Last weekend I was blessed to be able to see Kruger National Park. Not only did I throughly enjoy Kruger, but I think even more so, the drive home the following day. To describe the drive through the canyons and valleys would be to describe the way Beethoven's fifth moves the heart to swell and burst with joy. Predictable, but always surprising and lovely and inspiring. I will forever remember the little specks of green that dotted the hills and the way the clouds hung over the mountains.

But i didn't want to talk about that now. I wanted to just express the joy in my heart for slowly finding friends here. I mean, I haven't by any means found the depth of love and understanding and joy that I have in my friends back home. But I also felt like it would take forever to meet people and find a church....and its my fourth week and I have a "group" that I love and feel a part of and enjoy.

Today, I walked to Leah's and first of all put on my lovely apron from anthropolgie, then started preparing guacamole (carrie's recipe!), my favorite, then we made/hosted "America day." It was such fun, doing American things with them and hanging out with people my age. We took them on a drive through the farm, and at the dam the boys wanted to go canoeing, which shouldn't have been a problem. But,they tipped. It was hilarious, (mind you, it is WINTER here!) they were freezing. We were all the way at the back of the farm on the mountain so it was a long way home in freezing cold clothes. We got back to the HopeHouse and found clothes for the boys to wear, and they showered while we put their clothes in the dryer.

We played 30 seconds which is similar to our Taboo, but I like it better. It was 3 on 4, and I was with Matty, Fritz, and Richard. I kept having to reign them in because we'd get one answer correct and they would celebrate right then, while our time drifted away. However, we won, so its all good. :) We taught them phase 10 and just sat around watching rugby, and talking. It was so fun....

I'm so exhausted and need to sleep but I wanted to post these photos quick.

Also, Missy, I am SO excited for you and Isaak! I read your blog with tears in my eyes today and I am just praising God for this little one you're gonna love as your own. :)

THis is elephant poop. I'd get SO excited whenever I would see it because I knew it meant an elephant was close by (if it was fresh poop like this that is...)

I just think this is such a cute photo of elephant butts...

I love this photo. It was so cloudy the beginning part of the day and I feel like the B&W made all my photos something more magical and mysterious and lovely. This was called "the Pinnacle"

We hiked for a bit when we got to God's window. At the top-ish half of the hike was this small rainforest. I know the photos do not to it justice, but it was just like the rainforests I was in when we were in Hawaii. I couldn't believe it.

This is Blade River Canyon. It was lovely.

Love this photo. I loved these flowers so much, I just watched them sway in the breeze for quite a few moments. I love how the colors are so bright red and deep blue in the sky.

I love how the sun is shining through the clouds.

I felt on top of the world. I felt so perfectly in my place...

You can't beat a good South African sunset :)

Also, the kids are getting better and better in school! THis week they learned my name. It was the highlight of the week to say every few moments "hello bekah, hello bekah, hello bekah" over and over and over again. They also learned that when they saw "please bekah, please bekah" I will most likely do whatever it is they want. With the fact that there are 5 languages going on at a time, I am pretty impressed with these small steps! :)

Also, I got a new student this week! He is adorable. I have all boys and I don't mind one bit.

They also seem to have mastered my first name today. As I couldn't get them to stop saying "hello bekah" over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

also, i didn't mind that one bet either! :)

what i kept meaning to say

All week long I kept meaning to write about these two things....

Today hasn't left me much time.
This week hasn't left me much time.
Right now, I don't have much time.

However,

These kids are teaching me a lot about myself. Mostly surprising things, some interesting lessons, and the small reality that I really am a silly 5 year old in many ways still.

I loved being 5.

So many times this week the kids have showed me how I act before God. It hurts.

Like when one of them is upset. Throwing a small fit because he just saw his mom walk by. But he cannot go to her. He's on the slide of the jungle gym. And he refuses to be comforted by me. He, in fact, gets angry at me for trying to be kind and gentle. So angry he falls backward and ends up hurting his legs which crash the hardest into the rocks behind the slide. Of course, he is even MORE upset at me, thinking I caused all his problems. Never did he realize I was there all along waiting to hold him and help him.

I think I do that a lot.

I know I do that a lot.

I strike out on my own when He is waiting all along to be with me and hold me.

