Shut Up and Listen, God is Dynamic

My family came to visit me here in Dallas, to sort of make up for not being together for the holidays (okay, so they just wanted their Xmas presents!) and so I got to take them to my church...

I go to Oak Lawn United Methodist

it's a beautiful church... and the building's not bad looking either!

This was pretty important because since going to uni and detaching from my family a bit developing my faith, and the process of finding a church, getting myself to it, joining the congregation and actually becoming a member, all apart from them (keeping in mind my dad has been my "pastor" all my life; he's currently Methodist chaplain) has been very very important... and so to physically allow them back into that part of my life... it was important.

Anyway, today the scripture and sermon were all about listening to God. Talking about Samuel...
though it occurs to me that some of the friends I've invited to read this blog might not know this story! So in a nutshell, Samuel was this boy who was given to the temple by his mother, and one night he hears a voice calling his name, thinks it's the old priest Eli calling for him, goes into his room and says "what do you want?" Eli tells him it wasn't him, go back to bed... this happens three times before Eli tells him "next time you hear the voice say 'here I am Lord, your servant is listening'" and it turns out God has been calling him all along... (For the record, this story comes from the Old Testament, the first book of Samuel, if you can believe it! Chapter 3...)

Back in April AJ was still here in Dallas working at a church in Plano. I once asked him if I could come see where he worked, see him in action so to speak, and he very graciously said if I could get myself out of bed that early and didn't mind being left to myself for awhile I was welcome to tag along. It was quite a privilege, but the reason I tell you about that is because it was on this morning, during a lonely moment, my brain was buzzing with all too many thoughts and I didn't know what to do with myself, when quite suddenly a voice seemed to say "just SHUT UP and LISTEN".

I went to my seat, did my very best to quiet my thoughts, and just listened for once. To the sermon, to the prayers, to the song, to the music.

What did I hear? I heard what was there to be heard. I don't really know how to describe it. But I think that was one of the most important things I've had to learn in the last year. I'm one of those people who always seems to have something to say, and if I'm not talking it's probably because I'm thinking too fast for my mouth to catch up. I don't know HOW to write short notes or posts or letters! So learning how to say "I am your servant, I'm listening" and then shut up and hear God's call... it's not easy for me.

But hey, X% of learning is finding out what you don't know!

The second half of today's thoughts has to do with change. I was actually reading the blog of my favourite recording artist, Jason Mraz, who on 2 October 2008 writes about how it's okay to change your mind. "You will be safe behind your honest decisions and mood swings." (I highly encourage you to track it down and read it for yourself, I really do.) This lead to the revelation... "God is not Static".

Why are we so afraid of Change? Why do we NEED security so much? A solid ground, a firm foundation, a sure future? In this day especially, nothing is sure. My generation is not going to get social security. Wah wah for us. We'll survive; or we won't, but that's no great tragedy. The world changes. America will have a black (coloured? lol) president in two days. Hurrah! Maybe God told me some things years ago to make me feel comfortable because at the time he needed me to feel that way. Now He wants me on my toes. He's going to change the answer he gave the child version of me because he's got a different purpose for the adult, or maybe I made some choice with the wonderful gift of Free Will that threw off his other plans so he's altering his mighty Purpose for my life and that involves still more transformation...

I think I just need to Shut Up and Listen again!

A Thought on Rebound

I'm working hard to fill in the gaps that still exist in this blog, and hope to have it all done by Monday. But I just had a thought, not about the past month, but about the future.

One thing I did while I was here, somewhat unconsciously at first, but with a growing sense of purpose, was to act as a bridge. The concept first really cemented itself when I interviewed Pastor Ohm in my attempt to connect the fund-raising efforts of Mocha Club with its actual application in Cape Town. The idea then extended itself to the rest of my visit, as I realized I was doing the same thing on a more intimate basis, connecting the people I met with other people from where I was coming from. I will then come home and tell stories the other way around.

I just found an article on my school's website about how just this week on January 12 we had more than 65 foreign diplomats, traveling with the U.S. State Department's "Experience America" project visit SMU and the Meadows Museum of Art. The reason for this, apparently, was that diplomats have commented that though they work between countries and represent foreign presence in America, many of them have only seen DC, New York, and various capitols relevant to their work.

