Highs and Lows of Living at the “Bosch”

Brandy this is inspired by you…

HIGHS ( prayers answered & things I really like a lot!)	LOWS (prayers needed and other than the first and last item I really don’t mind these lifestyle compromises. These are observations more than anything else)
Kids being able to run around and play freely	Lack of communication with the outside world – here and at home
Hearing kids on their way to school outside my room	Curfew at 6
Hearing drums playing in the distance	Safety concerns
Birds singing	Bugs, snakes (5 venomous kinds in this area), insects and bats
Beautiful rolling countryside	Shortage of water on a regular basis
Flowers and trees	Unreliable Internet and email
Thunder & lighting	No rain
Fresh cut grass	The freezing cold weather
Exotic Animals (actually animals of any kind)	Inconsistent (hot water for showers
Fresh hung laundry	Not being able to sleep through the night and waking many times 3-6 - I can go right back to sleep, but still ,it is a broken, unrestful sleep!)
MY OWN ROOM :)	Echoes in the building that make hearing difficult and noisy
Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables	Transportation
No port smells	So far away from everything
Fresh air & light	Rust stains on your laundry from the water
Nature	Bed and pillows being damp when getting into it
No more coughing bouts and not using my inhaler anymore! Thank you sooooo much for your prayers!!!!	Brown drinking water (although it is safe)
Friendly, welcoming people	Cost of things
A church like home	Beef Jerky ( I had heard from numerous people how great it is – I don’t like it, at all! :()
Braii’s (barbecues)	Weight - adding additional strain on my back!
Sightseeing opportunities	The Africa Mercy community being divided

TIDBITS OF INFORMATION

Largest mall in the Southern Hemisphere is in Durban (I’ve only been there once to eat, but many of the crew go regularly – it has 18 cinemas alone. I’ve never seen a mall this large)

I am in a bible study going through the entire bible as an overview with a ordained Pastor – super opportunity to go through the bible this way!

Spring is Sept. – Oct., Summer Nov. – Mar. (we’re here at my favourite time of year!) Yippee! Yippee!

The “Big Five” is sometimes unofficially referred to as the “Big Six” for the Shark, as they are certainly part of life here

There are 3 Capitals in the RSA, Cape Town, the largest and the legislative capital, Pretoria, the administrative capital & Bloemfontein, the judicial capital

There are 11 official languages in the RSA. English (Government language and only the fifth most-spoken language), Afrikaans (orginated mainly by the Dutch), and Zulu are the main languages spoken in this province

A note from President Jacob Zuma:

“Africa is where the world meets. It is a true melting pot, where the colour and energy of a number of different cultures have combined throughout history, each adding something special to the African experience. This is a place where every day is different, and life is never just ordinary. It is a continent that sings in the voices of many different traditions, and dances to the beat of our shared pulse.”

I feel like this experience here in Africa, South and West, is really something I can’t even comprehend to what extent God’s been working something in me...

and I undertake to love you forever too!

Moi (aka Mom, Godmother, Aunt, Aunty, Layla, Ms. Carol and Sis )xox