Oct 19, 2009 | Baby Photos, South Africa, Stories
So… we are finally in our new place. And I’ve been a little reticent to tell you all the details about it because I feel like it’s so nice missionaries shouldn’t be living here! It is so amazing how the Lord just provides in His supernatural ways – sometimes you don’t even realise He’s moving, until you stop, look around and think WHOA. That was God.
This is the view from the 3rd balcony off our bedroom! We can see a tiny bit of ocean!
We started out looking for a place to live in Cape Town and decided it was rather expensive, and we could pay less and get more if we lived outside the ‘big city.’ We ended up looking in the area of Gordon’s Bay, and Mark decided it would be a good idea to even further reduce our rent budget, which made me a little nervous.
We were hoping to keep our budget really tight on rent, so that we could pay off our car quickly, but when we spoke with letting agencies (rental agencies) and said, “We’re hoping for a fully furnished place for such and such†they often responded with, “Okay, that’s gonna be a bit tough.† Finally one agency had a place for us to visit. It was a two bedroom apartment, but we were hoping for a three so Mark’s parents and other guests could come and stay regularly and we wouldn’t have to cart Asher around all the time. But this place had a sun room they’d closed in which was a perfect size to be a nursery, and I could peek through the window in the kitchen to check on him without bothering him.
It was still a little above budget, so we asked if they’d make an offer to the landlord for about 600 Rand (about $80 or £50) less than what he was asking, if we were to sign a twelve month contract. They asked, he accepted, and we moved in! So we’re paying about $350 less on rent per month than we were in Edinburgh – which is good because we have Health Care to pay for here, and the Bear is starting to eat a lot with that one tooth! AND they let us pay a lower deposit than the original figure. FAVOUR! (We’ve spoken to some friends in Cape Town who are paying a similar amount for a one bedroom!)
The best part...the view from our balcony!
So that’s all the backstory for the place we are now living in, which has blessed our socks off. Our living room and kitchen look out onto a little harbour directly below us, and then the Hottentots Holland mountains are in the distance. We have three balconies with beautiful views (and we can see tiny bits of ocean here and there). We’re a stone’s throw (literally!) from the beach, and there’s a grocery store across the street. We’re in one of the most secure complexes in Gordon’s Bay, which was a big part of our housing choice, where lots of people own properties that they lock up and leave 11 months out of the year. (It’s very safe, Mom and Dad!) There’s a big circuit we can run around the harbour in the morning, which makes a fantastic jogging trail…I mean seriously, do you want me to go on? So our little 2ish bedroom flat has blessed us beyond belief. The only thing that would improve it would be a dishwasher! 🙂
We’ve settled down in Gordon’s Bay for the time being, and it’s good to be home! (More photos below!)
This is our living room/kitchen/dining area. (Asher's nursery is through the doors at the back)
Our flat is on the left -- on the middle floor with a window open.
And that's our boat! Not!
Oct 17, 2009 | South Africa, Stories, The Good Word
How do you feel about gun control? Or having weapons in the home in case someone breaks in? Mark and I had some interesting conversations about these issues with some friends while we were home in the States. (Thanks, Frank & Sharon!)
Mark was pondering the idea of needing a weapon in the home since break-ins are rumoured to be a bit more common in South Africa. ahem. Although we didn’t come to any definitive conclusions, one issue that we discussed, which always comes up, is the safety of having a weapon in the home, especially when there are going to be children present.
The thing about weapons is, they can often be used for good purposes, but also for evil ones. They can be useful, and they can be destructive. And it is interesting that the Word of God is often spoken of in the Scriptures as a weapon – as a sword.
Like any other object, the sword can be wielded as a weapon for good – for one’s protection or self-defence, or for evil. I don’t think examples are needed for that. But for the Word of God to be called the Sword – what does it mean, if a sword can be used for good or for evil?
Image by rbeforee @ flickr
We find one answer in Luke 4. Jesus has just headed on this seriously long spiritual retreat. He has fasted for 40 days in the wilderness – I think it was some serious ‘man’ time. And at the end of it, He was hungry. No surprise there, He was human after all. The enemy shows up on the scene with a fairly simple suggestion: “If you have all these supernatural skills, why not turn a stone into some bread and then you can eat something.â€
But Jesus has His Sword with Him – and He is aware that this is not God’s will. So He speaks to the enemy from Scripture: “Man doesn’t live just on bread. We live by God’s Word.†Which I think is basically saying, “It’s more important for us to live by God’s Word than to have something to eat.â€
The battle of intellects continues with the suggestion that Jesus worship the devil, and in return be given the kingdoms of the earth. Jesus wields the Sword again – “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.†Pretty straightforward there.