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also, the other day I was reading the children the story of Samson. In our little book it had some of the crazy things he did listed and illustrated. LIke how he caught 300 foxes, tied their tails together and set them loose to start a fire. Uhhhhh HELLLO!?!?! Where did that come from?!? I had to go read the story in my bible because I completely forgot about it and it is simply marvelous and ridiculous and crazy and I can't believe things like that happened. I wish I was alive then to have seen those foxes running loose. What a sight! Also, it talked about how he walked for miles with that massive gate/door on his back. Stuck it up on a mountain and left it there for all to see as a lesson you can't keep him locked up. Man, I bet the guys who thought they had caught him were ticked off that he did that! I bet he was real cocky though. I doubt we'd have been friends. I would have silently marveled at him and been amazed.

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Tonight I'm leaving for Kruger for the weekend. Praying and hoping to see the big 5 and other fun things! :)

Just A Few Favorites of the kids on the farm and in my school....

More to come another day.......

Thursday to Saturday there was a fair in town! It was seriously just like our fairs! Only more hilarious because it was mostly all in Afrikaans, and isn't everything more strange in Africa!?!?! I went twice. Once to work at our RAG stand, and once, to ride the rides baby!!!

I went on (or should I say down!?!) that massive slide. It wasn't so bad till the last five steps or so. By then it was swaying in the breeze and it freaked me out. I got to the top and realized how HIGH up I really was. This is when I really got freaked out. There was no good way to get down. So I just hopped on my towel and went for it. I screamed the entire way and was made fun of for the next twenty minutes. It was worth it.

So I went on one ride. And when I got off, I literally fell over! I had to lay in the ground for about 20 minutes till I was able to walk. Leah felt sick but managed. Lucky threw up. And simba said his stomach was not in its right place. We were a sorry sort. I guess I can't ride rides anymore. 5 years ago I would have been fine.

Note to self: don't ride anymore fair rides in Africa. This was Simba and I just before the ride started. We were so scared we were excited!

My two friends here! (I have more, but really....

these are my bests!!!). Roelene is a new face to many of you. Her and her husband Banie and their two boys are my "family" here. I eat most meals with them and am really blessed having Roelene around to help with adjusting, and the school. Leah is my dear friend for years. This was last sunday. It was cold so we were all snuggling under the blankets.

First day of school! Not sure why its so fuzzy but it was exciting!!! I'll post some photos of the kids next time. It was SO COLD last monday morning. THis was at 6:30, just before kids starting coming....such a scary and exciting moment!

These next two are of my room. I'm gonna be moving to a bigger chalet soon. When the daycare moves into where the office is, I'll move into that one. There isn't much to look at...but I'm excited to decorate my own place and have a "place." It is such a blessing.

Please notice my scarf from Lania on the wall, also my apron for cooking and baking, and my bags for decorations.

the first day! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Many thanks to Roelene for getting me a new water heater so i can drink some coffee. It has been a VERY long day for rebekah to go without her beloved beverage.

How do you like that alliteration!?!?!

Also, to Lania for bestowing on me the gift of lots of chocolate. I already ate one barm split between the flight over and the first night here. Now, I am currently drinking my nescafe and munching on my silky smooth dark chocolate dove bar with roasted almonds.

Can you say, healing to my weary ears and achy arms.

What a first day. I guess the best thing about it was that it was not unexpected. I went into it thinking it would be about like it was, so that is comforting. Of course, I couldn’t have predicted half the “fun” things that occurred, but I thought I’d feel this beat up and I do! I guess my expectations are more realistic the older I get.

Some highlights of the day: being peed on and having a child run away home. :)

ahhhhhhh what a day!!!

I don’t feel like thinking upon it, so enjoy the digression of my brain....

I have an extreme lack of color in my home right now. I mean, the average person would think its just fine, but I’m needing some sort of spice or centerpiece or jolt of life. So far, all that hangs on my wall is my red winter jacket, the four purses I decided to bring (ahhh what a torturous decision to have to pick only 4 of your beloved bags...), my baseball hat, and my cherished apron from anthropologie. I also suppose you should count the blue blanket on my bed that'ss my favorite that my sister somehow managed to smush into my bag (bless you, natalie!) and the assortment of scarves that litter my bed in the same way ribbons and confetti litter the field after the Stealers win yet another freakin superbowl.

On that note, I suppose missing football season this fall will not be so bad since we have rugby here. And my local team is the best in the league, and my national team just won yesterday so they rock as well. Go Bulls!

Since I read today that Obama wants to raise taxes I am seriously considering looking into changing my nationality. It really bites to pay taxes when I don’t even live in the city that my money goes to. Anyway, I guess my digression is over.

