"Do it All" by Branden Bosler

As I look back on my last 4 weeks in Africa, I realize that this trip, without a doubt the greatest I’ve ever taken, has been a culmination of some of the most amazing and memorable times of my life. I did things I never imagined doing when I swam with great white sharks. I conquered fears I once thought unconquerable when I jumped off the world’s highest bungee bridge. I met people I had only ever read about in books when Ahmed Kathrada, Nelson Mandela’s cellmate and political confidant, gave us a tour of Robben Island. I interacted with animals only before ever seen on my television when I got to hold the trunk of an African elephant and then the next day go on a safari. I met and befriended people with whom I never thought I’d cross paths when I spent time in the township of Sir Lowry’s Pass. I slept in places I never imagined sleeping when I in turn, slept with my new friends in their homes. I experienced love from complete strangers in this same place. I drank more wine than I ever imagined drinking when I toured vineyard after vineyard in the towns of Franschoek and Stellenbosch. I ate food I never thought I’d eat when I ordered ostrich steak and then the next night ordered kudu. I climbed mountains I once thought impossible when we hiked Table Mountain. I saw sights that took my breath away when I watched the sun rise over the city from the top of Lion’s Head. I saw the most beautiful sunset of my life when that same sun that I watched rise, set over the Atlantic Ocean as I looked on from the shores of Clifton Beach. I was immersed in sporting events only ever seen on TV with World Cup mania. I rode in more taxis than I ever want to again as I zipped all over the city on a daily basis. I partied later than I’ve ever partied, dancing in the clubs of Long Street until 5am. And above all, I shared all of this with once complete strangers, who have since become incredible friends.

"Impossible Without Family" by Michael Phelps

Thankful for Family

While being away from my family and doing many things that people do not have the chance of experiencing I have learned to be grateful for everything I am able to do. I have come to realize that i am a very lucky person because I take trips like these for granted but in reality it is something I should be grateful for. On this trip I have gone skydiving, bungee jumping, zip lining, and safari tours but I have not taken in time to realize how lucky I am to be able to experience these things in such a short time of my life.

As a twenty one year old college student I am very thankful that my parents allow me to come to South Africa and experience parts of the world they have never even been. I hope to continue exploring other parts of the world but as young as I am I have been many places that my seniors have never even seen.

Through all of the experiences of this trip my favorite part is the safari and being able to see wild animals up close and personal. The safari was one of the most intriguing events that I have ever experienced. The safari made me feel like I on the discovery channel in real life. I hope to travel back and experience more safaris in my future but I am very content and happy with all I have been able to do on this trip. I know that I would never be able to experience any of this if it were not for my parents allowing me to study abroad. In the end I have learned many things and seen much in my short time on this earth. I owe everything I have done to my parents and thank them for the opportunity to be in Cape Town.

"Top 5" by Jeanna Courter

Cape Town has been one of the best experiences of my life. I never thought I would have the opportunity to do some of the things we have gotten to do and meet some of the people we have had the chance to meet. Since there is so much to tell, I decided to make a Top 5 of experiences of Cape Town so far:

Cooking Dinner for my Family- This past week we were given the opportunity to cook dinner for our families. My group decided that we were going to turn our dinner into a celebration of the time we have spent together. We bought balloons, masks and noise makers and had the family wait outside while we got the house ready. We then made them close their eyes and walked them into the house. The family immediately started crying and told us that they had never experienced a celebration like that before even for a birthday. It meant so much to me to be able to provide a surprise like that to them.

Cape Point, Boulders Beach, and Cape of Good Hope- Today we took a trip to three well known places in Cape Town. Our first stop was to Boulders Beach where we got to see African Penguins. The second stop of the day was at Cape of Good Hope. The views here were absolutely stunning, and there were rocks and boulders that we were able to climb. Our last stop of today was visiting Cape Point. Cape Point is the point where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet. We took about a 15 minute walk up to a lighthouse where we were able to see this point. The view from the top was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

Wine Tour- Last weekend we took a trip to a vineyard about an hour outside of Cape Town. While there, we learned about the different grapes grown there, how to taste wine properly, and finally taste three different types of wine. We enjoyed the wine tour so much that tonight we are heading to Stellenbosch to have another wine tasting tomorrow. We are planning on heading to three different vineyards.

