I've arrived

I’ve arrived in South Africa!  I’m thanking God for an uneventful flight (it was packed and I had a middle seat...but I survived!) and an arrival that was just a little later than planned…tailwinds must not have been as strong.  Debbie and David were waiting for me when I arrived and we went to our hotel where I had a light dinner before retiring.  The hotel was very nice….maybe like a Marriott but a slightly smaller room.  I went to bed a little before 9 and slept until 6:30a.  I slept really well....and slept all night.

Today started out with my first dose of culture shock.  I decided to shower and use the hotel’s shampoo with conditioner and their liquid soap.  I got the top off the soap ok, but for the life of me couldn’t twist the cap for the shampoo.  Finally after 5 mins (literally….no exaggeration) I finally was able to get it opened.  The shower was nice and hot but I have to tell you, I was eying the bathtub with envy.  It was HUGE!!!!  It would be a great one to soak in…even for someone as tall as me.  I think even my legs would fit. 

I then decided to make some tea….they have a hot pot in the room that you can heat water and make your own tea (no coffee pot, though).  I filled it up and turned it on.  After 5 mins, nothing.  Oh,  I see, there’s a switch under the handle.  Maybe I need to turn it on.  I turned it on and 5 mins later came back to check it out.  Nothing.  Flipped the switch a few more times and nothing.  I guess I won’t have any tea this morning.  :-(

After getting mostly ready, I tried to dry my hair.  I have a 110/220v hairdryer and the bathroom had a universal outlet in it that had 110v on one side (and could accept an American plug) and the other had 220v.  So I plugged in my hairdryer and turned it on.  Nothing.  So I switched my hairdryer to 220v and plugged it into the other side of the outlet.  Nothing.  So I went to get some of the adapters I brought with me.  Tried them.  Nothing.  Knowing that I am jetlagged and my brain is about 30 mins behind in everything I do, I decided to go thru that whole sequence again to make sure I wasn’t having a blond moment.  Nothing.  I had a choice…go thru the day with flat, undried hair or not. I decided to ask for help.  

When I talked w/ Debbie, she said outlets in the bathroom never work…and oh, by the way, there’s a hairdryer in the desk.  Argh.  Being an American, I had noticed there wasn’t a hairdryer provided in the bathroom, but never thought to look in the desk.  When I mentioned my issue with the hot pot, she said there’s an outlet in the closet that you have to switch on to get it to work.  I never thought to look in the closet for a switch.  Here in S.A., all outlets have on/off switches…not sure why exactly…maybe to prevent surge damage for items not in use???  So all in all, it should have taken me about 30 mins to get ready…it ended up taking more like 60.  I’ll have to give myself more time in the morning to account for establishing new routines with new equipment.

After that frustrating start, breakfast was a nice contrast.  We ate at the airport at a place called Mug and Bean (think Starbucks…with full meals…and just as plentiful…they’re everywhere).  For those in the know, it’s called “M&B”.  I had 2 fried eggs, toast, bacon (think Canadian bacon) and a tomato (you can see the English influence). ..and coffee.  The coffee was so strong that even dumping half the cream in the pitcher into my cup didn’t turn the coffee a light brown.  But it was good….so I have no complaints.  

After breakfast, we loaded up the suitcases and drove to the B&B where I’m staying.  It’s called Fernbrook.  It’s a lovely place in a very upscale neighborhood.  I think there are 4 rooms for rent, but right now only I, the property manager and the owner’s daughter are here.  There’s a lovely backyard with a pool and a beautiful garden.  The flowers are just about to start blooming.  Flowers here are very popular…you see them for sale everywhere and most restaurants have them out for customers to enjoy (the European influence).  After getting my suitcases into my room, we went off in search of an ATM so I could get some Rand (S.A. money).  My understanding of the exchange rate is there are 7 Rand to $1.  Prices here seem to be a little cheaper than what I’m used to at home….my breakfast was 42 R and lunch was 59R  for chicken stir fry.  We met Barbara Chrouser (the FRA/TL who is retiring and I’m taking her place) and the CS Ria Snyckers for lunch.  Guess where we ate?  The Chocolate Café.  I knew I’d love it before I ever stepped foot in the door.   The food was good…but I didn’t get dessert (bummer!).  I can’t wait to go back to sample some of them!

