Honeymoon Phase

We have spent the past 3 days traveling with 3 flights and about 27 total hours of flying. We flew into Johannesburg and stayed in a wonderful hotel for two nights. It is interesting driving through the area because on one side of the road there will be a nice modern home and on the other side will be shanty homes with

aluminum as their walls. While there are parts that are extremely modernized, with big malls and homes, there are also areas that are very rural and very much poverty stricken.

Already I can see how beautiful this country is, it is a jungle paradise. There are four main races here: black, Indian, colored, and white. Although these terms are not appropriate to use in the States, it is preferred and completely appropriate to use them here.

Throughout our time in Johannesburg we studied about and took tours related to the apartheid. Soweto is where much of the

ground breaking events took place to protest the apartheid. High school students began peaceful demonstrations in 1976 in Soweto when the Government sought to enforce the use of only Afikaan language in schools. These demonstrations turned into a civil war that lingered for many months. Many of the young black student lost their lives. Regina Mundi Church, depicts the story of Soweto through stained glass all throughout the church showing young black boys being shot by police and then the raise up of Nelson Mandela, and finally the freedom for black, whites, and coloreds to all be equal. This is also a church that police attacked by shooting bullets into because the church allowed meetings to take place that were against the apartheid. The bullet holes still remain there today. Additionally we drove by Nelson Mandela and Desmound Tutu's homes; however we couldnt stop at Mandala's house because apparently his ex-wife lives there and she will throw things at people if they come onto the

property.

While in Soweto we visited the apartheid museum. I don't think I can find the words that do justice to describe the museum and the horrific events that took place only 16 years ago. They provided real footage from various protests where protesters were shot to death by the police.

In all honesty the events of the apartheid are difficult for me to understand and go much beyond my own reality and life experiences, however the deep emotions that I felt while experiencing the museum will always be remembered. It is incredible to see how far the country has come, however much more healing is still needed to be done.

Isaiah 10:1-2: "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees. to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice form the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."

We went to the place where there is a monument/structure where the 10 rights of the people are displayed. These were the rights that were created once everyone in the country could vote, they are the rights that symbolize freedom and democracy for all of South Africa. Sunday we left JoBurg and flew to Durban and got to the African Enterprise campus, which is in Pietermaritzburg. This is my home for the next 3 months. We live in Chalets that are divided into 4 rooms with a main hallway and a community bathroom. I share a bedroom, that is no more than 10X15 feet, with another nursing major. Currently we dont have hot water, but that should be fixed soon. The campus is absolutely beautiful, with a waterfall right out side of my window and a game reserve directly next to campus.

The main excitement here has been the monkeys that are constantly running around the campus. We have to constantly lock the doors and windows all the time beacuse the monkeys will break in and steal stuff and make big

messes. They are mean too, and will stalk you while you are in your room by waiting outside of the window or door. We do have a paintball gun that anyone can and should use to keep themselves safe from the monkeys.

My first clinical will be on Thursday which I am preparing for both physically and mentally. The region we are in, KwaZulu Natal, has the largest population of AIDS

and HIV patients in the world; in some areas it is as many as 1/3 persons will have HIV/AIDS. This will be the majority of the population that we will be working with.

Over the past few days I have been attempting to find a balance in all that I do. My prayers while I am here are that I will have boldness to speak into peoples lives, but that I will have humility to receive from others; I pray for wisdom, but also that I will be a learner; and I pray for strength while confronting my weaknesses.

I have titled this blog post the "Honeymoon Phase," because that is the first stage in culture shock. I am excited to be here and I am trying to soak up everything I can, I am also trying as hard as I can to not miss home and constantly think about Chad. I have to remember though, that the sooner I move from the honeymoon phase, I will then be 1 step closer to the adjustment phase. The stage that I am currently avoiding and doing all I can to prevent from hitting me is the next phase, Withdrawal. I must remember that the sooner I am honest with my emotions and confront the difficult things, such as the stage of withdrawal, missing Chad, and the different culture the sooner I will be acclimated to my environment.

I am able to receive packages, however they should be sent within the next 4-5 weeks or else I may be in the States by the time they actually arrive. The address is:

PO Box 13870, Cascades 3202

Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa

I love you all and I am so thankful for the many messages, comments, and emails that I have received. Each day I am more and more encouraged when I read personal messages from home.

Chad: I love you and I will meet you in my dreams and prayers. You are wonderful!

These are the Nursing Majors!

( The dining hall and classrooms)

(What I see when I look out my window)