Outtatown South Africa 09 - 10

Adventures in Africa – Adrielle and Robin

2010-03-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

After going on a three day hike up Rhino Mountain this past week, we decided it would be a good idea to give you a summary of some of the adventure activities we have done in the last 2.5 months. We started off our adventure activities on Feb 4^th by running off a mountain with a pilot, and a chute… aka paragliding. After a 2 second run we found ourselves floating above a coastal city looking on a breath taking view. Then on February 20^th those who chose to found themselves in a small cage off the side of a boat. This was a moment in our lives when a shark encounter was a good thing. Though the water was murky, it made the sharks that much more mysterious. As we traveled to Bonnievale on February 27^th, we made a short stop at an irrigation canal. We thought we were going to be getting a lesson on the irrigation systems in the area but little did we know that we would be floating down one of them into a tunnel. This tunnel was 5 feet tall with 4 feet of water and bats everywhere! It was a little freaky at the time but when we came out the other end, most people loved it. At Bonnievale we relaxed on a river with a rope swing and boats. On March 2^nd we headed off to Jeffrey’s Bay. On the way we stopped at Bloukrans Bridge to do the very thing we’re taught not to… jump off. As the world tallest commercial bunjee jump it was 216 meters to the ground. Adreille and I thought it was the best adventure activity but it was such a unique experience that each person will tell a different tale of how they felt on the bridge and on the way down. In Jeffrey’s bay we had a packed 2 days filled with adventure. We went horseback riding on sand dunes and galloped along the beach, got surfing lessons in the salty Indian Ocean, and a few braved the wind to go sand boarding. On March 12^th we got the chance to go on a 3 hour coastal hike in Mdumbi. On March 20^th during our Durban homestay we went to a water park. A memorable moment was when we managed to get 17 people ‘on’ a giant tube going down a slide… rules are flexible in Africa. The next day on our way to Pietermaritzburg we stopped at a waterfall to go abseiling or repelling as we call it down 107 meters. The hike we just did up Rhino Mountain was 4 km to the cave we slept in on the first night. The second day was when we climbed 10 km up the mountain to have a foggy lunch. It cleared up for a few amazing minutes and then we went down the same 10 km for another nights sleep in the cave. The third day was 4 km back to base. Adrielle and I were put in group one. As we write this after the switch at noon today we hope that group two has better luck with the clouds on top of Rhino Mountain. All together the adventures we have done in the last 2.5 months have been amazing and the memories and sights will last forever! As the trip comes to an end, we can look back on our time here and remember some of the crazy things we’ve done. The only thing left to do is brave the heat and animals in Kruger National Park.

Adrielle Krahn and Robin Taves

Bonnievale/Jeffrey’s Bay – Week of Relaxation

2010-03-24T00:16:00.000-07:00

After saying goodbye to Stellenbosch, none of us thought the next leg of the journey would involve walking through a sea of bats in an irrigation tunnel – but somehow, it did. That little adventure bought us passage into “Impact Camp” at Bonnievale, beginning a week of relaxation and excitement.

For three nights we slept outdoors under metal overhangs, only meters from a gently flowing river. By day, some conquered the river by kayak, some by rope swing, some by determined dam construction. By night we sat around the campfire, enjoyed Braai after delicious Braai and waited eagerly for phone call every twenty minuets for an update on Olympic hockey game.

Throughout the week we also had the opportunity to interact with Nathan Rieger, a pastor we met last semester in Winnipeg. He led some group devotionals and made himself very available for one-on-one chats. A lot of us really appreciated having him around and tapping into his inspiring wisdom.

We spent the second half of the week by the ocean in windy Jeffrey’s Bay. There we had the opportunity for a bunch of unique experiences. How many people can claim to have ridden horseback over sand dunes and along the ocean? How about having surf lessons in one of the country’s surfing capitals? Some even braved the dunes a second time to go sandboarding. In our down-time we explored the shops and enjoyed each other’s company. To cap off the week our host Bev took us out for a lovely seafood dinner at a restaurant whose floor was made of sand.

Unfortunately this week we had to bid farewell to our beloved “Baba” and bus driver Stefans. A small accident while backing up meant that he had to take his bus back to Johannesburg for repairs. The whole group was distraught to see him go, but hopefully we’ll get to connect with him again before we leave South Africa.

-Brock P.

Guys appreciation day

2010-03-24T00:15:00.000-07:00

After lunch the group gathered outside where we were surprised with a “guys appreciation day” rap. The rap captivated our interest, but we still had no idea what was in store for us. The girls ushered us into the dining area where I found that Kaytlin and Robin had been assigned to look after me for the day. They surprised me with a thoughtful card and a Cadbury chocolate bar. The service was “so far-so good”, and only going to get better.

