New Dundee, On
I have not been doing a good job updating this blog. Chalk it up to writer's block if you will, but I have no real rational.
Tonight I sat watching the lightening storm outside my windows and couldn't help but being amazed by the sheer brilliance of those bolts as they lit up the sky. It was a light show like none I have ever seen humans create, despite our attempts to reproduce what nature does best.
That's my thought for the day.
6.02.2008
5.30.2008
Back on the other side of the world and the other side of the road...
Small Town, Ontario
It's been over a month since I have posted anything, which likely means no one has stuck around to read this one...
I have been home for 6 weeks (on Monday), and am re-adjusting back as well as anyone could. Time with family has been good for my heart and a reminder of how much I love them. Time with friends has been a pleasant reminder of the good and kind folks out there, the "pick-up-where-we-left-off" sort of friends that I have.
I have kept myself occupied (not to be confused with overdoing it and ending up "busy"), with many things and am quite content where I am right now.
For work I find myself outdoors a great deal, which I love. I am working for my neighbours at their vegetable farm and have been doing quite a variety of things from planting baby cabbages to delivering grown up fermented cabbages (Sauerkraut). In sporting news I have again been playing both Ultimate Frisbee and Soccer and find myself doing a lot of running, which I don't mind.
I have felt as though my transition from life on Outtatown to my present home life has been a smooth one. I will maintain the friendships I made, yet I welcome a different more natural and healthy pattern and speed of life.
Thanks for reading.
It's been over a month since I have posted anything, which likely means no one has stuck around to read this one...
I have been home for 6 weeks (on Monday), and am re-adjusting back as well as anyone could. Time with family has been good for my heart and a reminder of how much I love them. Time with friends has been a pleasant reminder of the good and kind folks out there, the "pick-up-where-we-left-off" sort of friends that I have.
I have kept myself occupied (not to be confused with overdoing it and ending up "busy"), with many things and am quite content where I am right now.
For work I find myself outdoors a great deal, which I love. I am working for my neighbours at their vegetable farm and have been doing quite a variety of things from planting baby cabbages to delivering grown up fermented cabbages (Sauerkraut). In sporting news I have again been playing both Ultimate Frisbee and Soccer and find myself doing a lot of running, which I don't mind.
I have felt as though my transition from life on Outtatown to my present home life has been a smooth one. I will maintain the friendships I made, yet I welcome a different more natural and healthy pattern and speed of life.
Thanks for reading.
4.26.2008
home again, home again, jiggedy jig!
New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada
It seems my journeys have once again brought me back home to Willow Creek. It's been great to be home, a chance to sleep, catch my breath, unpack my bags and of course be with my favourite family in the world. I find this time is different already, I feel more relaxed and able to rest as I will be home or in this area... indefinitely (which you'll have to admit is a big contrast to the past number of years of my life!). I look forward to a fun summer and then back to school in the fall.
Thanks for following my trails, I will keep writing for as long as I have things to write about.
It seems my journeys have once again brought me back home to Willow Creek. It's been great to be home, a chance to sleep, catch my breath, unpack my bags and of course be with my favourite family in the world. I find this time is different already, I feel more relaxed and able to rest as I will be home or in this area... indefinitely (which you'll have to admit is a big contrast to the past number of years of my life!). I look forward to a fun summer and then back to school in the fall.
Thanks for following my trails, I will keep writing for as long as I have things to write about.
4.12.2008
Grad Weekend
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Well the end of the journey is here. This weekend is grad weekend, a chance to meet parents of our students and to celebrate together. Last night I put together the final year end slideshow of pictures from the year, and it made me sad as I was feeling nostalgic. But it also made me feel honoured to know the people I do, and to have seen and done what I have as of late.
The following letter is one we were told to write during our staff training period before this year began. It was to be for a "friend" who was also starting the same job. After we finished writing we were told to hang onto this letter and read it at some point throughout the year when we needed encouragement.
It's funny how the words and advice we give to others are often the ones we need ourselves.
Dear Site Leader,
I am excited about your new job. Outtatown is a place, a space, a time and a life that will change you. In moments of fear may you trust God and your community around you. In moments of tiredness may you seek rest (really just have a nap!). In moments of doubt may you find faith and know that taking life too seriously fixes little. In moments of celebration thank God and cherish those around you. In moments of impatience, soak life in, because all too soon life will move on. In moments of frustration, laugh as hard as you can. Learn to ask better questions and to tell better stories.
Pray hard, but play even harder.
May God guide you in all you do.
Peace for the Journey,
Dana Honderich
Well the end of the journey is here. This weekend is grad weekend, a chance to meet parents of our students and to celebrate together. Last night I put together the final year end slideshow of pictures from the year, and it made me sad as I was feeling nostalgic. But it also made me feel honoured to know the people I do, and to have seen and done what I have as of late.
The following letter is one we were told to write during our staff training period before this year began. It was to be for a "friend" who was also starting the same job. After we finished writing we were told to hang onto this letter and read it at some point throughout the year when we needed encouragement.