Then it gets really interesting. Satan suggests Jesus jump off the top of the temple, if He is the Son of God, because “He will tell His angels to take care of you†and “They’ll catch you, so that you don’t even stub your toe.†Slight paraphrase. Wait – what just happened? Yes, you might’ve picked up on it – the devil just wielded the Sword. He quoted Scripture, at Jesus. That was pretty bold.
Jesus’ response (wielding the Sword again): “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.â€Â Plain and simple.
The interesting thing about this last section of the conversation is an actual demonstration that the Sword – the Word of God can be wielded correctly, and incorrectly. God’s Word can be used for good, or for evil. It can be used to heal, and it can be used to kill. It can justify slavery or polygamy, and instruct us to love and forgive one another.
So Scripture, on its own, is just words on a page. We need the revelation of the Holy Spirit to rightly discern and understand Scripture, and as Jesus demonstrated, we need to let Scripture clarify Scripture for us. Satan could’ve justified Jesus’ attempted suicide with the Scripture he quoted, but Jesus rightly discerned God’s will. God tells us not to test Him. And that’s that.
While I’m still not sure what all the answers are regarding gun control or having weapons in the home, I am certain that the Word of God is true. If we are willing to rightly receive it – not to justify our own preferences, but with the intent of truly understanding the will of God – then we can rightly wield the Sword God has given us and fight the good fight we’re here to fight.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12: 2)
Oct 16, 2009 | South Africa, Stories
I went for a jog yesterday afternoon and was surprised by how sometimes doing some of the most simple things in life can teach you profound truth if you’re paying attention. We’ve moved into a big secure complex in Gordon’s Bay with houses and apartment buildings that sit on a beautiful harbour. There are lots of boats and geese and palm trees and the views of the nearby Hottentots Holland mountains are spectacular when the sun sets. There’s a boardwalk and brick path around part of the harbour that makes a great walking or jogging circuit.
On this particular afternoon I went out for a quick jog – I normally do this in the morning but the Bear woke me up during the night the night before and I was too tired at 6:00 am to get out of bed for a jog! The weather was a bit windy, but still nice and mild. There aren’t so many people here at this time of year, because so many people who own property in the complex just use it for a month or two out of the year. So besides a very occasional “Hello†or “enjoy†here and there, it was mostly me, my shoes and my thoughts.
A view from our new place. See the sweet wee harbour?
And one of those funny moments showed up – totally out of the blue – where you just start thinking, “Man life is good. This is so lovely. I’m in such a beautiful place. I am glad to be alive. God is good.†I kind of marvelled at ‘the moment’ showing up and just smiled thinking – wisdom has taught me – these moments never last long!
Then I turned a corner to continue the jog out onto the jetty wall which encloses the outermost section of the harbour and what should meet me but BLINDING GALE FORCE WINDS HOWLING PAST MY EARS AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP ME DEAD IN MY TRACKS… or blow me into the water. And as life often does, so I was presented with the choice, out onto the jetty as intended, or turn around and enjoy the wind on my back for a while. It’s an Irish proverb after all.
I instantly thought about the moment before. When everything seems to be cheesecake and chocolate soup, you will often come across a bump in the road or a fork in the path. There you meet the opportunity to take the path of least resistance, and it is especially tempting when you are afforded opportunities that will require you to work harder than you want to.
This challenge immediately translates to many areas of life – choosing to tell the truth regardless of the consequences, choosing to act according to what you know is right, instead of what everyone expects of you, or what will be easiest. It may mean fighting for a marriage that seems like a losing battle, or standing up to your boss when you know he’s doing something that isn’t right. Earlier in the day, for me it meant dealing with areas where I was holding offences against others, and asking them to forgive me. Especially if you want to live for what is right — you are consistently going to meet obstacles.
These opportunities are defining moments in our lives. The moments when we choose the path of most resistance, because it’s the right path, are the moments when our true character is revealed – the moments when it’s clear what we’re really made of.
I pressed out onto the jetty, all the way to the end, where I could give the fisherman a good afternoon and a wave, then turned around and started heading back. Although my character may not have vastly improved by that simple decision, choosing the path of most resistance will make me a little stronger for the next run, and perhaps even able to stand when the real gale force winds blow through our little housing complex, here in Gordon’s Bay. So my encouragement for you? Choose the path of most resistance today. And let me know what happens.
Oct 8, 2009 | South Africa, Stories, The Good Word
Mark and I were out at a restaurant the other morning (the one where I paid a whole dollar for honey with my tea) to read our Bibles and have a cup of tea. When the waitress came back with the tea and we’d pulled out our Bible, she asked what the Word was today and for us to teach her something from the Word. Mark smiled and asked if she was a Christian, and she said (with some sense of uncertainty) “I believe that I am.” It was an interesting answer and I’m not sure whether she was simply being humble in calling herself a Christian or whether she was actually uncertain of whether or not she was a Christian.