After lunch, we went to Vodaphone (equivalent to Verizon) to get an S.A. cell phone for me to use, got some hairspray (I intentionally didn’t bring much to save on weight) and some adapter plugs to allow my American plugs to get power from the wall sockets.  We also had to “top off” my cell phone.  It’s a prepaid phone so I had to buy the minutes separately so I could actually use it.  It looks like I can access the internet in the B&B, but I’m not sure of how much I can use it.  Here in Jo-burg, no internet is ever free.  Even at the hotspots like M&B, you have to pay for wi-fi access…either by the minute/hr or by MB or GB used.  So even though the B&B has internet, I don’t believe it’s unlimited use.  So I need to figure out what that is before I go to heavy usage on their wireless. 

David and Debbie were such a blessing to me today…they really gave me a good jump start to get functioning in this new city.  I’m so appreciative of all the time they spent with me.  Barbara was also a blessing in that she brought me some groceries to get started…ingredients for a salad, PB&J, yogurt and some fruit.  So I decided to eat that food for dinner…I had a PB&J  with some peach yogurt….and topped off with dark chocolate English toffee caramels (thanks Emily…they were great!!!!)  

I managed to stay up all day with no nap…so I think I’ll be headed to bed pretty early tonight.  Hopefully with another good sleep, my body will be adjusting quickly to the new time zone.  The brain fog probably won’t go away for a few more days, though.  Tomorrow is breakfast at 8 and then nothing is on my schedule for the rest of the day.  I really need to catch up on my BSF lessons so I’m ready for leaders meeting on Tues. I’ll get to meet the leaders at this time….I’m looking forward to it! Then on Wednesday, I’ll be doing the Intro class and, at the end of the lecture, I’ll be introduced to the class.

The weather here is like AZ in March – dry, warm in the middle of the day but cool in the early morning and late evening.  It’s perfect.  They said it was really cold yesterday (winter-like) but today was absolutely gorgeous.  When I look around with my eyes, I feel like I’m in a western country.  But when I close my eyes and hear with my ears, I know I am in Africa.  The familiar sounds of some of the birds I’ve known in Uganda are heard thru my open window.  It’s an odd mixture of the strange and the familiar.  I’ll try to take some pictures but I don’t know when I’ll get them uploaded. That’s all for now…my bed is calling my name!!!!  :-)

In transit

Sorry it’s been a while since I wrote.  I was in training all last week with little access to internet and then this weekend was spent getting ready to go.  Today (Tues) I left for Johannesburg.  The flight from San Antonio to Atlanta was lovely…only about 1/3 full and I was on the exit row.  Wouldn’t it be lovely if the 15 hour flight to Jo-burg was the same?

I think I gained 5 lbs over the last week…BSF feeds you really well when you’re in training…that added to sitting for hours on end doesn’t do much for the waist line.  I was telling Julie that I was taking an exercise video with me to Jo-burg and she asked what I was going to play in on.  When I replied “my laptop” she went into a fit of giggles.  She could just imagine me trying to exercise and being close enough to see the screen.  It could result in some harrowing positions, I could imagine.  It will be entertaining regardless….for those who have seen me dance, you know my hand/foot coordination isn’t the best….unless there is a sport involved.  I could probably dance really well if I could use a ball while doing it.   

This weekend, I was reflecting on my impending move.  It dawned on me this is the 2^nd major move in about a month.  How do you pack for a 3 month trip….especially as the weather is transitioning from winter to summer?  What do you take to a culture you know nothing about?  How much do you take of it once you decide you need it?  I packed everything from long underwear to short sleeve shirts and shorts to outfits that qualify as “business dress”.  I’ll let you know if I have the right things.  One thing that works in every culture is…..  M&Ms!!!!  Yep, brought a 3 lb bag with me.  Of course, I might have left other important items at home b/c I was limited on weight, but the M&M made the cut (of course!).  So did peanut butter.  Now I’m not a huge fan of peanut butter (it’s ok….I didn’t like it growing up, so it’s an acquired taste) but you can survive a long time on PB&J.  And most cultures can supply adequate J.  Depending on how well and how quickly I adapt to the foods, I might have eaten a lifetime amount of those two foods by the time I return.

