so i went to go shopping... felt like shopping in germany... you don't have a clue what to buy...
weird thing is that they don't really do instant coffee here in america... with america being all instant and stuff... but they all seem to do coffee machines though :) so they like a good cup of coffee.
The place that i'm staying is in charade way... great neighborhood... and safe... well so so that we don't actually lock the door !!! now thats insane... me coming from south africa and all, where you have to constantly check if everything is locked... and the people's garage doors are all standing open
and EVERYone has a car here... if you look down the road... there are like 3 cars in front of every house... looks like a massive street party... and the cars are bigger.. and customized... like adding an extra foot or two to a car... that is already super long...
well anyway... the digs doesn't have a kettle... using a gas stove and a pot... wierd but anyway... they are big on gas here...
took a walk, to a great 'ranch' that is more like park... saw 5 eagles soaring in the sky :) and another weird things is that that trees here smell sweet... so everything just smells sweet... maybe that's why Americans use more sugar in everything...
so things are far away... and everyone has cars... but there are bike (bicycle) lanes everywhere, even thought i only saw two bikes so far.
cool, so i still need to go buy a bike sometime :)
Saturday, August 28, 2010
In Redding :)
So i flew from thursday 7pm... till friday afternoon (san francisco time), and then bussed from 4pm till 11pm... up to Redding...
funny that the plane flew from dubai, north, over the north pole, down the top of america, and then down to SFO... need to tell doug that :)
otherwise things are good...
got my room, and have to go buy groceries and bedding...
there is a laptop here most guys are using...
but I don't know if i can always use it... can be tight... need to get a laptop also...
also lookiong for a bicycle :)
the guys here are cool
the digs is quite a man's digs...
and there is an Xbox :)
with Gears :)
Cool...
tomorrow is church... at Bethel :)
and then we have a week of getting to know each other...
going on a road trip :)
cool
funny that the plane flew from dubai, north, over the north pole, down the top of america, and then down to SFO... need to tell doug that :)
otherwise things are good...
got my room, and have to go buy groceries and bedding...
there is a laptop here most guys are using...
but I don't know if i can always use it... can be tight... need to get a laptop also...
also lookiong for a bicycle :)
the guys here are cool
the digs is quite a man's digs...
and there is an Xbox :)
with Gears :)
Cool...
tomorrow is church... at Bethel :)
and then we have a week of getting to know each other...
going on a road trip :)
cool
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Co-digsmates
So :) here are the guys that i will be staying with at 1928 Charade way :)
Harry Omensetter
Harry Omensetter
Rueben Miller
Peter Ralph
Jonny Pyrc
Sean Makhuli
Brandon Aalberts
Toby McElory
with Todd Stromback as a liaison :)
So that's 8 brothers :)
His Kingdom
Just a self reminder what I am getting myself into... a quote form the BSSM website:
“BSSM is not for the faint of heart or lazy, it is an extremely fast paced season of schooling, but the training is pivotal and strategic. We believe the intensity soon translates into “becoming;” things that are at first foreign and done out of duty gradually become second nature and students move from merely echoing a message to becoming a message.”
Corintians talks about not trying to use God to further your own interest... basically you are part of His kingdom, and serving Him... even in the midst of all the blessings and mercy that He pours out on your life... it is all from Him and to Him also... to Him be the Praise & Glory alone...
I'm also reminded of those will say that they have done mighty things in God's name... cast out demons, healed the sick, raised the dead... but all the while they did not know God... The sobering fact being that you can serve in the Kingdom, and do the work of the Kingdom... but never know the King... being caught up in the task, and forgetting the relationship...
Anyway.. preaching to myself here...
O, and my bags are packed... 20.3 kg's main luggage, and 2.2 kg's of hand luggage. I'm permitted 23kg + 7kg's... so i'm looking for a few more things to squash into my suitcase... also thinking of keeping 'space' for things i may buy there/the books i will get during the course... Think i need to capitalise on the 7kg's of hand baggage :)
I'm still looking for a place to park in May next year... in Kansas City... during a week at IHOP :) but that's still far away...
And my finances looks okay for now... paid tickets, housing, and school fees... and I have some spending (food) money... I still don't know where i got all the cash from... it happens with these kinds of things... faith in God... maybe aggressive saving, God's favour, and then some...
