J-Life 2009 Highlights: Part 4

Miscellaneous Highlights

At the Apartheid Museum with Anthony.

My good friend Kenneth "Michael Jordan" Tfumbatsi. Ken is the J-Life country leader in Swaziland.

Hangin' with David "Bernie Mac" Mulonga. David is the J-Life country leader in Zambia. I'll be heading up to Zambia later this year to help David launch J-Life Zambia.

Enjoying some good times on Valentine's day. If you look closely, you just might be able to pick me out of the crowd.

Dorm 7, winners of the J-Life 2009 Fun Night Dance-off!

J-Life 2009 Highlights: Part 2

Miscellaneous Highlights

My first African roommates. Sabin (pronounced Sah-beh), on the bottom bunk, is from Congo Brazzaville. He's 41 years old, and he sacrificed 4 months with his wife and three children back home to come for the training. Praise (top left) is from Malawi, and although he looks like he could be 15, he's actually 30. He also left a wife and two kids back home. Praise and I met in a small group each morning, and we became close friends over the past few months. Samson (top right), is from Zambia. It was a blessing to live with these guys for the first 2 months of training. MaxAC (not pictured) was the white guy in the room. Even though I was the youngest of the four, they jokingly referred to me as "Father", I think because I was big and scary and I had a beard.

One of many beautiful sunrises over the farm.

One night we had cake to celebrate a birthday, and I got in a food fight with Vusi and Sheila. Good times!

Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoon was an experience known as "odd jobs." In order to ingrain an attitude of service in the trainees, we would be assigned tasks around the farm, such as planting a vegetable garden or painting.

J-Life 2009 Highlights: Part 1

Enjoy this series of blogs that will highlight some of the sights and experiences that I have been blessed with over the past four months, as well as some of the people that have made this such an incredible adventure for me thus far.

Miscellaneous Highlights

Evening jam sessions became an almost nightly routine. In this picture I'm jamming with my Kenyan friend, Justin (sitting), and Lance from SA (standing). Lance plays guitar, bass, drums, keys, and has great vocals...definitely one of the most talented musicians I've met.

We spent the first month on the farm washing our clothes by hand, or in this case, by foot!

The local metropolis that is Balfour.

Taking the foofy slide (zip line) over the dam on the farm.

Bhuti leading the charge as we embark on a raft-building challenge during bush camp.