Then came the games. The first of which was one I had mixed feelings for. They had us duct tape eggs to our stomach and slap each other until they broke, last man standing won. While it was a good fun, it left us with considerably red, stinging stomachs. I suppose it’s a small price to pay for the opportunity to slap each other as hard as we can in the gut. Following the egg game we were split into four teams for an obstacle course. We painted ourselves in team colours. My team proudly sported the colour white and consisted of Raf, Jeremy, and Brock. We barely made the podium placing third. The final challenge was optional. We were told to catch one of the wild goats that grazed nearby and get the whole ordeal on video. Despite the odd nature of the challenge Eric and I decided to accept due to the promise of a large prize. To our surprise we succeeded, I managed to catch a goat while Eric filmed.

Just before dinner we were called together to receive our prizes. The prizes we received were favors from the girls. They each wrote down 2 favors they would do on paper slips and placed them in a hat. Depending on how well you did in the competitions you were allowed to pick out x number of slips. I won four great prizes, one henna tattoo from Becca, one serenading from Laura Hill, a serenading from Christine, and one dish washing from Emma.

After the prizes the girls all dressed up and escorted us to dinner. They had arranged seating, mood lighting and some very nice décor. The service was flawless. I didn’t get out of my seat once. And so ended a great day of being pampered. I wont soon forget my day of being appreciated. Thank you to all the girls who put up with our needs and requests, as ridiculous as some of them were. I think I speak for all the guys of site two when I say if we do half as good a job on girl’s appreciation day they will be pleased.

-Ben Brubaker-Zehr

more pictures from the Semesters

2010-02-26T05:44:00.001-08:00

Strandfontein

2010-02-26T05:35:00.001-08:00

The week in Strandfontein was a week to learn and live with "Colour" people. The week was spent learn about places like Colleen's Place of Hope, a home that takes in children who have been abandon by there parents. Other places included a Museum that told the story of how whole neighbourhoods where forcibly removed. The week was also spent learning how people are still effected by that removal today. How the struggles of oppression is past down from generation to generation and how people are working to reconcile the past. After our different field trips we often spent time at the beach to relax. It was a good week.

The beach often brings out excitement in students

Robin Island Prison

Simon's Town

2010-02-26T05:16:00.000-08:00

Following a 2 day bus ride through desert the time we had in Simon’s Town was a refreshing break after a busy week in Soweto. After settling in at our accommodations some people ran off to stalk penguins on the beach while others went into town. The first day was spent on a mountain taking turns paragliding. Six hours is very long when you’re on a mountain, though it made way for people rein-acting scenes from Lord of the rings. People who went first spent most of the day rock hopping or hanging out at a restaurant. The paragliding itself was short-about-10min-but really cool. It was about 3 running steps and then we were gliding over Clifton beach just outside of Cape Town. The next day we went to Cape Point which we thought was the southern most tip of Africa and where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet but we have conflicting reports. Further research is needed. All the same it was a gorgeous place. It had lots of paths, a lighthouse and a beach. The beach is where most people ended up. More than one person was sore afterwards because of the massive waves.

Our last day in Simon’s Town was free, since shark diving was rescheduled do to boat engine failure. I hung out on the beach all day but some people walked into town to the shops, others took a train into a bigger town, and some people did all those things. For dinner we were given a little extra money to go out for a nice meal in either Simon’s Town or Cape Town. It was a good end to a good couple of days.

-Robin

The big Trek

2010-02-12T01:14:00.000-08:00

We pulled of Soweto at the unhealthy hour of 5am on Tuesday the 1^st of February, committed to a gruelling 2-day bus ride to the cape. As the sun set on Tuesday and choking dust swirled through the bus – the inside of the bus – we pulled into a beautiful oasis in the desert.

We stayed with a wonderful family that hosted us for the night at their stunning beautiful sheep farm. We were treated to a lovely braai and words of encouragement from our host.

We slept out under the stars on mattresses that we put on the lawn and tennis court. We fell a sleep under the stars that night and woke up under the expansive sky.

It took longer then we thought to reach Simonstown, but as we finally stepped off the bus and saw penguins wadding around, we knew that the next leg of our journey had officially begun.

