pictures!!

auntie lorraine

Auntie Lorraine. she is a tempermental, wild driving, panty washing woman who will crack you up at any moment. she is also jill's (a student from bethel) host mom. here are a few funny stories about her. enjoy!

story #1: i walked into aunti lorraine's house a few days ago while she and jill were sitting down eating breakfast. she said something that shocked me and so i said "holy cow!" her being from south africa and having never heard this expression busted out laughing, mocking me, "holy cow? holy cow! i didn't know cows were holy!!?" now apparently she keeps walking around the house to jill saying "hooooooooly coooooooow!" and asking what is wrong with me cuz i talk funny. lol she also told jill that "i should be going with the imams to prayer."

story #2: every morning she makes jill wash her panties, lol hehehe.

from penguins to townships...

i got to swim and touch penguins!!!! on thursday we went to boulder's beach which is where all the jackass penguins (now called African penguins) hung out. it was incredible. we walked on the boardwalk which led us to a cluster of close to 200 penguins swimming in the ocean, sleeping in the sand and uh... doin their thang with their mates, haha. after taking about 70 pictures of penguins we decided to go down to the beach and relax. but! there were more penguins there too! so of course, we had to take our pictures with them. then me and naomi decided to go exploring (i cannot tell you how excited i am to have another adventerous person on the trip with me!). we swam around the boulders screaming the whole way (with alissa as well) cuz we thought we were gonna get eaten by the sharks. finally making it to one of the boulders that kate was standing on we all climbed up and just took in the view. the water is crystal clear here. alissa and kate went off to some wading pool while me and naomi decided to climb the boulders and look at more penguins. there was one point where we walked through a narrow pathway with tons on penguins on each side of us, all following us with their eyes as we walked.... ohhhhh man, it totally reminded me of the movie "the birds." though it was dangerous, we snuck up on several penguins and quickly pet their backside before they had enough time to whip around and bite our fingers off, haha, it was awesome! i also found some beautiful sea glass and shells which i will share with all of you! that night we just went out to eat at the waterfront and met up with the other group from bethel who is here just for interim and hung out with them for awhile. on friday we went to the district 6 museum and bo kaap. these areas were both predominantly muslim areas until the forced removals took place. we also visited a mosque which was so helpful in understanding more of the muslim religion and really made me realize how much they have been persecuted as well. many of the muslims have been able to come back to the community now that apartheid is over. saturday we went to oceanview which, in minnesota terms, would kind of be equivalent to north minneapolis. it is looked down upon by many people in south africa as a rough, dangerous neighborhood which no one should go into. oceanview was created due to the forced removals. before the 1960's, there were many blacks and coloureds who lived in simon's town, which was a safe, close and economically stable community. but then, around 1965, the whites decided that they didn't want any blacks or coloureds in that area and thus began the forced removals. ALL of the black africans were uprooted, thrown into a van and dropped off at oceanview within 2 weeks. once given notice that they had to leave, they were given 24 hours before forcefully removed from their homes. the coloured community was gradually removed over a period of ten years. this caused a lot of problems to arise because these people were thrown into an area far away from any stores or public transportation and had to completely begin their lives all over. new neighbors, new churches, new everything. for those that refused to leave simon's town, the whites would come in, drag all of their belongings out onto the lawn and demolish the house. in fact, most of the houses in simon's town were demolished and then rebuilt. all for the benefit of the white afrikaaner. now that apartheid is over, people from oceanview could go back to simon's town but it is extremely expensive and many of them would never be able to afford to live there any more. plus, they don't want to be uprooted from their homes again and start their lives all over. once is enough. as of now, oceanview is very poor and many gangs and crimes flourish there. but so do the churches. we all had a homestay there from saturday to sunday and it was by far the best weeked i've had here so far. me and naomi stayed with a young couple, anita and beary, and their little 2 year old son josh. beary goes to cornerstone college and anita used to. they took us out to cape point where we saw the most incredible ocean/mountain view of my life and baboons!! anita was absolutely wonderful and so easy to talk to (and so was her husband). on sunday i went to the best worship experience of my life. we all packed into this tiny church and seriously brought down the house. WOW. they told us we can come back for a whole weekend sometime soon and we will definitely take them up on that. i wish our home stay could've been in this community. yesterday, on monday, we took a township tour. i was very uneasy about this at first because i didn't want them to think that a bunch of white people were coming in to their neighborhoods, again, and looking at them like it was some kind of zoo. because i know this has happened many times before. the townships here reminded me a lot of mexico except that everything was cramped and in extremely tight quarters. all of the shacks were literally less than 3 meters (9 feet) apart, some as close as only 1 meter apart. this can be really dangerous because fires are very common in the summer time and when a fire starts in one of these shacks, it spreads in a matter of seconds to the surrounding shacks and soon hundreds of people's homes are on fire. because of the 2010 world cup, SA is trying to cover up the shacks that you see as soon as you come out of the airport with newer homes. although it is a nice attempt at trying to get people better housing, many still cannot afford the electricity and water bills. just as it is in america, instead of trying to bandage the problem, they need to get to the root and start solving it. on monday we also went to a bed and breakfast in kyaleitsha (a township) for lunch. the owner explained to us that she hated having people come in and looking at them through the car windows, too afraid to even get out and talk with the people of the townships, and decided something needed to be done about it. she now trains others how to start their own B and B's for tourists they can learn about the Xhosa culture and the townships and experience it with those people rather than just staring out the window. afterwards we visited an AIDS orphange for young children. i wish we could've stayed there all day. we went into one room where some of the young ones were sleeping. i looked in at one that was awake and waved to him. He reached out his hand so i put mine in his and just held it there. then he reached out his other hand, moaning and wimpering for me to pick him up. his eyes just broke my heart. South Africa has such a huge problem with AIDS and it is just devestating the people here. america has so much money and so many resources, we need people not only to give money but to give their time. that would be one of the greatest gifts of all here. when all of us walked out of the children's home, the children followed us and just started bawling. ohhh my gosh, it was really hard to take. i am hopefully going to get involved in something soon. jeannine, one of the ladies here at cornerstone is working on setting us all up with organizations. i hope this gives you all a better glimpse into south africa and also gives you a passion for coming here!
love, melissa

