Life in the Res

So it's been a good three weeks since we got here. Life here is definitely starting to feel like home. I can tell because it takes me less then an hour to go grocery shopping now. I just go in grab some snacks, bread and some apples and I'm out. It has been good to be able to not feel like I am living out of my suitcase.

Speaking of suitcases, we finally got to do some laundry for the first time last week. Odd enough I had just started to run out of clothes. The coolest part of about that is that we were able to get some of the students from the university to help us, instead of going to a local laundry which was the original plan. The good thing about that is our support money set aside for laundry instead is really going to support some students going to Joint Winter Conference.

The Joint Winter Conference (JWC or J'Dubs as some students call it) is coming up in the middle of next month. It is a four day/three night conference about an hour outside of Jo-town. Students come from four of the universities and get to hang out, have some fun, and learn about what having a relationship with God is all about. It's kinda like the conference we have back in the states called Christmas Conference. I am excited that we are getting to go, but at the same time it is in the middle of exams for the students here. So pray that God would make a way for them to get there. Some are planning on going back home and many don't have the money. It costs 500 rand, which when converted to dollars doesn't seem like much to an American student, it really is a lot here. I am hoping the guys that Devin and I have been talking to will see the benefit of hearing God's word taught, coming to find out more before they make their decision or learning more about the One that they are trusting as their Savior.

Saturday we got the chance to go to the Aparthied Museum. That was quite eye opening. Segregation ended so long ago in the states that it is hard for me to really understand what life is like when people are separated by law based on the color of their skin. This museum did a lot to make that it a bit more real to me. Even some of the guys from the res talk about what they remember of the aparthied, like being forced to learn Afrikaans (the language of the white folk here). The museum was filled with signs that showed how far separation went, like reserving one end of a park bench for whites. It was interesting to see the way that men would stand up for what was obviously injustice and risk their lives to end it. Even though I do doubt the religious stand point and some of the political strategies of the civil rights leaders here, I can clearly say that it is obvious that the church was not doing it's part to bring about justice. Time after time in the Old Testament, God makes it know that He loves justice and stands for those who are oppressed. I can't see God loving those things so much and the church completely over looking them. There was a man named Steve Biko that the museum had an exhibit about. I think I am going to try to find his book "I Write What I Like" when I get back. I think that his influence on history is largely over looked in the states. Besides the book seems a lot more manageable then Mandela's biography.

God has been working amazingly through his providence the last week too. I have run into several people that have given me a much better picture of the social climate here. Like the Indian man that I talked to at McDonalds who told me to give a letter bomb to our president next time I saw him (a suggestion that i found appalling.....I sure hope putting something like that on the net won't get me in trouble). There was also a guy from Canada who is here with his girlfriend working with NGO's for health regulation compliance. He actually offered me a job. But just getting to see what the attitudes and actions the common people you will find in Joburg makes me understand the country much more.

The time in the res has been interesting too. God has put Devin and myself in several situations that we have gotten to share the gospel and to fight against a lot of the misconceptions that the guys have about Christ and eternal life. Just yesterday we stopped by the room of a guy named Majaha. When we came in there were some guys who were not students there discussing whether or not eternal life existed or not. It was a great chance to discuss scripture with them and reason about the meaning of life. It seems to me that if life is going to be the end and during life suffering is unavoidable, then the quicker you die the better. That's part of the beauty of the gospel to me, that my suffering serves the purpose of making me Christ-like as I wait for the day that all suffering ends. We also got to talk to a guy who has been disfellowed from a Jehovah Witnesses church for having a child with his girlfriend. He said that during this time of "repentance" that no one in the church is even allowed to greet him and that he is not allowed to discuss scripture with anyone. That was amazing because I was able to make my case to him without much rebuttal. JWs don't believe that Jesus was actually God, a point that I think is near the heart of the gospel. I even see God preparing me for this conversation. My first year in Daytona the family I was "adopted" by had been in the JW church for 20 some odd years before they realized that it was wrong. And that same year a guy that Jonathan and I were sharing the gospel with at school was a JW and had us talk to his elders. I hope that I get some more time to talk with this guy and even that he gets refellowshiped (i guess is the word) so that I ask him about some of the scriptures that point to Christ's divinity.

