Blessed in J-Bay, South Africa

I arrived here on Thursday night. I was a bit nervous when my flight started descending into Port Elizabeth because I had no idea about anything. I wasn't even sure who to expect at the airport. A guy from Victory Christian Church (VCC) in J-Bay (the Church of the Nations church where my church in Calgary is planted from) picked me up and gave me a nice intro to South Africa. The drive to J-Bay was about 45 minutes with just amazing stars shining and new scenery. I got dropped off at the flat I will be living in for two months here. It is attached to the house of a couple from the church and is near VCC which is nice. I have a bedroom upstairs with an ocean view (although everyone has an ocean view here since the whole town is on a hill) and a tiny kitchen too. Its enough for me and the rent is very reasonable! The next day I met Sune from VCC who had been organizing everything here for me. She took me around J-Bay a bit and we also went grocery shopping. The selection at the grocery store was dismal compared to what I am used to but perhaps that is due to the small size of J-Bay more than anything else.

That evening, Friday, I went to my first braai. A braai is a South African barbecue and is pretty much the best thing ever! Tons of delicious meat is cooked on a giant barbecue (a lot of homes even have special indoor grills installed when they are built) and there can be bread and other things cooked on the grill too (the bread was really tasty). Everyone brings other snacks and drinks and just hangs out. I met a lot of really nice people, got connected to a life group, was exposed to the phenomenon of Afrikaans music (some love it, some hate it, I thought it was not the best) and learned how to Sokkie (a South African dance) all in one night. The next day I went to a few different beaches, saw a bit of the J-Bay townships (slums) and then met the Dutch couple I think I will be volunteering with. There was a hangout that evening with pancakes (crepes) and card games and more new friends.

Yesterday was church in both the morning and evening. The congregation for the morning service is maybe one thousand people and the evening service is a youth thing with good and loud worship music and relevant teaching. I am loving it here and feel like a part of a family in this church. Everyone is SO NICE and I have never met so so many amazing people in such a short time ever! Yesterday afternoon was beach time with some touch rugby and a coffee/tea after. I have been so busy already and what a blessing it all has been.

So, here are some funny things I have noticed so far... Everyone drives trucks. But they don't call it a truck, they call it a bakkie. But it sounds like buggy. So I laugh every time someone says "lets hop in the "buggie." Also, they tend to speak English for me and then it will turn right into Afrikaans without them realizing it... Or they will speak to me in Afrikaans. And then they get back a blank stare. There are so many other funny things, but I have forgotten them all now. I will try to write them down as they happen so I can share. And even with the differences, I feel right at home somehow and we have a lot of similarities too. I was expecting more of a culture shock actually.

Well, all this to say God is blessing me so much here with amazing friends and a church family already. Can't wait for what is to come! Love love love to you all.

Sher xo

Flying into Cape Town

Flying to PE (Port Elizabeth)

View from my window

Kabeljauws beach




Main Beach in J-Bay