interesting tid bits

NEW WORDS:
1. robot = stoplight
2. chips = french fries
3. que = line (like a line of people)
4. bucky = truck
5. hectic = this is word is used for EVERYTHING... anything and everything is hectic!
6. shame = "oh shame" is used all the time
7. SMS= text
9. tomato (pronounced toe-maat-o) sauce = ketchup

more to come!

so much history!

over the past few days we have done a lot of toursity things which has been good but can get a little monotonous at times. on monday we went to the slave lodge which was very powerful. it went through the entire history of how slaves were brought over to south africa (very similar to the US), treated as unequals, freed but not really free and what it is like for people of color today. there was also an exhibit on the american slave trade and the civil rights movement which i really wasn't expecting to see in south africa. in one room it was filled with confederate flags, a kkk costume, etc which was really unsettling and i think was used as a shock factor. it made me realize how much we downplay that era in america and i never really understood just how evil and scary that time period was. i really appreciated this musueum because it made me reflect a lot on race in our society and in SA and what it means to be white and to be a person of color. in one of the rooms there was a long wall with different quotes that just really hit me and inspired me:
"NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HUMAN THINKING."
"NEVER DOUBT WHAT A FEW COMMITTED HUMAN BEINGS CAN DO TO CHANGE THE WORLD."
"JOY IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING."
on monday we also visited the cape of good hope which was a historical site...kinda boring if you ask me so not much to write about. the next day, tuesday we visted several Afrikaaner sites which gave everyone mixed feelings. it was hard for us because it was the afrikaaners who started and enforced the apartheid movement and here we are looking at sculptures and monuments that embraced that culture. our tour guide, mervin, who is coloured, told us that we need to remember the importance of understanding all aspects of apartheid, so we do not repeat it again. for mervin, it was very hard for him to visit these monuments at first and not many coloureds or blacks would ever want to set foot next to them. the white afrikaaners believed that they were God's chosen people and God told them they were better than all other races (reminds you a lot of hitler huh?). what i dont understand is why is it that all these white people seem to think they are better than everyone else?! i mean seriously, what got these ideas into their heads?? i've really been struggling with that lately and really been trying not to be bitter about it. but its hard. the second monument we went to was a sculpture of a woman on top of the world with a bible and broken chains symbolizing freedom from oppression. oddly enough, the french who were here (who later became afrikaaners) actually felt they were oppressed. i just really dont get it. but after that confusing day it got a lot better. i went out with my host sister sherenice, our neighbor stephanie and sherenice's cousin to this huge mall. we walked around for awhile and then went to see the very american movie "material girls." lol oh my gosh, i can see why so many people outside the US have bad impressions of americans. but it was still fun and i love hanging out with my sister! this morning, wednesday, i woke up at 5:30am for devotions with the family. whoa, was that early! lol i didnt know any of the songs and was trying to croak through them all with my sleepy voice but it was still enjoyable. and the prayer that uncle desmond said was just beautiful. i feel so blessed to be in a family that has such a strong connection with Christ!! i feel like part of the reason i am with them is to minister to their daughter, sherry, so please pray for our relationship and her being open to me teaching her what i know. today we went to several historical churches: the first was the dutch reformed church which gave the theological justification for apartheid and was the leader in bringing it into the government. interesting fact: the church was built by masons and so there was A LOT of hidden masonry symbols in the church (and the masonry is satanic i believe... i dont really understand the masons so if anyone has any info on it please email me because i would like to know what the significance is of it and what in the world it even is). the second church was the anglican church, which desmond tutu was the first black archbishop at! it was so beautiful and was also home to the black madonna (again, if anyone has any info on this as well, i am very curious as to why it is called the black madonna and what its significance is). lastly, we went to the slave church which was much smaller than the other two but really humbling. tonight i am going shopping with my host mom and sister, yay! however, i seriously gotta start doing my readings and homework... it has been so hard cuz sherry (sherenice) is always in my room hanging out and talking with me and i would MUCH rather do that than homework :( so... haha, let's hope i can start gettin it done soon! love, melissa

