Day Eighteen - Welcoming Africa to the 21st Century

This morning heralded the dawn of Tshwaranang internet. It was very good to be able to use the web in the office. Hence, we now have www.tshwaranang.org, we have stuff@tshwaranang.org email addresses, and I can upload my blog with minimal effort.

It turned out that the instructions we had received in the box about the setting up the cable, were wrong. What I want to know is, why? I ended up on the phone to tech support, cracking up the whole office, as every time he did something that worked, I exclaimed that he was a very attractive, almost beautiful young man, that I could tell this over the phone, and if I wasn’t already engaged, then… well!

That aside, most of the day was spent doing fairly mundane things. I mean, I can tell you about filling out the registration form, which involved writing 70 names, ages, qualifications, job descriptions, etc – but you probably won’t be that interested.

Went to a place for pizza at lunch; it wasn’t amazing though, and the bloke annoyed me by commenting all the time and not leaving us alone.

I got some good footage for the video I need to make up at the townships too, which was helpful. Then I spent the evening at home, watching a preach called “Indescribable”, by Louie Giglie. I’ve seen another version before – its an extra on the Facedown DVD. But this one was pretty cool too.

Mohau was meant to come round this evening, but he didn’t lol – nor did he reply to my texts; and I cooked him dinner! Oh well, I’ll make him eat it tomorrow. Instead I read a book someone gave me called “Khayeelitsha, uMlungu in a Township”. It’s a true story about this white dude, who goes to live in the biggest township near Capetown. uMlungu is Xhosa (pronounced ‘Click’-os (as in hose)-a (as in bat) for white man.

So that was my day. And from God:

"Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts."
Zechariah 1:3

That sounds pretty similar to the New Testament to me!

Much lovings,
mChris

Photo Seventeen - Geronimo!

You gotta click that one, and look at the big version. I took 5 photos of my two mates jumping, with our Pentax. I was perched on an adjacent rock, hence the good angle. I then stitched the photos together manually. Pretty cool, eh?

Day Seventeen - If I told you to jump off a cliff, would you?

Church was first on the list today. This time, I wasn’t fresh off the mountain, smelling like a bonfire, so I could put on my shirt, shave, and smell nice. Twas good.

The main focus from today’s service was the vision of the church. There was a presentation, with a detailed explanation of each part. It was good, and also kind of showed me why the split isn’t such a bad thing; the two churches have two very different aims, and method operandi.

The worship was good today, with a song from the News Boys, the one that goes “And all God’s people sing, Glory, glory! Halleluyah, He Reigns!”. The spirit was there.

Afterwards, with the tea and coffee, I got talking to Pat, who helps out in Mogholokoeng each weekend. It turned out that her kids are always messy, and that it drives her up the walls, so I came to her house in order to do washing up and ironing. Sadly, when I got there it turned out that her son had done it all (maybe not sadly, that’s actually a good thing), so I just hung out with Grant for a short while.

I gave him a copy of my cd, and we put it on loud. It sounds good on a stereo, even if the bass was way too high.

He then mentioned how he loves going to the Strurkfontein dam (literally “strong fountain”), to go swimming and jumping in off cliffs. I was intrigued, and a few phonecalls (and the inevitable “I’ll be there now…” wait), we were on our way.

In the back of the car we had a CD player with Aqua’s album blaring out loud. We had coke, sprite, nik naks, peanuts, and splenty of sun tan lotion. We nearly all had dark glasses. It was very Californian.

When we got there, it was ridiculously beautiful. Think fifty times larger than Ladybower. Probably more like hundred – its fourteen kilometres wide at points, and nearly a km deep in the middle. And warm, on top, anyway. Full of huge fish. With cliffs of various heights, from half a storey, upto three. We all chickened out of the three-storey one, but did the one and a half one several times.

After several happy hours, the time came to go home again. Now 37 was blaring on the stereo, really odd to hear music from 2003, what the radio was playing in Year 12. The soundtrack to today, sung with passion by us all as we passes through amazing vistas, and wide, sweeping views, was “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got, til its gone”

That’s basically it, except for dinner I had 5 pancakes. Yum.