-Brock

Pictures

2010-02-12T01:03:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pictures from different points in our trip. Thanks for following our blogg and we will continue to update as the reasources to do so become avalible

lectuer with Peit Meiring, one of the leaders of the TRC

Picture from Lion Park

Picture from Lion Park

Drum workshop in Pretoria

Gumboot Dancing (Soweto week)

Traditional African dance that members of our group learned and performed (Soweto week)

tour of "Soccer City" the Flagship statium for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Is located just outside of Soweto

Soweto week

Soweto

2010-02-12T00:42:00.000-08:00

A friend told me shortly before I left that when she thought of Africa all she could think of were World Vision commercials. When I first stepped into Kliptown, a section of the township of Soweto, I am reluctant to admit that I found it difficult to think of anything else. But after spending several days in Kliptown during our Soweto week, I will be the first to list off all the things the people of Soweto have that I do not.

Soweto is one of the poorest black townships in South Africa. Located outside of Johannesburg, Soweto has an incredibly rich and violent history, filled with stories of oppression, suffering brokenness, resiliency, perseverance, courage and hope.

Our week began at the Soweto Vineyard church with a Sunday morning service that contained more rhythm and enthusiasm then I think all of Canada possesses. The next two days were spent at museums and taking tours, where we learned the names, dates and historical events that shaped Soweto and South Africa. Afterwards, we would go back to the local community center where we were staying and be greeted by Brenda (everybody’s favourite candy lady) and dozens of local kids who wanted to play soccer, braid our hair or maybe just “shap shap” (say hello)

Then came our service projects. A few students, including myself, had the privilege of working with Brother Bob and his organization SKY (Soweto Kliptown Youth). During the three days I spent at SKY I was able to see and experience some pretty amazing things. We met literally hundreds of kids as well as the overworked and underpaid teachers and youth workers that gave their best every single day so that these kids might have something to eat. We saw enormous generosity when a community that is itself in need, recognized and even bigger need and sent many of the clothes that had been given to them to the earthquake victims in Haiti. We witnessed tragedy as a school and an entire community grieved the loss of a ten-year-old boy. And we saw all of this being met with incredible resiliency determination, courage and hope as the residents of Kliptown pulled together to support each other, to feed each other, to love each other, and to even teach each other (and us) gumboot dancing.

At first glance the shacks we saw in Soweto don’t appear at all dissimilar from those in the World Vision commercials, but I promise that what you see in those commercials doesn’t even come close to expressing the sense of community or interdependency Soweto has, or the vibrancy and hope we saw in those children’s smiles, or the courage and determination we sensed in those who raised them. At the end of the day I don’t know what or who those commercials are trying to portray, but it certainly isn’t the people of Soweto.

-Alex

befor and after photos of a shack that students painted

In side the Constitutional court

from a visit to a prison that held the likes of Mandela and Gandhi
many of the buildings form this prison have been torn down and the briks use to constucted the constiutional court building that stands on site of the old prison

First week in South Africa

2010-01-30T00:50:00.000-08:00

After a brief stay at a retreat center to get over jetlag, reconnect as a group, meet our country partners, and go over some safety guidelines while in South Africa, we went into Pretoria for out first week. It was a week to help us get an insight into Afrikaner culture and was our first home stay of the semester. On Sunday we went to an Afrikaner church, the service done in entirely in Afrikaans with a bit of English for our benefit. After church we met our host families and then spent the afternoon getting to know each other.
On Monday we had a lecture and then visited a battlefield from the Anglo-Boer war. We then went to an old Diamond mine before heading ‘home’. Tuesday started with a visit to the Vortrekker Monument and an Old Fort called Schanskop. Both had a fantastic view of Pretoria. We Finished off the day visiting the Samuel Marks House, an old mansion that stands as a testaments of the wealth that came for some from the diamond minds in the early 1900’s. On Wednesday we visited a village called “House of Bread” which is open to homeless Afrikaners. In the afternoon we went to the University of Pretoria and had a lecture from Peit Meiring. He talked about his work and experience in help leading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Thursday was a very early morning to get to the Gospel Train, which Laura is writing a post about. The drum workshop that followed back at the University of Pretoria was at times rhythmically challenged but a good time all the same. After a quick stop to the Union Building (where the president works) we found ourselves at a giant mall to spend some free time before once again going home. On Friday we went to a lion park where we pet baby lions and watch full-grown lions from the safety of our bus. It was a hit with everyone as was feeding the giraffes. In the afternoon we made our way to Freedom Park; a monument built in honour of lives lost in the struggle to bring freedom for all people in South Africa. Saturday was a free day to do one last activity with our host families. Events included going hiking, mountain biking, swimming, going out for dinner, etc. The Pretoria home stay was a week packed with history, museums and a little adventure. We all had different experiences with our host families, but it was a good week and look into Afrikaner culture.
-Robin Taves

Home stay

2010-01-30T00:44:00.000-08:00

Spending a week in someone's home is something that is too rarely done. When you are in someone’s home as a guest you get to take away the filter people put up and exchange it for a true look into their character, habits (good bad and goofy,) strengths and shortcomings. Sebastian and I were privileged enough to stay with the Tredoux family. This family of four was more then hospitable in every way imaginable. So much so that we even got breakfast in bed every day! The Afrikaner people know hot to host! The weeks events were filled with histories and stories of the Afrikaner culture, an amazing subject, but the advantage of living with Afrikaners is we get to see first hand the differences between out two cultures.