This made me think... wow! Diplomats who haven't even really experienced the culture of the country they're visiting! How is that even possible? Now I wonder if these people, many of whom have doubtless been brought up to be what they are, trained for many years, do they even have a sense of the real people of their own countries? (Especially now they've been in America for however long?)

It's clear to me that the world is in serious need of bridges. Bridges have to have solid foundations of either side of the divide they cross.

I don't know where that little revelation will take me, but it sure feels important!

Sound Off! Inventory of Souveniers, and a queery for you

Wow, I've just realized what a veritable treasure trove of awesome gifts and souvenirs I"m bringing back! Some of it's for me, much of it is for others. Let's just see here...

1 750ml bottle of Pearly Bay sweet Rose wine
1 200g/80pc sealed box of Freshpak Rooibos teabags
8... *munch* 7 Crunchie bars (probably will go in carry-on luggage)
1 200ml bottle of Ina Paarman's Potato Spice
1 5cl collectable bottle of sherry in the shape of Table Mountain
2 20g packets of Brewer's yeast
3 packets of Bird of Paradise seed
1 vial of plant extract
5 books, including a green living handbook, devotional, quotes, photo guide to Cape Town, and a small Zulu dictionary
1 Jason Mraz CD
countless picturesque postcards
4 Tshirts
1 S.A. flag beanie
2 interesting feathers (will be tucked into books)
1 hand woven Zulu basket
2 bone beads
3 carved soapstone figures (elephant, lion, and egg)
1 wooden mask keychain
1 wire lizard
1 recycled metal guitar figurine
1 beaded Zulu love letter
1 metal elephant coin
1 pair of stainless steel earrings
1 stone symbol pendant
1 S.A. flag button
1 S.A. flag magnet
2 beaded S.A. flag pins (one in use)
1 S.A. flag sticker
2 magnetic bookmarks (one in use)
1 fridge magnet note holder w/pencil
2 handpainted notebook covers
1 handcrafted pencil w/metal topper
1 handcrafted wooden froggy croaker
1 mbira
1 wooden pensive Masai warrior
2 teatongs *glee*

...

I think that's it.

Now, the thing is, I just don't know if any of this is going to be difficult to import. I think the vast majority of these things I'm going to keep in my carry-on luggage. The things I'm most worried about are the food and wooden/natural items. Everything else is totally negligable. I've marked the ones I'm worried about in italics. Need to look up the laws about importing these items from South Africa to the United States - how much of what in what kinds of containers is allowed?

If anyone has any idea or can look into it for me, PLEASE let me know (with references to where you found the info so I know it's legit), either in a comment here, or via email (mundanugacity@gmail.com) ASAP. I leave in less than 24 hours.

Thanks, love you all! Oh, and you can start calling dibs on items, even though I know who I'm giving most of them to.


EDIT: also, a handful of stones picked up on the beach are tucked into a little stocking, I seem to be missing the beaded flag keychain, but I've got a nifty rainbow Africa keychain on my keys...
Okay, and I think that's everything!

Day 30 - The end is near!

It's been a long morning. And emotional. I'd like to blame it on the fact that I didn't do my injection yesterday, and maybe that's part of it, but probably only as far as it's all in the plan. I'm going to cry a lot today, I'm sure.

I already have thrice. I woke to the sound of a child having a fit, rolled over, and the first thing that caught my eye made me tear up. It's time to get up, get packed, get moving.

Then, just now, not half an hour ago Alice came by to see me. I couldn't imagine why, but was touched just the same. And then she showed me her gift. Tea tongs! The minute I touched them I could tell there was a bit of a story behind their acquisition, and there was. Dear woman went on a right quest.

Quick deviation, in case I look back at past posts and realize I haven't told this story yet. Last week AJ left me at Karin's (spelling?) for a bit and we had tea and chatted the afternoon away. When she was making tea I saw her use this brilliant device which I shall later take a picture of and show you. You use it to retrieve the teabag from the cup and you can squeeze that extra little bit of really strong tea out instead of waisting it. I usually do this by some messy process involving the teaspoon and a fork, so these tongs I thought were absolutely BRILLIANT, and said so. Certainly if I spied some I would know what they were for and buy them, or maybe even resolve to make a pair myself.

