The countdown has begun: we have only 48 days left in
Africa. It's hard to believe I've been here for 7 months. The remainder of our
time here is going to fly by. The first week in April is our Spring (fall?)
break. After that we have two weeks of ministry, and the last week in April our
team is planning on doing an AIDS awareness outreach in Lesotho (a small
country within the border of South Africa). Then we have a week of debrief (a
time to for our team to reflect on all we've been through) and a few days to
pack up and move out before we get on the plane!

It is bittersweet to think about leaving this place. On one
hand I am SO excited to go home and spend time with the people I love, and I
can't wait to hop in my car and visit my old friends Chick-fil-A, Panera, and
Target! But on the other hand, it makes me sad because I know that when I leave
this place, a piece of my heart will stay here.

So, I thought I'd dedicate this post to some of the things I
love and/or will miss about this place**...

1)     
Little black girls playing with my hair

2)     
Making up conversations in my head when I hear people talking
in Afrikaans or Xhosa

3)     
Being near the ocean

4)     
"And how do you find South Africa?"

5)     
Watching African women tie their babies on their backs with a
towel

6)     
Walking through the African vendors in Korsten to catch a
taxi, and being the only white people around

7)     
All of the creative and random conversations we have when we
are bored and sitting around the house

8)     
 Ninja jumps

9)     
Xhosa kids laughing at me when I try to pronounce Xhosa, or
any other word involving a click

10) Being offered coffee or tea almost everywhere we go!

11) "Youu!?" "Shoh!" "Aye man!" "Heyyy"

12) The African ladies at CCMP affectionately tapping me on my
cheek, stomach, or rear to greet me hello.

13) Dance parties in our room

14) Long-life milk (yes it tastes a little funny, but its super
convenient J)

15) Being reminded of poverty everyday as we pass the shacks in
the township

16) Sleeping next to the window, with the infamous PE breeze as my
air conditioning

17) The variety of musical styles and radio we get to hear in the
taxis: new-age instrumental versions of Celine Dion songs, house music with
thumping bass, really, really bad rap, Xhosa talk radio, African gospel...etc.

18) Hadeda birds (I know, I can't stand them now. But I will
miss their obnoxious cries).

19) Broken fridges, the broken shower door, the broken front door,
broken kitchen appliances, my broken shelf, broken sprinkler heads, and the
smelly cabinet in our room. The way everything falls apart, but we still keep
it together and find a way to laugh about it!

20) Do you know Obama?

But most of all, I love, and will miss, the freedom I have
had during this moment of my life, to pursue God with everything I can, to
experience him in a new culture, with this community, through all the challenges
and hardships, fun and silliness that come with this missionary life. It has
truly been an experience like no other, with lots of unexpected surprises along
the way. And I am thankful.

**If
you didn't understand one of the items on the list above, I'll be happy to
explain it in May, or if you're really curious shoot me an email!