Bonnievale Adventure Camp

Bonnievale, South Africa
Feb 21-24, 2008

After being largely on our own for 6 weeks Site 2 and 3 met up for an adventure-filled weekend at Bonnievale Adventure camp. From sleeping out under the stars, to eating over the open fire it was a fun weekend for all.

High Ropes

Bonnievale was pretty much the sweetest! From sleeping outside and being next to a river that we could swim in anytime we wanted to was amazing. We enjoyed home cooked meals every day and fun activities like high ropes, kayaking and a sweet rope swing into the river made it that much better.

The people who ran the camp were so nice and were always there if we needed something or just there to tell the history of the place and stories from their past experiences around South Africa. Being around a Camp fire every night with Site two and catching up was definitely a nice break from the crazy life of Outtatown!
Submitted by Justin Dunning

High Ropes Course
Here Adrienne stops to catch her breath after completeing the first two phases of the high ropes course.

Riel and Dave... just hangin' out.
Rebekah, smiling as usual!
Rachel is enjoying the view from a higher vantage point.

Chantel adds an element of challenge to the course by scalling across upside down!
Jen braves the high ropes after much encouragement from her PMG and close friends (was it really encouragement or peer pressure Jen?)

Julia shows off her skills on the not-so-tight-rope

Here Justin and Johnny have convinced Amanda to face her fear of heights... they look more convinced than she does...but she did great in the end!

Rope Swing
Hannah on the rope swing
Hang on just a while longer Dave!
Johnny pulls off a successful pencil-dive-entry
Justin... is he going to make it all the way around and avoid a painful belly flop?

Nice Entry

Justin again with a crazy entry.
CANNONBALL!!!

Bloukrans Bridge, South Africa
Feb 21, 2008


The "before" shot, the group nervously poses.

“Been there, jumped that!” Now a common phrase you will see plastered on souvenir clothing purchased by some adrenaline-rushed site 3ers!
Six weeks into the second semester and 26 brave souls took the plunge. Down, down, down, all 216m (709 feet), of the highest bungee jump in all the world. Despite the fear of heights being present for many, it stopped few. With chest harness on, we crept along a grated walkway, where once we arrived to the middle of the bridge our names were randomly selected. With the music loud and the energy high, I heard my name called! After catching my heart which had suddenly sunk, I was strapped up, helped to the edge as the countdown “5-4-3-2-1 Bungee” was cheered by my team and with arms extended, gravity took hold.
It’s an indescribable feeling as you are falling. A weightless, carefree, terrifying feeling. And being left dangling from your ankles for a few moments waiting to be retrieved was anything but boring. Once you reach the top you just want to do it all over again!
Submitted by Tiffany Dyck.

There's nothing like the support of cheering from your friends as you jump!

Ryan and Rebekah let some of their true colours and true emotions shine through!

Rachel and Megan weighing the options wondering if this is really a good idea after all!

Is it a bird, is it a plane... or is it Johnny the fearless leader in a Superman Costume?
Dana opts for the backwards jump for her second time around.

Jeffrey's Bay

Jbay, South Africa
Feb 17-21, 2008
Right on the Indian Ocean, Jeffrey's bay boasts some of South Africa's best waves for surfing. This town was quite sleepy as we visited during the off season, but we didn't mind having the beach to ourselves!

Sandboarding



Justin showing off his sweet sweet snowboarding skills on a sandboard.

Kyle is okay with missing the snow of Canadian winter, especially when he gets to go boarding!

Surfs Up!

Justin, Kyle, Brent, Dave, Sully, Steve all wet-suited up and ready to catch some waves.

Warming up for a surf lesson.

Rachel, Megan, Adrienne, Julia, Krist and Hannah pose with Cornelle the surf instructor who became a friend of the group.

Blue Crush???

Horseback Riding Time


The group about to head out on an epic horseback adventure.
Ryan, Chantel, Tessa, Riel, Rebekah, Brittany, Jen and Amanda.

Tessa in the beautiful sand dunes

Chantel and her horse by the Indian Ocean.

All in all it was quite the week for the Site. Three days in Jbay is not a bad way to spend time in South Africa!

Mdumbi

Mdumbi, Wild Coast, South Africa
Feb 9-16, 2008

"Wish You Were Here..."


Knowing Yourself: Part II Getting to know more about our personalities, spiritual gifts, passions and abilities and lots of Bible Study. Note: The classroom this week was a thatched-roof hut, not the average day of university but no shortage of learning!
We had lots of time this week to sit back and evaluate what God is at work doing in our lives, and also chances to have our community speak into our lives and share how they have seen us grow this year... what a great week!
The girls stayed in one big room, which fondly became known as the orphanage... here they stop to pose for their morning prayers... oh the drama it's really not a hard knock life afterall!
Here Justin and Tiffany finish up their book reports on the beach.
The view of the Indian Ocean from Mdumbi Backpackers... our home for the week.
And what's a day at the beach without trying to surf or booggie board.

Here Darren strikes a pose on his way down to the ocean to catch some waves

The Grand Champion Sand Castle Competition winner... okay just the product of a few hours on the beach!
Jen seems to have found a few sea shells on the beach Johnny playing a bit of soccer on the beach.

Brittany, Tiffany, Julia... just another day of life on Outtatown!
Megan + the beach = a great early morning quiet time.


Happy Valentines Day Outtatown Site Three
Dana, Kim, Megan, Stephanie - Happy Valentine's to you all from Site Three!!!
Here Kristi, Dave and Rachel were nominated by the group to be the "most-opposite/most-unlikely couple". So in good fun the three of them were tied together for the evening.
Riel, Ryan and Carissa enjoying the evening.
Sarah, Kyle, Brent and Julia line up to get their food.
Amanda, Stephanie and Tiffany enjoying another candle-light dinner, and the fun that comes with Mdumbi Backpacker's creative candle art!
Justin and Reuben prepared a plethora of Valentine's songs for the group, featuring the good the bad and the ugly aspects of romance. They had the whole Site rolling with laughter at their songs.

Day Hike!
We took advantage of the beautiful scenery of the Wild Coast (which earned this name for its reputation of causing a number of shipwrecks) and went on a day hike. We hiked along the beach, forged accross a river, and hiked through Xosha (African Tribes of people) homes. It was breathtakingly beautiful and a great outting. We were hoping to do some cliff jumping, but the tide was too high so instead we enjoyed the view with both feet firmly planted on the ground!

Our favourite bus driver "Baba" Stefanes joins us for a hike. He has become a very important member of our group and we are thrilled when he joins in with whatever we are doing!
Riel, Ryan and Dave about to enter the cave.
na...na...na...na...na...na... BATCAVE!