Day 2

Day 2 - September 26, 2008

Another beautiful, God given day. Wake up at 5:30 a.m. for two of the girls to shower. Since the accommodations were made on the spot last night and options were limited our team stayed in the same room. Mike, Diana, and I got our own twin to sleep on while Sasha and Tara shared a queen. Truly an interesting bonding experience. It’s nice to be able to just bunk down and go though.

Once we woke up and packed up we made our way to number 21 for breakfast. It was quick and we hopped out the door to pack up the boot and hit to road. Smooth traveling is something that people here don’t always believe in. Mind you, the bush people either ride horses, drive bakkies, or walk everywhere. So our little Opel Astra (which is the nicest car on the team - the girls’) was just a little bumpy. The pavement ended and we hit the dirt. Thank God for traveling mercies. This was our drive to Lesotho. Before we hit the border we went 8 kilometers too far and had to turn around. But just two hours after leaving Aliwal North (where we spent the night) we hit the Lesotho border. Just over the border we hit blacktop again and the speed quickly picked up. Up and over a hill we encounter a radar trap. Two uniformed men sitting on a wall, one guy waving us down in the middle of the road, and another man standing beside a radar on a tripod. Miss Judy politely apologized and I didn’t even have to say anything, they just waved us on. A few hours later we hit Maseru.

Back country. When you put the canyons of Nevada, the desert of Arizona, and the black people of Africa who cope with where they are you get Lesotho. Now it’s typical for the shepherds and lots of people to wear a Basutu blanket. The people are Basutu, they live in Lesotho, and they speak Sotho. So as well drove along dodging cows and sheep we saw the people. Children smiling and waving at the white people in the white cars, people at the bus stops as we drive buy, and the markets swarming with those who are looking to make a purchase. The people are wonderful though. Friendly faces, outrageous drivers. Think of peak traffic, and then think of peak traffic that’s barely regulated. Aggg man.

Right now we’re at a campsite in Maseru by the Northwestern border. After visiting the church we plan to head up to Joburg for the SABS lectureship. Our time here is only a few days but I will soak it up. Contact has been made with one of the church members and sometime tonight we expect a call. The youth are going to come and we will be spending tomorrow with them as well. Since the call hasn’t come yet, we may just nix the night and settle in.

The sun is setting across the mountains and the landscape is indescribable. I must leave you at this and join my comrades with a cup of tea and God’s splendor.

KCK