That’s Ayoba 18-28

SO much has been happening – I should be blogging more.  I promise to try my best to catch you up with my goings – on in this great big city.  For now, please enjoy my Ayoba moments!

18. Hearing, “Good Morning Auntie Ray-shell” in a chorus of 60 children at Norah’s Educare Centre where I now visit every Monday morning.  This has become quite possibly one of the sweetest sounds to my ears.

19. Celebrating 2 October birthdays – one on the rooftop of building with guacamole burgers, and another with fish, spaghetti and mounds of chocolate – both with great friends.

20. Creating a new blog for mission and outreach at Northfield.  Go ahead and check it out at missionbeat.wordpress.com.

21. Visiting the produce market once again to buy peaches, bananas, carrots, oranges, and 2 batches of apples – all for R31 (under $5!)

22. Spending a Sunday afternoon in Pretoria – taking great photos at the Union Building, capturing rainbows and Jacaranda trees, and playing in a park playground in the pouring down rain.

23. Meeting new friends with great conversation at Norfest – Northfield’s annual Christmas craft market:  a baker who not only makes delicious biscuits and rusks (like biscotti), but also provides amazing conversation, and a couple from Zimbabwe who makes bead and wire crafts – and playing with their adorable 3 year old son (all while selling baby doll clothes!).

24. Meeting new people – in general – it seems to happen everywhere I go and I am blessed by it!

25. Seeing the opening of a new building for Bula Monyako – and HIV/AIDS counseling and testing centre that Hannah works in.

26.  Spending a weekend in Benoni with good friends, good food, good fellowship, and much needed relaxation.

27.  Wanting – for the first time in my life – to become fluent in Zulu…which needs to happen in 3 months – who has faith in me?!

28.  Feeling PEACE in a job that gives me the freedom to explore my gifts while working with truly amazing people who care about their community and never stop working for change.

That’s Ayoba 12-17…and a bit more

12. Spending a week with a good friend, Lucille, as she was our house guest – sharing laughter, movies, and small adventures together.

13.Feeling the arms of little ones wrapped around my legs and waist as I visit places where I will work for the next 5 months.

14. Getting on a baking kick all in one week which included an over 4 dozen batch of brownie oatmeal cookies (thank you to my friends from Baking in Long Underwear!), shortcake for strawberries and kiwi, and potato frittata.

15/Finding the best produce market right down the street (my favorite street now!) that produced an amazing meal of corn on the cob (which was Lancaster County good) and vegetable stir fry with fresh green beans, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

16. Meeting people at church who invite you out for coffee, finding the start of a possible new community outside of work.

17. Being introduced to my new placement with people who are passionate about ministry in different parts of Johannesburg…and who invite you to join their church mission team in a trip to Mozambique!

So, as you can see, things have changed quite rapidly here since my travels.  I’m still living in the flat in the city with my roommate Hannah.  We are working in two different churches in Benoni, a suburb town outside of Johannesburg.  I am working at Northfield Methodist Church with their Mission and Outreach program.  Northfield is a very large church that has many different outreach ministries to the surrounding area.  After I return from Mozambique, I will spend a good amount of my time visiting the projects that they are connected to and seeing where my best fit would be.  The people I work with are very friendly and excited about the work that they do.  They have been extremely welcoming of my time here – and so I am excited to work and learn and grow with them.  I’ll be leaving for Mozambique this Friday – I’ll be sure to blog as soon as I can after I get back.

Thank you for all your continued prayers and notes of encouragement – even when I am, regretfully, not so quick to respond!

That’s Ayoba: 6-11

6. Putting on a clown face a couple weeks ago for a new Grandma, Joanne, unfortunately in the hospital.  She blessed my life with her smile, her life wisdom, and her joyful hope in Christ’s healing.

7. Having a crazy move out of Walkerville and into a neat little WARM flat in the city with friendly neighbors, awesome building staff, and a laundry room! (That means no more hand washing for now!)

8. Sitting right in front of the big bay window in our flat that looks out onto the city – that is where I feel at peace.

9. Finding nice security guards on the street that could get me back home when I roamed the streets too much and lost my way!

10. Talking, holding hands, listening to, watching movies with, and just being with Emily.  She is the bravest girl I know, and although I will miss her and her family, I know that her healing will continue into completion and become part of her beautiful story.  (More on being with Joanne and Emily in my next blog entry.)

11. Talking on Skype with my family, knowing that in 2 days time we will be talking in the same room – but we will all be reunited together in South Africa!

That’s Ayoba: 1-5

I’ve decided to add something new to my blog.  It’s called “That’s Ayoba.”  Ayoba is a term coined for the World Cup from the mobile company MTN in South Africa.  Ayoba basically means something is so awesome that there are no words for it.   Thank you for letting me share my Ayoba moments with you.  I’ll add to the list as Ayoba moments keep coming.  Of course, I’d love to hear the Ayoba moments that happen in your life as well.

That’s Ayoba:

1. Singing “How Great Though Art” with the students – and hearing 6 other languages sing with me.
2. Celebrating a 7 year olds birthday with bubbles, dancing, a delicious meal, 2 cakes, and gifts of a soccer ball (from us) and a kid’s computer.  Prince and Priscilla are my favorite kids in South Africa.  I don’t want to even think about missing those hugs (or free hairstyles from a sweet girl) yet.
3. Watching the USA vs England game on the big screen at a fan park in Sandton, seeing people take pictures of us as we sang our national anthem proudly with the very few American fans in a sea of England flags, and meeting the mexican we saw on national television the night before.
4. Receiving a “World Cup 2010” mixed CD from Prince and Priscilla that includes my favorite songs that represent the World Cup.
5. Impromptu continuous singing from the students while they sew and make a banner for graduation.  I don’t want June 26 to come quickly.