February in Pictures

Back home on Queenbess Rd. with Rene & Caroline

My precious friend Vivian Rose Stewart turned 4!

A visit with dear friends: Phumla, Mhinti & Naomi Pato

A new lot of male companions: Dave, Andy, Louie & Mike
visiting from the UK
(Enjoying the view in Hout Bay)

A Valentine Dinner: Champagne & Lobster!

Our dear hosts, Richard & Heater Van Zyl Smit

Glorious Provision in a Time of Need!

Doesn’t it seem like at times that as soon as Jesus gets you through one faith journey, he has another one waiting in the shadows?...sometimes taking us a bit deeper in our trust and reliance on Him for our many needs. Last June I witnessed the Lord’s miraculous provision for my six month stay in South Africa. I was amazed at the financial gifts that came in before I left…many from unexpected individuals…and in the end just the right amount to cover those months. This current season however, Jesus has me on a new journey. I sensed him saying to me, “Last year I provided financially for you before you left…but this time I want you to trust me to provide while you are there.” Ahhhh, that seemed a bit too scary…was I crazy…was this unwise? I knew without a doubt I was meant to return, and now just needed to walk ahead in obedience. One week before I left at the end of January, just enough money came in to pay for February rent in Cape Town and a few trips to the grocery store! God is good.

Well, as it is with money…it doesn’t stay around too long when needed…and I quickly saw my little fund getting lower, with petrol (gas) and other needs. I remember one afternoon thinking, “Lord I have no idea how you will provide for these next few weeks, but can you make it a good story…I want to share it with people for you to receive the glory.”

Last Sunday at church the financial burden was growing on my heart…thinking “Ok Lord what are you going to do here?” When I arrived home I went to make some spaghetti for lunch, and was disappointed to find that my mince had disappeared from the freezer. As frustration grew in my heart, the Lord began to show me that the deeper issue going on was the lack of faith and fear that I didn’t even have the money at that moment to go to the shops and buy some more. Sitting in a helpless state on my bed…I decided to check my email…and low and behold as my new messages came in, I saw an email from my parents telling me of a financial gift that had just come through from a woman I had never even met! It was enough to go towards groceries, petrol and some of March’s rent!!! I burst into tears as I tenderly thanked the Lord for his timing and compassion, and asked forgiveness (as I frequently need to do) for the continual unbelief in my heart.

What deeply blesses me is the fact that I have never met this faithful woman. I have been deeply blessed by her obedience to Jesus…hearing that still small voice and following through on what he was asking her to do. She is now apart of a greater story. As her gift helps with my gas, groceries, and other living expenses…it also serves those that I serve in my day to day life here…the men and women I get to pray with, the teachers I get to serve, the children I get to love on…she is now an extension of that and I am grateful!

The Lords ways are truly different from our own!

Last Update before heading back to Cape Town

Written January 19, 2009

Dear Faithful Friends,

…I’m sure all of us have had those experiences in our life where we are working on writing a document and then suddenly it is lost…causing us, in a bit of frustration, to go back to the drawing board and write again. That is just what has happened to me. Sadly, my laptop computer and external hard drive (which are rarely together) where stolen from my car trunk this past week. Despite the gut wrenching shock, there was a peace in knowing that they are only material objects…but the real loss was in saying goodbye to all my videos and photos that were taken in Africa and around the world the past six months. As many of you know I am a real photo person! Thankfully, I have been uploading the majority of my photos on the Costco website …so I do have some of my pictures floating in cyberspace. My heart proclaims that God is faithful and I totally trust for his provision ahead. During the last few weeks home, I have been able to teach about my African adventures with four different groups of children, opening up their eyes to new countries and cultures. It was these stolen photos and videos that were shared and I now know that many of those images are still alive in their little minds…and that fills me with immense JOY and victory! Needless to say, I am returning to Cape Town in just under one week (on January 24th) and will have many more opportunities to capture the beauty and life there on film.

Before I head back to Cape Town, South Africa I wanted to share with you one of the key truths that Jesus has been teaching me these past six months...“My significance is not found in what I do, but in who I am.” I flew to SA knowing that I was called there and knowing that God had a purpose in me going…but as is often the case, his purposes looked different that my assumed plans. I had assumed that the Lord would ‘open a door’ immediately upon my arrival, specifically in the arena of working with children as that is what I had been doing in Tacoma…but I quickly learned that that wasn’t the case and that I needed to be obedient to his leading and not my own. I wasn’t given a role, position or title…my days were varied, and I soon came to see that I couldn’t rely on doing things to make me feel significant, for Jesus had me in a season of BEING…being with him, others and also myself. What came with this was also obedience. Obedience to that still small voice that helped direct my days.