my host family

i got in saturday morning to meet uncle desmond, my host dad. he was a bit quiet at first but very nice. he showed me my room which is really big and then said, "well, i'll let you get unpacked and settled in, you must be exhuasted" and then he shut me in my room, hahaha. that made me a little nervous cuz i thought i wouldn't get to talk with anyone in the family! but all is well... after unpacking i nervously went out and uncle desmond was SO easy to talk to... a little bit hard to understand because of his accent but so warm and friendly. we talked for a long time and he made a great lunch of meat, potatoes and veggies (which is very much a south african meal). his wife was on a retreat for church so i didnt get to meet her until sunday evening. they have three children. his oldest son is a stockbroker, 32, and lives in south africa close to our house here. i met him on saturday and is GREAT! we talked for awhile and it was so easy to talk with him, i hope i get to hang out with him more. then there is their daughter who is in her late 20's, she lives in america in PA and has done so much with missions. i wish i could've met her! then there is sherenice who is 16 and lives in the house with us. this girl ROCKS, oh my gosh we get a long so well. it is such a blessing to have her in the house. sherenice, desmond and his wife sandra all came back from a month long holiday in america just a day after i arrived in south africa (they were visiting their daughter there). so a funny thing, they didn't even know i was coming to stay with them until a day before i arrived!!!! and they had no idea i was staying for 4 months! luckily, desmond was telling me that their ministry is taking people in and letting them stay in their home. there is so much to tell you about this family, i wish i had more time to write! saturday evening me and three other girls from bethel went to the waterfront which was beautiful but very touristy. LOL and the host mom who drove us was hilarious... this woman seriously drives like a maniac, we probably could've killed like 10 kids who were walking down the road but she just sped up and drove right through them telling us "you can let people push you around down here, you gotta show em who's in control" she is quite the interesting lady but so sweet. on sunday i went to church with desmond, sherenice and her friend stephanie (who is over a lot and is practically like another sister). church was a wonderful time but reminded me a lot of church back at home (which i was a little bummed about because i wanted a different and new experience) but it was still very good. i also found out that it is a tradition in our house that we wake up every morning at 5:30am for devotions! i thought this was fantastic but holy cow is that early! i think it'll be a good way to start the morning though so i feel blessed that God has given me such a Godly host family! today we had school for just a bit and then went on a historical walking tour to the dutch settlement (which was quite boring if you ask me) and then the slave trade building (which was so powerful and amazing! highly reccommend it mom and sharon!). i have six minutes left before my time is up on the computers so i better type fast! one last thing, mac and linda this is for you. so i was talking to desmond and guess what, he is related to graham and dorkus!!!! can you believe it?! graham is sandra's (my host mom) brother and he actually grew up in the house i am living in now! desmond also knows cleve mcintosh but i cant remember how he knows him. dorkus and graham are no longer doing the broken walls ministry but instead are working at the hospital. i'm sure i'll see them since they are related to my family so i will tell them about you. how is it that you know them? also, for anyone at church that talks to sandra, will you tell her to email me because she wanted me to call her before i left but i just didnt have time. tell her i'm sorry i didnt get to her in time. thanks so much and blessings to everyone! i love you!
love from lansdowne (the city in which my college resides), melissa