Bungee Jumping- Before coming to Cape Town, I had decided I would not be participating in bungee jumping. I am scared of heights, and also my mom begged me to not do it. After arriving at Bloukrans Bridge however, I decided I would regret this if I did not jump (not to mention everyone else was doing it to, so I could not really back out). Walking on the bridge to the bungee jumps was probably one of the scariest moments of my life. We all stood on the bridge and cheered each other on as one by one we jumped off. I am so glad I ended up jumping.

Sunset Champagne Cruise- The first Sunday after our adventure week, we went on a sunset champagne cruise where we got to see Cape Town from a water perspective. Since there had been two different groups throughout this trip, one who went on adventure week the first week and one that went the third week, it was a great time for us to get to know other people on the trip we had not met yet. We drank champagne and cruised around while enjoying the beautiful city of Cape Town for an hour and a half.

"It's the Friendships" by Kevin McDevitt

When I first arrived in South Africa, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Then, I was thrown into a van at 5:30 in the morning and sent across to the opposite end of the country to begin my MAF adventure. My first four days were filled of extraordinary events, including bungee jumping off the world’s highest bridge, going on a safari, riding elephants, and using all-terrain vehicles to travel through jungle trails. There was so much going on that I was physically exhausted, but in the process, I learned a lot about myself and the country in which I was residing.

Bungee jumping was the most intense thing I have ever done. I literally was scared to death, and somehow I ended up going second in a large group of thirty. Of course, there were a ton of girls so I had to act brave. As soon as I got to the ledge, I seriously thought about cancelling and turning around. Too late. Before I know it, I had literally been tossed over the side of a bridge and was hurling down towards the ground. There is no experience like it in the world, and I would do it again in a heart beat.

My favorite part of this trip has been the friendships I have made. I enjoy everyone I have met here and hope to continue these relationships upon returning home. This experience has definitely been positive and if I could do it again, I would.

“Always be Curious” by Preston Shurley

Curious George was always one of my favorite series growing up. George was fascinated by the world and all it had to offer. He went through life with an unending, and often mischievous, thirst for knowledge and understanding. I learned many things from that monkey, but most importantly, George instilled in me at a young age an incredible astonishment with the world. This curiosity has been my guide for my life, especially in my time here in Cape Town. It has driven me to do things I never thought I would (jump off bridges and out of planes, swim with sharks, and free climb on the cliffs of Cape Point), it has helped me give to the point of exhaustion (painting inside the pre-school, throwing the kids of the township in the air, and spinning them around and around until we all felt like we were walking home from a long night at Tiger Tiger), and it has given me the energy to try to do everything, even when only averaging about 4 hours of sleep per night.

Cape Town is such an astonishing city, and there is so much to experience here that you never cease to be amazed. The city is gorgeous, the culture is wonderful, and the excitement of the approaching World Cup is enough to inspire anyone with a youthful enthusiasm for life. It is because of this that I am always curious. As the program comes to a close, and the reality of the flight back to America becomes all too real, my curiosity has turned into a fire to see and do everything I can before I get back to “real life.” These are the times when I wish George was on this trip. He would be a great travel companion and provide more inspiration than necessary to attempt to accomplish everything we want to do. But the potential for George is in all of us. As long as we wake each morning with a youthful curiosity for life, we carry the spirit of George in us and will be inspired to reach the full potential of life.

Always be curious. Never cease to be astonished. Love wholly. And give fully.

"Thank You Parents!" by Sara Mount

I thought being one of the last people to write my blog was going to be so much easier because I would have experienced everything. I was definitely wrong. So much has happened and I can’t even think of where to begin so I’m just going to bullet about what my most memorable experiences have been so far:

Bungee jumping. Who gets to say they have jumped off the highest bridge in the world while studying abroad?

Robben Island Tour with Ahmad Kathrada, Nelson Mandela’s prison mate for 20 years. I was lucky enough to record his entire speech so I can take it home to share with my family!

Skydiving. ‘Nuff said.

Spending time with the families in the townships has been humbling and inspiring for me. Before I didn’t realize how much of an impact service learning has on someone’s heart, but I encourage any person of any age to go and experience it just once, but disclaimer: it’s kind of addicting.

Listening to every guest speaker we have been fortunate to spend time with while we’re here. I’ve learned more about myself and what I am capable of as a human being in the past month, than I’ve dreamed about my entire life. This world has no limit and I want to just take every dream and opportunity I have been given and give it back in a bigger and better way than before.