My flight is due to arrive in Jo-burg at 4:30p on Wed (that’s 7:30a Phx time) where I’ll be met by the area team (David and Debbie Lively).  We’ll be spending the night in an airport hotel because traffic is really bad at that time of day and I’ve heard you don’t want to be out driving at night if you don’t need to be.  On Thurs, I’ll be going to the Fernbrook B&B where I’ll be staying until Dec.  I’ve just told you all I know.  More later....

P.S.

Apparently, I have no idea how to upload pictures.  When I try to get the pic of the deer on my blog, it always comes in sideways.  So you'll just have to believe me for now and I'll figure it out later....

Cindy 6, Scorpions 0

And I'm hoping to keep a shutout going.  I'm up to 6 scorpions found alive but then killed in my apartment.  I think I mentioned that the first one really freaked me out.  Fortunately, I've only found them in the hallway, guest bathroom and living room.  I think I'd be even more freaked out if it was in my bedroom.  But I'm learning new habits...like not walking around in the dark in case there's a critter on the floor.  I don't enter a room without turning on a light.  I have a particular black sandal sandal that has become my weapon of choice.  It has a flexible sole but an oh-so-deadly heel.  When I went to Uganda with Gretchen, she had Liz Claiborne pink slippers that were sure-fire.  But, lacking Liz slippers, my sandal is doing a great job.  The last scorpion, however, was about the scariest.  I grabbed one of my notebooks to study, sat down in a chair and opened it up.  There, smack in the middle of the first page, was a nasty little critter.  I think I actually jumped.  I carefully got back up, carried my notebook to the kitchen floor and got my black sandal (old "blood and guts" since that's what's left after she's done) and did the deed. 

Now in contrast to these nasty critters, there have been some welcomed ones.  I saw some deer next to the BSF road tonight as I was leaving the campus. They've shown themselves several times.  There's also a flock of wild turkeys hanging out on the grounds that I see periodically. I was talking with the cook Terry a few weeks ago and he mentioned that the flock of 11 might be down to 10 or 9 around late Nov.  I don't even want to know!!!!  :-)

I'm basically in my last week of work as Orientation starts on Sat.  It will last for a week, and then I'll leave on the following Monday.  I'm starting to feel the pressure to get things wrapped up, taken care of and left in a state where they can be easily maintained for the next 2 months.  I got my flu shot on Sat and need to make an appt to get antibiotics for my trip....Dr. Chuck recommended Cipro and a Z-pack (in addition to the anti-malarials).  I'll try to get that appointment scheduled this week with a travel clinic.  I don't have my health care card yet (not sure why it's taken a while but it prevents me from seeing a doctor). And I'm still waiting for my "real" TX drivers license....I'm still carrying around that impressive 8.5 x 11 black and white sheet of paper.  I've had to show it a few times...I sure am embarrassed that I have a "Monopoly" drivers license.  Oh well.

I'll try and write more later...work has gotten busy and there hasn't been much time to update the blog. I'll be off the air from Sat thru the following Fri so I'll be silent for a while...but I'll try and get an update out before Fri.

Love to you all and my heart is with you tomorrow night.  I wish I could be there too!

Holiday weekend...

You'd think that being new in town and a holiday weekend that I'd have nothing to do.  Not true!!!!  On Friday I was invited to dinner at a friends house.  She was Julie's roommate at TL Orientation 3 years ago and we had chatted a bit then too.  She had us over to her house for fettuccini alfredo (delicious).  The only unfortunate thing was I was leaning up against something while we were there and, unbeknownst to me, there were ants.  So they transferred to my shirt and pants and decided to head south from there.  My back and low back got bitten a few times.  Texas ants are similar to AZ ants...when they bite, it itches really bad....for several days.  Makes me long for a good mosquito bite instead!!!  Hopefully with some calamine lotion, I can minimize the number of social faux pas that I commit by scratching that area in public.  :-)

On Sat, I went for a walk, did laundry, wrote a few notes and then Julie, Emily and I got together for dinner.  Emily is the other new ambassador.  Well, she's more experienced than me...she started here a week before I did.  It's been fun getting to know her this week.  We just met on Monday because she's been out on assignment in KY.  It's quite amazing how much alike we are and how much we have in common.  BSF didn't know what they were getting into when they hired us!  I was sharing a few things about us with a friend of mine and she thought BSF had better be prepared for a tsunami.  Emily is Sue (Tsu) and I'm "Nami".  :-)  Emily has a lot of experience in measurement and statistical analysis (she's really smart!) and I'm starting to see that my project management skills might be useful.