FINALLY HERE!

wow, there is so much to say already i dont even know where to start! ok, let's see... well for those of you who dont know i almost wasnt able to make it over here. the day before we were to leave for south africa i lost my passport. and i mean seriously lost it. i was calling the s.a. embassy, passport services, everything! it was really scary but God was good and after several hours of the most stressful state of my life i finally found it under a pile of papers at my dad's house. don't ask me how in the world it ended up there cuz i have no idea! so anyways, we got on the flight which was close to 20 hours and landed in south africa wed. night around 10:30pm. we walked into the airport and you could just feel the humidity already sticking to your skin. it was GREAT! Quintin (the leader) and several students from cornerstone met us at the airport with hugs and hellos. we slept at the college and will continute to do so until saturday (today). on thursday we ate breakfast next door at the restaurant which was really good. we then took the train and headed out to the city of cape town (the college is in lansdown which is a suburb of cape town). we walked around, took pictures and soaked up everything we could. so here's an intersting thing about this country: they eat chips (french fries) with almost EVERY meal!! i mean for real, they served us chips for breakfast and then they actually put chips INSIDE our chicken sandwhich called a Gatsby (this consists of a 1.5 foot long sub with chicken, chips and a mayo/tomato mixture). it was definitely an interesting sandwhich but i think i kinda liked it! we were gonna go up to table mountain that night but we were all way too exhausted. instead, we went over to monique's (student at cornerstone) friends house who had a pancake party. however, they were not like our pancakes. they were like swedish pancakes, very flat and large, and we put carmel sauce and chocolate sprinkles and cinnamon and sugar on top...mmmmmm! they were delicious. we got home after midnight that night and just crashed. on friday we went to fish hoek beach which was incredible!!!!! i have never been on a beach with white sand, green water and beautiful mountains in the background. i took many pictures which i will try to get up soon. it was just stunning! we then went to a braii which is like a barbeque in the states. quite a few people came and it was so beautiful to see how community oriented people are here. i have
never experienced anything like it. there is so much love in this country. today we move into our host families in about half an hour! i am very excited but a little nervous. please pray for strong connections between me and my host family. also, please pray that i will break out of my shell more and not be so shy about talking to people. thank you and i will update you all again soon! much love comin over from africa!

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve this year was a blast. i've added some pictures on here from that night. me, kiarra, yetta and yonis went party hopping that night! first we went out to the schmits (on the way almost getting run over by a suburban who wasn't able to stop but God is GOOD and we missed the car by about 2 inches!!). there, we went out and made snow angels and watched snowmen (and snow turtles) being made by Erika and her friends. Then we had an awesome DP (dance party) and learned lean wit it, rock wit it; the motorcycle; and walk it out. i think i'm getting the hang of them! after a while we headed over to walt's to finish out the last of 2006. we played several board games and had an AMAZING snowball fight, though i was pretty sore the next day it was definitely worth it. what a great way to end the year!!

6 days to go!

so we had our first meeting today with the 7 other people that are going to South Africa. Everyone is so great and i am getting so excited to go! At the same time though, i'm also a little nervous and a little sad to leave everyone behind. but i know this is going to be an amazing, life changing experience. i got to see the promo video of Cornerstone Bible College and am absolutely psyched to go to this school. not only does it have a strong biblical background but they also have groups that focus on helping you to grow spiritually which will be a great way for me to connect with other people from S.A. Please pray for my spiritual growth on this trip as i really hope to gain a lot that i can bring back to the youth group and church. lately i've been caught up in all the stuff i feel like i "need" to bring but i think God has really been trying to show me, through many people, that material things are not going to make my trip any better. that's something i've been struggling with as well so please pray for that aspect of the trip. i thank God for everyone in my life and all the support you have given me. CCC has been such a blessing and the things everyone in that church have done for me moves me to tears. thank you for all your prayers and i will continually try to update this while on my journey in cape town. i love you all!
God Bless,
Melissa