Last night was quite awesome also. It was the first time that we were able to hang out with the guy leaders in an informal setting. The visitor policy at the res changed because of exams and we are now required to leave at 6pm instead of 10pm (this is something I would also ask you to pray for....that we would get the permission needed to stay there longer). This worked to our advantage yesterday though. We took some of the leaders to get some pizza and then just to hag out at Kofifi for a while. It was fun getting to hear how God has worked in their lives and on their campus, as well as getting to talk to them about the usually guys stuff (sports, girls, etc.). We ended up playing some soccer back at the compound. I am beginning to love these guys the way that I love the guys back home. It's amazing to see how God has worked in them in ways similar to the way he has worked in mine.

Well it is about time to head, and once again without having any pictures to post. There is hope though. I think that i will be able to get the cable I need next time I go to the store. I'll have to see. And i think this is the last time I will get to write before people start to leave for SBP. Just tell Juras, William, Jason, Ben, Corrie and everyone else you might know who is going that I am praying for them and thier summer. Love ya'll all and hope that things are well back in the states.

Settling In

After 2 weeks over here I think I am finally getting use to the people and the culture of Joburg. I am definitely finding it easier to get up in the morning. Ko FiFi is still a wonderful place to live. Jan and his live-in girl friends of 20 some odd years (marriage is not the ideal over here) continue to surprise us with random delicious treats. The most notable of which are these delightful deep fried dough balls call "fatcakes" for a very obvious reason. My usually is to take several of those and dip them in sugar, basically having a funnel cake for breakfast. I hope that Delta doesn't charge us for the extra weight on the way back.

Though that has been a staple of my diet for the last couple of days, this weekend started in a much less then desirable way. I had a touch of food poisoning last Friday night around 4:30 in the morning. It was amazing to see how the guys took care of me during the whole ordeal. Matt May, our fearless leader, stayed up with me the rest of the night making sure that I was getting some water every so often. In the morning him and John Saye, a rather close friend of mine, took me to what is supposedly the best health clinic in the city. After telling the doctor I had eaten a Borawors (a incredibly tasty sausage) sandwich on campus the other day, he immediately told me it was food poisoning. He prescribed me an antibiotic and sent me on my way. By that night i was feeling better. It is amazing how selflessly those guys took care of me. Situations like that really make John 17:21 jump off the page.

That verse has also been quite important on campus this week too. We have been meeting guys left and right in Majuba, the dorm we are in. Devin and I have to sit down and discuss the name of the guys that we meet just to keep up with them. There are some guys in the rez that are already Christians and some are involved with Campus Outreach. These leaders are so encouraging being that they are less then a year old in their walk with the Lord and they are already passionate about reaching the guys in the rez. The guys that are on our floors are Aubrey (Sabello), Sbu, Zwia, and Mpumi. Aubrey is involved in all kinds of musical ventures with several extracurricular choirs. Sbu is kinda a big brother figure to all of the guys in the rez. He says that there are many of them that know him that he has no idea who they are. But that guy has great influence over them and normally has a pack of guys following him to bible study. Zwai is very similar to Sbu in that respect. He is very influential. He also is an IT major so alot of the guys he has introduced me to have alot to discuss with me. Mpumi is one of the best futbol (soccer) players in the rez and plays intermurals for Majuba. That futbol team is very exciting because Zwai is the coach and Sbu is the manager. There is a great deal of influence around the team all the time. Hopefully as God grows these four men the team and the rez will see what John 17:21 is talking about.

Devin and I also got the chance to lead the weekly bible study that the guys have on Monday night. That was interesting and quite exciting. We talked about Mark 2:17 and Romans 3:10-12 quite abit.

