Our BIG trip across AFRICA!!!

We left Port Elizabeth on Thursday the 25th a little late because of having to change a tire in our car. We are going to be on the road for 20 days, visiting churches, seeing the beautiful country and just spending time with each other. I am going to try and keep you updated as much as I can.

The first day we drove, well, Tyler drove all day until we got to a place named Aliwal north which is about 3 hours from the Lesotho border. We were supposed to drive all the way to Lesotho but since we left late we decided to spend the night at a hotel.
The next morning we took off early and got to Lesotho, we entered through a border that not many people use so it was a very little house with just one worker in there...it is just a little interesting how you can get in and out of some countries so easily. After that we drove through the country and saw a lot of beautiful mountains, some Basotho herders wearing traditionbal blankets around them and sitting on their staffs, it was pretty interesting. When we got to Maseru (the capital of Lesotho) we drove through some markets and saw some cows and sheep walking the streets along with all the vendors and cars.

I have never really been out camping, I know it's sad, but anyways... we got to our camp grounds and put up our tent successfully (with some help) and waited for some people to come visit us. We had a good night of laughs and good conversation around the fire in the rondoval that Ken and Judy were staying in. This is where it gets a little interesting, we woke up the next day to find out that we didn't have water, as far as I know the whole city didn't have water and I had not washed my hair the day before so we were all stinky and rough looking which I guess is part of a true "camping" experience, ha ha.
We had an ex AIMer, Jackie and family invite us to their house for a braai (African Bbq) which we decided to go to. Lesotho is where Kris and Barb (AIM director and wife) went to their field during their AIM time so it was pretty cool to get to see the fruit of their work so many years after. Anyways, we went to the braai and found out that it was the day where students were graduating from University, it is a pretty big deal here because not a lot of people get to graduate from school. There were celebrations all around in the neighborhood, and we were invited to them... in our hats in jeans we headed to the parties, we were guests of honor and got fed about 3 times. Good times. We ended the day by eating again about 10 o'clock at night and falling asleep pretty fast in our wonderful tent.

There was water the next day and it was wonderful. I drove this time headed to Johannesburg to attend the South African Bible School (SABS) lectureships. We are staying in the dorms and helping out with the youth along with auditing classes.
Thank you for reading!
OH, I almost forgot... today Tara, Diana and I went to the store and found Dr. Peppers!!! We were so happy it was a bit ridiculous to see us. I sat in the car and opened my Dr. Pepper and loved taking a sip of it. I started driving and commented "I could drive on the wrong side of the road now" and I pulled out on the wrong side of the rode just to hear Diana saying my name and Tara mentioning how much this felt like home... don't worry, there were no cars coming so it was all good. We laughed very hard and enjoyed our Dr. Peppers.

Until next time, God Bless you!

Let God show you...

Hello there!

 

            Well, you have been in AIM for a little while now and I am sure you are tired of classes and homework and curfew and all those things that require responsibility, let me tell you about it. It is all worth it in the end.

You may ask yourself, what am I doing in Lubbock… and here I am asking myself, what am I doing in Africa? But then God just reminds me all the time… I go to see the kids in school, kids that are raped every day, kids that are hungry, kids that all they want is to be loved… I see their eyes light up when they see me, I see them find joy in the simple act of touching my hair and caressing my skin, I see their faces light up when I remember their names… just by seeing their smiles is how God reminds me that it is all worth it in the end. I don’t know what kind of impact I am bringing to these kids lives but I know that God is using me in some way to impact their life and He is using them to impact my life.

Don’t let the things that seem so hard and dumb keep you from enjoying the things that God is trying to show you. I loved being in Lubbock and being around my classmates, but after Lubbock is over (and it goes way faster than it seems), you go off into the world and really experience the cool stuff. Don’t let these little things happening now rob you from the things God wants to show you.

 

God Bless you guys,

Sasha.

 

SHOUTOUTS:

 

Ivankita Linda: I know how hard it is to be away from home when dad is sick, just know that there are people all around you that are ready to hug you and love you when you need them ok. Don’t ever forget that. I love you so much and can’t wait to see your smile and hear you laugh again. You are very precious to me, little sister.

 

Nathaniel: I still have pictures of waxing your stomach… haha… that was crazy.

 

 

P.S. I hear a lot of you are sick… last year I was sick for about a month, it was so bad that I had to sleep sitting up cause I could not breath when I would lay down. I tried antibiotics and Nyquil and a bunch of stuff… but the worst thing I tried by far was this home-made medicine that Mason made for me. It was like milk with spices and vinegar… he told me to chug it and Dan was there telling me to chase it with cranberry juice afterwards. So I was like “ok, I can do this”. All the boys there were cheering for me while I started drinking it, and all of the sudden it starts burning and it spit it out all over the place while all of them are laughing at me… it was horrible I must say. So don’t take home-made medicine from any one… it’s a lie :)

 

I’m out!