The Skinny on Cape Town

I know that you’ve all been hanging in suspense about what happened in
Cape Town, so I think I’ll help lighten that load. Haha! O I’m such a joker!

No, we do not have a visa; however we’re not sure that we won’t be getting one! We visited the US Consulate a grand total of 3 times! Try 1: we only got into the first phase of the building; we were a little unprepared! The application hadn’t been filled out, no picture to attach and the R 800 had yet to be deposited! Plus the next day was Thanksgiving so they recognize that which means they were closed on the last day of the week we could go. Equaling an extra 3 days in
Cape Town. Try 2: We got past phase one and two- that means we actually got to talk to some Americans! At part three we had a hold up. During the interview they decided they needed more financial evidence and cause to return to SA. Bummer. Try 3: We sat for 3 hours with an email from a doctor, which looked like something Daniel had typed up on word, only to have a 5 minute interview where we were told, yet again, that they needed ‘real’ evidence! So now we’re going to fax that evidence to the Consulate and see what happens! Other than that I had a really good time!

 We went to the market where I spent 2 hours with one merchant out of the hundreds that were there! It all started with a mask. I picked up this mask and then he popped up to debate…. Let the barging begin! “I usually sell this for R100, but for you, I will give it to you for R80!” o what flattery! “How much would you be willing to pay for it?” “R 50,” was my reply.We talked about how much it cost him to buy these products, their great quality, the cost of living, all the things that would make anyone feel like crap for not paying the full R100… I guess I’m not an anyone. I told him how I got my money, how I’m currently unemployed, what I’ve been doing for the last 6 months, etc. I guess I’m not much of a sympathizer when it comes to money that I’m going to be spending. After 30 minutes of back and forth he went behind the table and got out a plastic bag to put it in. He told me that he was amazed that I was so tough about this and how he hopes to find a wife like that. He then started talking about how Christmas was coming up and then handed me the bag with the mask inside and said,” take this as an early Christmas present.”“How much is this present going to cost me?”

“Don’t you know what a present is? It’s for free!” (Kind of like the free gift of salvation from Jesus huh?!!) Then we talked about Christianity, life, relationships, future plans, and the whole caboodle! It was fun and I even got some Christmas present in the process!

The house we stayed in was the guy haven! Haha, just kidding! The house is owned by a 30 yr old guy and rented out by 3 other guys! They’re all Christians, really helpful and just all around nice guys! One of them even took me to go surfing! He just randomly asked during our conversation if I’d like to go with him so we borrowed an extra board, wetsuit and headed out. Now I wish I could say that I was a natural and caught some amazing surf. That I’m now surfing for Roxy or something like that. However, when we got to the beach, we discovered that instead of the wind blowing inland it was sweeping across the coast. This makes in great for kite boarding, but not for surfing… jeez!

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the alter. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Basically if you have a problem or something against your family, friend, neighbor, go to them and work things out before you go to God and ask His forgiveness. You have to fix things in your heart before things can be good between you and God!)

“We don’t have to be friends with everyone, but we do have to love everyone. Bitterness cannot walk alongside love.” – Bradley Hathaway  

brooke.

---