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48

After a day like today, of such perfection, seeing God’s world, even if it was through a manmade dam, I think God’s perfection is clear. Ours, lol, is a little lacking.

Love you,

x

Photo Sixteen - The start of my career as sports photographer

Look at that ball, in mid air. Very proud of myself!

Day Sixteen - Too much meat

Hey there lovelyface.

Today was kicked off with a lie in until 8, then work at 9 until 1. Never a fun thing to do on a Saturday, but at least it meant there is less to do on Monday. We spoke on the phone for a bit, which was nice, and I read you some of my proposal. Your talk sounds good too. Interesting how a talk on being veggie linked into my day… Anyway.

On the way back from the office, I popped to Franna’s house – you remember him, he’s the guy with the Afrikaans worship cd I like, the one who has always very supportive of my Christian punkness. Well, sadly, he was out. In fact, they are moving 400km on Monday, so I’m going to pop in then. I left his wife a copy of our new EP. What do you think of the name “End This World EP”.

Anyway, it was back to mine and preparing for the Braai! Celebrating my birthday in a true South African way, was nice, and it was great to see so many people turn up. I have some real friends here, and its nice to be with them.

It started at 2, and my main job was to cook a huge vat of maize meal to go with the meat. I also played some cricket (badly), and supervised swimming in the pool. This was fine until I ripped my swimming shorts (I don’t know how) and had to leave for the sake of a) my modest, and b) the innocence of the 5 year old girls in the pool.

I also cooked my meat, and ate it. By the end I was sick of it, and didn’t want any ever again; hence this linking in the talk earlier. Mohau eventually arrived 6 and a half hours late, just before the fire had completely gone out.

I ended the evening chatting with Hloni about the Anglican church until past midnight, sitting on a chair in the dark, after everyone had gone home. I think, all in all, the Church of England does more damage than it does good. There is no solution, aside from disbanding the church entirely, and that’s not feasible. However it was a good chat, and you know how I like to argue stuff objectively for hours.

“Can a man be profitable to God?”
Job 22:2

Short but sweet. And deep.

I love you,
C

Day Fifteen - The only stressed person in Africa

Today was an annoying day, because I didn’t really achieve very much. There was a lot of stuff going on in the office, but none of it very productive. At least the Tshwaranang website basically got finished, but aside from that it was pretty dull.
Hence not a lot to talk about today.

However, I did want to talk about my ideas of us moving here. I want to buy a big piece of land, and adopt loads of kids. How would you feel about that? I really wish you were here, I want you to be experiencing what I am.

Thought you might not be impressed…

Anyway, bible verse time:

"Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you."

Luke 1:1-3

I find this oddly powerful – its so lifelike – I could totally see someone saying, “Hey guys, let’s make a record of all this, I think that would be good!”

Love you,
x

Photo Fourteen - I'm basically in Die Hard

It's funny watching me kind of disappear out of the right hand side of the screen - that thing kicked like a horse!

Day Fourteen - Bang BANG!

Once again spent the whole night dreaming, which meant I woke up knackered. Last night I dreamt about having to fly back through Africa, try to get home, and I didn’t have a passport, and no tickets, but I just kept blagging it onto planes, then somehow landing in the wrong place again. I don’t remember much except seemingly spending the entire night pleading with airline officials. Odd.

Today we went to a meeting with the Ministry of health, where they outlined what funding they are going to provide, and the very specific, long-winded way we will need to provide it. Interestingly, its all part of a new EU partnership; they are getting ideas on how to run their health system from our pathetics attempts – if the NHS had to deal with 7 million HIV positive people, it would utterly and completely collapse.

Anyway, that took much of the day, plus we had another meeting with a separate charity, that want to give us funding in exactly the same area; Home Based Care. Needless to say, my days for the next week will be spent with registration documents and funding proposals. Fun!

