Reunions & Musicals

It truly is a small world:

It never ceases to amaze me that even living half way around the world, I still run into people I know from my past. About a month ago I was at the Warehouse and two girls from the UK came in to volunteer for the week. Upon meeting them I realized that one of the gals had been at a conference at my church in Tacoma 3 years ago and I had been paired up to pray with her a few times. We had kept in contact a bit after that initial meeting, but over the years lost touch...now she was here...in front of me...in Cape Town. Then about two weeks ago a large group from Atlanta, GA came in to volunteer one morning. After our morning prayer meeting a man named John Hambrick from the group approached me and asked if I had ever lived in London...I said yes, and then he asked me my name...well turns out he was my youth group leader my freshman and sophomore year of high school...I had even babysat his kids. It had been 12 years since I had last seen him! He is now a pastor in Atlanta and his church has a partnership with a church here in Cape Town. Such a small world.

I have also been blessed to connect with the Barker family (Aaron & Rhonda and their 3 precious children) from my former church in Tacoma (Aaron was the worship pastor). Their son Jacob was one of my former preschool students too. They are currently staying in Cape Town for a YWAM training school and I have enjoyed showing them around the city.

Somerset West:

This last weekend I went out of town to Somerset West, only a 45min drive away, to stay with my housemate's mum Charmain Plummer. She was a gracious host and we even had goodie bags on our pillows! It was lovely to enjoy a new area and tour around. Highlights were visiting a country estate call Vergelegen...home of some of the oldest trees in the Cape. Also, Charmain is an incredible piano player and had books of my favorite musicals...so I was in heaven singing as she played for nearly an hour: Fiddler on the Roof, Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story & Brigadoon. Theater is in my blood and I'm sure some day I will return to the stage at some point...just don't quite know when. While singing at one point I had to stop quite unexpectedly to hold back tears...I was singing through Fiddler on the Roof and got to the song Far From the Home I Love...well I began to sing the opening lyrics, “How can I hope to make you understand – why I do – what I do – Why I must travel to a distant land – Far from the home I love”...I was instantly chocked up with tears streaming down my face...for this was me, this was my story...I have felt these emotions...loving my home and family, yet also going to where I feel called...ahhhh, the unexpected things that make us cry!

Pictures of the Glorious Trees:

September Happenings

August has quickly disappeared and as September settles into the Cape...signs of Spring begin to peek out everywhere...wildflowers, baby ducks and rain! So much has happened in the last few weeks, so here are a few highlights:

New housemate, New flat:

On the 17^th of August I moved in with an incredible woman named Caroline Plummer (in the blue). Caroline goes to my church and is one of my former housemate's (Linda) best friends. She is a school teacher and has a lovely flat literally across from the rugby stadium in an area called Newlands. It was definitely a change for me at first, as I had always lived in Lansdowne with my lovely 'Queenbess' ladies...but with a dear friend moving into my room while I was home for the summer, I needed to place to stay for a month...or longer. I am loving the fact that I can walk in my new neighborhood and enjoying a more central area! Each Thursday morning I now walk 10 minutes to the SACS Preschool where I volunteer. Caroline and I are enjoying walking, cooking and watching movies together...and just enjoying a new companionship!

4 Boys and a Long Weekend:

From September 4^th through the 9^th, I had the privilege of staying with 4 incredible young men, named Oliver (15), Max (13), Joe (10), & Will (8)...while their parents went away for a long weekend. Needless to say it was a busy schedule of four school runs a day, sports activities, birthday parties, sleepovers and all the other events that mothers graciously deal with. The boys were fantastic and we really had fun together. I played dozens of games of table tennis (ping pong), Clue & Monopoly...watched fun movies and even hiked in Newlands Forest. We also had great conversations about God and I shared some of the stories of how he miraculously provides for me. Oh, and I even introduced them to a great American breakfast...French Toast & Bacon with lots of syrup!

Deeper Levels of Forgiveness:

Jesus continues to take me deeper in my relationships with my 'family' at the Warehouse. Two weeks ago we had a powerful week of telling our life stories to each other. With 24 full time staff members and 5 full time volunteers, it was a lot of sitting and listening! We were given 20min to share about our upbringing, family history and whatever we could fit into that short amount of time. It was an extremely powerful and emotional week for me, as Jesus continues to break my heart for this country and the ongoing pain surrounding the injustices of Apartheid. It is hard to write about all God is doing in this area, as I feel as if I am still processing. He is doing a deep work within me and I am humbled to learn so much from my family here.

