Security Breach

(Please do not rollerblade and skateboard at the same time)

I was just sitting there, minding my own business on Platform 1, waiting for the train towards Kalk Bay. I looked up and saw a young South African man throw a water bottle violently towards someone I could not see and run after them. A few minutes later this young man, a much younger boy and a very old man with a temper came back to the platform and yelled across the tracks to the security officer on the other side.

"This guy just stole money from him!" said the elderly man in regards to the South African.


"Sorry, that is not my platform," was the reply, "You have to go get that guy." He pointed to the security officer sitting alone down the staging area, away from all people, obviously pondering to himself and dosing in and out of sleep. The safety of the awaiting passengers clearly not on his mind as I had watched him move away from people repeatedly for the last 20 minutes.

The youngest of our conflicted group went to fetch him. I watched as the security officer stood slowly and, with obvious hesitation, walked towards the other two men trying to sort out the justice of the matter. It was as if we was wearing a security officer's outfit as a costume and actually had nothing to do with safety at all. Once he reached the group and the scenario was replayed again, the Platform 2 officer jumped off his platform, onto the train tracks, ran across them and jumped back up to our Platform. So much for the previous boundary remark and so much for the example of safety.

I doubt anything was solved within our quintet. At one point I saw some money being thrown at someone, but, again, with such violence that the victory was probably not sweet.



Just before all this I had been standing against a column when a man walked up to me and said, "Sister, there is some money there," and pointed to the ground. I replied, "Oh, it is not mine," and listened as a collective gasp from all other awaiting passengers rose. Another man walked up and took the coin from the ground. I could almost hear him thinking, "Well, if you don't want it . . ."


. . . An hour later . . .


I was waiting at the train station to ride back to Muizenberg from Kalk Bay when I saw a man standing on the wrong side of the yellow line that marks the safe zone away from oncoming trains. The security officer at this station, on the appropriate platform, made a motion with his hands indicating that the man should move away from the line before the train came. The man made a sarcastic motion back and yelled something about not understanding sign language. The security officer motioned again. The man flailed his arms about. The security officer motioned. The man wiggled around in rebellion. I then thought to myself two things: 1) this flailing man must be bored and I wish there was a way to engage him in the rest of the world so he had something more constructive to do then mess with a security officer at a train station, and 2) the security officers in South Africa obviously have no authority and are there to make tourists and unknowing citizens feel better. It really is like they are wearing a costume.

A Slice of Heaven-South African Style

3 out of 5 muffins. . . the apples were a bit soggy, but, thanks to the baker up the street I was able to make a great pie crust!

Who are you?

God, Who are you?

I find myself asking this question again and again. Though I know some of the answer, it still beckons me. Who is this God I serve? Who is this God I serve in sadness? In patience? In trauma? In confusion? In joy? Who is He?

“If thou hadst known . . .” Luke 19:42

What is it of God that I wish to know the most? The essence of him who I rely on; the depth of He who all things are upheld in; the purity of One without shadow . . . Without Shadow.

Selah.

Who are you, God?

I started reading the Message Bible this week. I started with the passage that most defines my time in South Africa, Psalm 119. About three months ago I sat awestruck at the depth and significance of this passage. I saw things I had never seen before in the words and the longing it contains. Verse after verse revealed significance in the commands God has lain before us. Not laws and regulations that inspire rebellion, but deep truth on how to best live this life, stay healthy, be able to feed families and make decisions for a community. I saw that the very cry of our hearts, the longing we have and the written principles of God are intertwined. When we cry out for the poor, we are crying out for the principles of God to be made manifest in a life. When we weep over preventable disease we are weeping for the truth of health to be made known to an individual created by God. Intercession and precept go hand in hand, for in areas where intercession is abundantly needed, precepts are in lack.

Selah.

March 09 Update Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

The first three months in the Rainbow Nation of South Africa has been more than I could have imagined. Heading into the School of Field Journalism with all your support and prayers was such a huge blessing. Thank you for standing with me as friends, family, pray-ers, generous givers and overall, an amazing community. During this time I have had the opportunity to speak to a lot of people about their "home church" and the community that supports them. Each time I have felt so honored that I can speak from the example of what being truly supported looks like. I don’t feel alone in my vision and besides that I feel like so much can be accomplished. True partnership is a beautiful thing and I thank you for everything you do to make me feel loved and well cared for.

I have officially graduated the School of Field Journalism and am spending the next two months in Cape Town doing a personalized internship. This time will consist of interviewing, researching, writing and spending one-on-one time with people that will help me further develop and deepen my ability to communicate well. During the last few weeks of the school we spent time learning design, photography and video. Each of these topics will be further covered in my internship. I will also be following up on specific topics I started exploring during the school. For example:I plan on diving deep into ideas that were highlighted during my trip to Zimbabwe in late February. Also, I have had a great opportunity to continue meeting men and women that have pioneered new things throughout this continent and have plans to sit with them and begin recording their stories.

Prayer:
Please pray for favor within all the interviews and topics I will be exploring. Many have to do with refugees, disease and hardship. I pray the light of God will shine in the relationships that are built and that life flows out of them freely.
Please pray that the proper channels for these stories to be read are opened and each word is carefully written and fully understood.
I thankfully report that my health and finances have been well this season. Praise God for his faithful provision and all he prepared even before I came. Please pray these continue and that I am able to bless those around me from nations and families that can not help financially. This includes my classmates that are travelling to Uganda for their field assingment.
I can not wait to write again in a month with all the stories of God’s faithfulness. May God be glorified in all we do. Amen.
Darcie

I send my updates via email. If you would like to get one please let me know and I will add you to the list! Thanks! Also let me know if you want giving info.

Adventures in Baby Sitting

Monday we had the opportunity to sit with two of our school staff before they travelled back to the other side of South Africa where they live and teach. We brought brunch and chatted about the school and life and next steps. After a while they packed up to take the train back to their temporary place in Muizenberg to get ready for their big move. We where then delightfully left with the two daughters of our school leaders . . .

We had a great time. Lydia watched Paddington Bear and I got to feed Emmanuelle mashed bananas. Unfortunatley Marie's allergies flared at the existance of a dog and cat, but she maintained sanity by sitting outside and reading page after page of information about radio!

I love babysitting . . .

Home SWEEEEEET Home

Here are pics of my new (temporary) digs! WOO! I love it!

(Don't) Try this at home

I must inform you on how ridiculously happy I am right now.

Monday we started moving. That was three days ago. Today, we still aren't totally finished, but the only thing left is finding out how to return keys and get deposits back, the majority is finalized. Complete. Done. Finis. Finito. The school is scattered around the continent and God is on the move!

Our new place is GREAT! There is a kitchen - a real one with a fridge and a stove! There is a bathroom without mold and a shower that doesn't flood the floor! There is a living room and a picnic table in the dining room and it is clean and secure and lovely. Very, very lovely. Yesterday I found a recipe in a magazine and cooked up my version of Thai Vegetable Curry with Couscous. It turned out great. Then, with the leftover chicken I made a Chicken and Vegetable Soup! I am so proud of myself. (The above pic is not of my kitchen, nor my computer.)

I love living this life!