After she walked away, we talked about it for a little bit, and got into the Word for ourselves for a while. We talked about the Transfiguration described in Mark 9 — why it happened, and why Jesus chose those three disciples to be the ones to see it. At the same time, the waitress’s answer to our question was in the back of my mind and each time she came back to check on us, I looked for an opportunity to engage her in further conversation about it. She was gone before I knew she was there each time, and finally when we were about to leave and she’d brought the bill (with my dollar honey on it!) she asked what the Word for today was.
I’d begun writing a few Scriptures down on some slips of paper I had in my purse to encourage her about her faith, and so we told her I was busy writing it down for her, and we would have it for her when we had the bill. I chose a couple of simple verses about being a Christian, about hearing and doing the Word, about confessing and believing, and just wrote a simple encouragement along with them. She thanked us and took the check while I nipped to the loo quickly before we left.
While I was away, Mark listened to one of the other customers chatting with the waitress nearby. The customer was explaining to the waitress all the benefits of drinking soda water — how good soda water is for your skin and your health, how it will give you a longer life, and so on. After I returned and we were leaving the restaurant, the waitress came up quickly and joyfully and said, “I do believe!” And we both said, “That’s great! That’s really great!” And we were on our way.
What was so interesting was the juxtaposition of interactions this sweet girl had had over the course of her morning. There are so many people who believe they have the ‘keys to life’ and will give you advice about how to enjoy a better life, how to find health, wealth and happiness. But this life is so fleeting — so many of these recommendations will make no difference when this life is through.
When Jesus spoke with the woman at the well in John 4, He offered her water which meant she would never thirst again. We had the opportunity to encourage the waitress about that water, the eternal life and salvation that we have in Jesus. As we walked away and Mark shared with me what had happened, we marveled at the difference between what the world wants to tell you about how to have a great life, and the true promises that are only found in the abundant life of a person who walks with Jesus.
The Sermon in a Nutshell: This world is filled with promises — and other people will gladly tell you how to live your life if you let them. But I’m confident that abundance, joy, contentment and peace are found in Jesus and nowhere else. If you receive His living water, that is, if you receive the gift that is Jesus, and His Holy Spirit, it will satisfy your soul — and you will begin to realise that the things the world wants to offer you are altogether a worthless lot of rubbish compared to the glorious riches available to you in Christ. If you’re thirsty, that’s the best water you can find!
xCC
Oct 7, 2009 | South Africa, Stories, Top Ten Lists
Top of the Week to ya! Since lots of folks seemed interested in my last post about South Africa, I decided to write another SA post…perhaps for those of you planning to be here for the World Cup next year! This amazing country is a melting pot of cultures, languages and of course, some delightful idiomatic expressions…which are my favourite things to learn, in any language. If you’ll be here for a visit anytime soon, here is my guess at the top ten most important words for you to learn, which might not be native to your version of English. Now mind you, I am not a South African, but married one, so I must give the disclaimer of saying these are second-hand understandings, with some first-hand opinions added in.
If you want to speak South African, this is a good place to start:
10. Robot – you might picture a metal box of arms and legs that can dance or run the Hoover for you (a la Rosie on the Jetsons), but in South Africa, a robot is a traffic light.
9. Gatvol – Pronounced HUT-vul, when you’ve “had it up to here” or are past the point of being incredibly frustrated, you are “gatvol.” Eish, by the end of that rugby match, I was gatvol with the Cheetahs. Maybe next season, hey?
8. Bro or bru – An abbreviated term for brother which rhymes with “row” or “chew.” Hey bru, it was a lekker party last night.
7. Eish – This term sounds like ‘ace’ with an ‘h’ on the end. It means ‘wow.’ It’s sometimes used in sticky situations:Â Eish, bru, I’m sorry. I didn’t even know it was your birthday.
6. Eina – Ouch! Or when something is sore. This is a long ‘a’ sound, followed by a ‘nah’. Might be used instead of a southern ‘dern’ when one stumps one’s toe.
5. Jislaaik – This one is pronounced “Yis-like” and means “gee” or “wow.” It’s a useful exclamation for when something is surprising. Jislaaik, those are tight jeans. She must’ve jumped into them from the top of the cupboard.
4. Boerewors – This tasty treat is literally translated from Afrikaans, farmer’s sausage, ‘Boere’ meaning farmers, and ‘wors,’ sausage. It’s pronounced (at my best attempt) “boo-re-vors” with a bit of a trill on the first r. It should be comprised of mostly minced beef, and is sometimes mixed with a bit of pork or lamb. No braai is complete without it! (See Number One).
3. Howzit? This lovely and useful term is simply “How’s it going?” but nicely abbreviated. You can imagine it like a South African Joey from Friends saying, “Howzit, Rachel?”