One Saturday I went to help out at a kid’s event at my new church. Once I got there I could quickly see that the team running the ministry and the many volunteers did not need a lot of hands on help that particular day. It was then that I plopped myself down in the dirt and let a small child sit in my lap while we participated in singing and listening to a message. I felt rather uncomfortable in the dirt…I was the only adult sitting with the children, while the other big people all had jobs to do. I looked up front and remembered that not too long ago I was the one ‘running the show’…giving the talk, leading the songs, being the disciplinary and overseeing the time. I was humbled on that floor with a child in my arms and reminded in my spirit that sitting there, observing and being present was significant to the Lord. I cannot fully comprehend how I was used that afternoon, or how the child on my lap was touched by my touch, but I do know that my God is big enough to use me in the simplest of ways. I am learning that being Bryna Brown…being the woman that the Lord created me to be, not only brings me joy, but also brings love & joy to the many people around me.

A few highlights from the varied ministry opportunities I had in Cape Town:
- Spent countless days and hours at The Warehouse (www.warehouse.org.za), an incredible ministry that bridges the gap between the church and the poor. The many staff members became family to me and I was blessed by the many days that were spent praying and encouraging those faithful workers. The Warehouse also expanded its walls to a neighboring warehouse and I had the privilege of helping with that strategic move...using my organizational gifts!
- In October I had the opportunity to join a friend’s church as a youth leader on a canoeing trip down the Orange River. It was an eye opening experience for me to camp for a week with 28 teenagers…but the highlight was sharing my testimony around the camp fire one night.
- I soon became a tour guide and hostess to countless Americans and other internationals that found their way to Cape Town like me. At first I was a bit resistant to hang out with Americans… “Lord you brought me to Africa and I want to be with Africans”…but what I learned is that being a hostess, wherever the country…is a gift from the Lord and fills me with great joy!

What I’m returning to:
- Dozens and dozens of relationships. Jesus has blessed me with so many friends from all walks of life. I’m excited to go deeper with them!
- My family at The Warehouse…looking forward to learning more about Jesus as I serve the poor alongside them.
- My church, Khanysia…located in the Guguletu township. It’s a diverse church…full of life and very special people of all ages. I’m excited to return and sit in the dirt with more children…giving hugs and being open to how the Lord might use me.
- In February I will be joining my former church in the UK, Christchurch Fulham…on a ministry trip they are doing in Cape Town. I am thrilled to partner with them and strengthen those dear relationships.

Jesus continually provides for all my needs, according to his glorious riches! Thank you all so much for your prayers the last few months…for safety, health and financial provision…and especially for many words of encouragement. I am trusting the Lord for this next season ahead! My entire return flight has been provided for through air miles (yeah!) and I have even been given a car to use for 3 months once I’m back in Cape Town…however, would you please pray with me as I believe the Lord for finances to cover living costs (rent, petrol and food)…Thank you! I will be returning to the States in early June, just in time for a family vacation and my 30th birthday! I will also continue to write and share with you the many adventures and lessons the Lord gives me along the way on my blog, http://brynabrown.blogspot.com.

Love and blessings to each of you in this new year…thanks for walking this road with me!

Bryna

SA Address:
7 Queenbess Rd.
Landsdowne, 7780
Cape Town, South Africa
Cell- +27-72-978-2123

White Christmas

“Walking in a Winter Wonderland”…seriously! I arrived into Tacoma on the evening of Dec 16th. I had an ok flight from the UK (which by the way was an unbelivable stop over-seeing so many dear friends!!!), stuck in a middle seat, but wept my way through the classic It’s a Wonderful Life! I was expecting to see my parents at the airport, but the surprise was they brought my nephew Jonathan along with them! I was met with a huge hug and kiss from him…and a melted heart at the realization that he hadn’t forgotten about Aunt Bryna from "Afrikka" !!! I guess he had been waiting for days for my arrival and when my parents said they were going to the airport to pick me up…he cried saying he wanted to go too (ahhhh!). He is the same little guy I left but has such an extensive vocabulary now…we sang Christmas carols the whole ride back home. The exciting part too was that snow was on the ground once I landed, not a lot at this point but enough to make me smile. That night we had a supper with both my sisters and their families…so fun and natural to be together again!

