I'll be home soon

Tried to get up and see a friend at the shelter today but doors were locked. Not sure what that was about but guess change of route today. Going to drop off more brochures where I can and look at a few gifts for people before I Leave. 1 More week! Yeah yes mom and 6 more sleeps for me, well 7 I guess on flight. Anyone know anything cool to do or people in DC cause I"ll be in Dulles airport for an entire day! Yeah after 16 hour flight, rough! OH well all worth it. Been just cleaning, saying some goodbye's avoiding many goodbye's, emailing, trying to create lil CV, exercise (played soccer game Friday, I was HORRIBLE and so sore for 2 days, but we still won 9-0 ) and clean up room for the house. What have you all been up to? Any special, cheap requests to bring home?

What day is it? oh right the 16th

Ah I'm sorry this will be short and sweet, but I've been back in CT for few days now and Nicolai just now arrived as well into town this morning for the weekend here. IT's raining and depressing. It's like I am coming off this high of a world wind trip! I almost desire I could just fly home tomorrow and yet it's a few more weeks. But probably good for me and also I have a few people I should say goodbye to, but I prefer to just take off and write nice emails or cards because I absolutetly hate goodbye's. I have the bill from the trip from Nic and have to see what I've got to give and what's left over to live off a few more days. I thank you so so much for the help and support it's incredible! I have had the time of my life and I need to express it more to share the joys of the Lord.
Tonight is our base leader Edwin's goodbye party, and then before Grant and Laura leave tomorrow they want to head out Salsa dancing tonight so trying to get it all into one. I miss you all so so much and even throwing ol cards away etc., from my mum and was crying because I realized how far away 2 weeks are now, adn how far away it will be or how near, to be in her arms again. You too dad :)
GOtta stay dry and also oh, many things I could get into and look into ,buttrying to get back on a path of organizing things before I head out. Lydia went to Angola for a few weeks to do some ministry and documentary, it was hard to say goodbye to her right when I arrived. SHe left 3am the other morning and I probably won't see her before I leave. She's been one of the closest and dearest friends of mine here. Oh how I love her!
Ok, better get going now to rest up, picked Nic up early this morning, work out, change into something hoepfully warm, then pray the night is grand!
Muah!

HOME, I miss you

I forget the days...Friday?

Yes I believe it's Friday because from my World Cup calculations, the 3rd and 4th place is tomorrow then finals yes, oh yes, Sunday! NUTS EH? I can't wait to see my new favorite player, Forlan. He's unreal!
I"m at Mugg and Bean chatting to my lovely dearest best friend Andrea Lyons online, and I can't believe she's moving east coast on me so freakin soon! I get back and 2 weeks later my best friend's outta here. Oh well, I asked her for her job :)
Anyways, things have been a lil slower than prior but still all new adventures and people I've been meeting. Been meeting heaps of Nic's family and been taking the time to get to know his Aunt Robin real well, she's just hilarious. We been walking and doing some new things together that I hope have inspired her. Her daughter comes home today, so I'll get to meet her. And his lovely granny and her family we've been blessed to get to visit. Even other people from the church we went outside the city to their house in the hill and picked fruit and avo's and had lovely dinner together. Great fellowship with them and their extended family. I dearly though am looking forward to returning home. Durban's still hot and wonderful!
No more tickets have been offered up, but still to admit I've been to 5 WC games, is unbelievable. The story is inspiring even to hear again and again from myself. Nic and I are going to head to the pool today, his knee's been bothering him, and then we'll see what we can get up to later. We've given the car back obviously with costs, so figuring out our movements.
Anyways, I'im sorry it's not long and detailed, but thought I'd pop in while I can. Thank you again for all your support, it's been great travels, trying to stay in God's pouring, and sharing it with others. Brochues have given conversation and debates as well. IT's been completely a blessing. Oh God is so good! Miss you all!

