In a nutshell

I have mildly failed at updating my blog in the past week or so and I apologize.  This is the time of the semester that I expected my blogging would be at a minimum.  This is for a number of reasons.  We just started service sites this week where we are serving in the community 32 hours each week.  So for one, I am already incredibly exhausted and will be even more tired as this goes on.  Secondly, what I'm experiencing and learning is so difficult to put into words and fully describe on a blog that I kind of don't feel like trying, but I will do the best that I can.  So much happens in the course of a day now that I don't even know where to start.  The picture to the right is of me and my little green snake friend. He was really nice.

With that being said, yes this past week Thursday and Friday we started at our service sites!  I am serving at iThemba in the Sweetwater community, which is a Zulu community struggling with poverty, with 6 other students and it is just such an awesome group.  Our leaders at iThemba are amazing as well- they are so encouraging and funny and just all-around great!  We have done a lot so far.  We visited a school on one of the days and sat in on a Life Lesson that some of the iThemba leaders put on for a class of students ages 11-15 ish.  The lesson was about abortion, not exactly a light topic.  I was amazed because every single one of the students knew what abortion was.  I sure didn't know what that was when I was 11!  I talked to my leaders about it and they said that that's because abortion is just such a common part of life in this area.  Everyone knows what it is and knows the pros and cons about it.  Crazy.


We also went to the Sweetwater "induna"'s home (he is the community chief, or mayor).  We talked to him about the history of the community as well as what he says as positive and negative aspects of the community.  He offered us a lot of insight and liked us a lot so he says he is going to arrange for us to meet the Sweetwater king chief sometime while we're here, which is a really big deal I guess!  So that will be great.






We looked at the garden that we will be fixing up in the next few weeks.  This garden provides food for around 70 young children at the preschool next door.  We have to expand and revamp the garden. It's going to be intensely awesome :) we're meeting with a plant pathologist (legit!) this week. I'm really interested in all this stuff so I'm pretty pumped about it.


We got to engage with the community quite a bit by helping re-build a Gogo's (grandma's) fence in her yard and she invited us for tea and biscuits and we got to play with her 2 year old triplet grandsons too- SO CUTE.  We also lead a Bible study for 7 teenage boys in the community.  We talked about how God creates each of us unique and how our skills and gifts are given to us for a specific reason.  After that, we talked with the boys a bit.  It was interesting to talk to them and ask them what problems they see in the community.  They told us that alcohol is a HUGE problem, especially with the men.  They said it is hard to find good role models in the community (imagine a 14 year old saying this- they are so wise and grown up for their age because they have HAD to grow up quickly).  They said that 90% of their friends at school engage in the abuse of alcohol and sleep around with girls frequently.  The boys all had great dreams for their lives and their futures and they said that the only way they see those dreams being fulfilled is if they find a way to get OUT of Sweetwaters community.  They said that there is hope for the younger generations perhaps, but they just can't see it right now.  They also said that poverty is a big problem in the community and that when one family is suffering, all of the focus goes on them and it can be a distraction in school.


We also organized an "Operation Christmas Child"-like campaign for the Hilton (white, rich) community  surrounding Sweetwaters to inspire them to give school supplies during the Christmas season to schools in the Sweetwaters district.  We presented this idea at Hilton Baptist Church today and it seemed like it went over really well.  We are very excited to help organize this!

Byron, me, Lucas, Calvin, and Alle before our Homecoming Dance

On a different note, yesterday we went ZIPLINING through the African jungle!  Suuuuuuuuuper epic.  We took a Jeep up to the top of this huge mountain and then took a series of about 8 ziplines to get all the way down the mountain.  The longest stretch was 200 meters!  It was so amazing and so beautiful.  You look out over a valley as you zipline along through the canopy.  It was incredibly peaceful.  You're just all alone out there flying through the air.  Ah I wish I could do it again.  God's creation is so dang beautiful!

Today I went to Hilton Baptist Church instead of North Hills Church, where I have been going the past month or so.  HBC reminded me a bit of my church at home but a LOT smaller.  It was a nice change, but I do miss North Hills.  We made friends with the worship band that played at HBC (who look a lot like Fall Out Boy) and we're hoping to keep in touch with them and maybe do some worship nights with them as well.  They were really awesome.