The first thing Sebastian and I were exposed to is a traditional Barbecue, called a Braai We arrived at the house on Sunday to the amazing wafting scent of a three different meats on a charcoal grill. Scrumptious. The next tradition is something called a nap. Apparently you go and sleep for an hour or two in the middle of the day! Seb and I were instantly interested in this idea and quickly fell asleep (yaay Jetlag.) Through the week we were exposed to Biltong, a beef jerky type food made by sun drying different types of meat (Beef, Pork, Springbok, or Zebra to name a few) with some very potent spices.

Our 'Siblings', Susan and Jacque, were members of the local school orchestra so we had the pleasure of going to their first concert of the year. I certainly enjoyed myself, especially singing along with their rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.

The best part of the homestead week for me was Dinner on Friday. To start this story properly rewind to Sunday. The family requested that Sebastian and I cook a Canadian meal for them on Friday. My first reaction was, 'wow they are brave to ask two male University students from a strange country to cook them a meal', then it was 'What is Canadian that is easy to cook'. Fast forward to Friday again, after taking us shopping for groceries and showing us around the kitchen we set to work. Seb and I had decided on Crepes and Poutine as our dish de jour. We did warn them that Canadian food usually is high carb as we need extra energy to insulate us from the cold. So an hour later and surprisingly nothing burnt we served. The poutine, being the main course, was a hit. Jacque was especially enthusiastic when he found out poutine contained no veggies. The crepes served as a great Canadian dessert. A medley of sugar, maple syrup (brought from home as gifts), lemon and whipped cream provided enough calories to insulate through a long cold night spent in an igloo.

In conclusion, the week was a great look into the Afrikaner culture, their views on Apartheid and the politics of today. I really enjoyed my time under the roof of this very welcoming family and am certainly glad to have met them.

-Gus Van Weelden

Gospel Train, Hallelujah.

2010-01-30T00:42:00.000-08:00

Picture this; a train car during morning rush hour, packed with mainly black people with the exception of our group of 39, singing praises to God in a language I do not understand.
Hello, Gospel train.
It started as a very early morning with students mixing yawns with excitement at the novelty of riding the infamous gospel train. We poured off our bus, the leaders bought our tickets and we waited in line in an outrageously packed train station, amongst hundreds of people heading to work. You could hear the gospel train arrive in the station, thanks to the magnificent rhythm and voices these Africans have.
Now to clarify what the gospel train is; during morning and afternoon rush hour the gospel train is certain cars on different trains that have singing and praising and praying and preaching on them. We were blessed to have this opportunity as we rushed to squish our 39 onto an already squished car. We sang a song our group had practice “Guide my feet” and we sounded pretty good if you asked me for a group of white people singing/screaming at the top of our lungs. Ok, so maybe we were not that great actually. Even though most of the singing was in a language different then mine and the singing was way beyond me in my lacking vocal skills, it was incredible to praise the same God as my sisters and brothers of South Africa.
Side note, I cannot write about he incredible beats and rhythms I have experienced here. Train side drumming mixed with foot stomping is more than my mere words can express. Unfortunately, our train mysteriously broke down which killed the praising as people jumped off the train so they could walk the tracks to work. Something illegal in Canada but hey, this is Africa.
Overall the gospel train was phenomenal. I thought I had “how to do church” down pat, and I thought I had experienced every church & denomination. That said, I had never been on a train church before.
Gospel Train, Hallelujah.
-Laura Hill

Safe and Happy in Pretoria!

2010-01-22T10:13:00.000-08:00

To all of the worried parents, friends and family: We are safe and sound in South Africa!

After many gruelling hours in airplanes we touched down early Friday morning in Johannesburg, weary with jetlag but excited to begin our adventure! With a single missing bag to show for all of our airplane-hopping we were led to meet Stephanes, our cheerful bus driver for the next three months, and "Elwierda," our already epic bus.

Our first two days were spent at a beautiful retreat centre called Heronbridge, recconecting with one another after a whole month apart! We had some quality sleep time, getting over our jetlag. We also got an introduction to the country and to strategies for safety from Johannes and Mpho, two people with whom we'll be working closely in the months to come.