I'm alive

I'm sorry it's been totally safe and cool, just no real internet access. I've been staying here in Durban the past few nights at Nicolai's aunt's. I've just booked flight back to CT next tuesday so I have another week. was the cheapest and nic's staying this long as well. We give car back tomorrow since sara's flying back and it'll keep things cheaper. Not much I can quickly write other than I never went into Mozambique because it was only for a few hours for sara to renew her visa, so I didn't waste money crossing, but we drove through swaziland from Nelspruit and that was amazing! So here in Durban, it's HOT an dloving it, in fact i have no warm clothes not expecting this. But it's been great! I love you all, I'm doing great, I"Ll try and be better about writing something then posting it when I'm on, but nothing too crazy past few days. Met up with old boss Keith Palmer and his wife from New Zealand today and it was incredibl! So great to see them and sounds like that girls league I got to help start up has doubled! Lord is good! Cheering for Uruguay tonight, but gotta go internet's going ot run out at this cafe. Love you love you all! Mommy less than a month!

Let's catch up

I'm tapping away on laptop here at the host family here in Pretoria. Been super taken care of! I think I've had 4 meals here today, they think I'm not eating, that's unreal. I dont' understand because I haven't worked out really in past week and I did feel a bit tiny today, so I let myself just get fat today. I even had Elmerie's South African Pudding. The real deal, it was richly good! Oh what have I been up to? WOW, loving life and trying to not look back.
I woke up this morning at this city lodge near the most crazy casino called Carnival City outside Joberg. I was with Donevin my mate from Mississippi whom I spent the day with, and he put me up in this hotel since his bro's house was full, I felt so bad but he insisted. Just finding teh dang place was nuts! We were laughing the whole time because we said 4 years ago, let's go get lost in South Africa! And guess what, in his x city, we sure did. It took us about hour half to find the place, but I saw this glowing blue tent in the distance, and I said that MUST be it! As we drew near at 1am, it looked like willy wonka's choco factory on crack! It was wild! Freaky looking more like it, but I got booked in and the sleep and room to myself was something I haven't had for a long long time! Woke up, and hear from D that the tickets, we thought we had to Brazil vs Chili match tonight, for R350 he was going to take me, his mate SOLD! YES since he found out he could get $300 out of it, he sold themt he night before. So D was so mad and our whole day was planned for seeing downtown Jo and etc., we even pulled back the trip of going to Safari with Nic and Sara but thing worked out in the end, since Nic and Sara went back to Pretoria, Sara had an interview for a possible job opportunity here in Pretoria. SO, God has been working his lil scheme magically before our eyes. HOwever, through these lil places, Ive been getting to leave my brochures everywhere I go. Even with Wonka. So I text Nic today, and he rushed down to scoop me up and bring me back to Pretoria, and basically been vegging, catching up on sleep, and getting fat! YES, preparing todrive north tomorrow to our first bungalo in Kruger Park. We know that Portugal is playing Spain at 8:30 so we're just praying that someone there will have teli or we're going to go nuts!
Weather up here in Pret Jo is much dryer, and much warmer. I heard Durban I can whip out the swim suit, that's to come later this weekend. I"ve been super fortunate paying for travel, 1 ticket out of 5 matches, and car rental. Lil bit of food but mostly my apples and oranges. :)
SO, yesterday I spend the time with D and seeing his old stomping grounds he used to play for the Pirates and we hung out at his indoor arena to watch football and I felt totally at home. I didn't bring boots nor have I even been in decent shape to think about a match, but loved the atmosphere. Great to see him. We met at Nelson Mendella Square in Sandton Jo after I had spent the time adn night with Yanev at his apt as well. THe Israeli's took great care of me. I've never been around so much wealth. I went through the richest place in Jo, so life can only get poorer from here. Ah it wasn't anything special but great to see the diversity here eh? Just think nights before I was in a township, oh love it!
