I'm an avoider.

I’m an avoider. I avoid homework by procrastinating with online word games. I avoid confrontation by always seeking to please, no matter the consequences to myself. I avoid blogging so I don’t actually have to think through my life and my emotions, because I’m not quite sure what they are. Honestly, I feel like I’ve been avoiding emotions for the last couple weeks, and a part of me knows I’ll continue avoiding these emotions until absolutely necessary. The thing is, we’re leaving Pietermaritzburg tomorrow, and although we’re not necessarily leaving the country tomorrow, we’re leaving everything we know of the country, everyone we’ve come to know and love here.

Today was Thanksgiving, and it was the oddest thing because Thanksgiving isn’t a holiday here. I kept forgetting what day it was, because it didn’t feel like Thanksgiving. However, this changed later on in the day when we had our Farewell/Thanksgiving dinner. It was such a bittersweet time, full of thanks and recognition for all the incredible individuals who have poured into our lives here at African Enterprise, but also starting to understand the reality of saying goodbye. Once again, going with the whole avoider theme, I avoid saying goodbye. Rather than saying goodbye I like to say “See you later” because that way I have to come back! Two of the people we have become very close to while being here are Phillip, our amazing driver, and his wonderful son Musa. We were even blessed enough to plan and be a part of Phillip’s engagement to the woman who is now his fiancé! As I made eye contact with Phillip tonight during a Zulu worship session we had tonight, I saw the sadness in his eyes and what I had been denying for so long hit me: we’re leaving.

I am in the middle of this mess of emotions right now, recognizing the end of one chapter in my life and the start of another. I am in the process of figuring out that my time in this amazing country is not over, preparing for what the Lord has for me in Capetown, and resting in the promises that God will finish the good work He has started in me here. There have been so many other things that have happened in the last two weeks, things like writing my senior seminar paper, having a zip-lining adventure, taking final exams, having an appreciation luncheon for all the African Enterprise staff, spending more time with my fabulous D-group girls, and so much more. Sitting here trying to comprehend leaving this place that has become my home, it’s hard to really describe anything else in detail. Don’t get me wrong, I am nothing but grateful for the blessing it has been to experience this semester abroad, and I recognize what a rare opportunity this is, so none of what I’m feeling takes away from that. I guess it’s just a process…it’s change…and change is never easy.

There’s a big part of me that knows I will be back in this place, whether sooner or later, so that does give me a certain aspect of hope. Also, I recognize how gorgeous Capetown is going to be and all the adventures that lie ahead of me….some of which include bungee jumping, cave exploring, shark diving, ostrich riding, cheetah petting, and much more…so I’m definitely excited about everything that is to come! I know God will continue working in mighty ways!

Thank you all again for your continual love and support…I am so richly blessed by my wonderful friends and family! Lots of love!

Snapshots

Due to the fact that it's been quite a long time since my last post, that so much has happened in the last few weeks, and that a picture says a thousand words, I've decided to make this a picture-focused post...snapshots of the happiness that is my life. So, hopefully you like them and can get an idea of what's been going on through these images and the explanations that go along with them...ENJOY!

Playing with children at the Family Center in Mpophomeni, one of our four clinical sites...I absolutely adore all these children, and we actually were able to do our final community health project here, assessing children and establishing a system of documentation and referral which can hopefully be sustained as they are getting a full-time nurse to come work there in January!

Angiswe, one of the girls at the family center who stayed by my side the whole day, loved to be held, and also loved making silly faces in pictures.

Riding in the back of the buckee (truck) with Kelsey and Sam on the way to the Israel & New Breed concert... riding back there can be terrifying at times, especially if speed bumps are not handled with caution.

ISRAEL! This was such an incredible concert, and really it was more of a worship session than a concert. While being here I have fallen in love with his music and the passion and energy it has for the Lord.

Once again in the back of a buckee, but this time going around on home visits in Mpophomeni. We were way up in the hills and multiple times while driving the back of the buckee fell open...quite an adventure!