Sunday I went to church with my boss and then out to lunch afterwards up in Boerne (pronounced like Bernie).  I really liked the church, they hymns and the preacher taught on Isaiah 6...how appropriate!!!!  Julie stopped by later in the afternoon and we baked chocolate chip cooks (medicine!) to take with us to lunch tomorrow.  We hung out the rest of the evening and had to eat a few mal-formed and broken cookies...and then not all the cookies would fit in the container we had so those had to be eaten by us as well.  It's tough work but someone has to do it!

Today, one of our coworkers invited all the "newbies" over for a potluck lunch....5 of us have started at HQ in the last 2 months or so.  It was an enjoyable time and I got to know them a little bit better.  I had a few hours at home to iron my laundry and then Julie and I went over to Emily's for dinner.  She made a delicious appetizer and crab soup (she's quite the cook!) for dinner (after all, we had only finished eating a few hours before at the potluck).  Then we had brownies and ice cream for dessert (for those of you who know my cooking reputation...the brownies had eggs!!!!).  We had fun hanging out and continuing to get to know each other.  I'm loving having a social life...but that all will end in 3 weeks and I'll have to get back into my normal routine of disciplined study.  And I think I need to go on a diet!!!!

Now I'm wondering where my holiday weekend went....I hardly got done anything I had planned.  Oh well.  The "to do" list definitely takes second place to people. I'm thankful that the Lord has provided so many new friends to make me feel welcomed here.  I'm hoping the Lord will make me productive this week so I can get some things knocked off my list, though.  I feel like I've been moving around in thick mud since I got here...I can't seem to be very productive.  I only have two weeks left to work, 1 week of orientation and then I'm off to S.A.  That's not a lot of time!!!!

Why Isaiah 6:8?

So you might be wondering (or not) why I chose Isaiah 6:8 as part of my blog address.  Several years ago...maybe at a BSF retreat, I realized the pattern of service that is set forth in this chapter.  Isaiah sees God, recognizes how great a sinner he is, receives from God the atonement, cleansing and salvation that only God could provide.  What was Isaiah's response?  Was it to say "thanks so much, now I'm going to live my life the way I want?"  No!  I think understanding how grievous my sin is in God's sight is the first criteria for Christian service.  It's only as I recognize what a priceless gift He has given me, how much He loved me in order to save me....that my service becomes something I get to do, not something I have to do.  When I was younger, I thought God owed me for the service I rendered to Him...that He was in my debt for giving Him MY time, MY money, MY talents.

But then I came across Luke 17:7-10 and I realized that whenever I had served the Lord, in whatever capacity or in whatever way, it wasn't that the Lord "owed" me anything.  What does v10 say?  So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty."  So all of my service, whatever I sacrifice, no matter how much time or money I give, I still only say, I am an unworthy servant...I have only done the <little> that was expected...especially after Jesus Christ came to live a perfect life and then lay it down so that He might save me.  Do I have to serve Him?  No, but I GET to serve Him.  He gives me that great privilege and blessing.  Think about it....the President, Mayor, town council, Pastor.....other great men and women that you would be privileged to hang out with if you could....wouldn't you love to serve them?  You don't get that opportunity now with great men and women, but you have that access, that privilege with God.

When Isaiah volunteered and said "Here am I, send me!" he didn't first ask about his assignment.  He didn't ask if he would be successful by the world's standards.  He didn't even ask if it was hard or where he would go.  After the Lord had cleansed Him for sin, he wanted to do whatever the Lord would ask Him to do.  It didn't matter the cost.  That's a good thing too...because he quickly found out that he wouldn't have success in ministry, that he would walk around for 3 years stripped and barefoot (in Ch 20), and later (if Jewish tradition is correct) be sawn in two by the king.  But after He saw the Lord Jesus Christ, high and exalted, after He was cleansed from sin, none of that mattered.  He only wanted to serve....in whatever the Lord asked Him to do.  He put no criteria, conditions or limits on his service.  Whatever, whenever, wherever the Lord called Him to serve, He would go.

So I picked this passage because I can only hope that I would be willing to do the same.  That I would be willing to do whatever the Lord asks, wherever He calls me to serve, whenever He asks me to do it.  May I not withhold anything from Him who has given me EVERYTHING!!!