All My Love, Gennavieve

This is my Chalet, Andrew Murray, which is similar to a dorm. I live with four other girls and they are absolutely lovely! Each are so unique and I am so blessed to know them. And this is my room. This is one of the flower bushes that grows right beside one of the main rooms for our classes. These small, lavender flowers produce the sweetest aroma and I often stop to take a big whiff, drinking in their fragrance. Say hello to the waterfall behind my chalet. The rushing sound of this majestic creation provides the ideal background noise for studying and the perfect natural shower after a jog in the heat of the sun. This is just a little glimpse of of what my little corner of South Africa looks like. May the Lord bless the place you call home, knowing that your true home rests in the arms of His love. All my love, Gennavieve

Here I am with South African Lifeguards on the beach at Durban! I was so excited to see this bunch of guards because this summer I was a lifeguard at a camp in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, so seeing these lifeguards caused me to remember, with a smile, those unforgettable days on the dock. I hope you are able to walk down memory lane with a smile today knowing that God wants to remind you of His faithfulness in your life. All my love, Gennavieve

Today we went on an outing called, Birds of Prey, which was a place that housed several varieties of South Africa's native winged creatures and aim to preserve endangered species. We were given time to venture around the property and view the different areas of birds and later we got to watch a showcase of some birds catching their lunch. There was an expert who lead the show and she gave us information about the various birds exhibited. I learned a variety of interesting things that I did not expect. For example, female birds are bigger than male birds in order to protect and keep their eggs warm. The expert explained that the scientific name to distinguish between male and female is, "Reverse sexual dimorphism." Another interesting fact, birds are conserving animals. They eat all parts of their prey. Also, a birds feet or talons serve as indicators for what prey they hunt; the bigger the talons the bigger the prey. This was my favorite bird, the Barn Owl. Wi

Say hello to my new favorite hard candy, Turnbulls Mints! This tiny piece of heaven melts with a buttery flavor and a hint of mint. I first tried one at a restaurant when they gave the check with these complimentary mints. I had no idea the greatness of this candy! They are now my go to study candy! May the Lord sweeten your day! All my love, Gennavieve

On Monday September 17th, Michael Cassidy came to speak at our chapel about, what he referred to as, the1994 Miracle. He explained the origins of African Enterprise, his role within the organization, and its influence upon South Africa. He began by saying, “Good morning, beloved ones,” and continued with a prayer before beginning his powerful story. His tale began in the early 1900s with the interface between races, which caused tensions between the whites and blacks. He discussed the Great Trek and the Boer War. He then brought to attention the first and second land acts, when blacks were eventually granted thirteen percent of the land, resulting in a mix of races. This intermarriage created insecurity among the English who feared of being overrun by the blacks and therefore established the apartheid. The apartheid was a segregation policy that was based upon Baptist ideals that God made skin colors separate for a reason and thus separation must be enforced, and politic

The staff here at the AE campus treat the students as royalty. We get fresh towels every other day and new bedding every week. Food is always on the table and the workers go above and beyond to cater to our tastes. I feel a bit like a princess who is blessed by those who take care of her basic needs. I am grateful for those who work on this site. Whether they are washing dishes, cleaning our rooms, or clearing the grounds, they always seem to have a welcoming smile and a song to hum. They embody the verse found in Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the nae of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Wherever you may be in your journey, may you be working for the Lord. All my love, Gennavieve

Today at lunch I was able to sit with two gentlemen from the leadership training group here at AE. The fruit for the day was bananas and I decided to make one of my favorite snacks... peanut butter and banana. When the gentlemen saw me do this, they were shocked and slightly appalled at my creation. They said that they enjoyed peanut butter but typically on their bread, so I challenged them to try something new and test it out. Bravely, they spread peanut butter on their fruit and to their surprise quite enjoyed the combination! After learning several new customs, dishes,and not to mention an entirely new language, I was excited to be able to share something with the South Africans. May the Lord give you an opportunity to share something you enjoy with someone who will value the special gift. All my love, Gennavieve

This is Baba Phillip! He is one of the drivers here at African Enterprise. He has a huge heart for the students here, a foot tapping appreciation for country music and an absolute love of McDonald's. Baba means "Father" in Zulu, which suits Baba Philip because he has a playful teasing side, much like a father. He is often teasing students and joking around that he is lost while driving, which is the farthest from the truth because he knows South Africa like the back of his hand. Baba is also a man of God who humbly bows his head before every meal and sings proud in church every Sunday. He is exceptionally patient and calm when he assists me as I struggle to master the clicks of the Zulu language. thanks to his help I can hold a polite introduction conversation of "Hello, how are you? I am doing well, and you?" This is just one of many incredible people on this campus. All my love, Gennavieve

Today our Biology class took our first outing to Cumberland Nature Reserve, where the land stretches to the horizon and the giraffes walk right beside you. Unlike California, where fires are seen as evil, dreaded, disasters which destroy and kill, in South Africa most fires are seen as good things because the flames demolish the dead, dry grass; thus allowing the fresh, green, grass to sprout up. Fires bring the new life of the grasslands, providing food for animals and shelter for insects. My professor Caryn taught our class that because the life of grass comes from the bottom, springing from the earth, the fires only take away the dead grass and do not kill the entire plant. Trees are opposite of this. Their life comes from the branches, which is seen in spring leaves and flower buds. In between instructing, our professor asked us if we were willing to play a traditional South African game and we jumped at the opportunity, knowing nothing of what we were getting ourselves int

Southeast of Johannesburg lies the city of Soweto, where the people come up to you and eagerly say, “Shoot me, shoot me,” which means take my picture! Two days ago I had the wonderful opportunity of touring this city on a bus with a comical and informative tour guide. She showed us historical places such as the gated home of Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, as well as the touring house of Nelson Mandela, and the tower of the ten foundations, which the African constitution was written. We walked around certain areas to take pictures and eat lunch, interacting with the natives. Once they discovered we were American, they curiously asked about Beyonce, assuming we knew celebrities. Our guide instructed us to play along and pretend to know her because it carried conversation, thus creating a sense of pride in the people because they were able to speak English and have a connection with an American to share with family and friends. We stopped at a place for lunch called, “Chez A

I have always heard God has a sense of humor. Today I experienced a bit of that. The 20 hour plane experience was not as dreadful as anticipated, in fact it was quite alright and even comical for a bit because of the turbulence we experienced and the humor God provided. Towards the end of our third flight leg, the captain’s voice sounded over the speakers, “For your own safety please return to your seats and buckle your belts. We may hit an air pocket that could cause us to drop several hundred feet and I do not believe you want your head to fly through the ceiling. Thank you.” I quickly buckled up, huddled in the thin blanket, headphones plugged in, prepped for a bumpy ride. Initially, the turbulence was nothing out of the ordinary, then the plane started to dive, and with each dip my stomach began dropping. Then I began to laugh because the song that played in my ears was Josh Groban’s You Raise Me Up, which is probably one of the most triumphantly inspiring songs in existen

This is a series of letters from me to you, as I write about my adventures studying abroad in South Africa, Fall semester of my junior year in college. I hope to inspire laughter, offer hope, and reflect the light of Christ through my words. And know even though we may be miles apart I send you All my love, Gennavieve