Sunday morning, I went with Peter and Mary Jean to church at Mbabane Chapel. It is a mix of many different folks from all across the world worshiping together which was very fun. It felt good to sing praise with so many believers from across the globe. I met quite a few folks and it always makes me smile when worlds overlap. Multiple people knew where Gig Harbor was, including one man who had a family member in Puyallup. I was able to meet a young American pediatrician who is working at the Baylor Clinic where I’m hoping to get a tour possibly next week to see the work they are doing for children that are HIV positive. I also met an American woman that is working with rural women to learn to sell crafts for sustainability. She doesn’t normally go to that church so it was a nice “coincidence” (I like to say God-incidence) that she was there. There was already groundwork laid to go with her on Thursday to visit some of her sites and see what they are doing. So, connecting on Sunday to solidify that was great.
Sunday afternoon, I met up with Scott and Liz, a young couple that has been working and teaching at the farm for a couple years. They are heading back to the States in December but I wanted to spend some time with them while I could. They are fun people and also bring a great perspective on living and doing mission work in Swaziland. I really enjoy hearing people’s stories so it was great to hear how they got here. It was also good to hear their struggles and get the real world parts of moving to the opposite side of the world.
We met up at a shopping center I had been to with the team in 2007. It has expanded quite a bit since then! The grocery store moved and would be a very nice store in Gig Harbor. There is a KFC (which is EVERYWHERE here) along with additional shops and a movie theater (which I didn’t see.) We decided to go to lunch at a nearby wood fired pizza restaurant. It was great food and some interesting combinations along with some “normal” flavors like Hawaiian. The weather was HOT (around 40 degrees Celsius) so we decided a hike that afternoon didn’t sound so fun. They drove me past Parliament and a couple other sites while we talked about the areas. We went back to their rental house which is located in a small vineyard and garden. It is a nice little retreat. I was staying in a neighboring small apartment that Westerners would see as a more traditional hut but with block walls and finished inside. It was very comfortable and I could easily stay for awhile. I actually tried to take a short nap and then woke up a couple hours later! After my “short” nap, we had dinner and I got to hear about Scott & Liz and their experience here in Swaziland. They have high speed (not like at home though) internet so that is when I posted a few posts I had previously written.
Monday morning, after a great breakfast, Scott and I headed for a hike at Execution Rock. It is within Milwane Game Park. The traditional story is that they used to take wrongdoers up and then throw them off the cliff, hence the name. Thankfully, I was allowed to hike back down instead of taking the short cut! J It was a clear day and not quite as hot as the day before. The views on the hike and from the top were incredible. I will try to attach a picture to this post. It was another great chance to brainstorm and learn about ways to help in Swaziland. After our hike, we drove around the game park a bit to see some of the animals. Our 2007 team had stayed at the village in this park when we first arrived so I had seen some of it. Scott took me into a fenced in section that had Springboks, the official animal South Africa. It looks similar to deer. I had actually had some Springbok potpie while staying with the Derrs when I arrived. When Springboks get spooked, instead of running away, they pronce (sp?) which really is one of the funniest things you’ll see. It looks like they are hopping and they bring their legs together so it makes one contact point on the ground. Supposedly, it makes them harder to catch by lions or others plus if they land on their attacker, it can do more damage. The coolest part about our trip and this game park: we stopped the car and got out so we could chase them! I wouldn’t do it with a lion but it was pretty awesome to do it with the Springboks. J
After returning home for lunch, Scott and I headed for Nkonyeni Golf Course. I know, a mission trip might not seem like a prime place for a golf excursion but we all need to recreate, right? J It is a beautiful development which could easily be located somewhere at home, well, except for the private game park which I haven’t seen in the Northwest. I would also say the greens need some work but that, along with rental clubs, is one of my excuses for my poor performance. I started off great but it went downhill from there. It was still pretty awesome to be playing golf in Africa. There was even one hole where I actually had to drive the ball over a group of monkeys. I was trying to decide what the ruling would be if one of them took my ball, though it would have made a pretty funny story. Scott told me about a course inside Kruger where hitting over elephants becomes a problem. Not something I have run into before. I also haven’t had my tee time canceled because the course was closed due to “a pride of lions wondering the course.”
We headed home after golf and had a great dinner of spaghetti. I have to admit, I probably eat better here than at home! You can’t find most foods you might want but it almost always the basic ingredients and you have to make it into what you really want. After more great discussion and checking email and a little Facebook, we watched some satellite TV. They get a few channels the same as home but most are the international versions. They get the David Letterman Show but it plays in the morning when they are having breakfast and preparing to leave for teaching at the school at the farm. It is also about two weeks behind which is kind of funny.
It was a great few days with a couple new friends. As always, I enjoyed hearing each of their stories. I ask that you lift up their transition home when they leave in December. They trust the Lord with their next move so pray that He makes that step clear.
Today I am listening to (among many things):
Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama
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