Quick post from South Africa

Sorry I will not be able to update the blog often, our internet availability is sparse. But much has happened in the week and a half since we arrived in South Africa. So much so I don’t even know where to begin.
After a long flight, we landed to find that 8 of our bags didn’t make it over. Cat’s bag still hasn’t made it over, we are praying that we will be reimbursed for the full amount. Cat has actually handled it better than I (Kevin) have. I bought her a couple of shirts for her birthday which she barely wore…and now they are gone. Sad.
The first few days were crazy trying to get adjusted to another culture. Driving on the wrong side of the road hasn’t been too bad, as long as we remember to look right first when turning right. If you don’t that could get you in a lot of trouble. Also you have to get used to all the traffic circles. One of our students, Dietch, almost wrecked on his first encounter with a traffic circle at night. Speaking of driving, there are traffic laws, but we think they are more of traffic suggestions. So if you drive, you must learn to be aggressive or you will be run off the road.
Today, June 16, is a South African holiday called Youth Day. For the history of it “google it.” But to celebrate we took some students from the Res to have a Braai at an orphanage. It was a lot of fun. A Braai, by the way, is a cook out done very well. I visited the butcher this morning and order 25 boerworse, steaks, and chicken. It was quite lekker. (S. African slang for really nice)
The Res is short for the Res halls, since they do not call them dorms. Res life is much like a fraternity or sorority. Freshman spend their entire first year pledging. Every Res has its own traditions and history. Competition between the Reses is heated at times. But our team has loved spending time with students in the Res. For the guys it has meant playing touch rugby, soccer, cricket, and going to movies with students. The girls have been watching TV, Movies, and getting coffee or tea with students.
Our students have already had lots of opportunities to share their faith in the Res. Two of our students helped lead a bible study in one Res, Taaibos, last week. One of the most encouraging things so far has been the opportunity to connect with the student leaders in the Campus Outreach ministry here. Since CO has been here for a few years, there are several leaders in the dorms. In Taaibos, for example there is a senior named Hanno. Hanno has been leading a bible study for freshman as well as mentoring or discipling 3 other students, Uli, Kat, and SP. This is awesome because racism is a powerful thing here yet Hanno and Uli are white while Kat and SP are black. Also Uli leads a bible study for freshman as well as Kat and SP. So in one Res, there are three freshman bible studies.

The pictures above I all took at the Youth Day Braai we had at a local orphanage. That one black baby on Stu's shoulders is named Thato. The picture with all the meat...well hopefully that will give you a good idea about what a Braai is like.

Cheers. (South African farewell)