Opa and his big dreams

This blog post is inspired by my Opa, Richard Behrens.
He passed away this past Sunday afternoon 14th September after 89 years of a full life. 

In memory I'd like to post this collection of photo's. 
The images represent a part of the man he was. 

Here's a bit more info on the trip from my cousin Marcus (the historian in the family):

They (Hugo Behrens, Richard Behrens and Theodor Müller) departed Kroondal on 8 January 1947 with their bicycles tied to the roof of their uncle Hermann Misselhorn's Ford V8 - they had organized a lift to Natal. 

The cycling part of the journey began two days later 10 Jaunary (Friday) from Wartburg, Natal. They arrived in Stellenbosch on 29 January at 16:15 a Wednesday afteroon. 
Hugo and Theo flew to Johannesburg while Richard stayed in Stellenbosch.

 

Ad Libitum Opa!

. 

Root & Rise

 a new journal | a new season

Our lives never truly stand still, though sometimes it feels like it, truth is we keep moving. Our surroundings change and we change. In the move from one season into the next – it’s necessary to stop and reflect so that you’re able to give the previous one the farewell and acknowledgement it deserves. In fact the very people and experiences you leave behind become the basis for your gratitude and the reason for the open horizon that lies ahead. Our 'roots' provide us the means and teach us to 'rise'... 

R O O T  

 not visible on surface | deeply established | grounded 

In 2008, five and half years ago I felt God leading me to take a gap year and serve Every Nation, my then student church in Stellenbosch, for a year by serving on a church plant team to Pretoria with Phillip & Rene Pretorius and 6 others. During the year of ministry I also began serving our then small church with design work and helping with any media needs. As my gap year ended I was offered a job in the administration team as media director. We started off small but as the church grew so did the work type, demand and volunteer team that worked with me. To say that I learnt and grew in the last 5 and a half years is a terrible understatement. If I look back I stand in awe of all God has done and continues to do with individuals who are willing to trust Him to lead their life. The most unexpected was that Pretoria would creep into my heart so deeply - through all my involvement, serving, discovering and living I have formed the deepest love for this city and it’s people.

At the end of July, this past week, I said my formal good byes to the Administration team and resigned from my role as media director. I feel particularly blessed because I'm leaving the EN admin team FULL. So grateful for the last five years, the people who've shaped me, the lessons I've learnt and the fact that my five years here are as much apart of my future as they are of my past. It’s not a farewell, the context and environment of my work hours are changing, but my discipleship, ministry and involvement in God’s work in the city won’t. I like to believe that with my new move will expand and enflame my work as well as life in the inner city.

R I S E 

upward movement | ascend | aerial perspective

Once I made the decision to resign, I felt strongly the need to take a month off and travel a bit of Africa. I know that my new work space and life when I get back will combine my interests in community work, cross-cultural exchange, church, graphics, illustration, Africa, city upliftment, discipleship, collaboration... This month feels like an extension of all of this, it allows for me to explore these passions in an ‘open’ space, away from the familiar and the rush. It's a time of rest, as much as it's a time of stretching my thought horizons and vision from the vantage point of an unknown environment!

Rwanda

 I've had an interest in Rwanda and read and heard a lot about it due to topics like reconciliation, conflict resolution and cross-cultural dialogue which are often of  relevance in the nation in effort to repair and rebuild the nation after the 1994 Genocide. The 'land of a thousand hills' and it's equatorial jungle landscape has also added to the appeal. When I realised that my flight to Juba would take me via Kigali, Rwanda I took that as a very valid reason to extend my stop over to a 9 day traveling visit. I was initially going to travel on my own but a short 3 weeks before leaving I received a travel partner in the form of my earliest friend - Katrin. Our mom's were pregnant together and our friendship took root from the minute we arrived on earth :) She's my illustration guru-inspiration and a kindred spirit. I couldn't have asked for a better partner! We hope to get an extensive view of this beautiful country by traveling as pack backers. We’re spending two nights in the capital Kigali and there after will travel west to lake Kivu and the surrounding mountains. Can't wait to share it all with her...

South Sudan 

 Almost a year and a half ago, Every Nation Church Southern Africa followed the prompting of God and initiated an outreach, commitment and finally a church plant in the city of Juba, South Sudan. South Sudan is the youngest nation in the world; plenty of potential, combined with problems – and overall a nation that is open and ready for the Gospel. 6 months ago both my housemates and their better halves (one husband, one fiancée) moved to South Sudan, Juba to be apart of the church plant. In various ways all four of them have given of their skills, job experience, efforts and time to God for Him to use them whatever way possible to reach locals, disciple them, and raise them to be the leaders that lead the church. 

I arrive in Juba on the 13th of August with the sole purpose of observing and being with my friends. Accommodation in Juba is unthinkably expensive (various reasons for that) but Miemie & DeWet have managed to find me accommodation in their orphanage sick room ;) The idea is that I can help with media and graphics needs at CCC, but also help Miemie in her day to day chores around the orphanage. Sanmari & Stephan are working for Deloitte in Juba - who knows they might just need the eyes of an extra auditor ;) Highly unlikely that they'd request the help of this right brain dominant being - I'll be the coffee barer. Mostly I can’t wait to just be and share with my friends in their new reality. I’ve realized in skype and email conversations how little I know and how different their realities are there. Can't wait to understand. 