Well, it’s now been a week and a half since I have been back (it truly goes fast)…we still have snow on the grown but its beginning to melt a bit. A few days after I arrived we got about a foot of snow (!)…quieting the city down and causing us to be home bound for a few days. Once we were able to drive a car we had to park it on the top of my parent’s road…as the hill down was too snowy and icy to drive on…this meant at least a ten minute walk up or down hill on ice, whenever you wanted to go anywhere…good exercise!!! Most of my days have been spent sitting in front of the fire…next to the lighted Christmas tree, listening to Christmas music, reading my parents (many!) Christmas cards, watching Christmas movies, looking at travel pictures…and dreaming about the future. It is so good being back with family. I have seen a few close friends so far, but at this point have kept my visit pretty low key until the holidays are over. At the beginning of January I will be travelling to Arizona with my father to see my Dad’s parents who are there for 4 months…a huge gift! I will also travel a bit around the state too seeing various friends and getting time with those that I love.

Hope the pictures below give you a taste of what I have been up to…

Love you all and those in Cape Town I ammissing you and looking forward to seeing you in January…I will try and write more soon!!!

Love, Bryna

Our cozy living room in the cabin...I sit where the blanket is!

Looking out at a Winter Wonderland,

this is our water view from my parents cabin

Britlese and I built a snowman at her house

A family walk in the snow,

"Mor Mor and Grandpa" with grandkids



Ben's snowmen and the ladies

Christmas Eve morning with my precious nephew and nieces

I bought the girls disney princess cell phones

Brynestad Christmas Eve Party with Annamarie

Girls Night with my Grandma Rosy

Laughing with Alaina

"Excuse me, where did our plane just land?"

(Written December 7th 2008)

I’ll start off my story by telling you where I currently am…ummm let see…Bergamo, Italy?! Was this my final destination…ahhh, no! To be honest I have absolutely no clue where I am or how to get where I am meant to be.

I am on my way to Venice. How romantic one would think, but flying Ryan Air from Stanstead is not the most glamorous adventure in the world. I journey up to Stanstead via Victoria Station to Tottomham Hale…where I then caught a half hour train to the airport. On arriving, I was immediately pulled into the stressful rush and zoo of airport life. Unlike other major airports, Stanstead is one of the homes to cheep flights…thus NOTHING is convenient here. After checking in on a machine, I was sent to a ‘so-called queue’ to check in my baggage. This was more like an entire mass of a few hundred people standing (and pushing their way) to unmarked desks. Then, once this and the stress of security was over, I was safely surrounded by Duty Free shops, magazine stands and Starbucks.

My flight was leaving at 7pm for Treviso, Italy (just outside of Venice), but about 10min before boarding I looked up at the gate sign and the destination has been changed to Trieste?! I initially thought my gate might have changed, but then an announcement was made saying that due to fog and bad weather we had to land in another city. Well, here I go…I sensed an adventure was on its way and had no choice but to go along for the ride. I quickly texted my friend Kristina who I was going to meet and we made very quick plans for her to drive to the new airport which was an hour away in the opposite direction. Later, on the plane and 10 min before we landed, another announcement was made (completely in Italian)…saying that we weren’t able to land in Trieste either…so here we are Bergamo, which I have been told is somewhere outside of Milan. I was thinking…Milan, isn’t that the city full of beautiful designers and fashion…cool, but not exactly where I want to be at 10pm! I got off the plane, feeling totally helpless…my dear friend and her husband were in a completely different airport hours away! I had no phone, no currency and no friends to keep me company either. On the plane, we were told a bus would be sent to take us back to our destination (a 3 hour ride away), so once through customs our entire flight crowded outside to find the bus. We waited…and waited but soon the cold night air was crippling and everyone pushed their way back inside the tiny airport. I got up the nerve to ask a stranger if I could borrow her phone, allowing me to let Kristina know where I was and that the bus should come any minute. Well I continued to wait and then another announcement came on (in Italian) and I found out from the woman standing by me that the buses were not due to arrive until midnight!…it was now about 10:30pm and so I borrowed another phone to touch base with Kristina…she said she wished should could just come and pick me up but they were 4 hours away (!) so it just made sense to wait for the bus, and meet her in Treviso in the early hours of the morning!

So here I am, sitting on the cement floor, of a European airport that I have never been to… me and my faithful computer. I keep looking around trying to see if I recognize anyone from my flight…as I would hate the bus to come and for me to miss it. To be honest I would have expected this journey in Africa…but in Europe, this has certainly been a surprise. Thankfully I’m safe…have my luggage and am supposedly heading in the right direction.

