Durban

Tanya with one of the little guys.

The kids at the foster home. I told them to be crazy in this picture. =)

Treyson and Trystan, in order (I think-ha). I had so much fun with these guys while in Durban.

One of the vervet monkeys with it's baby. This was in the backyard at Mark and Tanya's. Doesn't the background look like Florida?

In the back of the bakkie with Troyden. He didn't want to get out!

On Saturday, Trevor, Marilyn and I loaded up the bakkie ("bucky", it means truck) and headed for Durban, where I stayed with Mark and Tanya Wilby, Trent's bro in law and sister. Mark is the Associate Pastor of Durban North Baptist Church. Durban is a gorgeous vacation spot. It reminds me a lot of Florida because of the plants, weather, and beaches - except that Durban is hilly.  From Mark and Tanya's apt. I could see the Indian Ocean. 

On the way down to Durban, I rode in the back of the bakkie, along with the suitcases, my guitar, etc. It wasn't too bad! I took a nice little nap and listened to my iPod. When we arrived and we started unloading the bakkie, Troyden wanted to get in the back with me. He is a cutie, I tell ya. 

Soon after we arrived, Mark called me into the kitchen... a troop of vervet monkeys were in the backyard! I ran and grabbed my camera; they were so cute! The babies latch on to the mom's tummy and go wherever she goes. We threw bread out to them, and they stuffed their faces. It was really neat. I hear that you can't be too friendly with them, though, because they come into your house sometimes and eat your food! 

While in Durban, I ministered at Durban North. I attended some Bible studies, sang and played the guitar at various events at the church, visited a foster home and a children's daycare that the church sponsors. The foster home was very touching. There were about 15 kids there, between the ages of 13 and 17. I played some games with them (elbow tag, the knot game, and a version of paper, rock, scissors), taught them some English worship songs, and shared the Bible story of Naaman with them.  They were great kids and very well behaved. I wish I could have spent more time with them.  On Friday night I went to the youth Bible Study and ministered to some of the young women there. That was fun; it made me miss the youth at Red Hills! They asked me lots of questions about America, and we laughed at each other's accents. One thing I've noticed is it doesn't matter where you are, when you are around fellow Christians, you feel at home. The people at Durban North were so welcoming; I felt comfortable there. 

On the first Sunday, I had an elderly man from the church come up and talk to me afterwards. He didn't have much of a voice because he had had throat cancer and his voice box had been removed. But Arthur was very sweet. He spoke encouraging words to me, telling me God brought me here for a reason and God wants to use me right here in Africa. It meant a lot to me. 

I was able to have some fun in Durban, too! I went out for coffee, went to the mall, walked along the uMhlanga (sp?) beach with Tanya and the kids and put my feet in the Indian Ocean. Also visited uShaka Marine World, where there is outdoor shopping, vendors, restaurants, an aquarium and theme park, and it's all along the beach. uShaka has large, old ship that sits along the shore that has restaurants inside. At the Shark Bar, we went in and looked at an aquarium that had large fish in it, even sharks! When we walked along the beach, we saw some sand sculptures that men had made. They come to the beach around 5 a.m. and start sculpting; some of the figures take 6 hours to make! Then the men wait around for tourists to pay them and take pictures by their artwork. I couldn't resist that. These men had put so much time and effort into these sculptures. 

I would have no trouble living in Durban =). It's a beautiful place and very much like home. I am glad that I was able to minister there.