Mission 

From the 28th of August seven people from South Africa will be joining for a 12 day mission. The idea is that the 8 of us will also help and serve the church plant team in whatever way we can. The focus will be to support and enhance the three focus area's the team has already identified. This includes the orphanage, a village church in Rajaf and the expat church in UN compound. Also I strongly believe that the change of context and culture will challenge and teach us a lot about church, discipleship and ultimately God's heart for people. I’m really looking forward to sharing the experience with the team. The group of 8 are all in unity about helping where we can and getting as much as possible realistic view of what life is like in Juba. It's hard to pre-empt what we might feel and experience but I'm excited to see what God has in store.   

R O O T  &  R I S E 

When I get back from South Sudan middle September I start with my freelancing in graphics and illustration in the Inner City of Pretoria. I have felt God challenging me to use and put to work the resources He has placed in and around me to use by basing myself in the inner city and offering my ‘services’. My ultimate aim is to add to the community I live in by being a part of the transformation and upliftment not just through ministry but through job creation too. I can't wait to get my hands dirty, work hard, collaborate with others with similar dreams, give of my time and energy and see how it can bring change to the inner city of Pretoria. My involvement with the Every Nation Inner City church will obviously be incorporated in this. I find it impossible to separate my faith from my work, because they compliment and direct one another simultaneously.

I’m really grateful for the last five years, as much as I am excited for all that lies ahead. My biggest safety and greatest gift is that I’ve learnt through the last few years how to trust in God. His timing, His character and His bigger picture. As one trusts Him, in turn faith grows. This is not a short course or fast lesson it’s gradual and needs your life, all of it, your plans and your willingness to trust and follow. If you do, it’s incredible to experience and later look back on how God works things together! 

He is enough. Enough to deeply satisfy me and lead me on a path I know will teach me to root even deeper and rise higher than before. 

I hope to share some thoughts and experiences further as I travel the next month.

Till then! 

All my love.

God truly keeps His promises. 

A year and a half ago, and still He's calling me deeper. 

Never relenting. 

A thirst that can only ever truly be quenched in Him.

And still the promise,

of the discovery of the depths that lie ahead...

Mutti celebrates 59years

When your loved one's live far away then one tends to get more sentimental about them.
It was my mom's birthday this past weekend, a picture poem was the best way of sending my longings and wishes to her.

Here are a few snippets from the visual poem...

In the Garden

Some images from a prayer walk at the Union Buildings, Pretoria this morning. 

Take time to...

walk with Him

talk with Him

see and listen

and be filled with hope.

Flight

When the written black and white
The appearance of hope penned onto paper
No longer limited to page
In an instant takes flight...

In this awakening of sight
All buried dreams
too long bound within my mind
are awoken, pierced from dark to light.

No longer paper bound
from origin they were meant to be found.

Breaking the silence

A journal entry inspired by 

Isaiah 26.

Israel - the aftermath

How do you eat an elephant? 

One bite at a time. Starting with the feet of course.... 

I've sorted through my foot photo's :)

Silly as it may sound, going through these photo's has given me a good 'grounding' (pun intended) for my otherwise over saturated headspace. Every photo is a reminder of the sights, sounds, tempretures, thoughts and experiences I had. Thus the view from my size 7 foot has become the starting point for unraveling the reflections...   


Most people ask me, very optimistically, "So what was your most memorable/favourite highlight of the trip?" Ummmm... right there, you've just found a great candidate question for a the 'Impossible Quiz 2012'. Simply not possible. There are many highlights, all carrying their own story and memory. It's like asking a mother to choose her favourite child - just not impossible (cruel in fact ;) )  

The thing about Israel that stands out and makes it such a unique travel destination is that it exposes one to a view of the world through an overwhelming physical portrayal of history. Strata upon strata, site upon site, you're confronted with evidence of years of civilisations, wars, famines, injustices, celebrations, people's search for God... Over and over confronted with this reality - "My world, my life, my reality is so small, so insignificant, in comparison to the thousands of years, and the hundreds of different stories that have happened inside the lives of millions of people in every generation... And all that really matters, all that literally physically stands at the end of it all is GOD. Even in the civilisations before Christ, before Moses, it's consistently obvious - they were all looking for and worshipping something. The relics, fallen pillars, flattened walls and empty buildings are a reminder of a fading earth given for a short period to mortal bodies. This poses the question, does anything ever really remain? Is there anything worth building towards? 

Matthew 6: 19-21

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The reality of our fleeting lives here on earth, changes one's perspective dramatically. 
This life: My dreams. My preferences. My pursuits... my, my, my - How can it be about 'me' when there have been, and will be so many more? It's not about me. It can't be.

Yet in every 'me' there is a God who cares, knows, and has a plan for every one of them/us. Shucks! That leaves me flipped over and dumbstruck on a whole new level. 