So I will see how far my food goes in Redding... but then again, I read that there are frequent miracles of a multiplication of food happening at the church... so maybe I can get past with a never ending supply of 1 gallon of milk and 1 box of Corn Flakes :)
Looking forward to becoming a representative of His Kingdom :)
“BSSM is not for the faint of heart or lazy, it is an extremely fast paced season of schooling, but the training is pivotal and strategic. We believe the intensity soon translates into “becoming;” things that are at first foreign and done out of duty gradually become second nature and students move from merely echoing a message to becoming a message.”
Corintians talks about not trying to use God to further your own interest... basically you are part of His kingdom, and serving Him... even in the midst of all the blessings and mercy that He pours out on your life... it is all from Him and to Him also... to Him be the Praise & Glory alone...
I'm also reminded of those will say that they have done mighty things in God's name... cast out demons, healed the sick, raised the dead... but all the while they did not know God... The sobering fact being that you can serve in the Kingdom, and do the work of the Kingdom... but never know the King... being caught up in the task, and forgetting the relationship...
Anyway.. preaching to myself here...
O, and my bags are packed... 20.3 kg's main luggage, and 2.2 kg's of hand luggage. I'm permitted 23kg + 7kg's... so i'm looking for a few more things to squash into my suitcase... also thinking of keeping 'space' for things i may buy there/the books i will get during the course... Think i need to capitalise on the 7kg's of hand baggage :)
I'm still looking for a place to park in May next year... in Kansas City... during a week at IHOP :) but that's still far away...
And my finances looks okay for now... paid tickets, housing, and school fees... and I have some spending (food) money... I still don't know where i got all the cash from... it happens with these kinds of things... faith in God... maybe aggressive saving, God's favour, and then some...
So I will see how far my food goes in Redding... but then again, I read that there are frequent miracles of a multiplication of food happening at the church... so maybe I can get past with a never ending supply of 1 gallon of milk and 1 box of Corn Flakes :)
Looking forward to becoming a representative of His Kingdom :)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Going
The realisation of leaving only starts to sink in when you say bye to people that you will not see again... for 9 months... or maybe till that day :) Leaving is a good things... in that it gives you a new perspective on life and all that stuff...
But for me this has been coming a while now... I think I first heard about Bethel about 2 years ago (?), when the whole Lakeland revival things happened... When I heard about it I was like: "I need to go there, somewhere in my lifetime". As time went by, I only heard good things about the school (at Bethel), and how even the "ordinary" Christians became hectic :)
What convinced me to go, was the fact that the church has been operating in the supernatural for a LONG time, and there has not been any major problems... even through the most uncertain times. Another thing is that all the leaders at our church (HP Gtown) fully endorses the teaching of Bethel, and encourages people to buy their books, and listen to their sermons. Nothing that I have heard form Bethel has been questionable.
So that all sorted, I heard that Jordan & Héloïse were going this year, so I thought... why not go this year, and we can all do it together :) well... funny thing is that things did not work out that way... but I am still going. God knows best... so I trust all things will work out for the best :)
I also "met" a few people from SA that's off to Bethel, either 1st or 2nd year - So life will not be a complete culture shock over there... and there are even Afrikaans speaking guys going :) Yeah for the mother tongue :)
So, everything looks set and ready... driving up 'home' to Sasolburg (Northern Free State) on Monday morning. Flight is on the 26th of Aug (Thursday).
I hope that I am not forgetting anything... but it looks like my car will be half as loaded as it was when i came to G-town :) Only taking clothes, and stuff i use everyday... (minus PC)
Yeah for new things :)
But for me this has been coming a while now... I think I first heard about Bethel about 2 years ago (?), when the whole Lakeland revival things happened... When I heard about it I was like: "I need to go there, somewhere in my lifetime". As time went by, I only heard good things about the school (at Bethel), and how even the "ordinary" Christians became hectic :)
What convinced me to go, was the fact that the church has been operating in the supernatural for a LONG time, and there has not been any major problems... even through the most uncertain times. Another thing is that all the leaders at our church (HP Gtown) fully endorses the teaching of Bethel, and encourages people to buy their books, and listen to their sermons. Nothing that I have heard form Bethel has been questionable.
So that all sorted, I heard that Jordan & Héloïse were going this year, so I thought... why not go this year, and we can all do it together :) well... funny thing is that things did not work out that way... but I am still going. God knows best... so I trust all things will work out for the best :)
I also "met" a few people from SA that's off to Bethel, either 1st or 2nd year - So life will not be a complete culture shock over there... and there are even Afrikaans speaking guys going :) Yeah for the mother tongue :)
So, everything looks set and ready... driving up 'home' to Sasolburg (Northern Free State) on Monday morning. Flight is on the 26th of Aug (Thursday).