These are just a few of the things from a huge list that we’ve been able to experience in Cape Town, and I wouldn’t hesitate to come back here in (their) summer. It has so much rich history, scenery, and culture that you can’t help but be sucked into. So to my Mom and Dad, and every other parent out there on behalf of your children: Thanks. It was money well spent. ;) I love you!

"Cape Town Restaurants" by Rea Hasie

Favorite Restaurants in Cape Town so far (in no order)

• Cubana’s, on Somerhurst, great quesadillas, nachos and drinks
• Manna Epicure, on Kloof Street, wonderful for a Sunday brunch
• Blues, in Camp’s Bay, it is all good and the décor is fabulous
• Charly’s Bakery, one of Opera’s top picks for Cape Town, delicious quiche
• Tank, located in Green Point, outstanding sushi and huge fish tank
• Opal Lounge, on Kloof Street, chic, hip atmosphere, unbelievable food and drinks—number one pick
• Crave, in the Green Market Square, perfect for grabbing a quick bite, love the sandwiches
• Mama Africa, on Long Street, favorite dish of the night was vegetable bake

"Love That Hair" by Carlin Conner

Cape Town: Fighting Your Fears

So far in Cape Town I have constantly been presented with opportunities to fight my fears. During my adventure week I was submerged into a metal cage to swim with wild, hungry, great white sharks while teasing them with food, and I was shoved off of the highest commercial bungee point in the entire world to face not only my fear of heights, but to also battle motion sickness (that whiplash is intense!). Plus, when you have never really been acquainted with wild animals and a herd of elephants surrounds your van you get a little scared! But besides all of these incredible opportunities that I have had to conquer my fears, I was by far presented with thus far in the trip was today, when I was given the opportunity to go skydiving.

At first I was excited, looking at the plane that I would soon be jumping out of while simultaneously looking at pictures of the past skydivers that lined the walls left me more excited than scared. However, as soon as I piled into the tiny, rickety plane that would transport my 9000 feet into the sky, all feelings of self-assurance leapt right out the window. When sitting in a tiny place 9000 feet above solid ground, strapped to a complete stranger, the only feeling is fear. Well, fear and panic, but those feelings are pretty much intertwined. All I wanted to do was escape, but as soon as I was looking out of the window I knew that I would have to face my fear. Fortunately for me, if you have a fear of heights, facing your fear is one of the most enjoyable experiences in the world. Never in my life have I been so pleasantly surprised when conquering a fear, and I hope that I have the opportunity to do so again. Free falling through the sky while looking out at Table Mountain and Robben Island is an experience I will never be able to repeat, and I only hope that all of you reading this are able to one day have the same experience that I did. Plus, the effect of wind blown hair is just as elegant as you could have ever imagined.

"Top 10" by Alli Frank

The Top 10 of Cape Town

• Skydiving
• Visiting the Wine lands
• Going to Robben Island
• Serving in the Township
• Jaw dropping scenery
• Sunrise hike up Lions Head
• Adventure week.
• Cape Point
• Stellenbosch
• Making wonderful new friends.

“Always Take Chances” By Laney Pait

What did I do yesterday do you ask?

Welllllllllllllllllllll, without thinking, I threw on a harness and hopped in a miniscule rickety old airplane. I sat watching the buildings and cars become smaller and smaller until I finally realized the reality of what I was about to do.

Why in the world did I think this was a good idea? It’s not natural for ANYONE to want to jump out of a plane 9,000 feet in the air…Clearly; this was the worst idea I had ever come up with.

Too late for doubts, the door swooshed open and I was being literally dragged out of an airplane by a complete stranger.

The second the wind hit my face and I spiraled out of the airplane, I knew I had made the right decision. The view was devastatingly beautiful and the feeling of my cheeks flapping in the wind was indescribable. I was flying.

Haven’t you always wanted to fly?

"Grounded at Last" by Arielle D'Avanzo

I’m not one for heights—I don’t like them, they make my stomach queasy and, to be totally frank, they scare me to death. Hanging by my feet from a bungee cord, after jumping off the highest commercial bungee jump in the world, just dangling there hundreds of feet in the air, I said to myself, “What was I thinking? I will NEVER do anything like this again” — all the while analyzing every possible scenario where my feet could slip out of the harness and I would very soon meet my demise somewhere over South Africa. Nevertheless, I survived. And I now know that bungee jumping is just not going to be my thing. But at least I can check it off the ol’ bucket list.

