When the guys get married.

Have you ever seen the movie "My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding?"

It's got a great line in it: "We never think it gonna happen to her!" Well that's how we felt about Phil! Ok, maybe thats being just a bit over the top, but still, when Phil rocked up at our house on Friday night he dropped the surprise of the year by telling us he was married last week! Thus the cheesy photo of Phil and I doing the traditional SA "I got married" handshake.

Not your typical way of getting married in South Africa. Usually taking almost a year to go through labola negotiations and planning. But then again Phil was never a "typical" guy. Phil has been a part of our lives for nearly five years, and last year moved to Johannesburg to finish up his medical internship. So it came as a shock and surprise to find him married. The couple decided to avoid a big ceremony (only 15 people attended), and have a signing ceremony. This was done to avoid the long family imposed waiting period that brides and grooms usually have to go through. We are so happy for Phil and Vume. They have been dating on and off for several years. Kristy went to Vumi's uMumulo (coming of age ceremony) two years ago, so we have had the opportunity to get to know her a little bit. We're excited to see "our" students growing and making big life decisions and continuing to walk with God.

Dragons

Myles is sometimes a dragon. Although he often says, "I'm not a dragon, I'm Myles."

Still counting the votes

There are big differences between the USA and South Africa and the largest one today is that we may have to wait 7 days before we find out who won yesterday's presidential election.  Here is a queue of people waiting to vote at the elections this year.

Local cartoonist's thoughts...

Zapiro gets into all sorts of trouble with the government because of his very controversial cartoons.  Here are a couple of recent ones for you to get to know some peoples perspective of our soon to be president here in South Africa!  See these and more at the Mail and Guardian web-sight.

Election Day!

A big day here in South Africa.  National and provincial elections are taking place around the country.  Annd the next president is... most likely Jacob Zuma.  A click on his name will tell you the story of who we have to look forward to!  Pray for the country of SA as we enter into the time of Zumanomics.  

In the photo you see Zuma's picture on the ANC poster and above is the main opposition party's poster, the DA.  Stay tooned to find out who our next leader will be and if he will have the 2/3 majority to get done whatever he and the ANC want in the next 5 years! 

wanna know when we post?

In case you are a bit tech-un-savy but want to keep up with the blog as we enter new posts you can "subscribe."  Just scroll down and look on the right and you will see a lil' instruction area on what to do to never miss an update!  Because life without a lil fun/easter bunny ears/ n pics of South African aunties can be bad!

Growing the Navs!

I love this photo of Vuyo.  younger sister of one of the first women that Kristy met with on campus (Thabisa).  Vuyo used to work for Lou Lou n K. at Urban Grounds and since that venture has been put to rest, she is jobless, so.... she is helping me out with some admin stuff!  Thanks Vuyo.  The photo is a good one of how startled and most likely impressed she is with my vision for the Durban Navs this year:)

Vision Sandwich

Every Wed. at lunch time we have the "Vision Sandwich" at medical school.  The big surprising thing is that we talk about... vision!  I've been going through some of my and also The Navigators core values.  The time with these future Dr.s is great and rewarding as we explore the Bible together as well as have some great in-depth conversations.  The pic is of Huli and Melisa, two of the regulars.

Watching God Work

So I'm not your ordinary average traveling revival speaker.  But for two years in a row now I've been asked to put together a children's program/revival message for a kind of Daily Vacation Bible School at a couple different RURAL (all caps on purpose) church community.  

So this year we almost didn't make it.  we got stuck in the mud 4 times on the road to the area.  the 1 hour drive was creeping up on 2 1/2.  Myles was with and Kristy and I kept on thinking of sleeping in the Land-cruiser in the middle of rural Malawi on a mud road with a 2 year old... no way.  But after pushing hard with the help of 4 different groups of local kids 4 different times! we finally made it.  And what an amazing experience.  The photo above shows the pastor of the church excitedly leading back into the church building the over 100 kids who decided to give their lives to Christ after I spoke about the "Gospel and the Big Problem."  Jumping imaginary rivers and talking about Jesus really connected with them, and Myles!  Pray with us for these kids and the life changing decision that they made.

what it's like to travel with a 2 year old.

well, world view is very important to me.  I want Myles to expand his mind, think big, and have huge vision.  So that is why he went along to Malawi.  And this is what it looked like on the way home at Joburg airport.

Malawi

what a trip!!!  Pictures and a great blog all about the adventure if you click this link.  Check it out, the team was amazing and thanks to Chris for the great blog!