This afternoon, we got to play with some guns. First I fired a 9mm handgun, followed by a .38 revolver. Then I had a go with a .22 rifle, which I was much more comfortable with, since I have a .22 air rifle at home; I was pretty good with it, got all my shots pretty much with 3 inches of each other, from 25 metres.

I then got a go with the big mahoona! A double barrelled shotgun! Shamole! From 100 metres, I hit a man sized target 7 times in one shot (Each shot contains 16 pellets). It kicked like a horse, but it was worth it lol.

This evening, I finished our EP, and mostly polished off the Tshwaranang website. Bed at 12 was late, but needed.

“God answered Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king,
wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.”
2 Chronicles 1:11-12

I want to be wise.
x

Photo Thirteen - Look at those hips!

I know it's probably not the best picture, but this is a dog that can flatten its body out, and lie totally comfortably in a really weird position. hmm.

Day Thirteen - Unlucky For Some Teeth

Had a dream where all my teeth fell out! I was talking to you, and about 10 fell out. You were talking to me, and one of yours fell out too. I woke up with such a start, and felt my teeth, such a relief when they were really solid, and stuck in my gums lol.

Today was mostly spent doing the website – you can check current progress at www.tshwaranang.org . I also finished off DIY, leaving just one song to do.

My day was spoiled slightly by you dumping me, but I recovered hehe.

In the evening I went to a cell group, on a farm. Mohau’s car ran out of gas right at the end of a long, long dirt road. It was pretty funny, but also not good.

The guy who owns the farm had a vision, that God wants them to get together every Friday, to be together, and to worship him. They were talking about the practicalities of converting a barn, and buying benches, and chairs, and I was just thinking – why are you planning so much, where is your faith? Just get together, and start now! Don’t talk about getting ready – God has told you to get together every Friday, so start this Friday. And if you need stuff, work it out as you go along! If you need chairs, bring them next week, maybe a kettle the next week, after that maybe start doing food between you, but be guided by your prayer during those weekly get togethers. Don’t try to guess where God is going to lead you!

Unlike some people I know, who are much more polite than me, and don’t say the things they want to, to people, I said all this. Their reaction was infuriating, they agreed, and were like “Yes, that does sound interesting…” then just went back to planning. I had just read “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1Ti 4:12), which seemed very relevant, since it seemed they weren’t respecting my wisdom. Sounds petty, but I’m not meaning it like that.

I actually felt very inspired tonight; when another member of the group was talking about a youth camp they felt they had to run, based on the armour of God verses.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
Ephesians 6:11-18

His feeling is to run it pseudo military camp style, with exercises, and the kids called them captain, and sir, and the kids being called privates, etc. I felt very Spirit led here, that the camp should be leading to a culmination where the kids are told “So now we have explained how to be a soldier. You know that you have to choose to put on this armour! If your Dad is a soldier, if you have grown up as a soldier’s son, does that make you a soldier too? No! You have to join the army to be a soldier. In the same way, it doesn’t matter if your parent’s are Christians or not. It doesn’t matter how you were raised, it matters if YOU decide to serve God! You have a choice! Do you want to sign up to join the army of God?!”

And then the kids have to physically sign the list. A military altar call, if you will, but I think it will be very powerful.

And everyone felt the power of what I’d said, and it was cool, people who hadn’t spoken previously chimed in to agree with me. Yet I still felt the gravity of what I was saying wasn’t being felt. When he asked how he should prepare, I was adamant that he should obey those verse, live it, put on the armour fully and intently; and the guys just sort of agreed, then were like, “…anyway”.

So that was annoying, but it was nice to hear from God.

Much love,
Chris

Photo Twelve - Me, aged 22? Would you just LOOK at the SEXY!

You LOVE it! x

Day Twelve - The truth behind my eating last night!

In the aftermath of the meeting last night, combined with my birthday, I decided I deserved some celebration. I had custard slices with everyone from work, washing it down with Tab (basically diet coke).

I also finished editing Brian. Only got two more tracks to do, hopefully both going to be finished tomorrow.