I had no lunch today. I am not sure its worth it to eat lunch anymore. Which is sad, because I love lunch. WIth all the kids cajoling for my attention its just tough. Tomorrow I will have a helper. Can you say, thank you, Jesus!!?!?! (edit: also: I did not eat lunch today either. I think a pattern has emerged)

Back to the little kiddies.............................

Matthew screamed for 3 hours without stopping. I’m not kidding. I knew it would be bad, so I watched the clock. He only stopped at 9:23 because he fell asleep for a half hour. When he woke up it started again. Thankfully, this time it was on and off. On for 10 minutes, off for 30 seconds.

Then, after lunch time, Calvin punched a hole in the door. Literally. My body hurts for him. Then a little later, he just flat out sprinted for his home. He escaped. Right out the door. For HIS HOME!?!?! Thankfully his parents were there and his dad speaks some English. I felt bad for Calvin, you can’t blame him for not understanding anything all day long. And he (like all my kids) are used to being on their own and roaming the farm or staying locked in their home. So, this was quite the day for all of them. (Today was MUCH better. No child escaped and ran to their house)

It was quite the sight watching me with the other kids try to gather them and go after Calvin. Ha...what a sight....

Teaching anything will be a challenge unless I can find someway to discipline and explain things to the children. I am already counting down the days to my first national holiday. One week from today!!!! So only 4 more days!!! Then a 3 day weekend to figure things out. (side note: that was one week from yesterday!)

I kept repeating to myself over and over again today that I can survive anything for a short amount of time. And though 10 hours doesn’t seem very short at the moment of chaos, it is. “I can do it. I can do it. I can do it” was my whispered prayer over and over to myself. Also, the knowledge that once the kids adjust it will be a lot easier. and better. and all around less headache inducing. :)

Somehow I truly believe this place, these kids, these new friends, something, somehow will be another tool the Lord uses to restore back to me whats been lost. I know and believe He will restore back to me what the locust have eaten. I just don’t know how or why. That verse in Joel was given to me before I left by the Holy Spirit and has kept coming up “randomly” since arriving. It is my verse and I am believing it....

even though today i just feel like collasping back into my bed and never emerging from my new little home.
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Tuesday:
I felt I should give a quick rundown on today since this all (the above words) was written yesterday. Today was like 89.349% better. I love assigning random numbers to things.

It started out with 3 of the children crying and screaming. It ended up with two of them crying. Thats progress!!!! Also, we had literal moments of silence! I mean, normal "kid babbling" but no crying or screaming. for like more than a minute at a time! You have NO IDEA how that is healing and life to spirit.

Its just a day at a time. They will adjust to being away from home, and to me, and we'll all adjust to each other.

I think Calvin even learned 4 numbers and 2 colors. I'm not holding my breath, but we'll see how tomorrow goes.

Sleep calls me now.........

here!

wooosh! i can't believe i'm finally here!

after sitting on the plane in D.C for 5 hours, we finally were cleared by SAA to fly. I guess there was some massive storm over the Atlantic. definitely felt the clouds. the only good thing about my flight was i was able to re-see Juno and i just adore that movie. i also saw 6 other movies. and managed to sleep about 10 hours between both flights. so, go me!

i landed and was picked up by strangers. hahahaa....you think i'm joking. i'm not. i met um tom, who had "bekah strangarity" taped to his jacket. it was a little scary but i knew it was just to far away so late at night since i was so delayed for leah to come get me. i felt right at home after i was shown my room and realized they had not only the heater turned on for me, but also a hot water bottle under the covers for my feet! ahhhhhh bliss!

between friday and yesterday i feel caught up on missing so much sleep. which is good, because tomorrow i start teaching! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

the classroom looks amazing. i'm going to try and get some photos up very soon. i was given the keys to the building last night. i walked back to my house and said a quick prayer for this big step. i then grabbed the books that i could carry and headed over to see it! i was blown away!!! it looked so much better than i'd ever imagine. it was so good to see everything that was gathered for me.

i put books away in the little bookcase, and then grabbed some curriculum books and headed back to my room.

today i went to church. realized this is how its going to be ("this" being completely lost and overwhelmed) till i master Afrikaans. i had my first Braai today which was quite delightful.

right now i am sitting under my heating blanket next to leah as she works on her newsletter and i send some emails. today is the first day it is very cold here. i have had my sweater, my coat, two pairs of socks and my nose is still a little red and chilly. here's to only one more month of winter!!!

say a prayer as i'm alone with these kids from 6:30am to 4:30pm tomorrow!!! it's gonna be crazy....