Back to Children's Ministry

Since last June, when I joined my church Khanysia, I have been anxious to get involved with their expanding children's ministry on Sunday mornings. However, over the last year I have been sensing the Lord's desire for me to take a break...the wait to get involved also had to do with learning to be in a season of 'being' and not 'doing'. My world revolved around ministering to kids in the States and I know Jesus needed to show me this past year that my significance is found fully in him and not in the roles I am used to playing. I have also been refreshed by consistently being with the adults for a season and making deep friendships with my peers.

A year ago, Khanysia had to build a tent outside their main church building to house the expanding number of kids flooding in each Sunday. Today, over two hundred 3-12 year olds pile in for worship, teaching & sweets. Most of these children walk from the neighboring communities by themselves or with siblings. As you can imagine most Sundays are what I call “controlled chaos.” What amazes me is that the majority of the leaders are youths themselves, probably between the ages of 13-19. These young men and women have amazing servant hearts and incredible amounts of energy! Needless to say, I often feel quite 'old' as I stand in the back or sit amongst the little ones...but to be honest, that is what my heart loves best!

I am very thankful there are no hidden cameras in the tent. These kids love to dance and worship! They are obsessed with all the Hillsong Kids music and have learned very complex hip hop dances to go along with these songs. Each week, a group of teenagers strut their moves up on stage and these little kids have no problems following along...but me, ahhhh, I am always a step behind and normally stepping on some little girl's feet. I have already half jokingly chatted with a friend at church about some private dance lessons to catch up! My ongoing nightmare now is that the kids will be asked to sing and perform during the adult service...this happens every few months and usually the leaders dance alongside them in front of the entire church! I will keep you posted!

Last week I had a laugh when I helped out with the 6 year olds for the first time. Most of them speak very limited English so when I talk with them I must use a translator. The story told from the front that morning was on Ruth and I noticed that the teenager who spoke used no visuals and quickly mumbled the story that went completely over these little one's heads. So, once I had a circle of just the 6 year olds I thought it would be a good idea to recap. I was trying to get the concept into the kids head that Ruth did not return to her homeland, but went with Miriam to a different location. So I started telling the story in terms of Ruth being from the 'Western Cape' and Miriam from the 'Eastern Cape' (these are different regions in South Africa)...I thought I was smart but soon feared that the little ones now believed that South Africa was the location of the bible story...oh, well...whatever works right? Then as I went on to tell the story I was caught by the complexities before me...death, moving, bitterness, gleaning, kinsman redeemers & sleeping on the threshing floor at a tipsy man's feet...I couldn't translate all this! My story abruptly ended as I said she met a guy named Boaz, got married and lived happily ever after...the end.

Studying & Celebrating

Studying: On my first week back in Cape Town I had the privilege to attend a course in Christian Social Transformation, taught by the Warehouse's training department. The course's purpose is to equip people working in communities with appropriate skills, knowledge and attitudes for effective Christian social development. There were 25 students in my class, from all over the country (even 5 fellow Americans). Those who attended work with various churches, ministries and non-profit organizations around the city. I attended under the umbrella of the Warehouse and was joined by 4 other staff members who had not yet taken the course. Our group became a real family in that week, learning together and sharing our hearts.

The course was fascinating, and I was most intrigued to learn about the process of moving from relief, to rehabilitation, to development and then to transformation (a visual known as the Valley of Transformation). How often do we come in to help others, but keep them dependent in the relief stage, without the process of encouraging self-sufficiency & true transformation? These basic concepts have further opened my eyes to some of dynamics in the communities I am currently working in, especially the Pre-School I volunteer at in Khayelitsha. Over the next ten weeks I will be implementing some of the specific techniques that I learned on the first stage of the course, in the form of a focused, supervised project, and then return for the second week module in mid-October.

We also learned a lot about how to appropriately enter and research communities, before coming in to offer relief. My teachers used the phrase “what's in the basket?”...meaning what are the customs, traditions, mindsets, and historical backgrounds that are present before we arrive. The most difficult day of the week was when we focused on what is in South Africa's 'basket'...and one cannot deny the difficult and unjust past of Apartheid. We did a lot of sharing that day and telling of personal stories. Our group was racially diverse and everyone was deeply effected by the evils of the Apartheid in some way or another. There is healing in honesty, sharing and forgiveness...and I continue to learn so much from my brothers and sisters here in South Africa as they seek God to redeem and heal this devastating past.