In the afternoon I, finally, went online – although I can’t find my USB stick, so I couldn’t upload these lol. I tried to sort out what I’m doing for the websites – I think I have a plan now, so that’s good. Also looked into how to register Tshwaranang as a charity in the Uk – I think we need to have an income of more than £5,000 a year, which I don’t see happening any time soon.

In the evening, Tony and Trina Marshall had invited me round for dinner. Trina’s full name is Katherine; Trina is a nickname, based on KaTeRINA. Would you like me to call you that instead of Kat? Thought not…

Anyway, I had told Tony in the morning that it was my birthday, and asked if I could bring Mohau. He was happy to let Mohau come too. When we turned up, I was suddenly aware that I was wearing basketball shorts, and a tshirt with a comic printed on it. Feeling underdressed, I knocked and entered; to find out that as a surprise, we were going out for a meal at a restaurant! I then felt even more embarrassed, and went on throughout the evening to embarrass myself further.

Since no one in Harrismith is vegetarian, the veggie option on the menu was basically “Some cooked vegetables”; the kind of thing that drives me mad in the Uk. Happily though, here I am not restricted to such a lacklustre selection, I was able to choose meat things. Trying to be polite, I asked if anyone was having a starter. I got the impression that a few people were, so I ordered a Free State salad as a starter, requesting that I have a very small portion, just a side, since it was a starter, and then ribs for main, noticing there were two sizes on the menu, and happily resisting the option of choosing the large, sticking with the standard.

So my starter came. On its own. I was the only one with a starter, and I looked like a big fatty. Then I looked at it. It clearly was not a smaller version; there was enough food for it to be a main. Plus, the term salad was misleading; it was a beef and potato wedge meal, with a few bits of lettuce, and some gherkin. I pleaded with Mohau to help me, though he refused, and eventually got more than half of it to take away as a doggy bag. I had hurried, and felt anxious, because everyone was waiting for me.

Finally it was taken away, and the mains came. And yes, they had assumed I would want the large, and so yes, the ribs were the largest plate on the table. And, of course, they were the messiest. I ate as fast as I could, trying not to keep everyone waiting again, whilst also trying not to get BBQ sauce anywhere near my hands or face, horribly conscious of how smart everyone was, and how neatly they were eating, whilst buffalo boy was feasting away, elbows on the table, hands in his food, slurping down his meal and throwing the bones behind him, slobber dribbling down his face, and mingling with the ladles of sauce splattered round his mouth, and all over his shirt.

Needless to say, by the end of the meal I was absolutely stuffed, emotionally drained, and frankly exhausted. I slept well!

A verse to put birthdays into context:

"We're all adrift in the same boat: too few days, too many troubles. We spring up like wildflowers in the desert and then wilt, transient as the shadow of a cloud. Do you occupy your time with such fragile wisps? Why even bother hauling me into court? There's nothing much to us to start with; how do you expect us to amount to anything?"
Lovely bit of Job 14:1-4 there!

You my lovely bum!
xC

PS. The card was nice. Someone else got me this one, which I brought 7,000 miles with me to open also:

Photo Eleven - Where we camped

I haven't taken a huge amount of photos yet. Hopefully that'll change this week, as the website gets done - plus I have to make a promotional video. Remember, you can click the images to get a bigger one...

Day Eleven - The name's Lowry. Chief Facilitator Lowry.

Today was mainly spent preparing for the meeting at 5:30. Me and Mohau were planning what we would say, as well as trying to finish off proposals to send to various departments in the South African Government.

For lunch we went for a meal out at a snack place called Food4U, run by a guy from our church. We got talking to him, and it was frankly just scary; his son died 3 years ago from cancer, he himself now has cancer, and his marriage is also on the rocks, plus he is having to work a 14 hour day, 7 days a week at his restaurant. We prayed for him there, but it would be good if you could lift him up too. I think his name is Reynard (Unsurprisingly, my rubbish-at-names skill is even worse in a country where everyone either has Dutch or Sotho names).