God is so much bigger than what we can get our heads around. We can't ever, compete. Still, He wants a relationship with us. So much so that He sent His son to walk this earth, live here, work here, learn here, dwell here...why? So that He could bridge the immeasureable gap between man and God. To be the perfect sacrifice and bridge the gap, so as to be in relationship with us. That of course is the other reality of being in Israel which is overwhelming... to walk on the land and visit the places where Jesus taught, lived, worked and ministered. 

That God, would place Himself on earth? Somewhere in his footsteps I find the map to plotting my own. We are called to live like Jesus did. A King, yet not demanding His Kingly rights. His value lay in who He was, not how people treated Him. He humbled Himself in taking the form and bodily limits of man, while being in nature God. He choose to hang, live, talk and be on earth. (Phillipians 2) He came for the humble, the poor, the sick, the desperate, and even those who are rich but honest enough to see that they have nothing if not God. God on earth, for a bigger purpose than what we could measure in earthly terms. Jesus gives our fleeting earthly reality an eternal anchor.

 Isaiah 40: 6-8 

A voice says, "Cry!"And I said "What shall I cry?"

All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; 

surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

The aftermath of Israel lingers longer than what I imagined... 

One photo album at a time, one day entry at a time - still not sure I'll ever really get my head around it all but I'll keep sharing non the less. 

Two vagabonds in Israel

Ok so… 

we’ll have to ignore the fact that I’ve missed about a week of blogging and choose the less pressured option of starting from the ‘now’ and working my way back slowly. (Else I’ll never start!) Going back into the archives of my memory will definatly be good, since at this rate I’m in need of a method to help me come to terms with the trip so far. It has been saturated with experiences, history and sights that have blown me away. Writing will be a good way of coming to grips with the trip thus far!  

Our legendary little Avis  Nissan, keeping us mobile.

Lunch in Jerusalem in the Islamic market.

Supper at a very very good restaurant in Rosh Pina. Terrific tapas!

Dead sea in style. (Please appreciate the floating Korean in the background. Classic, this makes me smile!)

Petra.

Our B&B in Eilat had a tiny tiny braai. Of course we made the most of it and 'smoked' a chicken. Proudly SA! (no boerewors in Israel I;m afraid, so chicken it was.)  

Swimming in the Sea of Galilee - glee! 

Incredible ice cream store 'Aldo' we discovered this evening... 

Really delicious supper this evening in Zichron Ya'achov.  

Here’s what the two Avis vagabonds have been up to:

The last three days in Jerusalem area were spent at Masada, the Dead Sea, the Old City (the list here is long enough so we’ll leave it for now), Israel Museum, Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum) and many little streets and café’s.

We then took the bus through the En Gedi desert to the southern tip of the country to the coastal town of Eilat. Here we spent three days snorkelling, visiting the coral Aquarium, scuba diving! (smiley face space necessary right here) as well as a day trip over the Jordan border to visit the ancient city of Petra… no words could possibly do justice, but I’ll try when I have the pictures to accompany my otherwise destined to be useless attempt.

Thereafter we took the bus back to Jerusalem and then further north to Afula where we hired an Avis car for the second leg of our trip. Hiring our own car has been the best move! It changes the dynamics of one’s trip completely, so freeing to set your own pace and not be restraint by tours or time constrains. We drove north to the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee and then slowly made our way from the south of the sea to the to north where we stayed in a little city called Zefat. Zefat is situated on the highest mountain (close to Mt Meron) in Israel so we had a completely new view of Isreal. Driving from there in and around Galilee and the Golan Heights is very easy and pretty central. (Technically speaking almost any place in Israel is pretty central since it’s a really small country, about the size of Kruger National Park. Yip, that small!) We spent 3 days in Zefat, using it as our base to explore the Galilean area. 

Today we drove towards the west, and are now staying in the sweetest little town called Zichron Ya’akov. It’s about 5km from the Mediterranean Sea, and the town itself has the most beautiful pebbled streets, café’s and artist vibe. We plan on spending the next two days exploring the Mediterranean coast and then heading down to the cosmopolitan energetic city of Tel Aviv on Friday, until we leave on Sunday evening.

So, only four days of our pilgrimage left, then we head back to South Africa. Going to soak up and embrace every moment and of course keep you posted, slowly but surely one blog at a time…

{ Even vagabonds long for home - sending all our love!}

View From Above

On arrival to the city of Jerusalem, most of the tour guides and travel books suggest one does the 'Ramparts Walk' as your first visitors orientation stop. It's a circumference walk circling the old city from the height of the wall edge - any photographer or secret spy's dream! 

I'll be open enough to admit that I enjoyed every minute of seeking sneaky little shots of the unaware victim below. Verging slightly on voyeurism I know... but made for some great pics! Hidden in the background, unnoticed, capturing a scene no one else is aware of and finding the interesting in the every day - my favourite type of shoot in every way! 

Here are some shots of the Old City of Jerusalem, peering in...

The ordinary things give one a pretty good idea of the city, it's people, and the day to day realities of the city...

Hope it you enjoyed the spy angle like I did ;)