Dear Greece, I'll be arriving soon...

(Doreen, Charles and myself)

In the morning I leave for an airplane ride. This airplane ride will take me to Athens, via Frankfurt.

It has been a good time here in Muizenberg. I’ve been saying a lot of goodbyes today, and I would definitely say that the one that has stuck with me the most was the one I said to Charles and Doreen. It wasn’t long, but it was good. After our lunch here at the base, Naphtalie and I went to the grocery store to get some Cream Soda, (Charles’ drink of choice) and walked it over the street to where Charles and Doreen were sitting. Each time we talk with them I am taken aback by the beauty that God has placed in their hearts. It is amazing how close I feel to people that I’ve known for little over a week.

Charles was just finishing his fish, fresh out of the microwave. He was friendly as usual. They say that the sun is their microwave. Microwaving of this sort however, requires much more patience than the conventional microwave, as you must wait until the sun has heated the food to a warm-ish temperature. This usually occurs about half an hour to an hour after placing the food in the “microwave”.

Doreen said she now views us as part of her family. She also noted that she loved us. I replied that we also love them. It was a short goodbye, but one that I will remember well.

…

This week we had Ben Nimmo, a Graphic Designer from the YWAM Media Village in Kalk Bay (a few stops down from Muizenberg on the train) come to talk to us about digital workflow, archiving images, and Photoshop basics. All this can get a little boring to talk about for long periods of time, but it will definitely come in handy when dealing with large amounts of photographs.

Our team will be leaving the Muizenberg base at 3:30 this morning. Our flight leaves Cape Town at 7:00, and we’ll be flying to Frankfurt, and then to Athens. Once we arrive in Athens, which will be very early Friday Morning, we’ll be going to a smaller village called Porto Rafti, where we’ll be staying at a small convention center. They tell us it is about an hour away from Athens. I’m not too sure yet what the living situation will be like, but it doesn’t sound like there will be a lot of internet access.

So, I realized I just wrote my last update a couple days ago, but I figure I should let you all know what’s happening, just in case I’m not able to use the internet for a while. The team and I could use your prayers that all the small and big details of traveling from here to Cape Town to Frankfurt to Athens to Porto Rafti would work together in the best way possible. Once I find out more of what is happening I will hope to find some sort of access to the Internet so as to keep in touch.

Thank you all for all the various forms of support that you have been blessing me with. I have loved seeing God during my time in South Africa, and I have loved being able to grow the interest that he has placed on my heart for Photography. I feel that the more I’m learning about photography, the more I’m seeing a passion in my heart for using it as a tool to benefit God’s plan in the world. It is a pleasure to continue to let you all know what is happening with my trip, and I pray that you are all seeing God in new ways with whatever situation he may have you in.

(a sunrise near muizenberg)

.a good beginning.

.the view from Mount Muizenberg.

The first week of PhotogenX lecture is now complete! Basically, most of the week was spent learning about the more technical aspect of Photography. We had teaching from Suzi Childers, the Co-Leader of the PhotogenX Round the World program. It was such a blessing to have had teaching and insight from someone who is so experienced with Photography, and especially with using it as a ministry. I am excited to begin applying this new knowledge to the pictures I take.

It is a great experience to be living here at the YWAM base in Muizenberg. There are so many people from so many nations. Our PhotogenX School is here, but in addition to our school, there is also a Discipleship Training School and a Church Planting School taking place. One thing I love about YWAM is that you can meet people and hear perspectives from so many places. I’ve been talking with people from The Congo, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Brazil to name a few.

Outside of class time I’ve been able to explore a little bit around Muizenberg. I’ve gotten to see some penguins, which live nearby, hike some Muizenberg Mountain, and visit the waterfront of Cape Town. It is a very beautiful country, with people from many ethnicities and backgrounds, as well as very interesting landscapes and plant life as well.

.a boat docked in kalk bay.

This last Friday, we had a South African celebration. The South Africans put on for us a giant bar-b-que, which they call a braai. The lamb the cooked for us was delicious. I also learned a bit of Zulu dances afterwards. It was quite a good time.

This week our speaker will be Wally Nell. He is originally from South Africa, but he lived in Cairo, Egypt. I’ve been told he’ll be talking to us about Photojournalism. He sounds like a very accomplished photographer, as he’s received a fellowship in the Photographic Society of Southern Africa, as well as an award in the South African National Press Awards for sports photography. He has had his work published in National Geographic Traveler, Outside, New York Times, London Times, Outdoor Magazine, as well as some other publications.

Some Prayer Requests:

• That my mind will be able to process the knowledge that Wally will be sharing with us this week. It sounds like he has a wealth of information to share, and I want to do my best to retain all of it.

• Energy for all the activities throughout our days…class, work duties, small groups, etc.

• That I would be learning to apply the technical aspects of photography that we went over this week. It makes sense on paper, but it is sometimes a struggle to apply all the techniques as I’m taking pictures.