The meeting was good. The details of my new role as Facilitator are as follows:

Job Duties:

• To contact, and hold accountable CEO Mohau once a week.
• To register Tshwaranang as a charity in the United Kingdom
• To run the global Tshwaranang website.
• Fund raising, both in planning events within South Africa, and running events in the UK.

Job Restrictions:

• Post is unpaid.
• Although advisory, post is not authoritative: CEO Mohau, answerable to the Board, has final say in all decisions.
• a) Post is temporary; unless renewed, position expires 3 months after date of commencement.
• b) Post is temporary; if a new/old worker at Tshwaranang wishes to take over the role, subject to the Board’s agreement, the facilitative aspect of the contract is terminated.
  

So, now for today’s verse…

“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word”
Proverbs 15:23

I think everyone at the meeting felt that my contribution, and my volunteering was very timely. God’s in control, even if I’m scared as to how I will actually achieve these things back in the UK.
Love you,
Chris

Photo Ten - If a video works, can I get away with audio?

This is probably just going to come across as fernickety, but I guess you will just be happy getting to hear my voice, since our phone calls always 'accidentally' get cut off...

Day Ten - 3am is good at damping enthusiasm

Well, we woke up at 3am, in time to walk up the last 45 minutes of mountain and watch dawn. We looked at each other, gauged our tiredness, and, who would have guessed it, decided to go another time, and went back to sleep.

I had a really disturbing dream. I dreamt you appeared here in Africa, and told me that I had to come home for, I think, Mark’s birthday. For some reason I came, only to discover it wasn’t for another 10 days, and I’d cut my trip short for no reason. I then found out I didn’t have enough money to fly back, and stormed round the house, crying and shouting at you, because I was so angry.

The worst bit though, was when I woke up, and my thought process went like this:
1. Woah?! What?
2. Oh, right, it was only a dream!
3. What a relief! I’m still in Africa, I’m not in England!
4. Oh. I’m not in England. Kind of wish I was.
It was strange being suddenly really relieved, and then in an instant, slightly disappointed.

Church today was good, though the guy who leads worship is too rigid for me; loads of odd pauses that ruin the flow.

Beautiful One I love
Beautiful One, I adore
Beautiful One - - -, my soul must sing.

And

I’ll stand, with arms high
And heart abandoned
In awe, of the one who gave it all

I’ll stand,
My soul Lord
To you surrendered
- - -All I am is yours

Oh well, that aside, it was a friendly gathering, with the main message being that with revelation comes responsibility. One of the things it talked about was how one treats one’s wife/girlfriend. It didn’t mention abandoning them and running off to Africa for 5 weeks being a bad thing, but I think that was implied.

In the afternoon we went to a village called Makholokoeng, where Freedom have started an initiative called “The Good News Project”. I helped in the Sunday School, teaching kids about how God made them, how they are all special and different. It was good. In the main tent, they showed “The Passion”, for all the adults. You rang me, just as I was moving a petrol generator back to the storage hut.

On the way back, it rained like a beast – the road we went along was under a foot of water, and that was before the heavy rains started. Slightly ridiculous, we were moving along the motorway at 40, unable to see. Combined with the fact that the car I was in didn’t have any seatbelts, I was a little bit scared.

Then Mohau came round for curry, and was late again! This means in the last three days he has been nearly 9 hours late!

From my bible reading:

“Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech."
Genesis 11:7

Why did God do that? I thought He loved unity?
Hmm,
xC

Photo Nine - Healthy Living Begins With This

It looks rather picturesque, eh? Not so in the pitch black, when you keep dropping things on the floor, and you are forced to eat pup with interesting black bits in, which weren't there last time you stirred it...

Day Nine - Too lazy to be a slob

Last night was a tiring, long, unsatisfying night, after we got halfway up the mountain, carrying tents, blankets, food, saucepans, etc, etc; when Mahau got called by his angry girlfriend, and we came back down. On the long walk home, I was feeling a bit depressed, as you might understand.
So this morning, I decided to have a massive lie-in. Sleep as long as I want, write off the whole day if necessary. 8:30. That was it. The latest my body could stay asleep for. To my internal clock, still adjusting from the 2 hour difference, I would still say that is around 7:30 in equivalence. Rubbish – I’m clearly getting far too mature for all this lazing around and doing nothing. I blame all the cups of tea I’m drinking out here.