It's funny how the words and advice we give to others are often the ones we need ourselves.
Dear Site Leader,
I am excited about your new job. Outtatown is a place, a space, a time and a life that will change you. In moments of fear may you trust God and your community around you. In moments of tiredness may you seek rest (really just have a nap!). In moments of doubt may you find faith and know that taking life too seriously fixes little. In moments of celebration thank God and cherish those around you. In moments of impatience, soak life in, because all too soon life will move on. In moments of frustration, laugh as hard as you can. Learn to ask better questions and to tell better stories.
Pray hard, but play even harder.
May God guide you in all you do.
Peace for the Journey,
Dana Honderich
4.09.2008
Safe and Sound
After a long 40 some hours of travel I am safe and sound back on Canadian turf. We had a 6 hour layover in Toronto before flying to Winnipeg, and spent our time at one of my co-leader's homes not far from the airport. His parents put out a spread of homemade foods, and chocolate milk... things we've missed while away.
I thank God for the safety we expereinced as a group. We traveled almost everyday on a bus around SA without incident, breakdown or any other sketchy situation worth mentioning. And everyone returns home healthy with the exception of a few colds, and I lost my voice... but no major hospital visits to report. Thanks to those of you who have been praying, I have sensed the power of your prayers.
Well off to the airport for a quick 2hour 30minute flight to Winnipeg, which completes another 48hour period of travel for me and my group.
Peace out.
I thank God for the safety we expereinced as a group. We traveled almost everyday on a bus around SA without incident, breakdown or any other sketchy situation worth mentioning. And everyone returns home healthy with the exception of a few colds, and I lost my voice... but no major hospital visits to report. Thanks to those of you who have been praying, I have sensed the power of your prayers.
Well off to the airport for a quick 2hour 30minute flight to Winnipeg, which completes another 48hour period of travel for me and my group.
Peace out.
4.07.2008
out of Africa
Tomorrow morning I leave for the airport.
Here are the steps involved in arriving back in Canada...
A seven hour bus ride
A six hour layover in Johannesburg
A twelve hour plane ride
A six hour layover in London
A ten hour plane ride
A six hour layover in Toronto (only one hour from my home)
A two hour plane ride... Winnipeg!
And that will mark the end of my African Adventures: Round Two
Here are the steps involved in arriving back in Canada...
A seven hour bus ride
A six hour layover in Johannesburg
A twelve hour plane ride
A six hour layover in London
A ten hour plane ride
A six hour layover in Toronto (only one hour from my home)
A two hour plane ride... Winnipeg!
And that will mark the end of my African Adventures: Round Two
4.01.2008
Kruger Park and 7 days until winter...
Kruger National Park, South Africa
I just spent a few days at Kruger Park, which is a huge Game Park in South Africa. We got to go on both a morning drive and a night drive in hopes of catching a glimpse of the BIG FIVE (elephant, leopard, rhino, water buffalo and lion). It was a big disappointing the first night as we drove around for three hours (I should mention this three hour drive came after an 8 hour bus trip to the park) and only saw a couple elephants, a snake (which I was too afraid to even lean over the safari jeep to look at), and about a hundred Impala, which are quite common to the park. This morning, however we had better sightings and were able to see many elephants, include a herd of twenty that crossed the road right in front of us, a huge giraffe, a water buck (which is sort of like a deer/antelope cross), a wide variety of birds and a hundred more Impala. It was quite a spectacular day, not to mention watching the sunrise over the African Savannah. I found it hard not to have the songs from the Lion King soundtrack running through my head subconsciously.
Today, also marked the last week point in our time here in South Africa. We head for the airport next Tuesday for the long journey back to Canada. At this point in time I'm just doing my best to soak in the moments, the people and the sun, as I know I will miss them all when it's over all too soon.
I just spent a few days at Kruger Park, which is a huge Game Park in South Africa. We got to go on both a morning drive and a night drive in hopes of catching a glimpse of the BIG FIVE (elephant, leopard, rhino, water buffalo and lion). It was a big disappointing the first night as we drove around for three hours (I should mention this three hour drive came after an 8 hour bus trip to the park) and only saw a couple elephants, a snake (which I was too afraid to even lean over the safari jeep to look at), and about a hundred Impala, which are quite common to the park. This morning, however we had better sightings and were able to see many elephants, include a herd of twenty that crossed the road right in front of us, a huge giraffe, a water buck (which is sort of like a deer/antelope cross), a wide variety of birds and a hundred more Impala. It was quite a spectacular day, not to mention watching the sunrise over the African Savannah. I found it hard not to have the songs from the Lion King soundtrack running through my head subconsciously.
Today, also marked the last week point in our time here in South Africa. We head for the airport next Tuesday for the long journey back to Canada. At this point in time I'm just doing my best to soak in the moments, the people and the sun, as I know I will miss them all when it's over all too soon.
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