Celebrating: On August 9th, South Africa celebrated one of its many national holidays - Women's Day. My church, Khanyisa, put on a special celebration the Saturday before. Women of all ages and races, true to the diversity of the church, sat at beautifully decorated tables for an afternoon of tea and entertainment. There were traditional songs by the 'Mamas', modern dances from the youth and a great talk about finding our identity as women in Christ. Its a joy for me to be back with my lovely church community and to celebrate with these women. Many of them have faced hardships that I have never known. There is an almost epidemic absence of men in the lives of these women, whether those raising children alone or those who have grown up fatherless, but it is amazing to see them love each other and proclaim the goodness of the Lord (their Heavenly Father) in each others lives. Their faith reminds me of Proverbs 31:25, “she is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” That is what I believe so many of these fearless women are doing..standing tall and pioneering paths of HOPE towards the future.

Bon Appetit: Part of being in a new culture is trying new things, especially food. I am proud to say that within my first week back I had the privilege to try a very fine delicatessen...chicken feet! Ok, I wasn't that brave and didn't eat a whole foot...but I did try a toe...mainly consisting of cooked skin and cartilage!

Heading Back to My Other Home

I know it has been quite some time now since I last updated my blog, and filled many of you in on my life. I hit the milestone of 30 years old on the 10^th of June, and was able to celebrate in the three cities that I call ‘home’: Cape Town, London & Tacoma. That in itself was the best birthday gift of all, being surrounded by my family members and so many of my precious friends from around the world.

Over the last month I have been based in Tacoma, Washington…living with my parents and getting lots of quality time with my sisters, nephew, nieces, extended family and many friends. I returned to the sunshine, which in the Northwest is an incredible treat, full of beautiful sunsets, bonfires, boat rides, walks, and frappachinos! I have also been sharing my organizing skills and selling cards of my photography to earn some money. I was blessed also to once again get the opportunity to speak on South Africa to groups of kids, as well as some adults. My passion grows for the city of Cape Town as I share what Jesus has done in my heart and all that I have learned from living over there.

What’s Ahead:

I leave tomorrow morning at 5am (I know…Yuck!...that means getting up around 3:30am!) to fly to Denver, then to Chicago & then to London…oh the joys of traveling low budget! I then have a day with a friend in London and arrive on South African soil on August 1^st. My heart is getting excited to being reunited with dear friends and children. From August 3^rd-7^th I will be attending a course the Warehouse provides called the Social Transformation Course…what a privilege it will be to learn under the wisdom of the Warehouse’s teaching staff!

I will then continue the commitments that joyfully filled my week before I left:

-Spending a few days a week serving at The Warehouse

- Serving one day a week at the Preschool in Khayelitsha

-Serving one day a week at SACS boy’s school in Newlands

-Tutoring 7 year old Simpamandela

-Serving at my church Khanysia on Sundays (I will be joining the Children’s Ministry)

Please Pray:

-For Safety as I fly back, and as I live and work in the city of Cape Town.

-For Health

-For God’s continued Provision, specifically for living costs in this next season (food, petrol and rent)

-For greater Intimacy with Christ, that he would lead me and direct all that I do!

Please check my blog over the next few months to read updates and of course fascinating stories and adventures. I will try and send out reminders every few months too.

All my love, Bryna

A few photos from a proud Auntie:

Kesley Thomas (20 months), Jonathan Windham (3 and 1/2 years) & Alaina Windham (22months)

May in Pictures

My Warehouse Family...I Love them so much!

Lunch after church with
Sue Gray, Caroline and Mhinti Pato

Juantia and Jamie at church

Favorite past time: Reading to Stewart kids

Fun lunch with Boys: Ricky Pato,
Michael Eney and Derek Lovegren

My Boys at SACS


Last Day in Khayelitsha
at Preschool (til Aug):

A Week in the Life of Bryna!

I do not have a 9 to 5 job, nor a predictable week schedule…but I am blessed with daily adventures that often come as pleasant surprises! I thought I would give you a little taste into my life here by sharing with you my last week and the random activities, events and relationships that sporadically fill up my calendar here.

Saturday, May 9th:
Woke up in my friend Christy Wheeler’s flat (we had had a movie/sleep over night). It was a relaxing morning and I ended up journaling for over an hour some of the heart issues that Jesus is revealing to me at the moment. At about 10:00 we drove down to Sea Point and took a nice long walk in the sunshine. I then hurried home by 1:00 to get ready for a lunch that my housemates and I were hosting for about five other women. Around 5:00 the guests had gone and I relaxed a bit before heading out to babysit my pastor’s two children. While the kids slept I watched the latest BBC version of Sense and Sensibility…one of my favorites.