Today is also Halloween, which is not a holiday celebrated in South Africa.  It's actually seen as a really demonic day here... Like if you celebrate it you are clearly not Christian.  Sooo instead, we're having a "fancy dress day" where we're still going to dress up but just not call it Halloween :)  My friend Megan Harris and I are dressing up as umm ... jungle women?  We're not positive what this will entail but I will be sure to post pictures later because it will be great fun.


Update: Here is a picture of Megan and I as wilderness women..... Happy Halloween?

Please pray for me that I may find rest here.  I am having a hard time finding alone time and am just left feeling exhausted a lot.  I am slowly running on empty and really don't want to, especially as service sites begin because I want to be able to give everything that I possibly can.  I am here to be a servant and want to be pushed as much as I can!


Don't know when the next update will be.  Life is jam-packed, busy, and brilliantly beautiful.

Love you all,
Britt

A few things

1. Nighttime thunder storms are always fun, but they can be made more fun with a slip n slide as bolts of lightning light your path.
2. When you actually respond to what God places on your heart to do, even if it's the most bizarre thing like placing your hand on an old lady's shoulder and praying for her during church, amazing things happen.
3. Rugby games are very, very cool.
4. Nobody wears face paint to sporting games in South Africa, except for weird, loud Americans.
5. It is incredibly satisfying to hit a bongo drum as hard as you can and make sweet rhythms with 43 other people.
6. I can't think of one lunch and dinner where I haven't eaten peanut butter while being here.
7. You can learn a lot from other people if you just get out of your darn little comfort zone and talk to them.
8. God puts each person in your life for a reason but it's your job to realize what that reason is.

Today we found out what service site we will each be serving at and I got iThemba :) aka the one that I was hoping and praying for, though I would have been more than happy to serve at any of the five service sites.  This is where I will be serving for 4 weeks, Monday through Thursday, 8 am - 4 pm.  IThemba serves to train and prepare teachers for the surrounding poor community in order to give the children an education and break the cycle of poverty.  I will be getting to go into the community and interact with the youth, mostly teenagers, as well as helping fix up the schoolhouse's garden where they get fresh veggies to feed all 80 or so children lunch each day.  I will be working with about 5 other students I'm here with.  It is going to be so so great.  God is awesome!  This all starts next Thursday.  This week I have finals so please keep me in your prayers.


Funny South African lingo I have acquired:
1. Lekker = cool
2. Chap = dude
3. Tackies = shoes
4. Jeepers! = oh my!
5. Shame = this is used a lot when someone says something unfortunate.  You would reply with "Shaaaaaame."  It's more funny than anything else.
6. Just now = if someone says they'll tell you something "just now," that could mean that they'll tell you in an hour when you've already forgotten that they said that to you.  On the other hand.....
7. Now now = right this moment




South Africa is lekker!
Love, Britt

Food for thought

Who has made you feel loved today?
Who have you shown love to today?
How have you shown that love?
Take that love and multiply it.

Don't underestimate the power of encouragement.



k now I'm going to eat some real food.
I love you.

Zulu immersion & other dandy things

Hi wonderful people!

I am in the midst of my last week of classes with finals being NEXT WEEK.  Can you believe it?  Needless to say, I am incredibly busy and mildly stressed with all I have to do, but Africa is still treating me mighty fine.  And I like to think I'm treating it pretty finely (?)  as well.  Here's a quick update and then I'm off to interview a Christian Indian couple so I can write a 7 page paper on their lives and communication styles YIPPY!

This past weekend we want to a mock Zulu village to see how traditional Zulu people lived and still currently live and got to experience for ourselves.  It was incredible.  I really wish I could live in a village like that or something similar to that, like the Amish, for a year or so.  Everything they do just MAKES SENSE.  They appreciate the Earth, take only what they need, and recycle everything that they use.  For example, everyday they take their cattle's dung and put it into an opening in the ground where the dung is naturally compressed and methane gas is released and chanelled to provide gas for their entire little village.  Then the excess dung is used for fertilizer.  Nothing is wasted!  They don't spend a penny on gas for their stoves and hot water.  They are so brilliant.  The picture above is where we slept for the night.

