a south african wedding {day 9 :: join}
Exactly two weeks after my husband and I spoke our vows in my hometown in the U.S., we were back in South Africa doing the same. That time, I didn’t walk down the aisle, but stepped rhythmically to the beat of vocalists harmonizing the Setswana lyrics, “Tshwang, tshwang, tshwang …,” my white dress swishing with the sway of my hips. And the guests, they didn’t stand stoic in the wooden pews, no, the front rows charged me in jubilant enthusiasm, crowding me in with cell phones raised high to my face, snapping photos left and right, the mass of people so thick I could barely make my way to...
lost in translation {day 8 :: say}
So my original plan for today was to see how much South African vocab I could introduce in five minutes of writing, but then my seven-year-old boy who happens to steal my heart all over again every single day jumped into the challenge with great enthusiasm and has written for five minutes on the past three prompts: GO, KNOW and today's word, SAY. He even asked if I would post his writing on my blog. 🙂 Coming from a kid who refused my invitations to join in with Five Minute Friday during the past school year and the kid who is very self conscious about his writing, I simply couldn't...
sending and being sent {day 7 :: go}
Armed with a burgundy Jansport backpack and a freshly stamped Bible college degree, I set off for what I thought would be six months doing mission work in Africa. I thought I was the one with the newly acquired knowledge, eager to share it with those who hadn’t heard. [Tweet ""Therefore go and make disciples of all nations ..." ~ Matthew 28:19"] Twelve years later, I stood in front of a seventh grade class in a Christian school in West Michigan and gave testimony to what I had found in Cape Town. I told them about the Bible teaching church that the Lord had led me to — the...
africa: how cold can it get? {day 6 :: know}
Before I moved to Cape Town in July of 2002, I was warned about how cold it could get there in winter. Since the northern and southern hemispheres have opposite seasons, I was told that July would be the coldest (and wettest) month in the Cape. How cold can it get? I thought to myself. I mean … it’s Africa. I’m from Michigan. They don’t even know what cold means. I packed a lightweight windbreaker, one hooded sweatshirt and a couple of long-sleeve shirts for my six months in Africa, and was sure I’d be fine. I couldn’t have been more wrong. My arrogance and naïveté were painfully obvious....
coasting downhill {day 5 :: stuck}
My first attempt at driving alone from my flat in the suburbs to my workplace in the city bowl proved to be a memorable occasion. I proudly managed to get on and off the highway successfully and at the correct on ramps and exits. The only trouble came as I waited at a four-way stop. On an incline. Let’s just say hill starts are not my forte. I was in a queue of several cars waiting to turn at the stop sign ahead, and I stalled my car. Couldn’t get it started again for the life of me. Most likely flooded the engine while trying. Eventually other cars started honking (excuse me,...
learning to drive {day 4 :: learn}
(Psst ... Looking for this week's Five Minute Friday link-up? It's right over here -- and there's a giveaway!) This is Day 4 of 31 Days of Life in South Africa ... The Lord had provided enough money for me to purchase a car when I arrived in South Africa, so arrangements were made for me to buy a little white Jetta from the twins’ older sister. There was only one problem: It had a manual transmission, and I’d never driven a stick shift before. Well, except for the one or two lessons that my former late-night waffle-eating partner had given me before leaving the States, but those...
five minute friday and a giveaway! {day 3 :: new}
Hi everyone! Today is Day 3 of 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes -- a challenge to post five minutes of writing every day in the month of October. To celebrate this month of flash writing, I'm thrilled to announce that there will be a giveaway EVERY FRIDAY in the month of October! How exciting is that?! And I picked Fridays because I love me some .. The theme of the giveaway month is: ... inspired by the brand new line of Words Matter Letterpress Blocks, brought to you by ... [Tweet "Words matter. YOUR words matter. Check out the new #wordsmatter...
my first glimpse {day 2 :: view}
It had been nearly thirty-six hours since the first boarding call before I finally saw it for the first time. South Africa. Even after four flights spanning three continents, the adrenaline was still pumping something fierce in the face of fatigue. I leaned in close to the cold airplane window, eager to catch a glimpse of my new home. And my mouth dropped open at the beauty. The pilot announced that we had some time to kill before we’d be cleared for landing, so he’d decided to give us an aerial tour of the Cape Peninsula. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life....
moving to africa {day 1 :: move}
It's 31 Days time! This is my second time linking up with The Nester, who dreamed up this writing challenge for bloggers everywhere to write 31 posts in the 31 days of October. Last year I wrote Defining Home in 31 Days. This year I'll be writing on 31 Days of Life in South Africa, but this time, with a twist. As the new host of Lisa-Jo Baker's Five-Minute Friday, I've issued a challenge to anyone who chooses to accept it -- namely, to write 31 Days of blog posts, five minutes at a time. It's like 31 Days Meets Five-Minute Friday. People who are playing along are linking up at the bottom...
what could *you* do with just five minutes a day?
What could *you* do with five minutes? This is a question that Lisa-Jo Baker asked her blog readers over four years ago, when she launched a weekly link-up called Five Minute Friday. Today, I'm asking you the same question: What could you do with five minutes a day? Here's an idea: Join several of us who are planning to write for five minutes every day in the month of October. We'll be linking up with The Nester's 31 Day Challenge, to publish a blog post every day in October -- but this year, I've added a twist -- namely, to write those blog posts in just five minutes each. Sound like...
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