The sun is cresting the ridge of Snake Mountain, a black monolith that stands formidably amidst the other broad rock faces just east of our new home. The ocean blue sky is smeared with waves of clouds that gently ride the breeze across the valley. The distant gurgle of the river and the chirps of morning birds bring a melody to the day that lightens the heart and replenishes the soul.
Good morning from Africa.
It has been just over a week since we landed, and our journey couldn’t have been more interesting. In Cape Town we experienced a buzz of diversity as people from across the world mingled along the stunning Atlantic Coast- on the shores, around the harbor, along the scenic byways, and in town, where the homes were painted bright pinks and yellows and greens, bursting with personality. We rode a ferry across the bay on a particularly windy day, for a 45-minute wave-tossed journey that turned our stomachs and dizzied our jet-lagged minds. We landed on Robben Island, the prison surrounded by miles of ocean and dotted with guard towers, where Nelson Mandela was kept for 18 of his 27-year prison sentence. We spent a sobering day listening to former prisoners telling their stories of working the mines, side by side with Mandela. Young boys, all imprisoned for crimes against the state; in other words, they were freedom fighters. Because of them, South Africa ended apartheid and has been progressing toward preserving democracy and human dignity ever since.
We journeyed on, in a four-by-four land rover that tended to overheat and lose air in the tires. But after a short while we landed in the gorgeous wine country of Stellenbosch. Here we spoke to agriculture students at a University, and we were amazed at their interest, their eagerness, and their positive outlook. In many ways they were just like university students back home: motivated to change the world for the better, starting on their own farms.
We continued our long drive until we lost all sight of civilization. We could not possibly get lost, for there was only one highway, and it wound for miles and miles through the peaks and valleys of South Africa’s mountains. We went for hours seeing only one or two vehicles, but in the meantime, we spotted ostriches, springbok, zebras, baboons, warthogs, and vultures. We found a unique little town and had a satisfying lunch of giant cheeseburgers and milkshakes. And even though we wanted to stay, we carried on.
The road turned to gravel, then it turned to just a path. We lost all cell service and all contact with civilization. Through a narrow valley dwarfed by looming rocky hills, we traversed, following written directions, until we popped up at August’s farm, where he was preparing chickens to slaughter. His family welcomed us and for two days, we got our bearings, spent time preparing, and enjoyed great fellowship with his family around the evening table.
Finally, we continued our journey: two more days of driving through mostly desolate mountain roadways with occasional stops- to see an ostrich-skinned furniture store, to sit in the relaxing waters of a natural hot spring- and then we crossed a very narrow bridge over an almost dried out riverbed, and we landed in Lesotho, our home away from home.
And we are here. We are ready to pour into the lives of the Growing Nations staff. We are ready to help them with their farm, to read and study the Word with them, pray with them, and teach the new students who will be arriving soon.
Thank you for your prayers as we have traveled. We know God has brought us safely here, and he is teaching us more about his love every day, every sunrise, every sunset.
We wish you were all here, but one day you will meet our friends, and they will feel like friends to you, too.
Homeschool on the Farm 