Fear is a funny thing. It appears in an assortment of ways, none of which are exactly the same for each individual. You may ask why this is even on my mind or why I thought a travel blog post should play host to such an odd topic. The answer, dear reader, lies within a comical observation of mine over the past two months.

You see, American women are incredibly different from South African women in many ways, but the funniest difference appears in the realm of Fear. Nicole and I (the lone Americans on base) have no problem whatsoever with snakes, lizards, and frogs. Should a snake appear, we will walk closer so as to get a good look and watch it slither off into the bush. Likewise, when lizards drop by for a visit, as they so often do, Nicole typically runs off to catch it before bringing it to me so the two of us can pet and play with it. The same enjoyment extends to the frogs, which we are often called on to save from bathrooms and learning centers (classrooms).

Contrarily, South African women have quite a different reaction in all three cases. Snakes are viewed with a great deal of disgust and, for most women, prompt an immediate departure from the infested area, with the occasional scream thrown in for good measure. Lizards are not nearly as frightening, but they still ignite a fire beneath the women’s feet that urges them to quickly walk in the opposite direction.  The appearance of a frog, however, is quite a different phenomenon. For the South African woman, a small, innocent frog warrants much screaming and jumping, immediately followed by a mad dash to the nearest chair or greatest distance from the before mentioned amphibian. One glance at a motionless frog is all it takes to instigate such mayhem. A hopping frog, on the other hand, causes World War III.

I find the entire situation hilarious, but I would be remiss if I did not flip the coin on the other side and reveal the absurdity of the American woman’s fears. While we may be comfortable around lizards and frogs, all insects and spiders generally freak us out. The moment a spider, cockroach, or large grasshopper skitters or hops into view, Nicole and I scream, jump a mile high, and then run for the nearest exit. What does the South African woman do? She either stomps on it or ignores its presence entirely. For example, just now I spotted a monstrosity of a cockroach clinging to the wall in the girl’s bathroom. I “bravely” backed out of the room without screaming and hurried off to find someone who could help. When told of my discovery, Nicole immediately backed away and demanded to know if the cockroach was anywhere near her bath towel. But then Jamie, rolling her eyes at the fearful and creeped out reactions of her two friends, simply walked out, borrowed my shoe, marched into the bathroom, and smashed the roach without the slightest hesitation.

I just don’t understand it, and I don’t believe I ever will.  I suppose we will all just continue to laugh at one another. At any rate, it certainly makes for some highly entertaining memories. :P

—

As can be clearly seen from the minor anecdotes above, life on base is far from the typical mundane existence of the common mortal.  Although our days pass in a similar fashion from the day previous, people and events create a level of interest for each passing moment, whether through random but thought-provoking conversations, unintentionally witty comments from students, or the occasional (or not so infrequent) histrionics of our fellow coworkers (or even ourselves). Now keep in mind, this would be considered a prototypical day in our lives here on base and/or within the school. On a special day, however, in which an event arises that causes much excitement and frivolity in one or more individuals, life becomes a festival.

For example, last Thursday I received a package from one of my amazing friends back home in Virginia. She had just sent it 11 days before, so I was not expecting it for another week or so. However, I received notice that the package had arrived and that I would receive it at the end of 2^nd break. As such, you can imagine my uncontainable excitement. The moment I saw the package, I pounced on it like a kitten, promptly stealing it from Heidi’s unsuspecting arms and dashing up the stairs to the school office to scavenge about for a pair of scissors. Nicole joined in my exuberance, and the two of us tore into the package. Squeals, laughter, and a lot of Tigger-like bouncing erupted within the small confines of the office. As we pulled Dove chocolate, instant Starbucks coffee, Orbit gum, Hershey chocolate, birthday cards, and the latest Celtic Thunder DVD from the battered package, we squealed and grinned and caused a riot of confusion amongst the students who curiously looked in through the door as they returned to their classrooms. Surely, they were thinking, “Americans really are as crazy as they seem on TV!”   Nicole and I wore grins for the rest of the day, stuffing our mouths with Dove chocolate any chance we got.

That is definitely one of my favourite moments thus far. I didn’t realize just how much I would enjoy and appreciate gifts from home until that day.  As much as I love my life here in South Africa, it truly is amazing to receive things that are American and remind me of the home I left behind.  Dove chocolate and, most importantly, Starbucks coffee have never tasted so good as they have these past few days. You never appreciate what you have until it is no longer readily available.

