Coffee with Kea at Caffe Rossini. (28 April)

Another soccer game at Peter Mokaba Stadium. (1 May)

I sent my brother, sister-in-law, and niece a small package with a few South African goodies. After standing in line for near on thirty / forty-five minutes at the post office, I couldn’t help but take a photo of the finished product with all the postage. I told Colby (my brother) that I was sending him a package of veggies. His response? “Isn’t that illegal?” Haha. (3 May)

Xitsonga exam numero uno. (4 May)

In addition to his responsibilities with SM one of my co-workers, Josh, is playing rugby with a local club here in Polokwane. Most of the staff and some friends from CBC went to one of the local games to cheer him on. (5 May)Saturday (5 May) on the way to Josh’s rugby game the land across the street was alight and was burning. Later that night when I came home I saw that it had also over taken the field beside the house, but wasn’t able to see the  full extent until the next morning on my way to church. My flat is another ten feet to the left. Yikes. Close call. (6 May)

Our weekly Monday teammeeting. The outreaches are just around the corner! We’re excited to host eleven churches over seven outreaches into Mozambique to partner with the local church. As you can see David is cheesin’ things up for the camera. (7 May)

Stopped by the grocery store to buy this week’s worth of fruit and veggies. Notice that gnarly check out line. (11 May)

Many friends have sent packages my way and for that I am so grateful. Each package has been a blessing. One of the families from my program at the YMCA sent me a package last week. I absolutely loved my job at the Y, especially the kids and families that I was privileged to get to know. A big shout-out to the Howards for the sweet cards (and treats)!

I heard some of the guys talking about making koeksisters last week and asked if I could join in on the fun. Saturday (12 May) was d-day for the trial run. The best way I can describe them is kind of like a braided donut deep fried, then dipped in cold syrup. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a decent photo of the finished product, but let’s just say that there were none left by the end of the night.

Stinkin’ cute kid. Nikki brought baby Noah by the office to say hello. He’s growing like a weed! (14 May)

For those of you who regularly read this blog (including those who are subscribed) I have recently updated the way that I send out monthly updates. If you are not already on the list, but would like to be, email me at hruthand@gmail.com.

I forgot that I had a few more photos from April’s leadership training. I primarily used my phone to snag a few photos on our way into Mozambique, so here are a few that I forgot to post last time. Here is Member showing off his guns and pretending to drive Mark’s bakkie at one of our stops. (16 April)

One of the signs on our way… next up: Punda Maria. (16 April)

Welcome to Kruger National Park! (16 April)

That’s exactly what it looks like…. a dead baby elephant. Gross but kind of cool, hey? It’s been sitting on the welcome counter at the Punda Maria Gate for years. (16 April)

The Saturday after we returned from Mozambique, I took one of the high schoolers from the CBC youth out for lunch and a movie. I’m thankful for all those who poured into my life while I was in middle/high school, what an impact they made on my life. One of the perks of living and working in both South Africa and Mozambique is that I get to meet and build relationships not only with the local church in Mozy, but in South Africa as well. What a privilege! (21 April)

My next door neighbors, Joseph and Welheminah, just recently got a puppy. They’ve named him Petey after the dog in The Little Rascals movie. He’s a rascal alright. (20 April)

How fun is this crayon art? Thanks Pinterest! (23 April)

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to go help some friends out for the day at their office. Mike and Kea are the owners of Capricorn Taxidermy here in Polokwane. Their workshop is so neat! The work they do is out of this world, as I’m sure you can tell from this photo. Check them out on Twitter: @capricorntaxide or on Facebook. (24 April)

Dark and rainy morning last week on the way through downtown Polokwane at 5:15am on the way to the gym. (23 April)

Sunset on the Farm from my front porch. Another reminder of what a privilege it is to serve here in South Africa. (23 April)

Before moving to South Africa I think the last time I paid to go see a movie in the theatre was in Turkey two years ago. I despise paying an arm and a leg just to see a stinkin’ movie when I can just wait and get it on Redbox. Well, although Redbox hasn’t made it to South Africa yet, going to the theatre is is pretty cheap. Typically going to a movie runs about $5 and only $2.50 on Tuesdays (because I have a movie card). Hellloooooo cheap entertainment! The month of April is patched together by public holidays, so although I’ve been doing some work from home, I took a couple of days off this weekend and just enjoyed life. Here is a photo from dinner on Friday at the Mall of the North here in Polokwane. (27 April)

I’m in the process of working on my newsletter, so if you’re not on the list and would like to be, let me know! I hope yall have had a great week.