I decided it was time to lay in bed, and read a book. I was gripped, so gripped that, realising I needed a shower, I walked to the bathroom and undressed, but then stood in the bathroom for half an hour reading the end of the book, naked. It was a weird thing, called “We need to talk about Kevin”. Very spooky, very frightening. I enjoyed it a lot, or rather, it deeply intrigued me. I don’t even know if I liked it. Look it up on Amazon.

I also tried to train the dogs. First I tried with Baby, who is basically a large, irritating equivalent of Heze. “Sit”, went well, as long as by “Sit”, I actually meant “Fling yourself onto your back, kicking my legs with your back feet, and try to propel yourself along through the gap between my legs in a frantic shuffling motion that, if arisen in the fifties, would have been called something like ‘The Fanny Thrust’. And then try to chew my toes”. Giving up on this, I tried “Stay”. This was a lot more successful, or it would have been, if Baby hadn’t thought I’d just said “Sit” again; running after me as I backed away, almost launching herself at my knees in order to land on her back and dutifully fulfil her interpretation of my command. At this point, I felt the day’s training had been very effective, and it was time to try Erica.

She is a lot more shy, and I was hopeful that without the endless enthusiasm that Baby displays, she might be easier to train. “Sit”, was ignored, although when I bent down near her, she did jump up at me repeatedly, snapping at my face. When forcing her down onto her back legs, to explain what the sitting position entailed, she went completely limp, lying on the back with her feet in the air. Every single time. Leaving that for another day, I moved onto “Stay”. Unlike Baby, she did this perfectly, staying exactly where she was. Proud of this victory, I called her. She completely ignored me. I called again, which felicitated a large yawn on her part. She still didn’t move though. At this point, I tied large rocks to the two of them, and threw them both in the pool.

Anyway, my day to day has been very restful (Ian who I am staying with, has like 100 Clive Cussler books!!), and should be more exciting, since hopefully we will get to go up the mountain around 4. I don’t know when I will get a chance to upload this, but I do miss you.

“But shouldn't your devout life give you confidence now? Shouldn't your exemplary life give you hope? Think! Has a truly innocent person ever ended up on the scrap heap? Do genuinely upright people ever lose out in the end? It's my observation that those who plow evil and sow trouble reap evil and trouble. One breath from God and they fall apart, one blast of his anger and there's nothing left of them.”
Job 4:9

Reading through Job at the moment in that Cover to Cover thing. It’s a powerful book – I think it was written as a play; not sure how true it is, but that doesn’t really matter.
xC

PS. I HATE African Time!

He is still not here! It is going to be so dark when we get up there. grr!

Photo Eight - We might get eaten by baboons!

This is where we are going camping - in the tree bit just below the mountain, so there is wood for a fire to cook our food.

Don't look at the clouds - I'm sure that can't mean anything bad, and its not like there have been huge thunderstorms most nights since I arrived...

x

Day Eight - Continuing Frenzied Activity

So I'm trying to do everything at once, and it's stressing me out!

So today, I am going to go camp up a mountain. Unfortunately we haven't left yet (mahau is late, surprise surprise, the African isn't on time), and it gets dark soon.

Oh well. Sorry we couldn't talk earlier, and sorry that I was so distracted. I love you anyway, I just need to do loads of stuff here, and talking to people gets in the way. I'm not as bad as when I'm in my house, but it's also not far off.

Anyway, with that I'm going to love you and leave you. I am enjoying it here, it's just that I have responsibilities too. Responsibilities suck.

"The Master did not give explicit direction regarding virgins, but as one much experienced in the mercy of the Master and loyal to him all the way, you can trust my counsel. Because of the current pressures on us from all sides, I think it would probably be best to stay just as you are. Are you married? Stay married. Are you unmarried? Don't get married. But there's certainly no sin in getting married, whether you're a virgin or not. All I am saying is that when you marry, you take on additional stress in an already stressful time, and I want to spare you if possible."

