In the back of a goat truck…

with poop pellets and hay at 7:30 in the morning is how we started our day! This all started as we, guess what, that’s right…we ran out of gas on the way to Spioenkopp, a game reserve, where we were going to ride on horseback to see lions, hippos, giraffes and elephants. However, the monsoon that started last night decided to reappear on our way to Spioenkopp. So, as we hitch-hiked, a goat farmer picked us up on his way to work and offered us a ride in the back of his small pick up truck. We all loaded in the back of the truck, as the driver, Peter, drove us the 20 minutes down the road to the game reserve.

Once we arrived at the game reserve, we found out that it does not open on rainy days. Even though we looked like drowned rats and were willing to ride in the rain, the park ranger sent us on our way. So, Peter, the ever-gracious driver, drove us back to Winterton, the closest town, to get gas. We looked like real tourist to the Zulu people as we road in the back of a pick up truck during a heavy rainstorm taking pictures and video. Once we arrived at Winterton, we filled up Peter’s truck with gas and thanked him for his generosity.
Richard “Petty”(I’ll explain later how Richard got that nickname), our Agathos host, haled down a taxi, a van actually, (Praise the Lord) to take us back to our combi stranded on the side of the road. We stopped at a local tourist area to have a late breakfast. We walked through a couple of shops and thanked God for warm coffee and a place to dry out. As we have come to learn in our brief week in South Africa, nothing ever really goes according to plan. But the Lord has a plan! Praise God!

The group then headed to the town of Estcort to run a few errands and purchase supplies for the soccer tournament AND to post our entries on our Blog. We arrived at Estcort right at noon. Well, guess what, Friday from 12 – 2 most of the stores close down because they are run by Muslims and Fridays from 12 - 2 are a time of worship. So we walked around town, picked up our supplies for the soccer tournament from a few stores that remained opened. We arrived back at the Internet Store right around 2. The Lord has answered our prayers. We were able to publish four days of Blog entries AND add pictures!! Hallelujah!!

We arrived back at the cottages in time for dinner. Tonight was a special night! We ran a fun night of assembly and games (YMCA style!!). Ryan opened with a couple of worship songs. He is truly gifted! Nick led the children in “Going on a Lion Hunt” and the game of electricity while Mike, Ryan, Becky and Brian got prepared to perform a messy skit. They were hilarious! Mike and Ryan pretended to wake up in the morning to get ready to go to the soccer tournament. Becky and Brian were their hands and were hidden behind them. They “helped” Mike and Ryan brush their teeth, wash and brush their hair and fed them breakfast. The smiles and laughter that emerged from the kids made this evening one that we will never forget. Nick and Wendy Jo did the banana and bandana skit. Wendy Jo used her bandana to wash her face, wash her hair, clean her ears, put it in her pocket and pick her teeth all while Nick was using his banana to do the same. This was a play on words skit while Nick had his back to Wendy Jo as she talked about her bandana as he thought she was talking about a banana. Even through the language barrier, the kids understood. Praise God for his grace and compassion as He bridges the cultural gap.

(As we are typing this entry, a rat ran across the wood beams on the ceiling and a bat did a dive bomb at our heads. Oh, Happy Day! Oh, Happy Day! When Jesus washed our sins away!!!!!!!)

Thanks everyone for the comments on the Blog. Please keep them coming, as they are encouragement to all of as we continue to be humble servants so far from home.
We are so blessed to be here to show God’s love, grace, joy & mercy to the community of Loskop. We look forward to the many opportunities the Lord will provide for us to share His love.

Good luck Cole & Clay on your first soccer games! I love you and am cheering you on from South Africa! Rick, I love you & miss you very much! Mom & Dad, thank you for all your support. I love you!

*Submitted by Wendy Jo