Last week I spent a few days in Mozambique for SM’s monthly leader training. The excerpts here are from the journal that I kept along the way. Some things are more personal than what I would normally post here, but what’s a little vulnerability, hey? Captions for the photos will be in bold with the journal entries in normal font. Good luck and happy reading yall. 

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We left the Mission Farm (where I live) Monday morning around 430a, then stopped by the Raley’s to meet the rest of the guys. We were on the road out of town by 530a. I tried sleeping, but decided to write Jen an email on my BlackBerry instead. Kind of like how I decided to Skype with Anne Marie the night before for an hour instead of packing, but I regret neither. I needed to talk to them. I needed to share about my week. I needed that community. Like I said, I regret nothing except for maybe not fixing that second travel mug of coffee . Jay-Z said it best, “It’s a hard knock life.”

We had a two and a half hour drive to where we were planning on picking up Derrick and Annah. Derrick and his wife Sarah  are on staff at Samaria Mission and Annah often serves as a translator. Derrick and my dad have been friends since the first time that dad came on outreach, which I’m guessing was somewhere around 2000/2001-ish. Derrick calls my dad his water-headed baby, thus he refers to me as his granddaughter, so I am a “Chauke”. I’m thankful for all of the relationships that I’ve been able to build with folks here over the previous summers spent serving as a short-termer. These relationships have made my transition to living in a new culture so much easier than they would be otherwise. For those of you who have lived overseas or even up and moved to a new area, you know that building a new community of friends isn’t easy and is often awkward. Thankfully, I have several strong friendships here and as far the relationships that I’m still working on… well, let’s just say that I thrive in awkward situations.

Back to the trip. Thankfully I fell asleep for about an hour before we stopped in Malemulele to pick up Derrick and Annah. Once we left Malemulele, we headed towards Kruger National Park which would eventually lead us to the Pafuri Border Gate on the Mozambican border.  After stopping on the South African side and enjoying our last bit of running water and running toilets for the week, we headed over to the Mozambican side. The Mozambican side always takes more time to get through. You see, on the SA side, there is electricity, computers, and paved roads. Whereas, on the Mozy side there is little to no electricity, your visas are recorded in huge books that span the entire width of the desk, and all the roads are basically oxen trails. (Helloooo, anyone up for a game of Oregon Trail?)

Visa form in Portugees for Mozambique. Although the Mozambican’s in this area of the country speak Xitsonga, Mozambique is a former Portugese colony, so all government affairs take place in Portugese.

Each month there are two training hubs. When the river is low enough there is one on each side of the Limpopo River. Thankfully this month, there is very little water so it is easy to cross. Mark, Darren, Member, and Josh were all going to Dumela and Gordon, Derrick, Wlliam, Doug, Debbie, Annah, and myself were all going to Xikumbane. Those of us who were going to Xikumbane followed the other guys to the river to make sure they didn’t get stuck and that they would make it across.

The bakkie (pick up truck) stuck in the sand on the outskirts of the Limpopo River.

On the way, the bakkie (pick up) that I was in got stuck in the soft sand because the tyres hadn’t been deflated. Since there was’t anything I could do at the moment to assist, I went to check out the river. My Chaos kept weighing my feet down, so I shed those suckers and just went barefoot. I’m not going to lie, the sand was hot but it felt great to be back in Mozy.

Cows coming to drink in the Limpopo. Notice the kids playing in the water. Not going to lie, it was pretty hot and I would’ve loved to have joined them.

Earlier when we were at the Punda Maria gate at Kruger, Gordon (SM’s administrator and resident business genius) said that since my dad isn’t here he is going to be in charge of any discussions concerning labola. Haha, I consented of course. Later Gordon, Derrick, and I discussed what I would actually be worth if a guy had to pay labola. Gordon said thirty cows, whereas Derrick said at least forty since I am a “Chauke”.

Derrick counting how many cows were at the river. 

Back to the river… the guys made it across safety thus we made a u-ey (if that isn’t a word, it should be) to make it back to the “main road”. If you’ve been to Mozy you I use that term very loosely. As we drove through the yellow fever tree forest, so many memories came flooding back. I thought about the time in 2006 when Roelof and I had to move camp from Dumela to Salani and how many trips we had to make. I also thought about the time that Brent, Roelof, Derrick, and I had to move camp from Dumela to Kunguma in preparation for the Westmoreland/West Cramerton outreach. It was just the four of us. We started packing up at 5a, didn’t finish til 8p or 9p that night, then had to drive to Kunguma in the dark. Pretty sure that was the stretch of time when I went without a shower for five days.

