White Water Rafting

Near Durban, South Africa

Rafting was such an incredible experience. I was in the mood for adventure so when Dave asked if anyone wanted to be his partner I spontaneously said “yes”!
We drove down some pretty crazy rural roads before we reached the river, where the rapids were. There were two six-man rafts and 5 two-man rafts. Dave and I grabbed a two-man raft and headed down the rapids.
In the middle of the second set of rapids we tipped over and we rode down the hardest rapid of the day on our backs! It was a lot of fun, but kind of scary because we were grasping for breath. The guides had told us earlier in the day, to sit back and enjoy the ride down the river if we were to fall out, that was good advice!
It was quite the adrenaline rush. Dave and I made it successfully down the rest of the rapids.
One of the guides tipped in another set of rapids and went for a swim… along with our lunch, thus the treasure hunt ensued. We found a few bottles of pop floating down stream, and a container of lettuce, which we thought would be our whole lunch. But thankfully most of it was safe and sound (and mostly dry) with another guide in a different raft. So when lunch time came around we were so grateful to see the food.

Here we are enjoying the "lunch-we-thought-we-lost"

Sully and Johnny catch their breath after another big set of rapids.

Sully and Rachel enjoying the calm water and the warm sun

Tessa and Ryan found the best seats at the front of the six-man rafts... lots of air time and big splashes!


Hannah and Dana loving it!

Rachel, Stephanie, Megan and Ryan... the big smiles say enough!
After five hours of rafting in the South African sun we boarded the bus, tired yet satisfied and carried on our way.
Submitted By Brittany Abrahamson

Hiking in the Drakensburg Mountains

“God isn’t jus beautiful- He is beauty itself”
I recently read this, but witnessed it first hand this past week while hiking in the Drakensburg mountains. Although we all may have memorized the person in front of us, -shoes, ankles and calves- from walking single file along the never ending path, once we looked up, the beauty we were surrounded by was breathtaking.

After seeing the height of the peak we climbing to and learning my next two nights would be spent in a cave, I have to say I was quite nervous. But once we headed out with beautiful weather I knew God would provide. Not only did he supply us with amazing weather, but he also gave us the strength and endurance we needed to reach Rhino’s Peak- our final destination. When I reached the peak I was blown away by the beauty of God’s creation- it was indescribable! What also hit me once we reached the peak was a major sense of personal accomplishment. Never would I have guessed I could climb 3000 meter mountain! But I didn’t do it alone- God was beside me the whole way supplying me with energy I didn’t know I had, as well as my fellow site members as a constant source of encouragement. This hike opened my eyes up more the beauty of God and His faithfulness to supply our needs.

Submitted by Kim Ball


For the hike we split into two groups. The first group had quite the adventure hiking in the rain for the first day, but we didn't get discouraged. The second day we hiked to the summit only to find a cloud keeping us company blocking the view of the valley below. It was still an amazing hike for us all!

Here the second group soaks in the sun and the view from the summit as they stop for a well-earned lunch break.

It was hard not to feel like we were on an epic journey such as the "Lord of the Rings"!

Here the guys take "team-building activities to a new height"

And the view...

Project Gateway

Pietermartizburg, South Africa
Project Gateway
It’s amazing what a dozen people can accomplish in tow day. While in Pietermartizburg we were divided into two groups and had a chance to do a bit of service work at Project Gateway, which is the place we stayed at for a week. It is an old prison that has been converted into a hub of different ministries and programs, run by the local church, which teach the needy and help those in Crisis.
Our group’s task was to empty an old workshop. In the morning we were led to a building that had not been used in years. Inside there were cabinets full of every conceivable item; piles of wood and lots of random junk all of which was covered with a thick layer of sawdust. We spent the day hauling everything outside and sorting it into different piles like “the garbage pile”, “the useful pile” and “the who-knows-what-pile”. Some of the things we found in that mess were funny, like an old computer, jewellery, a few Bibles in Zulu, too many used tea bags to count and even a little coffin.
Working through the African heat of the day was exhausting but by with a lot of hard the building was empty by the end of the afternoon. The second day wasn’t nearly as hot because we spent it cleaning the room by hosing down the rafters and scrubbing the walls and floors.
We could not believe the change that half our group had made in such a short time. It was now possible to see that this building could e used for something new and the staff at Project Gateway thanked us again and again for our work. We were all too happy because they gave us fantastic hospitality all week, and now we’ve seen what a gift a few hours of work can be. The work we did helped the full time staff to continue to creative positive changes in their community as they work with those in great need.

Submitted by Jen Bergsma

Small Group Service Projects (continued)

Refilwe
For the Soweto service week my small group and I made our way out to Refilwe, which I quickly learned means “God Given”. Refilwe is an organization that puts orphaned children with guardians; anyone from grandmothers, single fathers, to married couples.
We did a number of things while we were there, from pulling weeds and climbing trees, to pouring concrete. The work I will never forget is when I threw on my rubber boots and became a farmer. The cows had to be milked twice a day, morning and night and I jumped at the idea of waking up at the crack of dawn to try my hand at it. In the start I couldn’t finish one quarter of the cow’s udder before the local boys had finished the other three! But by the end of the week I was able to get two going at the same time, even sneaking in a quick drink.
It was easy to enjoy work in place that’s visibly doing God’s work and wanting to be a part of that was contagious. Judging by the joyful singing from our group throughout the day I believe everyone would agree that this opportunity was God given.