On Sunday we drove to Pretoria, a large (over a million inhabitants) city very near Johannesburg. We attended a church service done in the Afrikans language before meeting the families hosting 1-3 of us for the week. It was thrilling to be welcomed into their homes; my family has been excited to prepare some delicious Afrikaner dishes for us.

This week we've been immersed in Afrikaans culture, visiting monuments and museums, exploring Pretoria with our host families and hearing from different speakers (including Piet Meiring at the U of Pretoria) about South African history, Aparteid and the current situation.

We've had some great weather and some surprise thunderstorms. We've met some great people and re-established our tight community. And the experience has just begun.

-Brock P.

27 and Sunny in South Africa

2010-01-15T21:48:00.000-08:00

We made it! After 20 hours of plan rides, the longest a 12 hour ride from London to Johannesburg we made it to South Africa. During our long layover in London many of us rode the Tube into downtown to see some of the famous London sites like the London Bridge, Big Ben, Westminster Abby and others. It was a quick tour of the city that including eating some local grub, the most interesting of which might have been the black pudding.
This next few days we will try to get onto the time change and regroup/reconnect as a site since we have not all been together for over five weeks now. On Sunday we will head to Pretoria and go to an Afrikaans church and then meet our host family that we will be living with for a week.

Off we Go

2010-01-12T22:08:00.000-08:00

After a long Christmas break we head off today for South Africa. The core of us will leave from Winnipeg and pick people up along the way in Toronto and even meet some in South Africa. So stay tune for pictures, stories and updates as the semester goes along.

Vancouver Urban Plunge

2009-11-24T11:24:00.000-08:00

Oct. 26 - Oct. 30

This plunge scared me, just a small town girl heading to the big city. For some reason I was under the impression that Winnipeg would be sunshine and rainbows compared to the big bad Vancouver, home of the poorest postal code in Canada. Home of the 2010 Olypmics. Home of rampant drugs, poverty and abuse. Home of the Ivanhoe, our ‘homely’ hostel for the week. But despite my fear God used this week to teach me copious amounts about myself, my strengths and where He is in the world.

Monday. Consisted of being on the streets for almost 10 hours. Our instructions: pack 4 bagged lunches (one for each member and then an extra for someone you meet along the way), get to know the neighbourhood (which consisted of the infamous East Hastings). In the evening somehow find a free meal in the city (yup, I said it.) There were plenty of different options for my group. Dumpster diving (this was my vote but the rest of the group was not as gung-ho as I), panhandling (now illegal in Vancouver), begging (I did not know if I could be humble enough for that). But alas, by the end of the night my group was well fed from the generosity of pizza places; a little bit of money scrounging; and strangers who were curious of the three Northface clad, nicely dressed teenagers hungry and cold on the side of the street.

Tuesday. Consisted of 50 loaves of banada bread, gallons of chili, two BIG containers of hot chocolate, profound conversations, sincere thankfulness and stereotypes being broken down. I was assigned to work at the chili wagon for the day. The chili wagon was started years back by an incredible guy named Gordie who saw a need and fed it, literally. We made all the food and trekked out into the neighbourhood of Commerical Drive where we spent the next few hours handing it out and meeting rad people. It was this night that I met three young guys who were on a journey of deliberate homelessness and fighting against the woes of pop culture and a man who used to own a construction company not 2 hours from my house. And I learned: anyone can become homenless. It isn’t confined to abusive parents, drug addictions or mental diseases as I previously thought.

Wednesday. Temple Tour. Islam Mosque, Sikh temple and a Buddhist temple had me floored at the diversity of religion in the world. Sidenote: did you know that Sikhs take a vow of hospitality so whenever you show up at their temple in need of a meal and a place to stay they will do so? We ate very, very well that day. That evening we did the Rose Prayer Walk. We were divided into separate groups and dispersed in groups of three around the city with a single rose in hand. Our goal was to pray for the duration of the walk for the sex trade that is just blooming in Vancouver and to hand our rose out to a prostitute. My rose went to a man named Redman. Not necessarily a prostitute but still a human in need of a little kindness and love. He had never received a rose before (just gave them he joked.)

Thursday. Incredible. Enough said, but I will elaborate. It was termed ‘Impact Vancouver” and our instructions were to do just that. Take what we have learned and saw and experienced from the previous few days and try and make a difference. Our group decided that if anything was going to change we needed to influence those who weren’t on the streets. We needed to get through to the numb suburbanites who are so used to begging that they do not even blink. We needed to get through to doctors and city council members and those who have the voice and influence. So we implemented the “Dare Signs”. We hocked some free cardboard from the dumpsters (so I got my fill of dumpster diving) and wrote dares on them. “We dare are you to try sleeping on this piece of cardboard tonight“, conveniently placed outside of a mattress store. “We dare you to buy an extra coffee for someone who can’t afford one”, placed outside multiple Starbucks. “We dare you to give today”. “A new shirt = 10 warm meals”. “We dare you; stop pretending they’re invisible. Poverty is here” also conveniently placed on the huge Olympic countdown clock. And so on… It was certainly interesting sitting back and watching people’s reactions. Disgust, humour, thought.

