for all this I am grateful

So a lot has happened in this last month!
After all that diligent work, I successfully finished my first quarter of courses! Wahoo! So the moment after I turned in my last paper, we took of to the central part of the Drakensberg Mountains to a camp place called Injisuthi. It was absolutely gorgeous!! These pictures don’t do it justice. We stayed for two nights and three days in a cabin or what they call a chalet. It was simple and clean and extremely nice. We did all our own cooking and they powered off the generator by 10pm, so we got lots of well needed rest. In the central Berg is also where the rock paintings are. We took about a 4 hour hike out for our viewing. It was pretty neat. Courses for the second quarter started right away, or we would have stayed there for at least a week. It was amazing!

The last weeks have been fantastic. It seems that with every passing day I begin to like it here a bit more. I am feeling much more adjusted and settled in. Anna and I moved to a new flat at the beginning of April. We live with Karina and her six year old son Matty. Drew, Greg, and Nolan live in the flat above us. It’s wonderful to have people around. We have a lot of meals together and help provide motivation for each of us to get our work done.
I have also been embraced by a beautiful church here. It’s lovely. The folks are extremely warm and inviting. I am grateful. Furthermore they are very supportive of me as pastor invited me to preach the sermon the last two Sundays. It was a beautiful and affirming experience.





Going to the Berg for some R&R!
me, Anna, Jim and Drew







this is when Drew's car broke down... ah, shame.
we were about 10k from the camp site. but everything worked itself out.








Hanging out beneath the rock paintings






Absolutely Gorgeous!

everyday life stuff...

for those of you who are curious, here is what I am doing today: I woke up at 7am after six and a half hours of sleep, ate oats with lots of Cinnamon and natural chunky peanut butter...mmm. I made a salad with tomatoes, mushrooms and cheese to take with me for lunch along with an apple and banana. The walk to school took 40 minutes today, a bit longer than most days. Anna and I were going at a leisurely pace and enjoying a refreshing morning after a night of rain.
Now I am in my 6x6 study office sitting in my red plastic chair, surrounded by articles that I have yet to read and others that will give me good direction. I am currently writing a paper on the post-WWII development strategies of Mexico. Until I turn it in next Tuesday I will be spending a lot of time in this little office. I do have fun pictures of all you family posted and also of scenic places in California, so my walls are nice to look at and it is not claustrophobic. sometime around 7pm I will go home to a bowl of supper yummy borche soup that I made on Sunday and then study for my economy exam that is scheduled for Friday. this means that tomorrow I will get up and do much of the same.
I am sustained by the friends I am making and the anticipation of completion of school work.
Life is beautiful.