(Written the following day)

I wish I could say the bus came and all was well, but our bus never showed up! I sat, rather uncomfortably on that cement floor for approximately 3 ½ more hours!! A few more flights were diverted to Bergamo, so soon all the floor space had people sleeping and waiting on it. It was rather refreshing to hear a few American voices of some foreign exchange students, amidst the Italian company…but I was too tired to strike up conversation and so just listened to a variety of conversations around me. It’s amazing what you do when you are waiting…study faces, eavesdrop, read every sign you can see, fiddle with junk in your purse…and even hum some Christmas songs. I was startled at about 1:30am when I heard a man walk around and ask in Italian who was going to Treviso, I was worried that I might miss my bus so got up and found this ‘man in a blue scarf’…turns out he was a fellow passenger doing a head count. I told him to make sure the bus doesn’t leave me, ‘the girl in the green coat’. Well, finally at 2am, I saw a small group of people walk out the doors…I jumped up and followed them outside…Yahh our bus was here! I quickly got on, found a window seat and was looking forward to some sleep. Soon my dear friend ‘the man in the blue scarf’ came on and said he had been looking for me in the airport…ahh sweet, so glad someone was looking out for me. We pulled into Treviso around 5am and I was met by my smiling friend Kristina (who went to bed at midnight, after driving an hour to a different airport, woke up at 2:30am, drove an hour to this airport and then had been sleeping in her car, in a sleeping bag until the bus arrived!). She told me later that she would have been really worried if it was any other friend, but knew I was a veteran to travel adventures (or ‘nightmares’, as she called them). We pulled into her house at 6am…and both jumped into bed and slept til the afternoon. What a long day…reminded me a bit of Uganda, but I won’t go into that story…you can reread that on a past blog!

Another day in Paradise...umm I mean Dubai!

Today is National Day…one of the many public holidays that Dubai celebrates within its year. Flags drape around the outsides of large SUVs, fireworks go off throughout the day, and LOUD and FAST cars zoom past our normally quiet residential neighborhood. Despite the noise today…it’s still not loud enough to muffle the hourly calls of worship from the many mosques.

Dubai is one of the most bizarre cities I have ever been to in my life. I knew what to expect on this visit as I was here for 2 weeks the summer of 2005. Culturally not much has changed in this Western blended Middle Eastern country…however, architecturally and visually…the landscape has added hundreds of new buildings all shapes and sizes. Most notably the Burj Dubai, now known as the tallest building in the world. You cannot escape its looming presence wherever you are in the city. It is very haunting looking, like a large needle pointing its way up to heaven. On seeing it for the first time I was convinced it was a ‘Tower of Babel’…I can see it from my bedroom window and as the tip is covered in clouds, it feels me with an eeriness…What the heck is this structure doing in the desert?!

Due to the fact that I have been here before, my trip is entirely relational and not a beach or shopping holiday. I am here visiting Alan and Louie McCormick and their sweet 10 month old daughter Daisy. Alan is away on business this week so Louie and I are having fun doing errands, drinking coffee and catching up. She is a remarkable woman and an amazing mother who has fully embraced where the Lord has called her and her husband to be. I am cozy and settled into their guest room, in a house that I helped Louie hunt for over 3 years ago. I have been able to sleep-in in the mornings, watch movies in the evenings and catch up on reading and writing in the afternoons…what a blessing before jumping into a packed schedule in London and then on to the holidays in the US.

What I’ve been up to:

IKEA…yes that’s right…same layout, same products and same yummy food. I love this store! It kind of sucks coming here though to just look and not have a cute house to decorate or organize…for no matter where you are in the world, the prices are still unbelievable. Louie was on a quest to find a couch so I had the pleasure of entertaining Daisy, who was in her pushchair (stroller) as I swerved in and out of the burqa clad women and their darling children. My favorite part of the trip was the restaurant of course at the end…many of you know that I am very partial to the meatballs. IKEA will always remind me of my mother and days when we lived in Ealing, London 15 min from IKEA…we frequented the restaurant there a little too often for dinner when my Dad was out of town. Well, I got my meatballs, fries and gravy….and Louie got her couch…success!