Overall, Vancouver taught me much. And despite Vancouver’s exterior impression on people, once you get into the streets and meet the people it ain’t that bad after all.

Patty

There was one unique experience during the week that stuck with me. A big part of both of our plunges has been talking to people, communicating in ways that we wouldn't usually communicate in.

Patty was an artist I met at Waves Coffee shop on the corner of Main St. and Pender. She came over fondly holding a few pieces of paper that she later revealed as her works of art, as her passions. They were photocopies of her pencil sketches that she was selling. Some may have seen them as childish pictures without much talent or skill whatsoever, and maybe that is what they were. But Patty was so incredibly proud of these creative masterpieces that I had to gain a new respect for them. She was selling them for change. Change to buy drugs. Drugs to numb the pain. No cover story from Patty, straight up honesty.. which was refreshing after a few days of being lied to for money. Her pain was broad. I have heard people talk about being able to see pain in someone's eyes and until Patty I had never understood that. Like I said, her pain was broad. And deep.

Patty awed me. She had so many struggles and so much abuse that the fact she had the courage to go around and sell her 'art' was mind blowing. She blessed me with her honesty, in her stories, her struggles, her victories, her current life, her sincere interest in our program. She taught me to break down my stereotypes of street people even further (which did not really seem possible, as I was under the impression I knew everything about street life). And she showed me that I am no better than her. I may not be addicted to heroin but I am addicted to materials. I may not numb my pain with alcohol but I do ignore it. I may not define myself by my addictions but I do define myself through facebook and my cell phone. Who am I to try to understand how one deals with pain that I can barely even comprehend let alone judge them for that? Who am I to advert my eyes to her poverty or ignore her because she smells? No one. God really put me in my place through Patty. She showed me there is a human behind behind the walls and grub and addictions. A human he cares for as equally as he cares for the human behind my brand name clothing and perfectly powered nose. God's love is vast. His love is great and unyielding. It is beyond measure and it was shown to me through someone like Patty

-Laura H

Girls Week / Guys Week

2009-11-20T22:45:00.000-08:00

Oct. 13 - Oct. 18
Girls Week

Girls week was based on “where women dwell” either with other women, within themselves or with God. I learned that it’s important to only ever see yourself as “very good” because God wouldn’t create anything differently. A quote that stuck with me was “as you grow up you become more of what you already are.” We did an exercise where we cut things from magazines which we use to describe ourselves and then added how other people would describe us now. That was interesting, thinking of things people like about you and your personality.

We also put a paper up and filled it with things which get in the way of us being able to be comfortable in our own skin. It almost felt like once you realized everything that stops you from fully being yourself you can work on not making as big a deal out of them. You have to love yourself before you can love others.

We went through different views on sex, in the church, media, in our culture and in scripture. We talked about chastity and the three building blocks in female and male relationships: physical, emotional and spiritual. We finished our week talking about who we want to be, what we want to do and where we want to dwell within ourselves and with others. Overall it was a really good week. It was very fun to get to know Sharon (our speaker) and just spend time with other girls getting to know them even better.

-Caroline F

Guys Week

Guys week began as we pulled up to the Rundle Mountain Lodge in Canmore late Tuesday night after an exhausting 16 hour van ride across the prairies. After being put into rooms of 4 with 2 virtual strangers from the Guatemala site we finally got our first piece of good news to kick off guys week: no organized activity until 12:00, giving us a wonderful opportunity to sleep in after waking up at 4:00 a.m. the previous morning.

The next day we spent the afternoon doing a scavenger hunt around Canmore in our room groups. This included taking crazy pictures at a Halloween store, ordering coffee and getting pictures with the barista, and even one group dropping their pants for a photo shoot at the shooting range. This gave us a chance to get to know and make friends with our Guatemala site roomates as well as a chance to get to know the city we would be spending the next 5 days in. That night we were introduced to our speakers for the next few days. Blaine Rainer has been speaking at guys week for the entirety of its existence and brought a brash yet knowledgeable approach to our discussions. His assistant instructor Johnny Fukomoto is a past Outtatown leader who brought a relatable youthful approach to the discussions as well as a fun presence to our numerous activities.