But what about jumping out of planes? Well, that’s a whole other matter. After the big bungee jump, I boldly (um, foolishly?) signed up for (you guessed it) skydiving. Again, what on earth was I thinking? Jumping out of an airplane, 9,000 feet in the air? Bye-bye, mom and dad. Bye-bye brother. Bye-bye life. The jump was breathtaking…literally. I haven’t experienced anything like it in my whole 20 years here on this planet. It was so exhilarating that, once I hit the ground, I was ready to go right back up in that raggedy, 20-ft. plane and do it all over again. All of us here know Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Let me tell you, though, from 9,000 feet it’s absolutely stunning. When we climbed Table Mountain, I thought that was the best view of Cape Town. But I can now say with authority, that the very best view is high, high above, floating through the sky, looking up at—and down on—on heaven.

"The Five Senses" by Francie Fisher

SEE: Boys chasing our bus. Over 1000 houses no more than five feet apart. Cigarette butts covering the ground. Children in school uniforms, others in dirty clothing. Bare feet. Grimy fingernails. Blank faces. Stares. Clotheslines. A drunk father. Powerful women working. A man with dreadlocks down to the ground. Chipped paint. Bones protruding from bodies. Pink gums. Rotting teeth. Wounds. Gravel. Smiles. Waving. Glassy eyes. Brown. Pigtails.

HEAR: Dogs barking. Roosters cockle-doodle-dooing. Children laughing. Children crying. Silence. Pleads to be hugged and picked up. Afrikaans. Attempts at speaking English. Yells. Sniffles from a runny nose. Singing. Hand games. Hitting. Wheels of a bike. Grumbling stomachs. Whispering.

SMELL: Mildew. Marijuana. Alcohol. Stale breath. Grass. A dirty stench. Body odor. Outhouse. Gasoline.

FEEL: Strong wind. Rough skin. Dirt. Unwashed hair. A slap on the back. A little girls hands embraced with mine. Tension. Cold. Love. Hate. Excitement.

TASTE: Dirt particles in the back of my throat. Home-cooked pasta by my host mother. Dry, dirty air.

"Family Comes First" by Thomas Wamsley

Sir Lowry’s Pass has made me reflect on many facets of my life, but the most dominant area is with regards to family. Every visit I have left with an altered view of family. To them there is nothing more important than relationships. The relationship they most visibly show as most important is their family. However, the most disturbing part of their family life is that most families appear not to have their fathers living with them anymore. This is also the greatest irony since if the men took family as seriously as is portrayed to us during our visits; they would obviously stay with the family and care for them. Therefore, it seems that this view of family as the most important aspect of life seems to apply primarily if not exclusively to the women at Sir Lowry’s Pass.

What I want to stress in this blog is the changes and aspects of my family that Sir Lowry’s Pass has induced. First of all when I go back to Atlanta I want to make spending time with my family a priority. Additionally, when I get into the next stage of my life and start having a wife and kids of my own I want to create an atmosphere centered on relationships and family rather than material goods. In America, a lot of people lose sight of this. In particular, a lot of men will spend countless hours at work in order to make more money so they can buy more things. On the other hand, I want to balance my life between work and my family in a healthier way. The last area is that I want to make sure to take every possible step to stay with my family and not divorce my wife. Seeing all of these kids fatherless has been a tough thing to swallow because it is apparent that when things got tough they decided to split instead of help. This is especially difficult considering they were directly responsible for the kids, which are the major source for the drain on money. Therefore, witnessing all of this has refocused me to committing and dedicating myself to staying with my wife, and if I get divorced for some reason supporting my family no matter what.

My time at Sir Lowry’s Pass has been an invaluable experience. Among many other things it has reprioritized my view and dedication to my family. Throughout the rest of my life I plan to make it a point to spend more time with my family rather than on myself, do whatever I can to stay with my future wife, and to support my family no matter what happens. Therefore, my three words are family comes first.

“THE 2010 SENSES” by Mackenzie Lee

They told us to simply listen to their stories. This was the only piece of advice, we, the Bafana Bafana’s were given before our surprise trip to Sir Lowry’s Pass to spend the night. It may have seemed lacking at the time, but nothing could have prepared us for our encounter. Anything gained had no doubt been truly experienced; it had been soaked in from all angles. I’ve come to realize the heart of this trip has been a beautiful combination of observation and analysis.

