Another Trip to Durban

Throughout my time in South Africa thus far, the Durban/Pietermaritzburg area has become one of my favorite places to visit. As if Durban's warm climate and beautiful beaches on the Indian Ocean weren't enough to make me love it down there, I've also got close friends from the U.S. living down there, not to mention some good friends working on J-Life ministry teams in churches there. All that to say, I love that place! So, I made sure Adrienne got a chance to experience it while she was here. We spent ten days down there, staying with our friends Josh and Jamie and their family in Pietermaritzburg, while also often making the one-hour commute to Durban to spend time with the J-Life teams...and, of course, sneak in a couple trips to the beach! Enjoy the pics.

Mthobisi, Josh, and I proudly waving our American flags, as the U.S. Soccer Team made a great run at the Confederations Cup Championship in South Africa. (The U.S. lost to Brazil in the final).

Hangin' with a few of the Quarandillo kiddos:
Jordyn, Haley, and Raja.

Adrienne and me at the beach in Durban.

Hiking to a waterfall at Cumberland Nature Reserve.

More hiking at Cumberland.

More Durban...

Hanging with the Durban North team and eating some AWESOME Indian curry. South Africa has the second largest Indian population in the world, outside of India itself, which adds to the already incredible diversity of the country.

One of many mosques in Durban, which boasts the largest mosque in the Southern hemisphere. Are you catching on to how insanely diverse this country is yet?!?!

Chris manning the grill as the teams got together for a braai (barbecue).

Hanging out with my good friend from Kenya, Wanjiru Gicheche. In Swahili her name literally means "dry cow dung." Ha! We call her "Shegz" for short.

Sportin' a nice new 'do.

The new soccer stadium going up in Durban for the 2010 World Cup, hosted by South Africa!!!

Durban

We sent two J-Life ministry teams and a youth worker down to Durban, a large coastal city on the Indian Ocean, where they are currently planting strategic disciple-making youth ministries alongside local churches. This past week I had the opportunity to make the 6-hour trip down to Durban to catch up with the teams and encourage them in their ministries. Part of that encouragement, of course, meant hanging out on Durban's beautiful beaches! And thanks to the subtropical climate off the Indian Ocean, the weather was incredible!

Building sand castles on the beach. Okay, so maybe we didn't actually build this one, but it's still pretty darn impressive!

Chris, Lance, and I keepin' it real out on the pier.

Beautiful sandy beaches.

Great waves...Durban is a huge surfing city.

A nice view of the city.

Hanging out on the pier.