Learning how to stitch a grass mat from a Zulu woman 

(she got a little frustrated with me I think)

We also did beadwork, pottery, stick fighting, and Zulu dancing.  Zulu dancing is super energetic and basically all-around amazing.  I'll demonstrate sometime when I'm home for all ya'll in the US.  Also, I could live off of Zulu bread.  It is steamed bread  and actually I can't even describe it. It is just heaven, trust me.

We also went to the Durban Market and the beach and the market that is at the beach.  I got a South African soccer jersey for myself for 70 rand (only $10!) but couldn't find my brother's size... He's like an XXXXXXXXL here.  I also bought some fun gifts for my family and friends... :)



I have been so blessed with the people I have here!  I am connecting on so many levels with the incredible friends I have made on my trip.  I can see where God has placed each individual in my life for a specific purpose.  Late night talks are one of my new favorite pastimes, even if I am a zombie the next day.

My friend Alle stick fighting with a Zulu man- SHE'S A BEAST :)

This weekend we are going to a RUGBY GAME!  Holler!  I am so excited.  I also got invited to see a cricket game last week by my friend South African friend Brett but we couldn't go :(  My goal is to see at least one rugby, cricket, and soccer game while I'm here.  Sweeeeeeeeet!

Also, BIG NEWS........... I went for my FIRST RUN in almost 3 months today!  My ankle has been feeling so good so I just decided to go for it and it was great!  Almost no pain at all. Thank you, Lord!  The altitude, however, definitely got to my poor lungs.  I think I'll need to ease back into this whole running thing....

Life is great! God is greater!

Hope you are well, sending you an African hug,
Britt

My Very First Safari

and sure to not be my last either.  Dang, best weekend yet for suresies.

First, can I just start by saying that I have had a monster amount of homework (imagine 17 units crammed into 6 weeks) and we're going through midterms-ish time right now.  But just as I am about to complain, I realize where I am and how incredibly AWESOME it is to be doing the homework I'd being doing anyway in Azusa but I'm here in this beautiful place.  I just finished an essay and was listening to the soft pitter-patter of rain on the roof and the rushing of huge new amounts of fresh rainwater going down the waterfall.  I swear, everything is better here.

As I was saying, the safari. was. awesome.  If you have never been on one, I would say that you should put it at the top of your bucket list, especially if you're a naturey animal lover person like me.  Giraffes, zebras, rhinos, elephants, impala, bushbuck, nyala, wild dogs, warthogs, baboons, huge freaky iguana things, colorful birds, vultures, eagles, hawks, wildebeest, LIONS, kangaroos, a turtle, a bushbaby, mongoose, and other critters which I can't think of at the moment.  (just kidding on the kangaroo thing by the way.  don't be so gullible.)  Giraffes are my new favorite animal. They are so incredibly cute.  And they have pretty eyelashes!



Our group of 44 was split into two this weekend.  Half of us went on safari while the other half had a Zulu immersion experience.  Next weekend we will switch.

So we went out at 5:30 am Saturday and Sunday mornings and spent the whole day driving through the reserve (which is a 4 hour drive away from Pietermaritzburg, but we stayed at the place at the reserve in cute little hut things).  Our vehicles were the super awesome open-aired buckeys that reminded me so much of Indiana Jones.  The whole trip was like a version of Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park.  I swear at any second I was expecting a T-rex to come running down a hill and attack us.  But he didn't show up (unfortunately).

We were out in these buckeys alllll day from sunrise to sunset, but the days went so quickly! I got some awesome photos (so incredibly glad I got that camera before I came here, I love you Nikon D50 <3 ) and we just had a blast despite our lack of sleep.

I was just in complete awe that I was seeing these animals in their natural habitat. I mean, I've seen most of them before at the zoo.  But this was so WEIRD to just drive around and see them everywhere.  By the end of the trip, we weren't even slowing the vehicle down to look at zebras and rhinos because they are around every corner!

Side note/question: Why are African animals so much cooler than American animals?  I mean, we have bears which they don't have at all in Africa.  But besides that we have like... pigeons.  Maybe horses?  No elephants, that's for sure.  However, I do not envy Africa's bugs.  They are at least 230,249,589 times bigger than the bugs in the U.S.  Seriously.  Freaks me out.  I saw a moth the size of my hand.  And I have seen like 20 spiders the size of Texas.  It is sick.  Oh and mosquito bites on your back are super duper dumb.  Oh Dad, I forgot to take my malaria medicine before the safari.  Woopsies :)  I love malaria.