So, I met D there where the vibe of the ARgentinians and Mexicans were heating up for the match last night. Poor Mexi's gotta go home, I'm sorry Luis. But ARg is going all the way now!
I almost tried to get tickets to that, but connecting with teh random cute Argentinians I'd met at the nicest club in Jo the night before. THey were everywhere and incredible people. Money Money, and to think I went out with Yanev and his friends til 6am. OH YES, it was a once in a lifetime thing so I went with it. I didnt' even have more than a drink and yet I had the energy with the people i met, things I saw and suffering from USA's loss. We had left the match 2 min early to beat traffic in the middle of no where Rustenberg, whcih was incredible to experience and see and see USA for sure! I even ran into this couple i had seen on the train in CT. It was such an adventure. Yanev took great care of me not letting me pay for a thing. He took the back roads knowing howt ot get back to Jo with also touring me showing me the dam and the sights. I had fun. WIld having the driving in SA and the stops, and cops and no laws really, it's crazy! Cops speeding past with lights on, really just guiding rich and famous or I'm sure ANC through to matches etc. We had a ball, and another stadium to witness. I wish our USA had gone throug, but at least it was an African country to make it. More African fans there than Americans to support Ghana, but I say amen to them they worked hard. Also they're Christians so that's super cool!
I've seen 5 matches, then now. Who ever would have thought? It's been a dream coming eh? And still going! God's been able to let me do this and finish wiht Pizaz. Another bonus is haveing NIcolai and I connecting in an unreal way! Yes we're sharing what God's been doing, our desires, dreams, business, etc., and it's like our personalities just fit too well to not work towards something int eh future. I mean even having met Omri, whom Nic had brunch with after the Spain match, they spoke of great business int eh future and was encouraged by Nic and I and possible Kingdom building in this world in the future. Yes learning about the business world. I am encouraged about Nic's inspiration of the window that needs to be worked in, the business world where it's the most of our world's population, and it's mostly Muslims, and that's the world to reach them is in business and I said SPORT. :) Somethign going's to come from it. Nic's been inspiring and also a protection over me, and teaching me what my personality and what not is a gift and how to use it and what I can do and be in people's lives I meet. Like Yanev, in being that only CHristian to speak into his life, to fulfill God's promise in Israel with Israeli's. Love it!
So I went out with Yanev when we got back into Jo it was 1:30 and that's when this famous club was beginning to pump. Yes, it was something like, oh I can't remember the name, let's just say Yanev wanted to show off I think how rich and popular he is. He rolled in past the ropes and was mad when we weren't getting in asap. Apparently there wer esome celebrities but i was just trying to soak it all in, not getting bothered by wealth or not being in some slinky dress and heels. I was actually glad and couldn't believe how many guys actually spoke to me with my boots adn coat with scarf fresh from the outdoor USA match. Ah it was hilarious. Fancy club no doubt and went to the one next door and i think it was 95% men with this world cup going. 80% Argentinians. Interesting and meeting rish Isreali's and what not. We even hit up pizza at the end of the night and what a laugh ha! Made it home by 6am, and slept in my lil sleeping bag only til about noon when Donnie called to catch up. I thought I need to so Yannie and I hit the road. That's been the jist of it, minus details that I can't even remember this late now. I need to definintely be working out though more, I'm going to get fat on this trip, but like FIFA says, Once in a lifetime! I'm soaking it all in! Thank you thank you for everything and my taken care of Father!
I'll write when I can, perhaps after Kruger :) LOVE THIS TIME!