Our second day we rented out a gymnasium in Banff and spent the day indulging in some competition. It started off with a fantastic floor hockey tournament won by team Fukomoto in a thrilling victory over the undefeated team Joost Asselberg in overtime. After this we headed back to the Rundle for supper and a poker tournament. This day provided exceptional bonding for the group and felt like it allowed us all to gain much more familiarity with each other which allowed for us to open up in later discussions. It also allowed for a much needed release of testosterone and a good bout of competition which was lacking in the 2:1 boys to girls ratio we had been in for the past month.

The third day we went running around in the forest and if that did not bring out the wild men in us then getting Jordan from the Guatemala site to eat 23 hot dogs for 25 bucks did. Our 4th day we drove into Calgary and first went swimming at a local rec centre, before we went to a Calgary Hitmen hockey game. I think all of us appreciated those two days because not only did it provide a great bonding experience it gave us a chance to relax and have some fun after the past few weeks of sessions we had had.

The final day of guys week we went into Banff national park and spent a good part of the day hiking. This gave us a chance to really see the beauty we had been surrounded with. That night we went to the hot springs in Banff but were never warned to bring our bathing suits. Apparently this was done on purpose so that we had to take advantage of the historic rental suits. These were tight suits that were very short shorts attached to a spandex undershirt of sorts all topped off by a skirt to add modesty to a certain area of the male physique. Interspersed throughout this week of fun were a few sessions that taught us about women and about our own sexuality. This included a session where we made a list of questions to ask the girls and then another where we answered the questions they hand made for us. It was amazing to see how much everyone opened up despite the fact that we had just met the Guatemala guys a few days before and even the rest of us had just known each other for a few weeks. It was a week filled with fun testosterone and deep conversation. All and all a great week.

-Lucas B.

Winnipeg to Banff - Ride Journal

2009-11-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

Tuesday October 13. The day of a 16-hour odyssey stretching from Winnipeg to Banff. This is the record, compiled from the three site 2 vans, of our epic journey.

5:00 am - Roll into CMU… it’s -5 Celsius. Brrrr.
5:42 am - Lucas: “I don’t wanna be in here for 16 hours!”
5:45 am - Fill up on fuel and crank the heat.
6:30 am - Zzzzzzzzzzzzz
7:52 am - Timmies stop! Brandon, MB.
8:00 am - Sunrise!
8:52 am - Drive away without Kayla or Kevin. Oops.
9:35 am - Hello Saskatchewan!
9:39 am - Pee break.
9:52 am - Almost lost Kayla again. Oops.
10:26 am - Andrea becomes epileptic from claustrophobia.
11:02 am - Terrible customer service in attempt to acquire some socks will taint the girls’
view of Regina forever.
11:46 am - Aaron takes over van with his vampire music.
11:52 am - Aaron takes a little off-roading trip onto the rumble strips, but the van continues
to feel safe…
11:53 am - Eric calls his grandma, she is well
11:59 am - Andrea solves friend’s crisis via texting
12:00 pm - Saskatchewan. Is. So. Flat.
12:02 pm - A HILL!
12:13 pm - Sing along to “Waving Flag” by K’naan
12:38 pm - Met some of Laura, Jeremy and Kaitlin’s friends in Caronport at the Subway
Starbucks all in one gas-station. Pick up Kendra here as well!
1:20 pm - Man just passed us using the slow lane. This is how bored we are.
1:55 pm - City motto “Life makes sense in Swift Current“. Finally!
2:01 pm - Raf gives a lecture about the church.
3:28 pm - 34 of us are forced out of vans into the cold to pee.
3:43 pm - Hello Alberta!!!
4:12 pm - World’s largest teepee. Very large indeed.
4:50 pm - Seriously. Let’s just get there already.
7:32 pm - All the macaroons are gone.
7:36 pm - Emergency pee break.

*** Soon after, all semblance of sanity and attention span is lost.

9:31 pm - Drop off boys in Canmore. Au revoir les garcons!
11:30 pm - Girls arrive in Banff. Hello hotel beds!

Winnipeg Urban Plunge

2009-11-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

Sitting right near the border where Winnipeg’s North End begins is an old industrial building, converted into a church called The Vineyard. And for four days, from Sept. 27 to Sept. 30, The Vineyard opened its doors to Site 2 for our Winnipeg Urban Plunge. We were there for a church service on the 27th, where a huge variety of people from all walks of life came together in the same space. I was particularly touched that while the worship band played, children were allowed to dance beside the stage with streamers. It was a moving expression of joyful worship in a place that desperately needs joy.
On our first day of the actual plunge we spent hours walking around the North End and downtown Winnipeg in small groups on a scavenger hunt. Armed with a map and a bag full of chronological instructions we met with and heard from a variety of inner-city workers on topics ranging from gangs to the history of the North End. Along the way we got to get first-hand a feel for the area. For my group, our day was heavily impacted when we met a homeless woman named Arlene. Over a sandwich and a coffee she regaled us with ridiculous jokes and, when those ran out, told us the moving and fragmented story of her life. We didn’t really know how to respond to a woman telling us about the death of her father and the incredible physical, mental and sexual abuse she suffered as a child. We were left wondering just how to process what we heard.

