Appelsbosch, Republic of South Africa

Hello from South Africa!!

We have safely arrived to South Africa and have been settling in over the last week. My absence is largely due to the fact that we just got internet up and running around here. :)

First of all, we, along with the rest of the crew, are so THANKFUL for our accommodations. We seriously couldn't ask for better! We are staying at an old college campus that had been abandoned for several years. The grounds are huge compared to what we are used to. :) The children are running wild around here, just loving it! :) We are staying in dormitories and eat our meals in the mess hall. There is even an indoor gym for sport and a canteen. The first several days really felt like we were at camp or at a retreat/ conference. :)

Second, it is SPRING here! I can't tell you how excited I am that it is a change in season; so refreshing from the dry and wet seasons of West Africa. But with that, it is COLD!! Everyone's in hoodies and sweaters and shoes; quite a change for us. :) Oh, I can't forget the FLOWERS! And the colors of purple and red that the flowers bring to my eyes; a wonderful sight indeed.

We are tucked away in the rural Zulu village of Appelsbosch in the countryside, surrounded by rolling hills of green and brown plots of farm land. The view and scenery is truly breath-taking. I love the mornings when the dew is still on the grass and over the hilltops. We wake up to the sound of birds chirping and the rooster cock-a-doodling. Because of this great rural location, we are one to two hours from any decent grocery store and three hours from the ship (docked in the port of Durban). Our first Saturday here, everyone was eager to go to the nearest mall just over an hour away. So most of the crew piled into every land rover vehicle we have and did just that. A day at a big Western mall was an exciting event for us. :)

We have spent our first week here settling into our "homes" and work spaces. It will be a change in pace and work for us during the six weeks we are here. Tim is still working in the Purser's office. But he will be responsible for the "Purser" side of things for both the ship and the campus here. He will be making trips back to the ship one to two times a week for business. I, on the other hand, will be sitting at a desk in front of the computer most days. I will be working with a handful of other nurses standardizing our Hospital's policies/procedures, with the goal towards accreditation in the next couple years. This will be a little challenging for me as sitting behind a desk eight hours a day is not my cup of tea.

As I mentioned, we are neighboring a Zulu village(s). The first Sunday we were here we were invited and welcomed to attend their church. We walked there as it is literally across the street, or a "dirt's road away." The members knew we were coming, so the service was held in another building next to the church, in the church hall, to accommodate all of us. It was quite the cultural experience...

We were greeted to the sound of several singing aloud in their seats as we entered. The service was very liturgical, full of rituals such as incense burning, processing up and down the stage and aisle with a large wooden cross, and memorized responses from the congregation. We shared in communion. The most memorable experience was singing familiar songs such as "It is Well With My Soul" and "Take My Life and Let it Be." We sang them together, us in English and them in Zulu. It was absolutely beautiful. The walls echoed with our voices. It reminded me a little of what Heaven will be like. I especially enjoyed hearing them sing, the South African style of a cappella choruses was beautiful. I was in awe of their ability to just bellow out any song in perfect tune and harmony! Such music to the ears.

While we are here at Appelsbosch, living and working on land, several of our crew are left behind working on the repair project (the reason why we are in South Africa). Please pray for the technical crew staying and working on the ship over the next few months. Right now is particularly extra challenging as it is extremely warm on the ship, they are not getting all the food and supplies they need, they are short-staffed, and have had some minor injuries already.

Pics to come of the campus and surroundings... but for now I will close with the verse from this morning's devos in Lamentations 3:24

The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait on Him.