Then on Saturday we were at "Granny" Alice's and I saw she too had a pair, and told her the story I just told. I love the simple genius such things represent.

So that was Alice's gift to me. She and Karin had found another pair whilst out and about, conspired to obtain two pairs for me. (Mother, I may just have to bestow one on you, you'll love them!)

I think I may have hugged her about a dozen times, and then had to run back to the kitchen to have a little sniffle and write out my address so she can write me if she wants. Now Alice, I know you have my blog address here and you can and likely will read this, so please do me a favor and make sure to share that address if anyone else wants it, and don't forget to send me yours. (I'll send you a card on the 4th of July, my fellow American! *grin*)

And then just now I had to retreat again. I was sitting in the kitchen enjoying a beautiful cup of tea (and earlier, toast - food always tastes best when made with love, as everything in this house is). I've picked up the Shack again; stopped reading it over a week ago when I felt like it was slogging along. Was kind of disappointed that I wasn't getting the same revolutionary feelings out of it as everyone is saying they've had.

Well, I guess it just wasn't the right time, but now it is. I got to the chapter about judgement, and the closer I got to the end the more I start dripping until I had to come back out here to the study to preserve my dignity.


To those of you who told me: You were right. It DOES get good, and intense, nearer the end. (And I'm not just talking about the book.)

Day 29 - A walk in Constantia and Two Oceans Aquarium

Ran into the most perfect specimen of my all time favourite flower, Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) today:




This morning we went off to Constantia so AJ could do an interview thingy, and while he was busy with that his mum and I went for a walk. It was a short walk and one laid out in a guide book, listed as only about ten minutes... the thing is, we forgot to account for the walk to the walk, which was just as long and not nearly as scenic... so by the time we had to head back (uphill, in the blistering midday sun) we were completely done in.

It was a sweet little path though, and passed by some stables with some very admirable creatures, and an idyllic looking flower farm.


Still, we were glad to get back, and even more glad to find that Erica knew the secretary who came out to greet us and offer us a reviving cup of tea.

Then off we went to the V&A Waterfront again to drop me off at the Two Oceans Aquarium. Aquariums are the sort of things your parents make you go to when they take you on vacation as a little kid, and one usually gets bored within a few minutes (or that's what I think from my experience) but I was determined to go to this one for two reasons: first, because my baby brothers are (or were when I left) obsessed with sharks and lost no time in telling me ALL about the sharks I would run into in the oceans around South Africa, and secondly because this is where two oceans meet and I used to be very much into marine biology, I figured it would be a disservice to myself and to nature not to check it out.

$8.50 poorer, I was soon to find this is the best aquarium I've ever seen! It's got a nice and simple design, and isn't actually very big... so basically by the time you're bored, you're done and you've seen everything! I think it's cool that they have LOTS of volunteers working there; students and such, who were active in all areas, assisting the tour people and whatnot with actually handling the sea life and the visitors and such. I even managed to come in at feeding time for some of the animals, so that was neat.



I've discovered I really like eels! Never thought about it before, but they're really quite pretty creatures. They look soft, despite their fierce faces, and move kind of elegantly for such awkward bodies.



And the exhibits are excellent. They probably wouldn't go over well in America; too tempting to touch the animals, but that's because they're RIGHT THERE. I mean, at the stingray pool the rays were sucking and flapping their way up the side of the tank and making faces at you, less than a foot away from your face. It would be quite easy to reach out and touch a fin... but then you remember that's how Steve Irwin bit it...


Cute!!
Anyway, like I say, great exhibits!


These penguins were only a few feet away, just hanging out. They could have come right up to us if they wanted...

The "underwater forest" was beautiful, very calming. I thought the big seaweed things looked like Rastafarians with massive dreadlocks.

Sharks!!!



When you're done the only way out is to exit through the giftshop (typical tourist trap)... so I got my baby brothers something shark-related for $20 and headed out to find me some ice cream. The lines were long though, so I never got any. I did, however, get distracted by this excellent band of marimba players!


