first night

i arrived safely in pietermaritzburg last night and was warmly greeted by audrey and her husband, along with her brother and her 2 adorable children. the airport was very small and almost felt like the entire terminal could be someone’s backyard. it was pretty chilly and windy when i deplaned, and i had just loaded my bags in the pickup truck right when the rain started to pour down.

maritzburg is a very interesting village. there is a gorgeous backdrop of hills and mountains that stretch out over the entire plain, and it carries with it a peaceful air of authenticity and intimacy. driving from the airport and into the village, i noticed a consistent color … almost like a raw earthiness sprouting from the ground, enclosed by dense patches of green and finding its way into the brick homes that share the reddish-brown tint of the dirt roads.

as we continued to drive past the village markets and the occasional spread of shantytowns, i could immediately sense the richness of life here – villagers hunched on the sidewalks, chatting and smoking, vehicles and taxis weaving through the lanes, convenience stores and wireless outlets packed densely in washed down buildings – a swarm of energy fighting it’s way through rain and grit.

a few miles out, we almost ran over a huge flock of chickens and goats that were gleefully making their way up the hill. audrey carefully drove around them and joked that perhaps they were on their way to sunday service about a half an hour later, we drove up the windy dirt roads and in through the security gates of the dunaverty, the wonderful guest home of max and miranda train where i will be staying at for the remainder of the month. though exhaustion had started to settle in, i was so glad and thankful for safely arriving into their warm hands. over a hot cup of tea and a wonderful stew prepared by miranda, i quickly found my way into a new home – getting acquainted with a pair of lives that have already merged into mine.

after a restful evening, i woke up to a beautiful morning today – the birds are out, chirping loudly. the rain has subsided and the sun is shining brightly through the window. i took a few moments to walk around the home and into the fields wondering how strange, but wonderful it is to wake up to an entirely new setting – away from it all.

tomorrow, i head off into the fields. i plan to spend most of today mainly resting and recovering from jet-lag, but also fully preparing my heart and my mind for the days of work ahead. i pray for Him to give me strength and am thankful for what He has given and for what i have received. my prayer and heart goes out to the families of kwazulu-natal, as i look forward to being in communion with them.