I hope that I am not forgetting anything... but it looks like my car will be half as loaded as it was when i came to G-town :) Only taking clothes, and stuff i use everyday... (minus PC)
Yeah for new things :)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Spiritual Side
On the spiritual side of things... I can feel that God is preparing me for Bethel... It was something I asked Him to do... because I had no clue what things I should focus on... so I asked Him to just prepare me :)
So far I have been reminded of times when God has moved in my life, to the extent that there was something different about me, and people would notice that...
Otherwise God has been pulling faith out of me... to trust in Him for the details that I can not sort out... like transportation, and housing in Kansas city... The transportation came through :) no I'm just looking for a palce to stay in Kansas... next year May 2011 :) ha ha :) Funny how I can feel the pressure of organising my future... seeing that one of my main strengths is Futuristic :)
I'm sad about the people that could not come to Bethel this year... but i'm glad that there are some South Africans going :) and some that I already know :) ha ha
Anyway... My future plans (when i return) are still undecided... and i'm trusting to find a sense of destiny and purpose while i'm in Bethel... I have many options... but I know that God will point me in the right direction :)
Also trusting for many personal testimonies and exploits :)
So far I have been reminded of times when God has moved in my life, to the extent that there was something different about me, and people would notice that...
Otherwise God has been pulling faith out of me... to trust in Him for the details that I can not sort out... like transportation, and housing in Kansas city... The transportation came through :) no I'm just looking for a palce to stay in Kansas... next year May 2011 :) ha ha :) Funny how I can feel the pressure of organising my future... seeing that one of my main strengths is Futuristic :)
I'm sad about the people that could not come to Bethel this year... but i'm glad that there are some South Africans going :) and some that I already know :) ha ha
Anyway... My future plans (when i return) are still undecided... and i'm trusting to find a sense of destiny and purpose while i'm in Bethel... I have many options... but I know that God will point me in the right direction :)
Also trusting for many personal testimonies and exploits :)
My Itinerary
This thing took hours of work... but in the end i have a travel plan that i can follow :)
2010
[Fri] 20 Aug Last day of teaching in SA:
[Mon] 23 Aug @ 07:00 Drive to Sasolburg
[Thu] 26 Aug @ 19:05 Fly JNB to DBX Land @ 05:05 [Fri]
[Fri] 27 Aug @ 08:45 Fly DBX to SFO Land @ 13:45
[Fri] 27 Aug BART $5 / Walk to bus stop
[Fri] 27 Aug @ 16:00 Bus SFO to SAC Stop @ 18:10 [GLI-8312 ]
[Fri] 27 Aug @ 18:45 Bus SAC to RDD Stop @ 22:35 [GLI-1436 ]
Claude Bonjour 608 334 3615 1928 Charade way (North Shasta View)
[Sat] 18 Aug Buy a Bike & Lock – Walmart - $75
[Sun] 29 Aug Trip
[Fri] 10 Sep @ 17:00 In-n-Out burger meet 1st years
[Mon] 13 Sep @ 10:00 – 14:00 BSSM registration
[Tue] 14 Sep @ 09:00 + BSSM start [normal 12:54 – 17:30]
[Wed] 15 Sep @ 08:30 – 12:00 Int. student orientation [Great room, Bethel]
[Mon] 4 Oct @ 18:00 Share SA
2011
[Fri] 13 May BSSM end
[Mon] 16 May @ 09:25 [$23] Bus RDD to CIC @ 10:55 *buy there
[Mon] 16 May Get to Chico Airport
[Mon] 16 May @ 14:41 Fly CIC to SFO @ 15:44
[Mon] 16 May @ 17:15 Fly SFO to DEN @ 20:44
[Mon] 16 May @ 21:25 Fly DEN to MCI @ 23:58 *onethingexclusive