Going to see USA in 5 hours

Yes once again, the Lord has blessed me, R400 tickets to see USA and a ride in a BMW to Rustenberg. How does this happen? I've been praying for a chance, but nothing like I would be really crushed if not, just super happy if I could. God knows the desires of our hearts. The reality is, I've been telling all the wonderful people I've been meeting is that, it's not so much the soccer and the games, it's the relationships and people I've been experiencing this whole event with. COPMLTETELY worth it! I've been many religions, countries, races, etc., and I've been getting these amazing opportunities to share a piece of Jesus with them. I pray I stay humble and keep giving him praise, and also teaching what I've learned about the HIV Trafficking but more than that, why I have been doing what I"m doing, why I'm here, who drives my life...JESUS! Amen!
I'm currently in this beautiful home at the moment with Sara, from NZ, Nic is driving up with our Israeli friend Yanev, (whole other story how I met him yesterday...incredible what happens when you get out of the car to use the toilet in the Hilton hotel) :) and Yanev and I have tickets, then Sara and Nic will come with and see if they can experience match, and possibly get tickets outside in Rustenberg. I'm in Pretoria and Jo is hour away, and Rustengerg is hour away where match is tonight.
This lovely family has hosted us, who know Nic and Sara's friends from Church in New Zealand. Small world! I've had breakfast and lunch cooked, my laundry done, a mansion to run around outside. Seriously you have to put your finger in this reader just to get through the gates! yes they love Jesus and we have even got to share more of who he is, why we live the way we live and beter yet, I shared with the high school son, what a missionary really is. Not a title and thing you do with post cards, it's Jesus through you in how you live your life with teh HOly Spirit day in and day out. Whatever career or journey you take. I pray I can serve like I'm suppose to. Not suppose, but should in showing God's love. So much happening so much so quick, planning every second as we go, that I am not getting my quiet time, but perhaps God knows that I have had that and I have the heart to move, I pray I keep seeking him
Yesterday I'll rush what I can with my journey backwards, but yesterday Nic, Sara and their other Kiwi mate, who was the one we had to pick up at Hilton in Jo, Omri from NZ, all had tickets to Spain match in Pretoria. I didn't want to spend money on the match, I said if I had to spend money on a ticket it would rather be USA. So I went to nearby square with other fans to watch in this pub/screening place in teh square. IT was fun, and I met argentinians, and this lovely group of Irish/Eng/SA guys who we had a laugh and swapping stories of rugby and football. THey were so impressed that i knew a bit about the two sports. In the end the English man John Paul was almost in tears as I shared what Jesus was in my life, why I live the way I live because he was curious what I do, how I do it, and why the heck I would stay in a township the night before. He said you've got balls. He said I don't know many people like this, why are you like this? Honestly the man had these welling eyes, and I just said, this isn't of me, this is God moving through me to show you something more. I honestly spend an hour with that group, and sharing and I pray my spirit from HS is left something with him. Grabbed his email to stay in touch and is was just such a blessing to have great company. We got home real late and ended up at this amazing home, and there were chocolates on our beds for sara and I before we crashed. Beautiful!
Nicolai has been this whole coordinator working things left and right. It's like our 2 talents have just mended perfectly together. His spirit is wonderful and we're talking about building more in his kingdom together in the future of busines and helping others and traveling, so it's been divine intervention beyond what I can share. Too many things happening by chance, it's not chance, God's had ueblievable hand on us. Great to have support and other Jesus lovers around to inspire and share. He's encouraging me heaps!
So the night before last, guess what...I saw New Zealand make history. Yes those boys and the crazy fans celebrated like they'd won the world cup. I mean to have a nation of 4 million leave the world cup unbeaten, even better than ITALY means the world to them and i witnessed it. It was crazy story how we made it happen but we did.
Ok, how did this happen? Oh yeah, so night before Nic and I were speaking back and forth on how the heck we were going to get to Polokwane and see this match and get tickets and even place to stay. THe ideas we had of bus, or taxi or whatever scared Boet and Irene, (mom dad you'd be proud to know i have had more than 1 South African parents over here watching over me) however where's the balance of taking chances and experiencing vs safe easy know what lies ahead? So by the morning time, I received a call and he said, I've got a rental, not cheap but I got it, and I bought us tickets along with my auntie's maid here Dora, whom we're going to stay in her home iN polokwane tonight int he township! Ahhhh how cool! So Nic picked me up with Dora, I'd spent the morning with Irene chatting, having coffee and just loving that beautiful family and their maids Charlotte and Emma. So He comes directly to my door, and we pack in and drive cause we're already late to Polokwane 3 hours away. So we head off. Great to see Nic and catch up and express each other's heart and where God has been taking us. And now leading us to one another to share more!
We get to Polokwanie a bit late, but we're not giving up! Nic is truly a champ. We devour his mamma cookies in the parking lot, then Dora, (whom this experience was an absolute dream come true she was calling everyone in her family to tell them!) we all hoped on shuttle bus towards stadium. My dang camera died on teh way so I hardly have photos, but Nic's camera phone has witness, and eventually I ran into other Kiwi's even my old boss, (should have seen his face when Keith Palmer saw me!) and Greeny, the whole crew it was incredible!
GOtta run my ride is here to the match!

