Concentration

Just a Cape Town View

Have you ever been in a situation where you really have to focus on something you are doing, but in that exact moment it seems that nearly everyone wants your attention? For example, this past week I drove on the left hand side of the road for the first time. I am not going to lie, it takes a lot of concentration and the constant reminder stay on the left side of the road and if you see headlights, instead of taillights calmly MOVE! That was one of the many adventures I got to experience, luckily for me though I did not have a headlight experience. However, this past week has held many different experiences where concentration was absolutely necessary.

The week held multiple different speakers, each teaching something new and exciting. On Monday, we had discussions about how to apply missions in business, which was extremely exciting, because business is something that I cannot wait to study. The speakers made a great point though; well they actually reiterated this point. You can share Christ wherever you are and whatever walk you are in. Whether you are a billionaire who supports others in the mission field or just being the best boss you can be to your employees, treating them with respect and providing a great atmosphere. Throughout the rest of the week we learned about church essentials and how to share the gospel through Discovery Bible Studies. These studies are extremely beneficial and really teach you how to learn on your own and helps encourage the locals here to be able to start their own Bible studies. Classes ended this week with the staff talking about the different outreaches that we get to choose from. The places we get to choose from are Botswana, Malawi, Kenya, Madagascar, and a new addition India! I haven’t chosen which outreach for sure I will be going on, but I am really leaning towards India. I would have the opportunity to teach English and interact with the vibrant culture of Dharamshala, the home of Dalai Lama, the main teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. Many people visit here to hear him speak and get wisdom. It is going to be interesting being in that culture, but also exciting. Dharamshala is in the northern part of India between the Chinese and Pakistan border, right next to the Himalayan Mountains. So hopefully, if the Lord leads me here then India will hopefully be my outreach location. However, any of the other locations would be just as exciting! Camping for six weeks and living in tribal conditions in different parts of Africa, would be one of the most exciting experiences, not to mention meeting some pretty amazing locals! This is the area I would ask for prayer from ya’ll this week, that I will be happy where ever God sends me, or that I could really concentrate on the Lord’s voice to direct me where I should go.

Outreach this week was absolutely fantastic! My friend Sakhile and I got to perform our dance for the first time and in the process met some amazing kids!  We started outside in the soccer field, but by the end and different circumstances we moved to the front of the building. We turned on the music as loud as it could go and just went for it. At first, you definitely feel a little bit like a fool, however by the end so many different styles of dancing had been shown that you didn’t want to leave. So many kids came and watched and danced along with us. Our goal with the dancing is to hopefully start a dance class for the high school students. Many of the kids here have nothing to do after school and we are hoping to open a way for them to get involved in something that will give them a purpose to stay in school and to have a different way to release stress other than the drugs or alcohol.  In addition, we are going to learn some awesome styles of dance. These people know how to dance, it is quite crazy how good they are at it! Hopefully, I will be able to record a performance and show you guys!  Other than the dancing, we have an awesome time getting to know the Rasta community. We are going to have a crayfish boil with them in the next week or two and have a discussion/ discovery Bible study with them. I will have to let you guys know how that goes. Lastly, two of the other students and I get the privilege of visiting different families in the community.  Last week we visited a home where a bunch of different people come and meet for a weekly get together.  This group is the one of the liveliest groups I have met and I feel so privileged to be able to spend an hour or two with them.  They are a great group and have been super open about talking about the Lord. It has been a great week in Ocean View, I can’t wait to see what the next week holds!

No Big Deal

We also had some fun this week! After I got driving on the left hand side and driving standard backwards down, we took the car and headed to Cape Town Proper. We visited various markets and ate some delicious food at the waterfront by the Victoria Wharf, viewing the beautiful Table Mountain. After that we drove the opposite direction to the lowest point of Africa, Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Our drive was rather interesting I must say. You know in America we have deer signs or different signs for animals that seem normal to see on the road. However, here in South Africa you get signs like baboons or penguins on the road. Not exactly the animal you expect to see walking along the side of the road. Well, I experience my first baboon crossing, it was hilarious. They are some of the ugliest animals I have ever seen, but they are so funny! The car in front of us was covered in the monkeys just walking all over it. All in all though that was the most beautiful drive I have ever taken! We stopped in Simon’s Town and saw penguins, which sounds weird because we are in a extremely tropical area, but nope they are here and so stinking cute!  All in all it has been another great week down here, definitely has had it’s moments where it has been hard, but in reality those moments are easily forgotten as you move on and experience more of this culture and especially God.  Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it!