Pretoria

This week we stayed in the city of Pretoria with Afrikaner host families. Staying with an Afrikaner family was such an awesome experience. My family made sure I got to taste traditional food and see how a home runs. I had such a great time, the family I stayed with was so generous and kind.

On Saturday we had a day off to spend with our host family and my family took me to a cheetah research center. I got to see adult cheetah’s and baby one’s too. After the tour, was over my family and I got to pet and take a picture with a king cheetah. It was pretty sweet. I really bonded with this family and I’m so happy I got the chance to see the way they live and be a part of the Afrikaner culture.

Lisa Schellenberg

A brief recap of the events during Pretoria week:

Day 1: Sunday

AM-church with the Afrikaners

PM-spending the afternoon getting to know our host families

Day 2: Monday

AM-an early morning trip to the Gospel Train

-there are 42 commuter train cars that run as churches in the mornings for commuters on their way to work. They sing loudly, bang on the seats and rails and speak passionately about God

AM-Lion Park

-pet lion cubs, feed a giraffe and ostriches as well as drive through different lion prides and get a close up look

PM-a stop at the mall to purchase some necessary items

Day 3: Tuesday

AM-Afrikaner history lecture

PM-visit the Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park

-Voortrekker Monument commemorates the great trek taken by the Afrikaner people in the 19^th century.

Day 4: Wednesday

AM-visit the Tshwane Leadership Foundation

-an inner city organization that runs different ministries throughout Pretoria

PM-a lecture at the University of Pretoria challenging us to partner with South Africans to make the future a better here

Day 5: Thursday

AM-Afrikaner history lecture, including a visit to Diamond Hill a battle field from the Anglo-Boer war during the year 1900.

PM-visit the Sammy Marks museum, a European entrepreneur who was a self made millionaire

Day 6: Friday

AM-visit some poverty stricken Afrikaners who live on a communal farm

AM-Drum Workshop

PM-a lecture at the University of Pretoria from Piet Meiring

PM-braai(BBQ) at the Voortrekker Monument with host parents

Day 7: Saturday

A free day with host parents

On the Gospel Train

Outside the dropoff trainstation of the Gospel Train

Heronbridge Retreat Center

The first three days were a much-needed relaxing welcome to South Africa. We arrived at 8 AM Thursday morning and stayed at Heronbridge till Sunday early in the morning. After being on the move for over 36 hours and going from –40 degrees to 30 degrees, it was nice to be able to relax by the pool. We had limited activities during our stay at Heronbridge. A small introduction to South Africa, some team building activities and a lot of time reconnecting were how we spent our time when we weren’t in the pool playing water polo/rugby.

Heronbridge Retreat Center Photos

Kris and Lori

Water polo/rugby at Heronbridge

Shaun and Tristan stepping out of the airport

Jodie Smith-Old Testament

This week we had the privilege of learning about the Old Testament from Jodie Smith, our last speaker for the semester. She spent four days with us and we studied things from all over the OT.

We started by looking at six misconceptions of the Old Testament and the creation story in Genesis. We looked at the account of Noah, the plagues, the ten commandments, and many kings, both good and bad. We analyzed the song "Days of Elijah" and also did a comparison of Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly. For another one of our sessions we spent some time learning about Hebrew poetic devices and wrote our own laments.

My favorite part about our time with Jodie was in the last session when we made an alter of rocks, each rock symbolizing an important lesson someone learned on their time on Outtatown, something that they never want to forget. It was a really meaningful exercise to use something tangible and permanent to represent something that God has been speaking into our lives.

Heather Snyder

Sky Diving

One day a few people on our site were sitting around contemplating what we should do that weekend, Shaun suggested we should go sky diving. At first the idea was kind of a joke but by the time sunday rolled around 22 of us had decided to jump out of a moving aircraft.

Skydiving was one of the most ridiculously cool things I've ever done. From the plane I had the best view ever, I could see all the way to Vancouver Island and Mount Baker. When the plane door opened and it was time to go I was so excited I wasn't even scared. The freefall lasted about 15 seconds and then the parachute opened and the view was even more spectacular. When I landed on the ground I was met by the cheers of people who had already gone. If you have the means I highly suggest going skydiving.

Lisa Schellenberg