Living in South Africa now, I’ve found that many things are similar……yet they’re different. There are still traffic jams - but they’re on the left hand side of the road. Floyd is doing great at driving on the left. I’m still adjusting! One very big difference is the unusual items, or large quantities of items, you’ll see strapped to the top of cars. It sometimes looks like a whole household of furniture, boxes, mattresses, or animals are on top of a car.
There are grocery stores, but things have different names - or they’re in a very different place in a store. Several times I’ve thought I was buying one thing, but it was actually something quite different. I looked and looked for poppy seeds one day, and was finally told they are with health food!
There are similar looking electrical appliances, but they have HUGE plugs. I’m talking 3 or 4 inch square plugs!!! And then there are 2 sizes of prongs on these huge plugs. I seem to always be searching for the right plug and right place to plug in.
Many homes have a pool, but they’re quite small. They’re called “splash pools.” You jump in and splash when it gets unbearably hot!
We live in a valley - and the clouds keep changing directions. I’ll look out and see them moving east. Then, an hour later, they’ll be moving west. It’s confusing to me……I just hope the clouds know what they’re doing.
The home where we’re house-sitting is near a game reserve. It’s fun, but very different, to look out the window each morning and see Cape Buffalo, Impala, Blesbuck, and other African animals. I love it!
The money, of course, is different. I’m still getting used to all the coins. Once or twice when there’s been a long line behind me, I’ve just held out my hand and let the clerk take the coins that were needed. That seemed easier than having the people in line behind me all irritated as I tried to figure it out.
Similar, yet different. All these different things sure make me glad that “God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
7 Responses to “Similar, But Different”
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Luke would be SO jealous of you waching those animals!!
Hi Sally!
Loved your note - how interesting! I wish you the very best in all that you do and hope your time there is nurturing and fascinating!
We miss you guys and I especially miss Floyd’s wonderful sermons - The Africans will be very blessed!
Merry Christmas to you and your family and look forward to more updates as they come!
Be safe!
Wendi and Eric Unrein
Sally - good to hear about your adventures. All I can say is that you are a ‘trouper extrodinaire’!!!!
How are you doing? If I remember correctly, you don’t have your own home yet although there seems to be a possibility of one - right?? Sounds like the one you are house sitting at is pretty nice. It is hard for me to imagine seeing those animals out my window in the mornings. :) Is this the area you would like to live?
Or are you looking to be more by the water?
Are any of your family coming to visit you for Christmas? This season is probably the hardest when you first move somewhere new and are away from family but you do have lots of friends there!!!
Not sure what we are doing for Christmas. Randy’s Mom is now in a nursing home and with the grandkids all getting older they have jobs and family and inlaw pulls on their lives so it is hard to get everyone together at one time in one place. So probably this year we will all do our own individual visits to Mom. Which actually is best so that she is not overwhelmed with family!! She seems to be doing well there are they help her take her meds on time and has actually been able to drop a couple. The home is really nice and her room is pretty good size but of course, it isn’t home - not yet anyway.
Well, will close for now and look forward to hearing more about your adventures in South Africa. Love you!!!
Merry Christmas to you both and many blessings!!
nancy:)
Sally,
Wow, what an adventure and you sound very happy. I hope you and Floyd have a wonderful holiday season and get to spend some time with family.
We are doing quite well considering the events of the last year. The kids are looking forward to Christmas break and spending time with friends. They’re all maintaining good grades in school so I take that as a positive sign.
We are still attending Metro and enjoy Jim as pastor, but you can tell the stress of being the main guy is taking its toll. I wish he still had more time to imput into the youth, but you well understand the dynamics and demands of our body.
Can you pray that I’ll have wisdom in leading my family, and that I will be open to whatever God has? I pray for you and Floyd and hope that God’s plan unfolds beautifully for you both.
Patty
A voice from the past, dear Sally!
Praying for “God’s spot” for you in terms of home. I love Acts 17:26b(NIV)”…he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.”
I thought of you (and the other women who are part of your ministry there) this morning when this notice from Women of the Harvest came into my in box: Women of the Harvest is opening up registration
for another world-class retreat!
Rest, encouragement, fellowship, pampering…
What: A Women of the Harvest Retreat designed to encourage and pamper you!
When: March 25 – 28 or March 29 – April 1
Where: Cape Town Lodge – Cape Town, South Africa
Thanks, Wendi, for your greetings! We miss all our dear friends in Kansas City too! We have friends here of 25 years, so that’s been nice. It’s kept us from being lonely. The wonderful people God has brought into our lives over the years is our greatest treasure! Blessings to you and your family. Love, Sally
What a strange thought to have you now living in sunny South Africa!! I agree with having a winter Christmas, but I always long for a summer New Year - with a braai and watermelon! May the Lord use you mightly in Africa.
Lots of love
Rita