We started out blindly by listening to the voices and stories of the people, our new families. We saw the bare feet, the cinderblock houses. Nobody missed the mangy dogs or the trash lining the road. We could smell the amazing meals wafting out of the windows of the houses, and they tasted even better. We smelled the soap the people used, since many don’t have showers. Nobody will forget how little legs feel wrapped tight around our waists, and the feeling of little hands running themselves through our foreign hair. Or the way the wind sounded as it blew straight through the cracks of the little houses.

All these feelings, sights, smells - they all contribute to something bigger. Because that extra long hug I got from one of the little girls wasn’t just another ordinary hug. After soaking everything about Sir Lowry’s Pass, I knew we were giving the people there something they could hold onto long after we are gone.

"This is the Day" by Hayden Rome

“This is the Day that the Lord has made;

I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

As a result of my time spent with the families of Sir Lowry’s Pass, I believe that the power of giving is a trait that can only be enriched through personal experience and growth. The selfless act of giving does not derive from a particular holiday or event, but simply from the heart. One should not give with the hopes of receiving anything in return but rather because one wants to share what they have to give. Often times the response can be a bit overwhelming because we are conformed to such a materialistic society but with time, the gift of giving will reap its benefits.

Deeds such as cooking, washing the dishes, and merely playing with the kids seem so minor to us but in context, the people of these townships spend all of their time, energy, and money making sure these major deeds get done in a day’s work. Thus, a response such as a simple “thank you” lets us know that we have made a difference in someone’s life. My experience at the townships has provided me with the ability to realize that too often we get caught up in our own problems that we fail to see the bigger picture in life-- it puts any suffering we may feel into a more proper perspective.

"Living the Life" by Meredith Vaughan

Yesterday we went to the Sir Lowry’s Pass to make them lunch. Ms. Shirley asked us to make her tacos because they don’t ever eat them. Before heading over there we went to the grocery store and got all the ingredients for her and her four grandchildren. When were walking up to the house more and more children starting following us. As we starting cooking, the kitchen was packed! All the kids wanted to help cooking, so much so that we didn’t have to cook anything ourselves. I started getting nervous we wouldn’t have enough food for everyone to have one taco and one rice krispie treat. We made small tacos in the beginning to make sure everybody got some because it ended up being fifteen people to feed. Thankfully there were enough even for us to eat one and some kids to get seconds! They all loved the tacos like they were something hard to make or a fancy food. After lunch we cleaned up the mess we had made in the kitchen but there was no running water let alone a dishwasher so that made it difficult. Dish washing was interrupted quickly by children trying to be held and wanting to be played with. So I did just that. When we had to leave I got so many hugs and “I’ll miss yous.” This was so far my favorite day since we’ve been in South Africa.

"Africa, WHAT UP" by Meghan Deere

Having been here for almost THREE weeks already, how can I truly put my experiences into one entry? I tried coming up with clever ways to make my blog stand out (including a failed attempt today on the bus to think of a rap… I guess I’m just not reppin’ my ATL roots) but there is no other way for me to even begin to express my time here without a simple list. But hey, at least I’m trying, neh? (‘neh’ is my attempt to fit in with the locals…) So here are some trip highlights so far…

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• BEING STUCK IN AMSTERDAM. Yes, it’s as crazy as they say it is. After being delayed in Atlanta for 3 hours, a small group of us quickly realized we would be stuck in Amsterdam for the night. (Team Amsterdam for life!) Naturally, we explored for the day and saw the, ahem, interesting sights, sounds, and smells of the city. It was a good time considering that we were delayed getting to Cape Town!
• ADVENTURE WEEK. How I miss staying in amazing hostels, meeting amazing people, never really knowing when we were going to get out of that van, and driving through the beautiful Garden Route of S.A. to new adventures! I loved being able to see more of S.A. outside of Cape Town and do things- like BUNGEE JUMPING- that I probably will never get to do again! I only wish it had lasted longer!
• SIR LOWRY’S PASS. How can I put this place into words? I cannot get over how generous and happy these people were to welcome us into their homes. I have had so much fun going back this week and getting to know my host family better and being able to play with the most badass kids around! Just be sure to know all the words to Justin Bieber songs or you will be shown up by a 2 year old…
• TABLE MOUNTAIN. Curse you Table Mountain!! You were a beast to climb, but once I made it to the top (see Dad I’m exercising!) it turned out to be the best view in all of Cape Town! Definitely worth it!
• ROBBEN ISLAND: Learning about the history of this country is so important to my being here. I cannot understand anything about South Africa without knowing its history, and I am so glad we got to go to Robben Island to see it first hand! And having Mandela’s cellmate give us a first-hand tour wasn’t too shabby either.
• MAMA AFRICA. Deliciousness wrapped up in great food, great atmosphere, and a band that likes to pull as many girls up on stage at once as possible! It’s quite an experience being able to taste all the different food like Ostrich and Warthog. Feel free to try everything, just make sure to stay away from the flaming shots!!
• FRANSCHHOEK: Napa Valley, Smapa Valley. These vineyards are set in the most beautiful mountains I’ve ever seen! I loved getting able to taste the different types of wines (and possibly have purchased some different types as well…) and walk around the quaint town of Franschhoek!