[Tue] 17 May 7 days * Stay IHOP KC
[Fri] 20 May IHOP weekend
[Mon] 23 May 06:00 *onethingexclusive Fly MCI to DCA Land @ 09:27
[Mon] 23 May 10:00 Fly DCA to LGA Land @ 11:18 *Trans in NY
[Mon] 23 May 15:00 Book in Lafayette Guesthouse
[Tue] 24 May 23:00 * Late Trans Fly JFK to DBX Land @ 19:45 [Wed]
[Thu] 26 May 08:35 Fly DBX to CPT Land @ 16:25 *Martin
[Tue] 31 May Fly CPT to JNB Land *buy in Mrc 2011
[Thu] 2 Jun Drive to GHT (Sue)
[Mon] 6 Jun First day of teaching in SA
2010
[Fri] 20 Aug Last day of teaching in SA:
[Mon] 23 Aug @ 07:00 Drive to Sasolburg
[Thu] 26 Aug @ 19:05 Fly JNB to DBX Land @ 05:05 [Fri]
[Fri] 27 Aug @ 08:45 Fly DBX to SFO Land @ 13:45
[Fri] 27 Aug BART $5 / Walk to bus stop
[Fri] 27 Aug @ 16:00 Bus SFO to SAC Stop @ 18:10 [GLI-8312 ]
[Fri] 27 Aug @ 18:45 Bus SAC to RDD Stop @ 22:35 [GLI-1436 ]
Claude Bonjour 608 334 3615 1928 Charade way (North Shasta View)
[Sat] 18 Aug Buy a Bike & Lock – Walmart - $75
[Sun] 29 Aug Trip
[Fri] 10 Sep @ 17:00 In-n-Out burger meet 1st years
[Mon] 13 Sep @ 10:00 – 14:00 BSSM registration
[Tue] 14 Sep @ 09:00 + BSSM start [normal 12:54 – 17:30]
[Wed] 15 Sep @ 08:30 – 12:00 Int. student orientation [Great room, Bethel]
[Mon] 4 Oct @ 18:00 Share SA
2011
[Fri] 13 May BSSM end
[Mon] 16 May @ 09:25 [$23] Bus RDD to CIC @ 10:55 *buy there
[Mon] 16 May Get to Chico Airport
[Mon] 16 May @ 14:41 Fly CIC to SFO @ 15:44
[Mon] 16 May @ 17:15 Fly SFO to DEN @ 20:44
[Mon] 16 May @ 21:25 Fly DEN to MCI @ 23:58 *onethingexclusive
[Tue] 17 May 7 days * Stay IHOP KC
[Fri] 20 May IHOP weekend
[Mon] 23 May 06:00 *onethingexclusive Fly MCI to DCA Land @ 09:27
[Mon] 23 May 10:00 Fly DCA to LGA Land @ 11:18 *Trans in NY
[Mon] 23 May 15:00 Book in Lafayette Guesthouse
[Tue] 24 May 23:00 * Late Trans Fly JFK to DBX Land @ 19:45 [Wed]
[Thu] 26 May 08:35 Fly DBX to CPT Land @ 16:25 *Martin
[Tue] 31 May Fly CPT to JNB Land *buy in Mrc 2011
[Thu] 2 Jun Drive to GHT (Sue)
[Mon] 6 Jun First day of teaching in SA
Websites Used
So here is a list of websites I have used in planning my Bethel trip...
www.ibssm.org - where you register, view class mates, find housing, and lifts :)
maps.google.co.za - where i found out where i was actually going :)
www.kayak.com - where i search for flights (international & domestic)
www.emirates.com/za/English - where i bought my SA to US return tickets from
www.cheaptickets.com - where i bought domestic US tickets... because of credit card issues.
www.greyhound.com - where i bought bus tickets
www.ihop.org - where i found info on IHOP, and taxi a service from the airport.
www.hostelsbookers.com - where i booked a hostel for New York on my return trip
www.motel6.com - Accomodation in Kansas City Missouri
www.facebook.com - where i met up with locals & internationals also going to Bethel :)
BSSM - BSSM info
www.ibssm.org - where you register, view class mates, find housing, and lifts :)
maps.google.co.za - where i found out where i was actually going :)
www.kayak.com - where i search for flights (international & domestic)
www.emirates.com/za/English - where i bought my SA to US return tickets from
www.cheaptickets.com - where i bought domestic US tickets... because of credit card issues.
www.greyhound.com - where i bought bus tickets
www.ihop.org - where i found info on IHOP, and taxi a service from the airport.
www.hostelsbookers.com - where i booked a hostel for New York on my return trip
www.motel6.com - Accomodation in Kansas City Missouri
www.facebook.com - where i met up with locals & internationals also going to Bethel :)
BSSM - BSSM info
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