Sunday, May 10th:
Left early for church to pick up a few people on the way. Church supposedly starts at 10:00, but one never quite knows when the service will start…hey its Africa! After church Susie came home with me for lunch. It was a surprisingly warm, 78 degree winter day so like most Cape Townians we were going to take advantage of it! We ended up driving down to the beach in Muzinburg and went for an hour and half long walk on the beach with our feet cooling in the sea. We had a good heart to heart chat. After, we splurged a bit and got cappuccinos and ice cream…a perfect treat on a sunny beach day. Later that night I curled up in bed with my housemate Caroline and we watched 4 episodes of The Office…we are officially addicted to this show! South Africa is a season behind so we only still making our way though Season 4.

Monday, May 11th:
Up early for house prayer. Then to Warehouse by 8:30 for morning prayers there. We were all challenged to believe the Lord for big things this week…mine was to believe for continual financial provision! Spent some time in the morning putting together clothing packs and organizing the ‘threshing floor’. From 2:30 to 4 joined the mom’s group and played with the many children, and chatted with the mums that come in weekly. Home for some personal time before our house dinner (with Caroline, Rene and Linda…we meet each Monday night to eat and connect). That night I shared what the Lord has been doing in my heart over the weekend…was stretched and blessed by my vulnerability with these women.

Tuesday, May 12th:
Up early for prayers again…and then prayers at the Warehouse at 8:30 too. Tuesdays are teaching days at the WH and my group was looking at the power of blessings and how we can strategically pray prayers of blessing over each other. After, was apart of an hour long prayer time for a staff member. Then after lunch I headed home for some admin and reading time. At 4:30 I drove to Tambo Village to tutor Simpamandela. I was about to leave at 6 but his mother said she made a special meal for me…we had yummy fried bread…that was filled with chicken liver! Yes I managed to eat it all (two of them), and a first for me too! I ended up staying until 7:30 just chatting and laughing with this dear family.

Wednesday, May 13th:
Morning prayers with housemates and then worship at the Warehouse at 8:30. After, left with Lara for Khayelitsha Preschool. Typical morning of playing with the kids, but at around 11 one of the teachers asked if I could help them do some errands. They have never asked before, but since I had a car I was happy to help and go on an adventure. Myself, one of teachers and one of the cooks piled into my little car (still running on its Styrofoam part!)…and drove to another nursery/preschool to get another cook. All four of us then went to the Khayelitsha Shoprite, and I will say that I was the only white face in the entire store! I did get lots of glances and puzzled looks. After buying all the weekly supplies for the school meals, we drove to a shack not too far away where we bought some fresh vegetables. Then back to each of the preschools to unload. I was thankful to see the other preschool and am interested to get involved there later on this year. Back at the school I joined the other teachers for a satisfying lunch of chicken and rice.

Thursday, May 14th:
Leave at 7:45 to head to SACS school. Head teacher Camilla is at a funeral so I was asked to assist Tina, her assistant, for the day. Had a great time with the boys and the other teachers, my relationships with them all continues to grow. On my way home I stopped by and visited Liesl, Eliza and Vivian Stewart and joined them for lunch and some catch up time. Back home to read and reflect! Later called a friend in the States on skype.

Friday, May 15th:
Slept in, we don’t pray as a house on Friday mornings. The winter rain was pouring outside so my walking plans got canceled and I spent the morning in my PJs bundled up and pottering around the house, organizing and writing to friends. At 2:30 I left with Caroline, Zandille from church and her 4 year old son to Glen Carin for the Sweet Home Farm girl’s camp. One of the ministries at the WH is a girl’s youth group at the Sweet Home Farm (an informal settlement) and this weekend was their first ever camp. The teenage girls were so excited! I was asked to come along for a night and help in the kitchen! It was great fun to be back in a camp mode and we made hot dogs and fries for that first night. I bonded the most with my new 4 year old buddy! The rain came down hard and we had an unsettled night in our cabins…gotta love those bunk beds with snorers and sleep talkers!

Saturday, May 16th:
Up at 6:30 to help with breakfast! Then ran errands with Caroline…the rain came down hard in true South African fashion…in unison with the wind I always feel like I am experiencing a hurricane! Back home by the afternoon to quickly get glamorous for the 2:00 wedding of Gary & Louie Hartwig at Christ Church Kenilworth. She is on staff at the WH. At about 5:00 Caroline and I went to a cozy bar and sipped a much needed glass of red wine after a busy 24 hours!