Just being here soaking up the amazing culture and scenery was all I wanted out of this trip, and all of these things have just added to my experience. I’m never going home!

PS- HEY MOM AND DAD. IGNORE THAT LAST SENTENCE. XOXO

"What A Ride" by Laura Mason

After three weeks in Cape Town I can describe my trip literally as a wild ride. It began with Adventure Week and a seven-hour van ride on the first day. I could not imagine a better way to become incredibly close with thirteen new friends. The van rides continued for the next four days and were filled with such immense laughter that my stomach was sore days after we returned. At the elephant reserve, we were given the opportunity to ride on the back of three different elephants. I could not recommend this enough. Yes, you may be able to find an elephant ride at a zoo in the U.S, but nothing beats a bareback elephant ride in Africa. The next ride of a lifetime came at the Ostrich farm we visited on the last day of adventure week. I never thought I would have the opportunity to brag that I have ridden the world’s largest bird. However, the most important ride we have been on leads us to Sir Lowry’s Pass, a South African township. Each trip begins with anxiousness as to what we will experience that day and ends with an exciting ride back full of stories of giving and service. I can only hope that the rest of my trip will be as wild a ride!

"Ready. Set. Jump!" by Emilie Tollison

In one of our class lectures on the “Power of Living” we watched a video called “Everybody is allowed to wear Sunscreen.” If you have never seen this video I encourage anyone and everyone to take only five minutes out of your day and watch it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfq_A8nXMsQ. This video relays life’s simple yet often forgotten rules to live by. One of my favorites was …

“Do Something That Scares You Everyday”

Well Capetown, Congratulations…you have really left me no choice.

I have marked more off my “Bucket List” in the past two weeks than in the past twenty years of my life. So far to be checked off my list:

Bungee Jumping Shark Cage Diving with Great White Sharks

Go on an African Safari Ride an Elephant

And last to be checked off my list….

SKY DIVING

I never thought I would find myself on top of an elephant or diving head first off of the tallest bridge in the world. Nor did I ever dream of my Monday morning schedule having “shark cage diving” on the agenda. However, this trip is not one to cater to any form of a comfort zone. Today after a 2 minute briefing, I harnessed up and got into a plane to carry me 9000ft into the air only to hear the words…READY..SET…JUMP! Before I knew it I was spiraling downward with nothing but air separating me from the beautiful scenery that surrounded my fall. The first thing I said when I made the landing was, “Where do I sign up for round 2?”I jumped out of a plane today. Enough said.

"God is Here" by Kristen Stamps

South Africa has been absolutely incredible so far! Every aspect of this experience has resonated with me and formed a precious memory that I will cherish forever. All of us have been pulled out of our comfort zones, faced fear as we’ve tried new and adventurous activities, and learned so much about leadership and how to truly serve others. One of my favorite parts of this experience has been how my faith has grown and how clearly God has shown himself to me over the past few weeks! Whether through a peace that surrounds me when facing terrifying situations such as bungee jumping or skydiving, a sweet gesture and conversation I have with a local around Cape Town, a smile and warm hug from a child in the township, or a majestic sunset painted in the sky as the day comes to an end, the Lord has surprised me each and every day with something that fills me with complete happiness and lets me know He is here. He is here and visible for all to witness if eyes are opened to see the beauty around us and ears are listening to hear loving whispers… .