It was so incredible just to see how balanced nature was out there.  Everything has its place and role in the environment and is in perfect harmony.  I guess that's what the world could be like if we humans didn't run around claiming land and milking it for profit left and right.  What I'm learning in my Biology class here is really coming to life.  After all, the course is called "Humans and the Environment," and I'm definitely learning some interesting stuff.  (We watch Planet Earth a lot.  So sweet.)

Well, it is time to prepare myself for another week.  South Africa is feeling more and more like a second home to me.  And these people are slowly becoming family.  (By the way, I am super stoked to be in a devotional small group led by Megan and Alle.  Our group met once already and I know it is going to be so awesome.)

I am also at the point where I am really starting to miss family/friends from home.  I would really love to hear how you are doing as well.  Please either facebook message me, email me (bweser08@apu.edu), or leave me a comment on here and let me know something going on in your life or what I can pray for you for.



Someone in Africa loves you!
Brittany

ps. There are so many safari pics that I can't put on here because it takes so long, so check them out on my facebook page yo!

(some of the rarest African wildlife in their natural habitat)

Blog update vs. homework

Blog wins.  every time.

This is going to be short and sweet. Just something God has put on my heart.

On Sunday at North Hills Church, my South African church which holds a piece of my heart already, I went to an extra service at night called SUPER SUNDAY (it was quite super) with Megan and Francie.  It was a smaller, intimate group setting that was put on by the youth of the church, namely college-age members.  The whole night was focused on identity.  My new South African buddy Brett had Francie, Megan, and I come in front of the church and each introduce ourselves and say what our family heritages are.  (Side note: If you ask a person in South Africa where their family is from, they say that they are South African.  In America, literally nobody says they are American unless they are Native American.  We always say “I’m about three quarters German and a quarter Norwegian” or whatever yours is.  Isn’t that interesting?  Our country is so made up of immigrants from all over and THAT is what we identify with.)

Anyway, we told the congregation our family heritages and then sat down.  I didn’t understand why Brett had us do this until he related it to identity in Christ.  If I were to ask you right now “Who are you?” what would you say?  Would you define who you are based on your profession?  Your beauty?  Wealth?  Status?  I have to ask myself these questions.  Or better yet, who/what am I allowing to define me?  Society’s standards for who a woman should be/look like/say/do?  Do I dwell on negative words spoken over me by any friends or people in my life?  I realized that for me, the culprit of who I see myself as is defined by envy and comparison.  I let envy eat away at me as I compare myself to other people.  Not just physically, but spiritually.

How much do I allow myself to be defined by how God sees me?  Well, that’s difficult because I’m not sure how He sees me sometimes.  I realized on Sunday that I have been believing something different than I have been saying to other people.  I have always said that “God forgives your sins and they are as far as the east is from the west” and that “God loves you so much; more than your mind can even comprehend!” and yet, I realized that I haven’t even been believing this for myself.  He really does forgive me for all of the awful things I have done and thought?  He really does think about me all throughout the day and is excited for His plans for me?

We received a sheet of paper that is addressed as a letter to you from God.  Under each sentence, it references the verse of the Bible it is from.  I want to write out a few of these sentences.  If you want the verses, just let me know.

My child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you.

I am familiar with all your ways.

You were made in my image.

You are my offspring.

I knew you even before you were conceived.

I chose you when I planned creation.

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book.

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love.

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.

I will never stop doing good to you.

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.

I am your greatest encourager.

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.

In Jesus, my love for you is revealed for He is the exact representation of my being.

I am for you, not against you.

And I am not counting your sins.

Love,

God

Once I learn to fully accept God’s love, I think then I will be able to define myself based on how He sees me.  I am no longer going to value myself based on the world, or whether I am being pursued by a guy or not, or whether I have a boyfriend (which hasn't really happened...ever-ish. I am learning to be more and more thankful for this everyday by the way).  I am handing all of this over into God's hands and placing my trust in Him.  I want my identity to be in Him.  I am a beloved daughter of Christ.  So awesome.