1 Corinthians 7:25

I searched 'stress' in The Message, and this came up. Rather apt, eh?

Blessings and love,
Christopholus

Photo Five, Six and Seven - If a picture is a thousand words, is a video worth 3 photos?

Day 7 - So who is running Tshwarnang...?

So, to fill you in on how things are here; the church I am visiting split. As far as I have been able to determine objective, the cause has been pretty difficult, maybe the part of the Harrismith Christian Centre eldership team being rather unfair on the pastor; who I deeply respect. I am not sure though.

Its caused a lot of pain and bitterness, but a new church has been formed from many of the people I remember best. Its pretty small. The way its really impacting me is that Edwin, the brother-in-law of the pastor, and CEO of Tshwaranang has left Harrismith. Various reasons, but I think the loss of his spiritual church home was a big one.

He has moved to Pretoria, and I believe he is doing well there. However, the charity is floundering without his leadership. Some of its initiative have been stolen by another charity, and my friend Mahau, who is running it, is not the go getting type of person needed to run things; he is a worker, not a leader.

If only there was someone around with the ability to get things done, to organise, to have the ideas….

So yeh, its me for the next few weeks. I'm trying to organise a bit more, not tread on any toes, and I may end up working for these guys back in England.

Sorry this is so short. I will see you soon!

Love you,
Chris

PS. John 8:36 (It's inspired the name of the new church out here...)

Day Six - The Gameplan Unveils

I am changing the time on this blog, so it posts as the time in South Africa.

So, I am starting to have an idea of my purpose. I am going to be working with two charities; Tshwaranang, and a new project in connection with them - the Good News Project. Expect websites and photos soon!

I have met up with nearly all my old friends now, and have eaten meat twice! I already think I've lost weight, due to my new diet - no second portions, except of green veg and rice, no chocolate and no cheese.

I am exercising too, and also sweating like a horse - its so hot here, and the sun isn't even properly up yet. I got up at 6 this morning - and I was the late one in my house. My little flat is amazing - expect a video soon too.

Last night was so good too - I met up with Faye for the evening, and it was like we had last seen each other last week - the 18 month gap was as if it never where. It was great to see her, and we got a real feeling of it being God's provision - I so nearly didn't get to see her.

Everyone here knows me as the "English dude who slept in the dog kennel". It's quite funny. Best thing - the house I'm staying at has two dogs; A border collie crossed with huskie, and a labrador/border collie cross! So cool. They are pretty untrained, so I'm enjoying setting to that.

I am having a birthday Brai (BBQ) next Saturday. I wish you could come.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overlfow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour"
Isaiah 43:2,3

Goodbye my lovely,

Chris

Day Five - Limited Computerness

I'm afraid there is no picture, and little writing today due to my (nearly) non-existent access to the internet.

I just wanted to say, after a 27 hour journey, I arrived, safe, tired, sweaty and well.

I love you,
x

Photo Four - Sad Goodbyes

I'm going to miss everyone so much :(

Day Four - Hurried Preparations

I think I have everything. My bag weighs 15 kilos, well under the limit. I have my passport, checked that 19 times. And my tickets, I've checked that 18 times.

I have pants, socks, shorts, trousers, long johns, swimming costume, several entire kitchen suites, a horse shoe, fifteen litres of elephant faeces, a spoon, a snorkel, suntan lotion, after sun, sun conditioner, sun moisturiser, sun shampoo, sun glasses, a sun bed, my friend's son, and a sombrero.

And now I have an hour and a half to wait before being picked up. I'm preparing this post now, because I won't have an opportunity to write from 30,000 feet.

I hope you feel better about the car, and all that. I hope the verse today helps. It comes from a really interesting translation - The Free Bible. Its a bible translation, but in the same style as wikipedia; translated by everyday people. I quite like it, but yeh, anyway...

"From his spiritual abundance we have all received grace and yet more grace."

