Back to the Basics {Monday, April 20}

Here in Knysna it’s back to BoH basics. We are in schools, doing presentations, and passing out books. Tony will be our national contact here in Knysna. He and his family live in Mossel Bay, but he is staying with us for the next two weeks in our hostel. It really is incredible to see the sacrifices nationals here make to get God’s Word out to children. Vanessa and Ryan have shared stories of nationals they have met in many countries they have worked in… Some of them are not even paid for the work they do. Tony is a colored, Afrikaan-speaking man….probably early forties. He’s very energetic and easy to work with.

This morning we started off with two HUGE schools scheduled at 8am…. So we got to tackle two 1500 student presentations with three and four people each. All of the schools here speak fluent English so we have had minimal need for translation. I actually miss having a translator, because it gives you more time to think as you’re talking in front of large groups of people. There’s also a heightened sense of needing to put your best foot forward as the students here are much more like students back home. Unlike some of our more rural locations, you have to watch being too cheesy or religious like you would in dealing with any schools back home.

On the other hand, our last school of the day was a half hour drive into the mountain bush…. Where we found one school in a desolate, impoverished area with 27 children all ranging from grades R through 7. It’s unbelievable to me that we can start and end our day in such completely opposite communities.