2. Lekker – You can’t visit South Africa and not hear this term a few times. If something is lekker, it’s nice or good, depending on the context. (Lekker is pronounced kind of like ‘lacquer’ as in the stuff you might coat wood with.) Eish, it was a lekker party until she showed up in her tight jeans. Then we were gatvol and left.
1. Braai — rhyming with “try,” this is perhaps the most important word in the South African English Language. It’s both a noun and a verb. You might call it a barbecue, or “grilling out.” The pastime of the braai is an incredible art — many South Africans are choosy about what type of wood they use, others might use charcoal or briquettes or (less often I suppose) a gas braai. The timing of putting on the meat, the heat and size of the fire, and the amount of wind you might be dealing with are all factors to consider which can make or break the perfect braai. And from my experience so far, a true South African will always say the braai they’re enjoying could’ve been just a little better if they’d just …
I highly suggest coming to South Africa for the World Cup next year, or just for a visit any time! So howzit, bru? Come enjoy some bakgat boerewors at a lekker braai or two! You’ll pass through a few robots, and be here just now, hey? Eish, the trip might be eina, but you’ll be gatvol if you don’t.
Here are a few extra tips for good measure:
- Avie is slang for afternoon, pronounced “AH-vee”
- Bakgat -Â this is an Afrikaans word used fairly often by English speakers. Pronounced “BAHK-hut” with a nice thick ‘hhh’ on the hut. Bakgat means ‘fantastic.’
- Lots of folks, especially from Johannesburg (also known as Jozi or Joburg), will end their sentences with “hey?” Warning: this can rub off on you VERY quickly. (I picked up this habit when I lived in Scotland and had a roommate from Southern Africa!)
- Ja – pronounced “Yah” is a common way of saying yes, and people will often start or finish sentences with it.
- Alternatively, people more often begin their sentences with “No…” in answer to a question, even if “no” isn’t actually the answer to the question, and even if the question is not a yes or no question. So keep listening until you get the whole answer!
- If you’re teasing the person in the centre by not giving them the ball, you’re playing “piggy” (not monkey) in the middle.
Here’s another great site where you can learn to “speak South African” in preparation for your visit!
xCC
Oct 5, 2009 | South Africa, Stories
One of the biggest challenges I’ve found when trying to get settled in a new country (based on two experiences now) is trying to understand the value of the local currency. I was reminded this morning when Mark and I went out for a cup of coffee. We ordered a couple of pots of Rooibos tea (which I was amazed to see has now been introduced at Starbucks in America! Weird reverse culture shock moment to see Rooibos tea in America and say, “What are you doing here?”) Anyway, I wanted honey with my tea and so requested it. The waitress made an apologetic face, and said it would be 6 Rand. Because I’m not exactly aware of the value of currency yet, and was thinking something like, “50 cents” in my head, I said, “Sure that’s fine.”
Of course, as it happens, after she was halfway across the restaurant, the conversion actually sunk in and I realised what I’d just done and looked at Mark and said, “That’s like a dollar!” And I was totally offended to be paying (basically) a whole dollar for a tiny bit of honey to go with my tea. I wanted to go back and say “Nevermind, nevermind, I’m not paying a dollar for honey! I’ll have sugar!” Mark said, “That’s okay, we’re still learning” and told me not to worry about it. Shocking!
I think the really difficult thing, is not just learning to convert the currency you’re working in to an amount you understand. The challenge is actually learning the value of the currency you’re working in. Although 7.5 Rand = 1 USD in terms of currency conversation today, I think I can buy more with 7.5 rand in South Africa than I can with 1 dollar in the US. And of course certain items are going to be more expensive in one country, for example if they’re manufactured there, than they will be in another. We were looking at camping chairs for our balcony today. Is 120 Rand a good price for a camping/tailgating chair? I think $16 would be a great price for one, but around here it sounds like I should be able to find one for even less.
Buying food is an even greater challenge. Walking into the Pick n Pay is such a daunting prospect that I almost dread making a shopping list and preparing for the journey. The cheap and tasty meals I used to do in Edinburgh are suddenly not the cheap and tasty options here. I grapple with these types of dilemmas at the moment:Â Why is spicy cooked sausage so stinking expensive, suddenly? Â How will I do my cheap and cheerful stir fry without it? The other day I spent ages staring into the butter section looking at choice after choice and examining prices and sizes. Asher was tired of being in the grocery cart, and my brain was fried. Finally, a very healthy-sized Mama came along and stared into the case for a moment before choosing her butter, and I thought, “Well she looks like she knows what she’s doing” so I chose the same one and was on my way!
So the adventure continues, even when it’s just an adventure to the grocery store to figure out what’s for dinner. If you have any tips on the value of the South African Rand for me, they are most welcome. 🙂
xCC
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