17 June 2010

Port Elizabeth

Greetings again, this time from the Windy City! I think that's what they call this place...

We finally arrived after missing a train, spending 6 hours at the train station listening to Vuvuzelas and hating the guy who invented them, and then coming back again the following day to embark on a 23-hour ride here. Not the best of conditions, I must admit, but there were seats and we arrived safely - good enough for me and the rest of the team.

We're being hosted by St Columba's Presbyterian Church, and the hospitality we have received and are receiving is simply amazing. It still doesn't feel like I'm on a mission trip yet... We're spoilt rotten by the families here, and their houses are about 4 times bigger than a HDB flat! The church service also rings with familiarity, and the people/service is very much like my church at home.

But before I continue, maybe I can tell you more about my team. We're a team of 8, made up of 6 different nationalities. Liz is the team leader, from SA. Kristen - Alaska. Kathleen - Australia. Miguel - England. Thabo - SA. Jin Young - South Korea. Matthew - SA. Marianne - Singapore! I must say, we do get along pretty well, and there's a whole range of personalities in the team, but we complement each other and accept each other. So I'm really glad to be serving with them.

We usually gather in the church at about 9am for devotions as a team, just to start the day off committing it to God and praising Him together, singing and reading His word. Then we'll go out to the mall just opposite the church, which happens to be the biggest mall in Port Elizabeth, and hand out True Victory booklets (containing the books of John and Romans) or newspapers with the testimonies of Christian footballers. A little bit like street evangelism, but we don't really share the gospel with people, more of just sowing the seed and encouraging people/talking to them, since practically everybody here claims to be a Christian.

Then we'll come back to church for lunch - homemade sandwiches! :) I actually really like that. And somehow... I've started to like tomatoes. Very very abruptly and unexpectedly. I have no idea why. Either the tomatoes here are really really nice, or I'm just being brave and starting to like new things in a new environment... I never liked tomatoes before. Hahahaha, not very funny but it's good to laugh when there's nothing else to say. Hahaha.

At 1.30pm and 4pm daily, there are matches showing in the church on a big screen. Sometimes, people from the neighbourhood who've heard about it will come and watch, and we'll either stay in the church to watch the match and befriend them, or we'll practise some dramas, or go out to the Fan Parks to talk to people again.

The evenings are usually spent with church members, either at a home or in the church, and it's really nice. Sometimes there are big games at 8pm so we're down at the church watching it (I'm usually half asleep by then, or fully asleep, especially when 22 guys just kick the stupid ball around for 1.5hours without scoring any goals... pfft).

Oh, to digress a little bit, I think Germany is fantastic. Apparently Argentina is, but I still don't think they're as good as Germany. I was totally impressed by the way each player controlled the ball when he was in possession of it. And I mean, each player. Have yet to see Brazil play, and I'd really like to see Kaka play. I knew he was a Christian, but I didn't know he was that good a christian until now, after reading so many tracts about him/watching videos that show his testimony.

And just in case you wish to know, I can blow a Vuvuzela, and I have a Vuvuzela. But I have no intentions of keeping it. You can fly here and pay me a visit, and I'll give it to you :) FOC!

On a more personal level... I'm not really homesick yet. It's only been 2 weeks since I've been away from home! It doesn't feel that short actually. Hahaha. I do miss people at home, but not in severe amounts that make me cry, and I hope it doesn't reach that point or I'd be miserable. I guess having a great team with me helps a lot.

I've also been wondering what to pray for people about. I hardly talk to the kias/204 people/sai kangs/4E1 darlings/whoever else while I'm here, so if you guys need any prayer or anything, just drop me an sms because I'd really like to pray for you. Otherwise it's just very general prayers. You can also randomly tell me how your life is so I'll know you're still surviving without my awesome presence (I can see you rolling your eyes from here).

As to how you can pray for me... Hmmm. Well, I am learning to trust in God a lot while I'm here, especially because I know I cannot do any of these in my own strength or by my own wisdom. It is only by His grace that I'm here in this foreign land, and I'm truly blessed to have such a supportive family/church/friends. Continue to pray that I'll focus on Jesus and be safe, and that I'll grow in the spirit each day, and to really love the locals here, the homeless, the hungry, the poor, there are a lot of needy people here whom I need to learn to love with the love of Christ rather than my own love that is pathetically insufficient.

So that's it for now I guess, till the next post! :) Do take care and miss me much (MMM), because I miss you too! Awww...

Love always,
Marianne

PS: I've learnt that it's not buy-a-donkey, but buy-a-dunk-key.

PSS: Oh, and I'm teaching my team Singlish. Muahahahahaha!

4 comments:

  1. "Hahahaha, not very funny but it's good to laugh when there's nothing else to say."

    HAHAHA now that IS funny! Lol!

    HI Mar, I miss you! ):

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  2. HAHAHA hello dearie! i miss you too! :) how're you doing? hugs!

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  3. Hey Marianne! Enjoyed reading your blog... keep those updates coming :) Praying for you! Love, Jiamin (OMS)

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  4. Hello! Just curious - great blog btw, how long will you be in Africa for? You don't know me but I would like to know! God bless you

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