thankful I am for what God has given me. And at the same time, I see how the possessions in this life can distract us from what is most important... God, family and friends.

This is their kitchen where Gogo prepared us chicken and pap. It was delicious!

They set up a table with chairs outside for us. It was a surreal experience as we enjoyed traditional African food under the African sun with the African mountains in the background among the people of Africa.

Many people in Limpopo speak Sepedi which is Given's home language. His Gogo and her friend enjoyed dressing up for us in traditional Sepedi clothes.

We then headed to Peter Mokaba Stadium to watch New Zealand vs. Paraguay. It was so fun to go with some of our South African friends and enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity together.

USA/Slovenia

USA vs. Slovenia. Match 22. 18 June 2010. 16:00. Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa.

This is how excited we were driving to go see USA play Slovenia in downtown Joburg. Can you see the American pride?!

Downtown Jozi. Football is everywhere.

Chris. Amber. Me. Zach. Nick. Chris was on a two week mission trip and was able to go to a World Cup game. Nick came with us and surprisingly enough was able to find a ticket by walking around asking people outside of the stadium.

Jeremy Schaap was reporting for ESPN. Not that I knew who he was but it is always fun to see someone famous.

Up close and personal with the USA team!

Bafana Bafana supporters are at every game regardless of who is playing.

This video is of USA's 3rd goal that should have counted. We were robbed! Sorry for the craziness of the video... Zach got a little excited when USA made the goal.

USA's 3rd goal from Rachel Jensen on Vimeo.

Blow Your Vuvuzela!

Vuvuzelas are a plastic horn or trumpet. It is based on kudu (antelope) horn instruments which are rooted in African history. The origin of the name vuvuzela is disputed. Some say it originated from Zulu for "making a vuvu noise" or from township slang related to the word for "shower."

There is controversy over the vuvuzela... Many people would like for it to be banned during the World Cup. Vuvuzelas are a part of South African football and in my opinion are necessary to provide an authentic South African football experience for this 2010 World Cup!

You better believe I have my own vuvuzela... Yes, it is bedazzled. And yes, it has a make shift strap for easy transport!

Here is a video of the Vuvuzela song to be heard at every football match.

Blow Your Vuvuzela from Rachel Jensen on Vimeo.

Feel It.. It Is Here!

Ke Nako. It's Time. To welcome the world to South Africa.

The 2010 World Cup is here! This is an exciting time for South Africa to be the first African country to host the World Cup. You can not drive down the street without seeing flags and football everywhere... And of course hearing Vuvuzelas blowing in the streets!

The International World Changers including high school and college aged students from America have come for two weeks to do soccer ministry during the World Cup. They hold Soccer Clinics in the morning followed by Bible Clubs in the afternoon.

Students start by kicking around a few soccer balls on a dirt field. Before you know it, over 150 children come from the streets to see what is going on. The World Changers are sure to share Bible stories with the children and share with them the hope they can have in Christ.

Children in Soweto just want to be acknowledged and loved. They easily build relationships with the World Changers.

All of this could not be possible with out our Soweto friends who help with crowd control and translation. They work so well with the children. I enjoy serving alongside of them!

In Snake Park, we rented out the community hall in order to show the opening match between South Africa and Mexico on a big screen. We had a pretty good turn out and were able to pass out tracks to those who attended.

I was so excited to see one of my girls from Obed Messiane Primary School. Noxolo is one of the girls that I have gotten to know while just hanging out at the school even though we have not been able to have Girls Club every week.

This video is in the community hall after the first goal scored in the 2010 World Cup by Bafana Bafana, South Africa's football team. You just had to be there to feel the excitement in the air!

1st Goal 2010 WC - Bafana Bafana from Rachel Jensen on Vimeo.

Lori visits South Africa: Part 5

God has been so good to me. Lori is a woman of faith and has been such an encouragement to me. We share life together even with being so far away during this time in our lives. But we still hold each other accountable in our walks with the Lord. So, thank you to all those who supported Lori in prayer and financially in order for her to come here to visit me. I have been so blessed!

Lori and I went to Gold Mountain one day with my best friend here, Sibongile. We had an awesome time playing and just chatting with one another. These mountains are deposits from the time of gold mining. Not too sure if this is the safest place to be as there could be arsenic or other chemicals in the mountains. But it is such a peaceful place as you look down over the busyness of Soweto. This is Mdodoa (man) who came with us for a day of fun.

I prayed before coming to South Africa for God to provide me with deep relationships with people in Soweto. It is amazing to see how God has answered that prayer! My South African friends were so quick to open their lives and homes to my dear friend Lori. Sibongile was honored to cook pap (corn meal), tripe (intestines) and a side salsa for us.