Starbucks…after nap time today, our big outing was to head to the nearest mall The Mercato, and buy a Starbucks. This is a luxury that Africa did not provide, and being that its Christmas time I was salivating at the thought of a Gingerbread or Egg Nog Latte. Well, when we arrived I scanned the big red menu sign and no luck…the only holiday drink they make is Toffee Nut…in my head I’m thinking…That’s not American…I want my Egg Nog! But before I made a scene, I realized the man behind me in his traditional Muslim head covering was patiently waiting his turn. Remembering where I was, I decided to not act like a selfish tourist who wanted her coffee a so-called ‘right’ way…Oh brother, I have been living and travelling on a continent the past 6 months where I have been very content without a single Christmas Latte…but now when I’m face to face with Starbucks my entitlements drastically jump upon me. Lord please save me from these stupid entitlements (…and please may London have a yummy Egg Nog latte waiting for me when I get off the plane:)

Fun City: After grabbing our grande drinks (I settled with a Caramel Macchiato) we headed up to a children’s play area called Fun City! I was used to the play areas in the malls at home, with a few soft climbable mounds…but this place was like Las Vegas for kiddos! (a very extreme Odyssey for those of you that are moms in Tacoma). On entering we headed into an area for younger children, which included a ball pit, slide, see-saw and other fun toys. Daisy’s face illuminated as she crawled around in delight…totally safe from harm on the cushioned floor. Louie and I sat down with our coffees and began to chat while keeping an eye on Daisy. I was silent for a while and Louie asked if I was ok…I was overwhelmed…I was in culture shock and I hadn’t even arrived in Europe yet! I quickly reminded myself that I had just come from South Africa, where I had been residing the last 6 months and it was ok to feel slightly dizzy. Young children between the ages of 2 to 4 zoomed past with their Philipino nannies. As I looked around Louie was actually one of only mums in this place and she said that she normally is. Many of the nannies in Dubai are from the Philippines and most of them have left their own families…their own young children to move here and work…it breaks my heart. I was reminded me that the money paid to these women is more then they get back home and they are able to provide schooling for their children because of this work…but, the bigger cycle of injustice and abandonment is heart breaking. Grandmothers are raising their grandchildren so that their daughters can support the family…but clear across the world! Oh Lord have mercy…on these precious nannies, on their children back home, and on the young ones they are entrusted to care for in this oxymoron of a place…called Dubai! After an hour, we headed out… past the candy floss (cotton candy) machine, the prize booth, the art center, the reading nook and the over crowded pushchair corner…to then find ourselves….back in the crowded mall!

Christmas Music: Before leaving Cape Town, people kept asking me, “Are you excited to get home and to see your family?”…the answer was always YES!…but I had to explain that I wasn’t going home immediately, but that I had a ‘journey’ home…a special journey of seeing friends along the way in three different countries (Dubai, England and Italy). Its December back home, a month filled with Christmas music, gift giving, special gatherings, decorations, yummy food, communication and deep generosity & compassion. No wonder the classic homesick song, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, takes such a special place at this time of year. I was struck with a growing desire to return ‘home’ today while driving in the car with Louie and Daisy…and listening to a Nat King Cole Christmas Album. To be honest it just wasn’t the same to hear the nostalgic songs of my youth, (“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack frost nipping at your nose…”, “Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful…”) while looking out at a vast desert filled with the most skyscrapers I have ever seen in my life! Although I am leaving the summer sun of South Africa, and the humidity of Dubai for a cold and most likely wet Northwest Christmas…I must say that sitting in front of a fire, in my pajamas, while drinking a cup of coco…by a lighted tree of course, will always warm my heart…in a way that a beach never will!

Atlantis: Lastly, here are a few photos from our trip out to the newly built Atlantis Hotel, which resides at the end of The Palm Jumeriah...a man made residential island...as you can see its like a city itself. The Atlantis houses the largest (always the best and biggest here in Dubai), aquarium tank...fish, man ray and even sharks swim together for all to see from many looking windows around the hotel!

Last Weeks in Cape Town

Camping in the Cederberg Mountains:

I will admit that I am becoming a bit more of an outdoors girl

here in Africa...but I still need my champagne!

We (Caroline, Christy, Craig & Ashley and myself) spent the

weekend swimming, playing cards and napping...ahhh the life!

This spider was found in Craig and Ashley's tent...
it was seriously the size of my hand! Lets just say we were

bit more cautious to zip our tents at all times!

American Thanksgiving:

Due to the hot weather you can see we ate outside.

We feasted on a traditional Thanksgiving meal,

hosted by the Stewart family and I was

surrounded by fellow Americans in CT.

During the day of Thanksgiving I hung out with my

dear friend Cathy Cordle (a half American herself)

Khyanisa Braai:

Caroline have been talking about doing a braai (bbq)

with church friends for ages. It was a unusual rainy day,

but we hung out by the fire and roasted marshmallows!

New Friends; Lebo and Mazura (don't you love his smile!)

Last morning at Khynisa with Caroline before flying out