Then I had to book it across the Waterfront, mostly barefoot - I was wearing my sandals and it's not good for me to walk long distances like that in them, nor was it conducive to running and dodging through crowds, so in true African style I pelted away on my own burning skin. It was kind of nice.

Had another cup of tea when we got back. It's getting hot here, and I'm feeling it because all this time the weather has been ridiculously good to us. It's now about 27 degrees, which is only around 80... and I've survive Texas summers, so I don't know why I'm complaining. But it's the kind of humid heat that sucks all the moisture out of me and makes me dehydrate quickly so I don't quite feel myself all the time. Sad.

And unexpectedly had a deep talk with - or really rather from - AJ, about reconciliation. (Specifically reconciling with my family, or even more specifically, my dad's mother, who represents a source of great pain from my past.) The part of me that wanted to toss back my tea and take a nap was faintly irritated (which incidentally is also the same part of me that has been inexplicably annoyed with him since last night) - plus nobody feels comfortable when they're having their deepest pains dug up to the light and poked at - but the rest of me appreciated the spiritual counseling, not to mention the undivided attention. (AJ if you ever get around to reading this, thank you, and you're absolutely right, and I'll get there.) ((PS - Would've been nice to end that talk with a hug though. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20.))

Which reminds me, I've been told there are at least two little sayings that I use quite often:
"Hindsight is 20/20" and "Not too shabby!" It's nice to be observed when you're busy observing. :)

Whew! These finals days are wearing me out!

Some Weird Things I Haven't Mentioned Yet

I kept meaning to make mention of this and forgetting, but I'm sure you're aware that the electrical system here is different. Not only are the plugs here different, but the voltage system is also higher. In the states I think outlets are 150 volts; in South Africa they're set to 240, which means if you plug something S.African into an American plug it won't get enough power to run, and if you plug something American into a plug here without an adapter it will short out.

Fortunately I had the foresight not only to buy myself a nifty outlet plug adapter, but also to check that the important things (namely, my computer, external harddrive, and cell phone charger) were able to take on the higher voltage. They do... BUT, I think that the higher voltage is having an effect on my computer because it seems when I lay my skin against this one area of it I feel like I'm getting a shock. It makes my hair stand on end. Weird huh?


Secondly, that whole thing about the earth's magnetic fields and stuff must be true, because despite being here for a whole month, and the sun usually coming up and going down in the same directions... I still can't get my bearings!


Speaking of directions, I've forgotten I was going to take some video of a toilet flushing (or at least water going down the drain) to see if it actually swirls in the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere... because I'm funny like that. LOL

They have a weird sense of time here. Some TV shows are scheduled to start at tiems like "five after 6" instead of directly on the hour or half hour.

And finally... did you know they call them "nikes" here? As in, with a long "I" and not pronouncing the final E. I've told the story of the goddess Nike and the battle of Marathon at least three separate times now. I understand why, I just think it's funny.

Okay, done with this totally random post.

Time Zones = annoying

I've been having trouble with the time stamps on these posts. The entire time I've been posting, when I make a new post it tells me something weird; like it's nearly midnight, but my post is marked 4pm or something... when I alter the time manually, setting it a few hours ahead, it tells me it will schedule the post to be published when that time actually occurs...

So I finally figured out that for some weird reason this blog was set to Pacific time. (wtf It could at least be set to Dallas time or something sensible!) So I went in and switched it to GMT +2 (which is marked Jo'burg but at least that's the same country, right?) aaaaaaaaaand... ALL of my previous posts have had their time stamps changed yet again. Which is especially annoying in the case of those which got changed to entirely different dates!

I'm sorry. I'll soon have a chance to finalize all of these things. Get the missing days posts and photos uploaded, edit some of the ones that weren't quite polished, and do some closing posts too.

ATTENTION I might be changing the URL of this blog, from http://holidaysouthafrica.blogspot.com/ to... something else. Just in case I have other trips and want to just use the same blog. I don't know if this will affect those [four] of you who are officially subscribed, but it will definitely throw off anyone who has it bookmarked or enter the URL manually. Don't worry; I'll give you plenty of warning.