Well I guess that wasn’t as short as I thought it would be, but hopefully it was sweet.  And I hope it encourages you as much as it encouraged me.

Sending you a big fat hug from Africa!

Britt

Learning, growing, new friendsing, and other 'ings

Sorry, this post is long overdue!  I am going to attempt to update you all on the latest and greatest of this past week of my life in this wonderful place.

Let's see, ok as far as classes go, I am finally getting the hang of everything.  I am learning so much here.  My Life and Teaching of Jesus class is already rocking my world and the way that I view Jesus.  I gave a 45 minute seminar discussion with a small group today for that class regarding the controversies surrounding the birth of Jesus and his virginal conception (got an A too if I might add!) and it was just so interesting.  I love everything that I’m learning in that class.

On our biology field trip to a nature preserve last week, we had a poop spitting contest. I am not kidding.  We each put a little pellet of dried buck dropping in our mouth to see who could spit it the farthest (our teacher told us that lots of people here do this, so we didn’t feel too weird…)  I didn’t win the contest I might add. But it was an interesting experience.  And I’m not too tempted to do it again.

Saturday we went to Durban to visit an Indian marketplace (we stuck out an uncomfortable amount) but I met a few really great people.  One was a 19-year-old named Nadia who is married, has a 2-year-old child, and co-owns a shop with her husband and uncle.  It was interesting to hear about how she thinks arranged marriages are great and it was also interesting to note that most arranged marriages work out well, she says, while 50% of marriages in the US end in divorce.  This I just cannot understand.

We also spent the day at the beach, swimming in the Indian Ocean.  The water was warmer than the Pacific, but not by a lot.  Probably because winter is just ending here.  Shark Week prepared me to die of a Great White attack, but that didn’t happen.  Also, I am infamous for getting stung by jellyfish everywhere I go, but by the grace of God I didn’t step on one of the many jellyfish that had washed up on shore.  That could have put a damper on the day.

my beautiful chalet-mates

On Sunday I went to the church that our director, Reg, goes to.  It. was. phenomenal.  It was different than any church I’ve ever been to before.  I loved it because it didn’t have a set structure that they were afraid of straying away from.  I get so sick of the same structured 15 minutes of worship, then the pastor gives the message with 3 bullet points, then we all pray, then we worship a little bit more.  This was so far from that.  It really felt like they just let the Holy Spirit lead the service and addressed anything that they felt they were being called to do.  I was convicted of some things during the service as my prayer was “Less of me, more of You.”  I am trying to put this into action now.

Also on Sunday, I made new friends!  I got to know some great people from the church who are around my age and we totally hit it off. (Carrie, Lara, Brett, Gina, James, and Kay, I love you all already!)  We decided that seeing each other once a week on Sunday wasn’t going to be enough if we wanted to be “real friends” so they came and visited AE (where we are staying) on Sunday and I am waiting for them right now to come visit again.  We are having a blast learning about each other’s cultures.  First of all, their accents are BEAUTIFUL.  And surprisingly, they think that our accents are cool too (I don’t know why).  We found that we like a lot of the same music such as Muse, David Crowder Band, MuteMath, and Jon Foreman.  I am learning some of their slang and I am teaching them my abbrevs (totes presh, perf, bt dubs, etc).  And we are all friends on Facebook now so that basically makes us real friends, right?

I am on the Birthday Committee here and today is one of my favorite chalet-mate’s birthday J wonderful Janelle Yoder!  She is 21 and we surprised her by decorating the chalet with balloons and streamers, had Brett K and Calvin serenade her with guitars and bongo drums outside her window, and brought her breakfast in bed. We have more surprises coming later… I hope she doesn’t read this.  Love you Janelley!

We are continuing to visit service sites where we will be serving everyday for one month at the end of our time here.  There are five sites to choose from and we have visited three so far.  Please be praying for me as I consider which site to serve at.  I want to be able to pour my heart out into it.

I am so at peace here.  I am completely my weird self here and I have a little too much fun.  Music videos will probably be coming soon, so look out world.

I see God everywhere here.  Everything about Africa is beautiful.

Sending you love from SA,

Britt


ps. I may or may not have just thrown a live frog into a classroom through a window while they were talking about messing with animal spirits.  I mean, I had some help with this.  Be proud, Mom and Dad.