Sibongile came with Lori and I to Girls Club at Hector Pieterson. Because it was the second to last day of school, they knocked off early so we got there after many girls had already left. But we had a good time regardless. What I am learning is that we are to with-ness. It is difficult to witness and tell someone about Jesus if you are not willing to spend time with them. I'm seeing the value of the deeper relationships I am making as I spend more time with the girls and other people that I meet.

Gogo Mumsy is a sweet lady who was the first person that I met in Soweto. She cares for her four of her daughter's five children by herself. Please pray for her as she tries to provide and care for them. She shared her testimony of how she came to accept Jesus as Lord. She also prayed for Lori and her trip back home.

Our last hooray was another trip to Gold Mountain which was Lori's favorite place to go. This time we went with another good friend Philani. We had such a wonderful time learning about how he gave his life to Christ. It was so encouraging to hear how God had protected him in the past and to see how God is using him today for His glory. Philani is such a good role model for the boys in Soweto and continues to amaze me with his passion for the Lord.

You can't tell from this picture but we are extremely high up. In order to give you perspective, look above our heads in the tree line and you can see how small the truck is.

Lori visits South Africa: Part 4

Continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven..

Colossians 1:23

We had discipleship with Sibongile and Thembane. We had a good time of fellowship and just encouraged one another to finish the race and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Afterwards, Thembane showed Lori how to put Koketso on her back. Too cute!

Brazil was at Dobsonville Stadium and had an open practice. Unfortunately, we could not get tickets but we passed out Challenge newspapers outside of the stadium instead. These newspapers include different soccer stars talking about their relationship with Christ. Kaka from Brazil and Tim Howard from USA are featured. We had a good time just being in Soweto and talking with anyone who would walk by.

The Lion and Rhino Park is located outside of Joburg but is only 20 minutes from our flat. They have many different animals including lions, cheetahs, warthogs, buffalo, rhinos, zebra, and all kinds of antelope. My favorite were the lions.

We wanted a nice picture with the African landscape in the background... just as we got out of our car for a quick photo op, the nature reserve guy drove by. He waited till the picture was taken before he told us not to get out of our car again. Such rebels.

We went to watch USA vs. Australia in a friendly match... and USA won! The game was a lot of fun and it seemed like many South Africans came out to support America. During the second half, I noticed a bunch of girls looking up in the box above the stands saying it was David Beckham. We made Zach take my zoom lens and he was able to confirm that it was Beckham. World Cup is here!

Sunday we went to church at Faith Baptist in Snake Park and then to Lehae Baptist. After Church in Lehae, Pastor Hughie invited us to his house for lunch. Sylvia his wife cooked us a traditional Indian dish with rice which was delicious. They are a sweet family who are so willing to open up their home to others. Such an encouragement to me.

Lori visits South Africa: Part 3

We wanted to have an African cultural day so we took a trip to Johannesburg also known as Jozi. It wouldn't be a true experience if we didn't get there by taxi. Let me just say that I am very thankful for having a car. On the way back to Snake Park it took us over thirty minutes to catch a taxi in the freezing cold of the winter night.

Sibongile and Zakhele took us to the Telkom tower. They discussed with the guards for fifteen minutes about us being Americans and why we should get to go up. But the guards were insistent that the public was not welcome. After some research, I saw that the tower has been closed to public since 1981. They even asked for my camera because I had taken pictures while inside the gate.

I enjoyed walking the streets... taking in the sights, smells and sounds of this African city. Along the way Sibongile stopped us and told us that we must try chicken neck and feet. It was interesting! There were many people walking by who stared and were quite amused to see two white girls eating chicken feet.

We walked to the Carlton Centre which is the tallest building in Africa. We rode the elevator up to the 50th floor. The view of the city was awesome. We were able to compare the present city with pictures from 20th century Johannesburg.

The Carlton Centre also includes a shopping center underground. They have a 2010 World Cup display which includes many different jerseys. We wanted our picture taken in front of the USA jersey. As soon as we sat down people began taking our picture and for an instance I felt famous. Not many white people travel into Jozi so it was out of the ordinary for us to be there.

Lori really wanted to have a traditional African meal. We went to a restaurant on the street and enjoyed chicken, steak and pap. It was fun eating with our hands African style!

Lori and I really wanted to get our hair did... so we did. We went to the salon that Sibongile goes to. The women were so sweet and excited to plait our hair. It was a little painful but well worth it. We have had many comments saying how 'smart' we look since. It has given me an opportunity to tell where we got it done and explain what I do in Soweto.