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In the West - when we think of "cold feet"
- we think of someone ready to bail on their wedding day.
Here in South Africa, "cold feet" are exactly
that - feet that are just plain COLD.
 Out
of the 60 kids at practice tonight – maybe 4 have
parents who pick them up to take them home.
Tonight I (Karl) had to stay late to watch another game
and didn’t realize one of the boys was lingering,
in hopes I would give him a lift home. As he started to
walk away, I called after him – asking if he needed
a ride. It was so cold I could see my breath...like a
chilly Nebraska fall day.
As we wound through the back alleys of Masi, he explained
that he couldn't walk home in his soccer cleats - they
hurt his feet and were giving him blisters.
Barefoot was his best option.
I could sense his deep gratitude for toes that are just
a little warmer tonight. As for me, I was grateful for
the priviledge to be available - even for something as
simple as a warm ride.
Today I (Julie) took some of our Sisterhood of
Success graduates out to apply for jobs! This
is the first time in their life they have walked
into a place of employment and turned in their
resume (CV) to a manager – remembering to
say “Thank You” and smile big.
In the car on the way we practiced basic interview
questions like, “What did you do at your
last job? Why did you leave? Why should I hire
you?”
A few days ago I was practicing interview questions
with a woman and asked her “Why should I
hire you?"
"Struggle" is the forbidden
word in South African job hunting that most candidates
are tempted to leverage.
I think she was startled, to say the least, but
she sat up a little straighter, looked me in the
eye and told me what a hard worker she will be.
She is one step closer to securing a job and providing
for her family.
With little education, desperate poverty and no
parents able to teach the basics of professional
communication – these women are working hard
to learn how to become hireable and once employed,
indispensible!
I tell them all the time, “God
is on your side! I am praying for you to get a
job. Good things are ahead!”
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Creating the resume (CV) |
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Ready to turn in their
resume (CV) to the Spur |
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Love those big smiles! |
In addition to the Ubuntu U13's, I (Karl) help coach
a U18/U19 soccer team from Ocean View with my friend Cedric,
who has grown up in Ocean View and now works with All
Nations.
We had a game tonight and here are some things I noticed
that makes soccer different in South Africa.
10 SHOCKING THINGS ABOUT SOCCER IN SOUTH AFRICA
1) There is NEVER an assistant referee (linesman) for
youth games.
3) Coaches are free to roam the entire sideline. One
minute the opposing coach is on his bench, the next
minute he is standing RIGHT next to you yelling at his
players.
4) Coaches take great freedom to walk out onto the
pitch (field) to coach during the game…like 10
yards out.
5) Players don’t have positions like “center
forward” and “right midfielder”. Their
position is described by the numbers (4, 9, 5, 10) and
so on.
6) Games never start on time… ever…like
half hour to an hour late.
7) All clubs have locker rooms that are used by both
the home teams and visitors. There is also a clubhouse
that sells coke, chips, beer etc.
9) Everybody here is a Manchester United fan (a few
Liverpool fans too).
10 The players are amazed at my American accent. They
always want to know if the team I coached in the US
was any good. How about a friendly say in… North
Africa (that’s half way isn’t it?)
 Ahh...I
(Julie) love giggly 16 year old girls!
Tonight I had my Ocean View Bible Study girls over
for dinner. During the Discovery Bible Study (DBS) this
afternoon – the girls talked about what they are
thankful for, what they need, prayed for each other,
and then chatted about what stood out to them from the
book of Esther.
Based on Esther’s story, each girl decided
on one thing they wanted to change about their life.
After the DBS, the girls had their dance class. Then
everyone headed over to our place for pizza and the
movie about Esther, A Night with the King. These are
amazing girls with big challenges...but BIG potential!
Did you know 2/3 of the world’s
population doesn’t read or write? We didn’t!
In other words – most people learn orally
– so if you can retell the Bible as a
really good story – people will actually
learn it, love it, and pass it on!
By the end...everyone in the group has had
a blast learning the story – barely noticing
that they just memorized a little section of
the Bible. This irresistible method
allows everyone to participate and lead.
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We are learning how to do "living
statues" - sitting around in a circle and each
taking turns creating actions to one phrase of a story
at a time - repeating all the actions and phrases previously
learned. Strange...but surprisingly effective! |
During our devotion before soccer practice, we were going
around the circle asking each player, "What do you
need the most today?" and then we would ask, "Can
anyone here meet that need?"
We ended by praying for each request. I’m (Karl)
continually aware that life’s perspectives are in
the eye of the beholder.
Alli did a great job explaining that baptism is a
declaration you want to make in front of your community
- a way of “drawing a line in the sand and deciding
...’I want to follow Jesus with my whole heart'."
It’s a symbol of dying to ourselves and coming
out of the water a new person.
On a side note...let me just say
– an Ocean baptism is a tricky thing – the
tide keeps going out on you and you think you’re
in 3 feet of water and all of the sudden you’re
in 3 inches of water. Not to mention it’s cold!
Nothing like the warm, bath-temperature baptismal water
I experienced in my home church. Keep in mind, this
water is so cold the PENGUINS enjoy swimming here. That
is, when they’re not in ANTARCTICA.
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 We
can’t believe our sweet Emme turned three years
old today! Recent accomplishments...
 Ahh...there
is nothing quite like having family here!
Uncle Curt was amazing! Jensen insisted on sitting
by him at every meal, talking to him non-stop and in general
not letting him out of her sight. He was a little slice
of home!
He brought us Mac N Cheese, tortillas and Easter dresses
from the Grandparents. What more could you want?
It was also such an encouragement to see Pastor Lincoln,
from our home town, and Ryan Hansen. Linc spoke to the
CPx students and encouraged them to pursue the destiny
the Lord has for them. We didn’t want to let them
go home!
Journal entries:
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