Lots of dust came in the back of the buckee as we drove around, completely coating us with dirt and making it somewhat difficult to breath, so Kelsey (being the genius that she is) decided to use her TB mask as protection.

Phillip is our wonderful driver! And here we are celebrating his birthday! Phillip is quite the joker, and always making funny comments. He told me that he's an "old boy," because according to him it goes from boy, to old boy, to man, to old man...and he doesn't feel old enough to be a man (because according to him men don't have as much fun as old boys)...therefore, he is an old boy.

Melody and I doing out best bird impressions...

Rachel, being Rachel...and me doing my best to imitate her. Behind us are some of the "Bushman" cave paintings. The bushman were some of the natives to South Africa, and we went to this site with our whole group as part of out Culture and History of South Africa class.

My fabulous D-Group! Who I love and adore more than I could possibly say...From left to right: Carrie, Melody (who's co-leading with me), Kelsey E., Kimmi, Britni, myself, Andrea, and Brenna!

Hanging out in the Drakensburg Mountains after our Bushman cave painting trip...I love our group so much.

All the nurses got to go back to the Drakensberg mountains and camp out in a cave! Our group was led by the pastor of one of our nursing professors, and here we are all packed up and ready to go.

I love wide open spaces...especially when they're green. This was taken at the edge of a cliff, about three hours into our hike up to the cave.

So incredibly green...it blows my mind.

Briana at the cave! And the "cave" actually turned out to be more of an overhang, but it was still awesome, and I had never really slept outside like that without some sort of tent or something, so it was a new experience for me!

There was a natural pool very near our cave which we decided to go swimming...the water was absolutely freezing, so needless to say we didn't stay in for very long, but it was still so much fun!

Reagen (one of our student life coordinators, who is ridiculously awesome) driving our safari vehicle! He actually let me steer for a little while, which was quite exciting.

Dung beetle! Actually, despite the conditions of their occupation (rolling dung into compacted balls), I actually find these little guys to be really cool, and kind of cute...I know, I'm weird, what can I say.

Everybody say "awwww" to the baby giraffe. We saw A LOT of giraffes, which have become one of my new favorite animals.

Impala. There were a lot of these as well...they are quite graceful, and very skiddish.

The fabulous girls I got to share in the safari adventure with!

Zebra and impala grazing...I also have fallen in love with zebra while being here. Oh yeah, and I found out that they are actually black with white stripes, because apparently (according to our insanely knowledgeable guide) if you shave them their skin is black.

So gorgeous. Sometimes God literally takes my breath away.

Hippos lurking in the water. They look cute, but they are actually incredibly dangerous... but I have to say, I have a hard time taking them seriously with those cute little ears.

White rhino! We actually didn't get to see any black rhino while we were there, because they're a lot more rare, but they are such powerful looking creatures...I think they're fantastic.

Buffalo hanging out in the grass. It was so amazing to see so many of them together in the herd. They are also quite majestic and powerful looking animals...I wouldn't want to mess with one of them.

Nice kitty.
It was definitely an awesome experience being in an open vehicle so close to lions, but apparently they don't have the ability to distinguish specific people within the vehicle if everyone is sitting down...it is only if someone stands up that the lion can pinpoint them, so I simply stayed seated and was just fine.

I got to sit up in front of the safari vehicle for a while, in the "tracker" seat, which was SO much fun...definitely a better view from up there!

Francis, our incredible Community Engagement professor, and his wife Rose. We are so blessed to have him, and although I am not able to be in the Community Engagement class, I have been so blessed by all my interactions with him and always benefit from his wisdom and experience which he so beautifully shares with us.

Creativity with Rachel's sunglasses...trying to see how many people we could fit into the reflection. We were actually stuck on the side of the road at this time, waiting for one of our vehicles to get fixed, so evidently boredom inspires creativity.

Well, that's obviously not EVERYTHING that's been going on, but that's the basics, and hopefully it won't be long before I can give another written update of all the amazing things that are happening here...God is so good, and He is continuing to work in mighty ways. I feel so blessed to be here and give thanks every day for the opportunity to experience this amazing country! Thank you all again for your support...much love!