More than just those memories, I thought about how much I have learned in my years of serving overseas. Not only the practical things like deflating tyres, cooking for large groups of people, and the endless lessons in cross-cultural interactions, but the spiritual impact as well. This, my friends, is where the Lord nurtured and grew my heart to see all peoples come to have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe. After years of saying “no way” to college, I had a conversation with someone who had come on outreach and that conversation led me to consider going to school.

I’m actually typing this on my iPad as we make our way down the oxen trail (sorry for the spelling errors), listening to my coffee shop playlist. Said playlist is made up of some of my favorite songs that would play when I would spend hours upon countless hours studying or writing papers at everyone’s favorite downtown Wake Forest coffee shop (and one of my former places of employment), the Wake Forest Coffee Company, affectionately called the WaFoCoCo.

Out of all the trips that I’ve made up and down this dusty road, this is the first that I can think of that I’ve been able to enjoy the air con. I’m thankful too, because it’s a blazing 39(c) degrees outside. God clearly has a sense of humor because, lemme tell you, I hate hot weather with a passion, but he’s got me here and loving it. Currently the sky is a perfect Carolina blue with a few clouds that look like animals made out of cotton balls. The side of the road is decorated with the yellow trunks if the Yellow Fever trees, which contrast perfectly with the dusty brown ground and the parched green from the shrubs.

So funny story, when we stopped in Matsillie to deliver the orphan food. When we were at Pastor Robert’s house one of the guys from the village made himself known. To what I can gather he is in his early 50s and is clearly mentally disabled. He was greeted with hugs, smiles, and jovial jokes! The local church there has taken it upon themselves to make sure that he is taken care of. What an awesome picture of the Gospel in action. This chap came over and was trying to negotiate with Gordon a price for labola so that he could marry me. Ha! You know, there isn’t anything on the horizon so I’ve got to keep my options open. (Before someone reads too much into that line and I get in trouble, know that I’m joking. Well, joking about considering that guy, but not about getting into trouble. Seems I’m always on someone’s short list for one thing or another. Gotta “brush ya shoulders off”. I may as well continue with the Jay-Z quotes while I’m at it. He’s such a philosopher.) We ended up making it to Xikumbane around 5p and had camp set up shortly thereafter.

Lunch day two: pap and soya. 

Rolled outta my tent this morning around 630 and desperately needed coffee, but the kitchen quarters of the base camp hadn’t been unlocked yet. Eventually we got that taken care of and the kettle was boiling soon thereafter. Breakfast was toast and coffee, which has pretty much been my breakfast each morning here recently. Thank goodness for my AeroPress. Thanks to this little thing I can take it anywhere and have delicious coffee and not the instant coffee that seems to follow me everywhere I go.

One of the pastors taking notes during training.

For leadership training, the guys attend all day. They gather and eat breakfast, then start around 8a. They will break for lunch then carry on until 4p. They are currently working their way through the book of Romans using New Tribes Mission’s Firm Foundations material. There are leaders here from numerous surrounding villages. Robert from Matellie, Pedro from Panhame, Albert, Earnest, Fortinato, Amos, and from Xikumbane. They make such a sacrifice to leave their villages and travel here for the two days. We wish their wives could attend each day, but know that is just not practical as someone has to be home to watch the kids and look after the fields. Debbie and I are excited to begin teaching the ladies this afternoon. Our purpose of being here is to teach the ladies, so that they may teach the other ladies and begin teaching the children This is key for us to further the process of sustainable church planting.

Mass grave in Ngala from the Mozambican civil war. 

Once breakfast was over the guys began their session at 8a sharp. I had nothing to do until around roughly 1030a when Doug, Debbie, Gordon, and I were going to cross the river and go to Ngala to deliver the orphan food to the church there. It’s around this time when the guys finish their first lesson of the day and break for tea and coffee. I decided to use this time to review my lessons for this afternoon and complete a few checklists of things that I need to accomplish once I get back to the office on Friday. A woman’s work is never done.