The same can be said of teaching supplies, which were so easy to find and purchase back in the States, but here in Shayandima, everything has to be homemade. I can’t go out and buy borders and stickers and charts to use in my Conversational English classes. Rather, if I want to do anything with boards and reward charts, I have to create it all from scratch. I’ve managed to get by without anything like that for the first term of the year (which is, shockingly, ending in just two short weeks), but I really want to start using things like charts and reward points for the remaining three terms. It requires some thinking and work to get it all sorted and set up, but I know I’ll be able to come up with some sort of plan. (Suggestions are, of course, more than welcome! J)

Aside from the difficulty in gaining supplies, my Conversational English classes are going really well. Each class is centered around a book I’ve chosen, so the assignments and games come from the themes and plotlines of those books. Most of my classes are reading The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, while my oldest class is reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I have to put a particular focus on the imagination, because the majority of these students only read books with pictures. Even my older students are used to books with an assortment of pictures staggered throughout the pages of a small book. As such, I’ve hit a minor stumbling block. I’m struggling to keep the students actively participating and listening to the story as I read it aloud. I’ve given them drawing and/or writing assignments that force them to take a scene from the book and put it to paper, which then gives them the picture they so desperately want. The difference, however, is that they are the ones creating the picture using their imagination, which forces them to think about the story and apply it in picture or word form. This approach seems to be working, but I will need to brainstorm other ideas for next term. On the whole, these classes are fantastic. I’ve never been very “child-friendly,” but teaching these classes has proven that I can handle younger children when called to do so. My youngest class is Grade 3, while my oldest group is in the Grade 7/8 range. The wide span of ages certainly makes life interesting. (And believe me, many of you would be shocked if you could see me now. Haha!)

As you can see, I am greatly enjoying my time here in South Africa. In preparing for this journey, I knew I would be faced with a new way of life that may take me for a wild ride, but I didn’t expect that ride to be such an amazing adventure. I enjoy the spontaneity of events that mingle with the daily routine, and the camaraderie found on the base and in the school is a rarity in today’s world. I can only pray each of you can find a place as incredible as the one I have found in Africa.

In closing, I do have one major prayer request that you could all keep in the back of your mind as you go throughout your week: On March 28^th, a small contingent of us will be leaving on a mission trip to Botswana for two weeks. I do not know what all we will be doing there, but I knew God wanted me to fully explore this world He created and to share His love with the world, so there was never any question about my not going. I am both nervous and excited to travel to Botswana, but knowing you all are praying for me is incredibly comforting and I know that my friends here will appreciate it just as much.  I will post another blog after our return in a few weeks, so keep an eye out for it. I’m sure it will be full of all manner of crazy stories.

There are moments in our lives when God speaks to us in different ways. Sometimes it’s an idea that comes to mind, a gut feeling that refuses to be ignored, or a coincidence that could only be orchestrated by a powerful Conductor. In other cases, God may speak through a song that plays in your mind like a record broken by His hand so that the same melody will run through your mind over and over until you fall to your knees in utter defeat and frustration. Music has an unfortunate tendency to do that, but when God places it there, you cannot help but acknowledge Him, stop, and ask of Him the purpose behind the song.  Such an instance is happening to me now, and despite the lateness of the hour here (10PM), I knew that I needed to write about it so that I could share it with all of you.

Before leaving the US, I compiled a list of songs on my iPod that would serve as the soundtrack for my year abroad. For one reason or another, the songs on that list inspired and uplifted me, and I have listened to that soundtrack constantly since my arrival here weeks ago. The song I have included below, and the song currently running through my head, was included on that soundtrack. I pray it will inspire you in some form, or possibly even remind you of your own relationship with Jesus Christ, just as it has me.

“Everything to Me”
by Avalon

I grew up in Sunday school
I memorized the Golden Rule
And how Jesus came to set the sinner free.
I know the story inside out;
I can tell you all about
The path that led Him up to Calvary.

But ask me why He loves me
And I don’t know what to say.
But I’ll never be the same because
He changed my life when he became

Everything to me
He’s more than a story
More than words on a page of history.
He’s the air that I breathe
The water I thirst for
And the ground beneath my feet.
He’s everything,
Everything to me

We’re living in uncertain times
And more and more I find that I’m aware of just
How fragile life can be.
I want to tell the world I found
A love that turned my life around
They need to know that they can taste and see.
Now every day I’m praying just to give my heart away
I want to live for Jesus so that someone else might see
That he is

Everything
He’s more than story
More than words on a page of history
He’s the air that I breathe
The water I thirst for
And the ground beneath my feet
Oh, He’s everything,

And looking back over my life at the end
I’ll go to meet You, saying You’ve been

Everything to me
More than story
More than words on a page
Of history

You’re everything to me
You’re more than story
More than words on a page
Of history
You’re the air that I breathe
The water I thirst for
And the ground beneath my feet.
You’re everything,
Lord, you’re everything to me!

You’re everything to me, Jesus!
You are the song I sing!

You’re my life, my all, everything

** Note: This post was written two days previous, on February 13th. Sorry for the delay in posting. Somedays, I really miss WiFi. :P **

 

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard / Impossible is not a word / It’s just a reason for someone not to try / Everybody’s scared to death / When they decide to take that step / Out on the water / But it’ll be all right / Life is so much more / Than what your eyes are seeing / You will find your way / If you keep believing

… “What Faith Can Do,” Kutless …

-*-

Does anyone know the date and time, because I seem to have lost track entirely. Honestly, the last month has disappeared so rapidly that I’m only just pausing to take a deep breath and reflect. So much has occurred since my arrival here in South Africa, and I just don’t think I could possibly tell it all and do justice to each moment with mere words. However, I would be slain where I stand if I dared to leave you all oblivious to the happenings of my life here in Africa, so I shall make a daring attempt to provide a glimpse into the blissful insanity my life has thus become.