Another moving (and difficult, for some) experience was our visit to Siloam mission. We were given an overview of the incredible work that Siloam does in the North End, taken downstairs for a tour of the storage rooms… and told to give up our shirts. From the selection of shirts that the people who come to Siloam get to choose from, we traded whatever we were wearing for anything that looked even moderately appealing. The feeling of giving up something that we liked and that was ours for something less appealing was frustrating, but exciting at the same time. It helped me to identify with people for whom personal property is negligible, and having a shirt, any shirt on their back is important.

The next two days we were split into larger groups and loosed on different outreach and community service opportunities. Some of us worked in soup kitchens, some with children. Some of us worked at food banks and some were left to their own devices (they ended up handing out gift cards for food and coffee). Our experiences weren’t limited to service; a pair of groups had an artistic experience at the Graffiti gallery while learning about the programs there. Another couple of groups (mine included) spent a day at the law courts with an incredible man named Harvey. He showed us just how ridiculous our legal system is, particularly for people who don’t necessarily have the means to sit in a room for hours just to find out that their court date has been remanded, or to drive to the courthouse every couple of weeks to hear the same thing.

Having lived in Winnipeg almost my whole life and participating in urban plunges there, I was pretty prepared for what to expect this week. But seeing again firsthand things that happen in my own city, a fifteen minute drive from my house was very powerful. And it begged the question, what am I doing to make a difference? There are some amazing people working for change in the North End. And I think the rest of the city needs to know about it.

-Brock P.

For more pictures, Click here

Canoe Trip

2009-10-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

We left CMU after registration and traveled to Manitoba Pioneer Camp on Shoal Lake. Monday morning we had a trip briefing and practiced our canoeing skills. This was going to be a challenge for me without a toilet, a watch or deodorant for days. Our leaders were Steve (former Outtatown leader), Becca (Outtatowner 08/09) and Caitlin. We set out for our trip right after lunch. Our group paddled 9 km on the first day and set up camp on a big rock overlooking the lake. We had the most incredible stars! So bright and so many. The next morning we set out for our longest day, paddling 16 km. We stopped for lunch and got to go cliff jumping! I loved the feeling of free falling from 15 feet into the water! We continued and stopped again at some old mines. The air was so nice and cold but we trekked through mud and even colder water before reaching the end. All of us froze in the muddy water. It was pretty gross but getting to the end was so worth it. That night our campsite was nice. It had a sandy beach where we went swimming.

Day 3 we canoed 12 km. My canoe was with Gus and Andrea. As we passed an island we saw a snake on a rock. I went to grab my camera and tipped the canoe one way. The other two tried leaning the other way and we flipped the canoe over with all our stuff. My stuff and Gus’s stuff was mostly dry but all of Andrea’s stuff was soaked! We used the canoe and our extra paddle to dry her clothes out for the rest of the day. At the time, being wet wasn’t that fun but as we all look back on it, the whole experience was hilarious and definitely a highlight. We stopped for our final night on an island and watched the most incredible sunset. The sky was splashed with orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon. Our last day we paddled back to the camp. We were all excited to get back and shower after four days without soap, shampoo or deodorant. The trip took us a total of about 45 km and we all felt incredibly accomplished after getting back. I really enjoyed being “unplugged” and experiencing the beauty God created for us right here in Canada. The canoe trip was a blast!

-Kaitlin N

For a picture gallery from the canoe trip, click the link below:

http://gallery.me.com/ajvw/100072

First Impressions

2009-09-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

“My 1st day was way easier than I expected because people were very open and friendly.”

“I thought it was a little overwhelming because there were so many people, but it was good.”

“I thought… what in the world am I getting into?”

“After meeting everyone, my first thought was ‘this is going to be a crazy year!’”

“39 new faces, tons of new places, ups and downs and exciting adventures to come, all in 8 months :)”

“I hate mosquitoes.”

Outtatown South Africa 2009!!!

2009-09-23T10:38:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 2009 Outtatown South Africa blog! Here you will be able to follow our journeys through articles, quotes and of course PICTURES AND MOVIES. We hope to have some actual content here by Monday September 28th. This will be a recap of what travels and adventures we have had in the past two weeks!

Please come back and check in!

Outtatown Students