Along the way to Ngala to deliver the orphan food we passed a mass grave and several bombed out buildings that are left over from the civil war that for all practical purposes completely decimated the majority of this province along with the rest of the country. The pastor in Xikumbane, Albert, his father is one of the hundreds buried there. It’s another heart-breaking reminder of war.

The Baptist church in Ngala, Mozambique.

The ladies gathered in Xikumbane. 

We had eleven ladies gather yesterday and today in Xikumbane. These are ladies from several of the surrounding villages, who are interested in learning how to better teach the women and children in their local churches. Sustainable church planting and leadership. BAM. I love it. Anyway, the first day of teaching Debbie covered a lot of the important introduction information. It’s crucial for them to have this information about the how and why the Bible was put together before beginning the story of creation. We seek to build a foundation with this info so that they will not only comprehend what’s being taught, but understand it as well. On day two, I taught the first through third days of creation and Debbie finished us off right with the fourth and fifth days. When we return in May, we’ll pick up where we left off with the sixth day of creation.

This is the sign across the road from Guudu’s house.

Thursday morning on the way out we stopped in Xitsutswuni (pronounced shit-shoot-sweeny) to deliver some food to Guudu, who is one of the guys that the Mission assists. (He’s blind and can’t fully provide for he and his family.) Now for those of you who might be offended at the pronunciation of the village, don’t be ridiculous..

Sign on the South African side of the Pafuri Border Post.

On the way out we drove through Kruger National Park and had lunch at one of the picnic spots. Sir Mix A Lot, where you at?

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Until next time yall…

An entire asile dedicated to instant coffee. Shame.When I lived in in the States I subscribed to this ‘deal-a-day’ kind of thing called GroopDealz. I bought several cheap-o handmade items from them over the last couple of years. My favorite item was a $7 silver necklace with a (fake) pearl and an oak leaf. It’s super simple, but I love it and wear it often because it reminds me of my favorite city, Raleigh, which is affectionally known as the City of Oaks. Anyway, back to my story… a friend posted a link on Facebook to that particular  day’s deal and I immediately thought, “I can totally make that!” So the above photo is one of many that I created. It’s not the exact same as the one from the deal, but as they say in Thailand it’s “same same but different”. It works for me, I mean hellooooo it was freeeee(!!) and I got to choose the colors to go with my flat. It’s the little things in life you know?

Speaking of free crafts, look at this wall of paint samples. Oh the creative possibilities! I hit the jackpot yall! Stay tuned…

After three months I finally got to Skype with my brother Colby, sister-in-law Kristin, and my niece Addy who is almost three years old. Is she not the cutest thing you ever did see?

Although we have weekly team meetings each Monday, on Thursday (12 April) we had our first outreach planning meeting of the year. Alicia took this photo, but I snagged it to add for this edition. We’re all looking forward to the outreaches and the churches that we’ll be serving alongside. What a blessing to have so many partnerships with those who are equally passionate about the Gospel! 

My fellow southern, NASCAR lovin’ friend Erin sent me a super sweet birthday card! Ryan Gosling even made an appearance!

Saturday morning, Gena and I headed downtown to get material for a bedding bag. Seeing that while we’re on outreach we’re camping in the villages, thus we’ve got to carry all of our bedding into Mozambique. It gets pretty chilly at night, so we make sure to take enough to stay warm, which requires a pretty hefty bag. Gena is so talented when it comes to creating things with a needle and thread (along with numerous other talents). She’s such a blessing to all of us who serve with SM and for me, is a constant reminder that all of us can use our gifts to further the Gospel. Anyway, one of the stores we went to had an entire wall of vinyl with so many fun colors. The prices are so reasonable, I think somewhere around R25-R40 ($3.15-$5.05) a meter. Pretty sure that vinyl would make a sweet messenger bag one day. Just sayin’.

After venturing downtown, I stopped by Nikki’s to drink sweet tea and see baby Noah!

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We’re leaving bright and early tomorrow morning at 430a for leadership training in Mozambique. I will be co-teaching the ladies. Since this is the first month that we’ve been able to go in and teach the ladies we will start in the beginning with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Debbie will cover the intro along with the first and second lesson and I will cover the third and fourth. Will you join me in praying for our time this week? Pray for strong relationships to be made. Pray that these ladies would have a heart to learn about God’s word… and not only learn the Word, but share God’s Word with their families and friends. Our goal is to train up leaders to take over, basically we want to work ourselves out of a job. Hopefully I won’t forget to pack my camera battery in the morning so I can post a few photos upon return on Thursday.

Chat soon!