I wrote this 3 days ago, thought I'd at least post it

Ok so I must take my time in updating I am currently sitting in Cape Town airport ready to hope on the flight heading to Johannesberg without knowing exactly what’s going to happen to me. It’s going to be ok because I’ve already seen God’s hand in what I’m about to embark on, so I feel it’s going to be ok. He’ll protect me. I’ll try and backtrack a bit to catch up on all the chaos and excitement!
So, first of all I’m here because of a few factors. I have 10,000 brochures on the doorstep of YWAM. Amen! I have been getting blessed with going to matches, seeing New Zealand taking some major tie with the world’s champions!!! Yes NZ tied to Italy 1 – 1 and I couldn’t have been prouder. Just like the match of England vs Algeria I saw last Friday night, I saw an under dog team of Algeria get through with a tie 0 – 0 and those fans won over my heart. They were vibrant, loud, happy, singing, and celebrated as if they’d won the world cup after that tie. I took some pictures and just embraced that closed country, that overtook Cape Town and from what I heard partied until the wee hours of the morning. New Zealand…same thing. I watched them play really well and push with a tie against the world champions Italy, and to see the boys faces, and the crowd where I spotted my old coach and New Zealand friends with their shirts off twirling, it just stole my emotions. I left the base jumping up and down screaming for those boys and went on a fantastic run and finished off the night with some wonderful new guests Grant and Laura, the Americans visiting. We had curry and I was blessed to have my wonderful roommates have a taste of what Jesus is doing in both these servant’s lives. Great night, that was 2 nights ago.
Back on track now, ok so yes, NZ could possibly go to the next round. America is very likely to go onto the next round, HOWEVER, if they don’t they are done and fly home. I am on a mission (with Michael’s ticket in hand) to Polokwani to catch up with the fans, friends, and team to watch them play Paraguay Thursday. That’s a HUGE reason for traveling. I heard from Mike Greeny, my old coach that I need to get up there and others who are up like Andy Barron and Jeremy Christie are playing and it would be so so cool to be there! More reasons…
Tickets at the stadiums have been available. Completely! I’ve been meeting people left and right with tickets. People who have been getting tickets last minute. I even met this amazing ticket selling (his occupation in Switzerland) who knows how to get tickets. More to that story soon. So I’m in no doubt if I got to the America match, I could see it. BUT, another blessing came through. My friend Donoven from here originally, whom I met while in Mississippi, who connected me with mates in NZ a few years ago, is here. He’s in Jo and told me to come up. He knows I’m coming today, not sure if I can or will stay with him, but he said he has an extra ticket to the Germany vs Ghana in Soccer City Stadium. There’s that option as well, but friend Nicolai (another story) has just arrived to Jo, where he’s from  and he’s looking to try and get into the America game if possible. So I needed to at least head north. Ok story on Nicolai.
So Nic is originally from SA. He lives now in NZ where I met him from my small group. He has been fully supportive and guiding me along here in SA and praying for me and the ABSTAIN 2010 campaign. Super stoked! So, this is what God has placed in front of me. Oh before I forget, my license, which I haven’t had since was stolen months months ago, arrived on the doorstep today! YES God is conspiring some magic! Well, Nic was in London airport on his laptop talking with me on facebook. He said his trip to Kyrgyzstan was cancelled because the country just broke out in war. He was going on a few month missions trip there, now stuck in London airport, figuring out what to do next. He’s off work, and once he saw me online and asked how things were going he changed plans and came here. He said yes I want to help, I’d love to show you around the country, I know people, places, never been to Polokwani either, and wanted to help distribute brochures too. So here he is now. He said get up to Jo and we’ll work on it. He’s even working on a safari in the Kruger right now!!! Yes amazing. So our other friend Sara who is from NZ is also trying to get north so we can do this together. We’ve been really trying to connect and so I’m praying it all works out.
I’ve just texted him and he’s in Jo, just not sure if/when he can get to airport and also texted D and looking to hear back from him asap. Worst comes to worse, I meet people, or I take train, or I get to backpackers asap. Safety first I know, but been meeting heaps of people and traveling, friends…not been hard. God will show me. I bought a 1 way at midnight the other night after curry dinner and prayers w