Submitted by Kyle Wiebe

Small Group Projects

For three days last week our Site was split up into small groups where we each served at different ministry and organizations. The pictures below show what we were up to!

Emthonjeni:

It's really incredibly what God has opened my eyes and heart to this week. My small group and I were able to spend the last few days working and experiencing life at Emthonjeni, an HIV/AIDS clinic located in a rural area called Sweet Waters, just outside of Soweto. Earlier this week we were challenged by our speaker to go into our service projects with love, whatever we ended up doing. The first day I found myself cutting cabbage with love. Who would ever have thought that one could get such an awesome feeling from cutting cabbage?
With love we also, washed dishes, relocated a big pile of plastic pieces from a shed (to be converted into homes for patients within the next year), my favourite was being welcomed into people’s homes, already fill of love. Being able to meet such strong and faithful individuals was an incredible blessing. For example we had the chance to visit a Grandmother who was looking after her 5 grandchildren after their mother’s death last December due to AIDS. Would I be able to do the same thing if I were in her position? Only by the grace of God.

The people we’ve met have been so full of hope, kindness and generosity. I feel that these people have made a bigger difference in my life than I’ve made in theirs. I’ve seen that it’s so important in our lives to be thankful and keep focused on God. Whatever comes our way good or bad. Don’t dismiss a blessing and don’t dwell on the misfortunes that happen. Through him we can find the strength, love and peace we need to make the most of all situations.
“Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life” Ecclesiastes 7:14
Submitted by Julia Campbell

Dana's Small Group (aka DG VOLVO)
Back L-R Ryan, Rebekah, Meghan, Kim,Dana
Front (L-R) Thami (0ur Guide for the week), Julia, Riel


Creche (Day Care)

Tessa's Small Group (L-R) Sully, Tessa, Hannah, Adrienne, Reuben, Jen, Darren

One of the projects was sewing for the children. Here the group enjoys their time together.

Pretoria Home Stay Week

Welcome back to Outtatown, Site Three!

Pretoria, South Africa
What an awesome way to start a new semester living with families in South Africa! Our group was split up in to three groups and sent to different churches where we were boarded with Afrikaaner host families for a whole week in Pretoria.
Daren and I were blessed to by the hospitality of an elderly couple. Everyday when we got home from our lectures or tours they would make sure we sat down and told them all about it. It was awesome just to experience some of the cultural differences as well as to hear our host families’ opinions on important issues in their country.
Despite going to sleep early (blame it on jet-lag, and the heat) we had a hilarious time and I’m glad we got to know each other and our host family better, as well as seeing the work God is doing in their lives and this beautiful country.

Submitted by Dave Young

Here we are touring the Voortrekker Mounument which commemorates the migration of the Afrikaaner people within South Africa.

A Lecture on South African History at the University of Pretoria with Professor Piet Merring, who played an influencial role in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the mid 90s after Apartheid ended.


Beautiful South Africa!

Where Theory and Reality Meet

We have now spent one amazing, jam packed week in South Africa. I am really enjoying my time here and to some extent it feels a bit surreal. I have spent a lot of time studying South African history, particularly the history of Apartheid and the transition out of Apartheid; it is amazing to be to here and seeing the reality. I love having the opportunity to see the theories and concepts I studied lived out and worked through in everyday life.

Our students read the autobiography of a black South African living in a township during the 1980s over the Christmas break. Many important questions came out of their reading such as: how could the majority of white South Africans ignore the horror that was around them, where/how do people learn to hate and are there similar situations currently going on that the global community is choosing to ignore? Students were also struck by the tremendous perseverance shown by the people of this country. This week we travelled to the Voortrekker Monument, which commemorates the history/struggles of the Afrikaaner people and to Freedom Park, which is created to remember and honour the people who gave their lives to create a harmonious country. The president can view both of these places from the parliament building and they symbolically remind him of how both histories are the truth of the Rainbow Nation (the slogan of the new South Africa) and that he must continue to guide the country towards a unity that recognizes the history of all people. Throughout our time here we must also strive to open our hearts to everyone’s story and respond in ways that are filled with grace.

The concepts of justice, fairness and truth seem a lot clearer in books then in the lives of people. When you met people and hear stories, these concepts become increasingly muddled. It is easy to see areas that still need improvement, for example schools and neighbourhoods are still largely segregated. The challenge is to look for the growth and see the hope. There has been tremendous movement and change, public places are now integrated and people are allowed to live where they choose. Equity is now built into legislation and people are slowly changing their beliefs and actions. However, change is hard and although much of the new legislation is excellent, the social structures still need time to be able to make them a reality. For example, many people do not have the education and training needed to fill the jobs created by affirmative action legislation. People of colour are getting high ranking jobs but are at risk of making poor decisions because they do not the background needed to make informed decisions. As I seek to understand the Afrikaaner perspective, I try to imagine how our country would be affected if the first nations people became the ruling party.

I agree with one of our speakers, that the relatively peaceful transition out of Apartheid is a miracle and as we continue to live and learn in South Africa we are blessed to learn from people who had enough faith to act with forgiveness and grace and to strive for truth.

Written and submitted by Tessa Callan, Site Three Leader