South Africa Adventures: Here and there~ Ocean..Rain..Home-stays.

~ Once again can't believe how fast the days fly..I do not have enough time in the day to recap everything..and honestly I just loose track of the days..hard to believe that I will soon be getting on a plane home in about a week in a half already?! Say WHAT?! Where has the semester gone. Mmmm but this has been thus far the most extraordinary semester!

So last week..went by really fast..like most things..It was actually really cold..we had rain a couple days..haha love running around in my rainbows in the pouring rain~

~We ventured to Cape Point, one of the most amazing spots in Cape Town..and got to hike around there in the rain..and ran along the coast when it was raining buckets..one of my favorite days..God's beauty is everywhere..and yes got soaking wet..our bus smelled like wet dog for sure, so many memories made.

//HOME STAYs//... Penny and I stayed in a township called ~Ocean View, many of the people from Ocean View were forced to move from a coastal city called Simon's Town in the 1950s because of the Group Areas Act, passed by the ruling white National Party, (Apartheid era)..they forced physical separation between races by creating different residential areas for different races. This act destroyed communities~

Our Family we stayed with: Momma Lynette and Papa Cedrick..their daughter Kim..and their granddaughter Zoe, but during our 5 day stay there, I would say that we got to meet a decent amount of the whole Familia. Momma Lynette was so gracious to us, she runs the house hold basically and cooked us amazing yummy meals..I even enjoyed fish, wish I don't usually..the fish we had was caught by their neighbor like literally fresh..and I would have to say that I liked it :) New things everyday I guess..Mommy and Daddy would be proud..since we never ever eat fish at Home..haha.. Mmmmm. Anyways Lynette and her family live in a little home off Saturn street on a dirt road, it is a small home, but it is quaint..the bathroom is outside in the back..and you have to bathe in some buckets. Penny and I called home in the back flat..where we occasionally saw some mice run under our bed..never a dull moment for sure..we just had to laugh a lot..especially when they would talk in Afrikaans haha :) But it was a good experience and to see a new way of life..We got to hang out with their granddaughters a lot..and ride in our first taxi for 6 ran..yebo..Mmmm :) We walked to get picked up everyday..some funny moments when Penny and I would walk to see some other home stay families with towels on are head..the one day we got to wash our hair..haha "there goes the Americans"..Loved meeting new people and friends and new ways of life styles..a new kind of church service..during this time I missed home the most, maybe because I was with a family..Had some good conversations..and listened to some lectures by our PAPA..who is kinda like a priest. Our families nephew in laws had an interesting perspective about the Group Areas Act and the apartheid.. he approached it by saying that God allowed it to happen, just like God let Pharaoh's heart to become hardened..he said it so beautifully, humbly, and so much forgiveness and grace in his eyes. This man Mervin has truly reconciled, and told us that he sees the bigger picture in life. Much of this has to do with how Nelson Mandela carried his character in the midst of the apartheid era. He also said that even though the cruel horrible things during the pre and post apartheid era, many of the white people brought God to Africa..Mmm he went on to say that History, begins with "His Story"...and God's hand was in all of it.. Mervin's main concern he says is to bring righteousness to the world, and look beyond color, but see the soul~ yet my heart still breaks, it was such a cruel time and so much pain and suffering happened because of the white man..and many of those white men were Dutch..and that is my heritage, I can't help but cringe every time that is brought up..~ The sin's of my forefathers..~ yet I am reminded constantly of forgiveness and reconciliation, and that we serve a God who died for these sins, his blood covers..~

~ Sunday Night in Ocean View Pens and I and 2 other girls from our team and that happened to be living on same street with another Home Stay family, walked to the beach..called Long Beach. I wish I would have taken a picture of this sunset..it was stunning, one of the most amazing views I have ever seen, words do not describe...BOmb dig. I want to go back there...you could see Table Mountain in the background..which we will be hiking this week tuesdays..YES! Last night at home stay watched INvictus, our Papa felll asleep though! Mmm it was a broken and beautiful experience all wrapped in one.

As well as home stays was intertwined class and adventures..we ventured to Robben Island. This had been something I had been looking forward to for along time. It was amazing to see history come alive, besides getting a little sea sick..we had to take the Pirate Ship, because one of the Ferries was out of comission. Going to Robben Island was a humbling and unreal expirence. The suffering that many men experienced is beyond words..they did this to ground break injustice and fight for freedom. What an incredible day.

// Another random thought of the day..I think I am becoming more of a morning person..especially after reading about George Muller..'rising early to meet God..' Mmmm I really want to finish this book before I go home...so much to think about//

..I should probably go to bed now, I am suppose to be working on a research paper for History, but I though I should quick blog while it is fresh..and since I was without Internet for a couple days at home stay..this always happens though I get distracted, but some how the paper will get finished by thursday..~ enjoying the last couple days I have left in this beautiful country..so much to process and comprehend..I feel though I will be ready to come home when the time comes, but my heart will be here ..and maybe in a new season of life I will be back..so much to learn..Mmmm I do not know where God is leading, I have been waiting patiently and will continue to seek and knock..it is kind of scary, but yet there is peace because it is in the will of God..okay my head is spinning now, I cannot think this much at midnight. But had a great Monday..we had class today..love it..South African history intrigues me as it has for some time..our teacher Neil has an amazing story as well..one of reconciliation..wonderful man of God...and is passion about God and his country..he was involved in many youth meetings to end apartheid and was often in jail for standing up for what he believed in. History is so great to learn. //Mmm later in the afternoon a bunch of us hiked up to some caves and looked across a mountain to see the beautiful cape. Love the blue skies...afterwards got some ice cream..that seems to be a normal thing after a long hike..later finally got to take a shower after a couple days of not being able too :) Ohhh the little things in life..then walked from Fish Hoek into Kalk Bay to eat dinner with some amazing people.. we have a pretty awesome group here. I am going to miss this community. Had some avocado pizza yum yum. Blessed. good fellowship. ~We saw a shooting star tonight~ Nothing like walking along the coast of the ocean..in South Africa. I will never forget this nights. Mmmm now it is getting late..I have procrastinated long enough..

~For the Word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love...." ~ Psalm 33

Shalom&Love

Sarah Rae

Mmm the week in pictures...