John 1:16

I think that verse puts life into a bit of context you know. Trust not in yourself, you old rubbish, but in Him who made all things. And even when we are rubbish - not that denting a car is a sin, though your face probably is... - He looks past that with grace, and yet more grace! Good stuff, I'm sure you'll agree.

I hope you are feeling okay.

Leave me a postey?

x

Photo Three - The Pile Of Stuff

Click the picture for a bigger idea, but this is all my stuff.

Notice my list, with all the items I think I need. Yup, that's right - I stole it off Dad. It's his laminated reusable holiday packing list. Ain't that just great.

The one thing here that I so wish I could take, yet can't, is crouching at the back, looking mischevious...

...I am going to miss that hairy, muddy, scratchy idiot so much.

Day Three - The Last Night in England

I went to the Black Lion tonight. There were many hours of reminiscing, and me and Olivier didn't leave until after midnight. My last ever evening with the spiritual landlord of the Black Lion - Richard. I'm sad about the loss of another stalwart of my late teens, but what can one do?

Packing is now the order of the day. Please text me anything I might have forgotten.

I have set up an adapter, and am charging every relevant battery before I go. In total, I've got 4 chargers running!

I can't believe I'm going tomorrow. I'm going to miss you, and Heze, so much. I love you dearly, and I look forward to being able to be with you again forver. I don't ever want to leave you for this long again...

"Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me."

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him.

So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day."

1 Samuel 31:4-6

When we sin, it ultimately leads to ruin. I am very excited about this upcoming trip, for the spiritual challenge, and blessing, it's going to be for me. Foremost in my mind is that I am going in order to serve.

Love you my darling,

x

Photo Two - Proving Vets Wrong

Was talking to mum, about how stupid Heze is, chewing off her own feet. She remembered a random disease, from her medical school days, called "Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome". The pic is taken from her old uni textbook.

Here's an extract from another bit of the text:

"Patients with this syndrome generally appear normal at birth, but show evidence of neurologic deficits, and retarded mental development within the first few months of life. Bizarre self-mutilation of extremities, lips and other oral structures may require constant restraint of the patient, despite the evident pain which accompanies this uncontrollable self-destructive process"

I think that describes our young doggy pretty well, doesn't it?

Day Two - Just got it in in time...

Had a good day.

Found out some cool things:

1. The house I am staying in in Africa has a pool!
2. I get to meet my friend Faye in Harrismith, she flies out the day after I arrive!
3. Baths are nice!

Found out some sad things:

1. The landlord of the Black Lion is being forced to leave on Tuesday
2. My other schoolfriends all made better mates than I did at uni.
3. You wrinkle.

That's about it. I warn you, there will be late posts, and possibly missed ones when I am in Africa...

What has happened before will happen again. What has been done before will be done again. There is nothing new in the whole world.

Ecclesiastes 1:9

Make of that one what you will.

I lvoe you,

Chris

Photo One - ain't it a good 'un

Let's face it, this is a bad photo. I've just finished a long drive, and I feel that excuses me fully. In my right hand, you can see... A Mad Caddies Hot Sauce bottle (you can just make out the blurred 'Hot Sauce' on the side). If you want some, check it out here. It was part of my Christmas present delivery for Nick that just arrived! Bed now!

Day One - Committing to an Arduous Task

So I just drove home, we said goodbye several hours ago, and you left me thinking three things:

1. We are going to miss each other
2. I need to get you a good present, make you know I love you.
3. Too many battered quorn sausages, plus a weird battered cheese and onion thing, can make you feel ill.

I'm tired, so today will be short. Expect this to happen a lot. Expect me to fail you too. Even so, I am going to aim to write on here every day that I am away, and post on a lovely photo every day too. Good enough for you?

I hope so. I had the idea shortly after you left, and I hope you found the bit of paper quick enough. I might drop you some hints, to make sure you go to my house tomorrow. It will be interesting looking back to see if you realised.

Today's verse, is taken from biblegateway.com - cos I'm too tired to do any other reading today:

“In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 118:5-6

I think we are done here. I love you, mon petit tournevis Gallois.