Mark 2:17

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Romans 3:10-12

As it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;

no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside;

together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one.”

When we got done, one of the guys asked us what the point of being a christian was if there was no way to be good enough for God. I could not have been more excited because this guy had originally said he was not going to come because he didn't want to seem like he was just contradicting Christianity with all his questions. I was amazing to see his eyes grow and grow as we told him about the righteousness that comes through a life changing belief in Christ. I think that sharing with him 2 Corinthians 5:21 answered so much for him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Back in states it is rare to find some one completely surprised by that. And I was pretty certain it would be the same way here. South Africa is the bible belt of the continent. I guess that is Gods way of reminding me that the reason many don't believe is because they haven't heard and the reason many have heard is because it isn't preached (Romans 10:14). I am very much looking forward to getting an chance to talk with him later. He is an IT major and we are going to study some together.

2 Timothy has been quite good also. Been learning alot about what Paul and Timothy's relationship. The entire letter is an encouragement to Timothy from Paul about not being afraid to share the untainted offensive gospel and trust God for the growth of the church. I wish i had the time to tell ya'll all that God has been teaching me through just even the first few verses but i am running out of time quickly.

I guess the rush or packing and moving before I left was enough for me to forget to bring a cable for the camera that I brought. Hopefully i will find away around that soon. I have some great pictures and really want ya'll to see the guys that I am living with, working with, and ministering too. If I can't figure it out I will steal some pictures from someone less absent minded. Love you guys and hope all is well in the states.

Anders

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me

John 17:20-21

We're Here

Hope all is going well at home. Things here are great.

The plane ride over was not where near as bad as i had expected. It is amazing how a few movies, a couple of books, and an incredibly limited selection of music can keep a person entertained for 18 hours. Despite getting only one hour of sleep the ride was OK. However getting to the airport and realizing that my guitar had been picked up by someone else was not exciting in the least.

The last couple of days have been incredibly tiring but that's to be expected when they are trying to introduce us to a totally new culture in just a few days. We have been going nonstop - even some of us when we should be sleeping. So far i haven't had a bit of trouble sleeping except having to use the restroom in the middle of the night. I guess my body just isn't use to it yet. So the living situation has been quite fine. Ko FiFi is definitely nicer then the Islander Hotel that I have spent the last few summers at in Daytona. There is a nice couple who runs the place and are more then accommodating. They didn't even get mad at us when we accidentally melted a plastic container to the hotplate this morning (Waking up to the smell of smoke was not cool).

We have only gotten a little time around the rez (residence halls) here, but the gents (guys) here seem quite cool. Me and my ministry partner Devin (who was my roommate on my first beach project) have met a lot of the gents who are involved in the ministry already. We are working with a guy who is on staff named Boom. That guy is amazing. He has such a heart for the guys in the dorm. A lot of what we will be doing this year is helping teach the newer leaders how to do ministry on campus because there are 19 guys who have been around about a year and very limited staff. Of course this can't happen without evangelism being part of it, so it will be cool to see what God will do will all of this. There are several guys who are IT majors so i think connecting with them by helping them study won't be too hard. We are kinda in the middle of writings (which is what they call exams), a process that is extended over the course of 3 months. There will be pretty much every opportunity for that.

Today was the first day of the projects Bible study. It is going to be over the book of 2nd Timothy. I am quite psyched. Jonathan, Jason, and I studied this just a few semesters ago but I am sure that we only scratched the surface. Having the next to months to dig through this letter will be great. I'll definitely be posting about all I am learning for it.

I will have to end this post with some good news. Last night before the braii (cookout), a van pulled up in front of Ko FiFi and a man named Moses returned my guitar. I was quite excited about that even though no one seem to be able to tell.

I don't know how often I will make it to the internet. We have to come to a different campus to use it. And I have realized that Facebook doesn't seem to load in any kind of usable manor over here. So it looks like this blog is my point of contact. I'll post every chance i get.