I should first tell you that living in South Africa is quite an adventure into a different world. This is a land where robots direct traffic, the phrase “just now” means “in an hour,” biscuits wear the guise of an American cookie, frogs sing with you in the shower, mosquitoes buzz in your ears like alarm bells, and lizards linger at your door like irksome neighbours. Tea and coffee are offered at every home you enter regardless of the length of your visit, and cuddling with throw pillows is, apparently, a singularly American habit of comfort.

Adventure, however, doesn’t always quite describe the insanity of life here. Between school, volunteer projects, cooking and cleaning duties, Bible study, and various other tasks around the base, free time is rarely found. Weekends provide a break from our crazy existence, but even those can be eventful now and again. Reading and writing have been, unfortunately, placed on the back burner in light of my hectic schedule. However, I have always enjoyed living my life in the fast lane, so I embrace the craziness wholeheartedly. I enjoy my life here, and my adopted family on the base make it that much more enjoyable.

The people on the base are comprised of singles and families, so we tend to resemble a small village packed into a small area of land enclosed behind a wall. The singles are all grouped into one area, while the families and/or couples live in semi-detached homes across a field. I have a room to myself, but all the girls share a bathroom and kitchen. (The same applies for the guys, but since we have only one single male on the base, he doesn’t exactly “share” in the same capacity as we girls do.)  There is also a lounge area for all the singles to share. The close living arrangements may not sound ideal on paper, but once you experience this place firsthand, you quickly realize how perfect it is. We are just like a family here, and the constant hubbub of people makes me feel right at home. I never feel like I have to dress up or put on a show for anyone. I don’t have to be anyone but me, flaws included.

Alongside the living quarters of the base is the Shayandima School of Tomorrow, where I spend most of my week working. I have been placed in the Senior Learning Center, which means I am specifically working with students ages 11 to 17. Since the school uses the ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) program, which is rather like homeschooling within a classroom setting, I am not teaching. Rather, I act as a monitor within the learning center, meaning I grant permission for students to “score” their work, retrieve dictionaries, etc. I work alongside four others in the learning center, one of whom is another monitor (Nicole, my one American friend here), while the other three (Mr. Clayton, Mr. Kellerman, and Mrs. Chauke) serve as supervisors. I love working these guys. No matter how difficult a day might be, I know I can count on any of them to make me smile.

In addition to working as a monitor, I also teach a Conversational English class. I held my first two classes today, which went relatively well and I will have three more classes tomorrow and Wednesday. The real test will be next week when I have to rely on lesson plans and run the class entirely on my own. I have never commanded a classroom by myself, so your prayers in this regard would be greatly appreciated. An exciting aspect of these classes is that I will be heading up the school newspaper with my oldest group of students. I’ve worked on literary magazines in the past, so this will be a slightly different experience that I cannot wait to start.

In the month that I have lived in Shayandima, South Africa, I have really pushed myself in a variety of ways. I knew moving here would put me to the test, and I am determined to meet every new experience head-on. There have been some instances where I let my pessimistic side get the best of me, but I quickly forced myself to check my attitude, pray for a better outlook, and then walk into the task with a cheerful spirit. While living in the States, I rarely pushed myself to do anything I didn’t want to do. Here, I have no option. As such, God has been teaching me a lot about myself, as well as showing me all the areas in my life that need changing. It’s incredible how God works when you let Him. If I had to choose my favourite bit about moving here, that would be it: God actively working in my life and helping me to grow into who He wants me to be. I’ve always operated on the “Me, Myself, and I” mindset, but moving here has completely altered that mentality. No one can live on this mission base and work in this environment while maintaining a selfish lifestyle. Everyone pitches in to help, no matter the circumstance. We work together as one group, a family, and I would never have it any other way.

Prayer serves as the backbone of the mission base, and I have been amazed at how blessed this place is because of that. Not a single decision is made without first praying about it. As a team, we meet every Sunday evening at 6PM for a 30-minute prayer time where we lift one another, the school, the students, and the mission base up in prayer. We also meet every weekday morning at 7:20 for a prayer and devotional time before the school day begins. We sing, we pray, and we share so that we might grow together as a family. I have always heard about the power of prayer, but witnessing its power firsthand is a whole new experience.

While Skyping with my parents Saturday evening, my mom asked me a simple question: “Do you every regret going to South Africa?” My answer was immediate and simple: “Absolutely not.” I cannot explain how much this place has changed me. While I may miss the conveniences of home, I would never exchange my life here for any of it. For months prior to my departure, I knew that God wanted me in South Africa, but I never really knew why. Now that I have been here for a month, I am starting to see God’s purpose, and I am incredibly excited to see what else He has in store for me this year. I’ve still got another eleven months here, and I cannot wait to see where God will lead me next.