10AM
There's a lot of finger pointing in the U.S. about our unemployment rate. I believe it's 9ish percent. In South Africa, half of the employable population does not have a job.
We visited one of the newest campuses of a faith-based education program called Popup. They serve those they call the "disempowered". They give them a foundation in faith first. Then they teach them skills that can help them start a business or find work. This campus is in the township. That means the skills they teach here are welding, bricklaying, plumbing...like that. There is constant need here for skilled laborers because the government, with international grants, is helping people who live in corrugated metal shacks by tearing them down and building new brick homes. This is creating jobs as well as homes, and more importantly, it is allowing town residents to start businesses of their own. It's cool to see a new economy emerging.
1230PM
We got to see the venue where the rally is going down. We met some of the crew we'll be working with. It's gonna be pretty rad. We haven't practiced at all yet. So we should do that.
2PM
I learned cricket today. I'm an excellent bowler. Tulani is teaching us the rules but we're too busy wreaking havoc with with the bat.
Here come the kids. Time to get in it.
5PM
Block P kids got attitude. This one dude was ragging on my shoes.
Him: what are your shoes called?
Me: Um...converse?
Him: Not all-star?
Me: No, one-star
Him: Ha! You only got one star!
Me: Little punk...
They sang to us, which ruled, but we were all taking pictures and video at first like they were some kind of spectacle. I didn't realize until afterward how we must have looked. Pastor Albert made us sing a song with them.
Pastor Albert, by the way, teaches old school. If you sit down with him, he'll just start preaching to you. If you try to converse with him, you better be on it, cause he'll straight call you on stuff. Like he was explaining how his church does not just bring people into the church but that they go out to bring Christ to the community and help orphans and widows. I chimed in with "that's what Jesus called true religion". He looked at me sideways and said "that's in James" and he called out chapter and verse. I was like "oh". After that I didn't say things.
Anyway, after the singing and the eating and the tambourine making, general shenanigans ensued.
530PM
Today I washed dishes, cleaned tables, carried this heavy-ace pot of chicken like a block and a half, played with kids, stapled paper plate tambourines, and tied shoes. Seriously, I don't even know who I am anymore. This really is true religion. I don't know who said it; Jesus, James, whatever. They were brothers or something right? So they were pitching around the same lines anyway. The point is, it's true. Normal religion is for wusses.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Day 6: Soshanguve (Block W)
650AM
The nights are fun. We get back to Kwa Kerus feeling punchy. The ladies proceed immediately to preparing dinner. I shuffle around awkwardly trying to be helpful. Jarred lies down on the couch and demands that Alyssa tell him a story, which she actually does. I play guitar. Robb strikes up intellectual conversations. David films everything.
Dinner is always lively banter and storytelling. We debrief the day. Afterwards, the ladies set about preparing for the next day's activities with the kids, and we practice for the rally.
805AM
All of the different tribes here are descended from the Zulu. The Zulu are dancers. I've had several conversations with people who want to explain to me why they dance. It's as if they're self conscious or they worry we think them strange.
The best explanation I got was from Pastor Albert. He said that, according to Zulu tradition, any Zulu person may approach the king. He named the holy city where the king, a divine figure, resides, but I can't recall it. Anyway, when you go to that place you must begin dancing in worship while you are still far off. This proves to the king that you are a child of Zulu. When he is satisfied, he will send his servants to fetch you to him.
Albert says this is how they view their dancing now that they have been found by Jesus. They always begin their church gatherings with song and dancing. I've been wondering why the songs here are such simple forms. That's why. Because the singing is only to allow for the dancing.
The point he was making is that in order to gain influence with people you must understand them. He has a wealth of experience with white missionaries coming to him to teach his people. Mostly they make no effort to learn the ways of the Zulu. They teach the way that they were taught and it falls on deaf ears.
Jesus was cross-cultural. He once travelled out of his way to visit a woman in Samaria and spoke right into her cultural situation, even though he, himself, was a Jew. He was able to gain influence because he understood her.
This is the way we are to teach; by first understanding.
130PM
To give an honest picture of my personal experience here I have to admit how inadequate I feel. I know this is not about me and that's what's so frustrating. I cant escape my insecurity. I want to be useful and clever and charming but I think god just wants me to be here.
We spent the morning with the grannies. These are older ladies who have lost adult children, mostly to AIDS, and are now raising their grandchildren, or the children of family members. The grief and hardship that these women face every day is just unimaginable to me. What am I doing here? What help can a white foreigner possibly offer in this situation? One lady told me about how she lost her husband, her daughter and her son. She said she has only Jesus to turn to.
It made me angry. It made me think of this line I heard once that was written in a letter by a medic in world war 2.
"Dear God, please come and save us. Come yourself. Don't send Jesus. This is no place for children."
3PM
As I've processed what I heard this morning from the grannies, I find one thread:
"Please pray. This is hard."
I'd like to pass that message on to you. Seriously, contact me. I can get you names if you'd like. Prayer is no joke for these people. For some, it's all they have. When they thank us for being here with them, which is often, it's because they believe, with all their being, that our prayers will somehow make it hurt less. Think about that when you tell someone "I'll be praying for you."
530PM
We visited one of the orphan center caregivers at his home today. He's on bed rest recovering from surgery. We walked through the township to get there, which was cool. His name is Soli. I'm sure that's short for something. He plays piano. Thulani says he's pretty good. Maybe we'll jam with him someday.
8PM
Andrew Brightenburg arrived today. He fit into our misfit group right away. We had a little miscommunication about his schedule today so we may be scrambling a bit tomorrow but we have the paint and the painter so we're gonna go make it happen. Welcome, Andrew. Sorry we couldn't have a beer to celebrate, but my suitcase is full of partially crushed goldfish.
1115PM
Story time was epic tonight. Hanging out at the house is really like medicine after some of these days. I'm thankful for Marcia and Jennie, who couldn't be here with us, for letting us make their house our home for the week. We are taking good care of it, though the occasional pillow has been thrown when the situation warranted.
The nights are fun. We get back to Kwa Kerus feeling punchy. The ladies proceed immediately to preparing dinner. I shuffle around awkwardly trying to be helpful. Jarred lies down on the couch and demands that Alyssa tell him a story, which she actually does. I play guitar. Robb strikes up intellectual conversations. David films everything.
Dinner is always lively banter and storytelling. We debrief the day. Afterwards, the ladies set about preparing for the next day's activities with the kids, and we practice for the rally.
805AM
All of the different tribes here are descended from the Zulu. The Zulu are dancers. I've had several conversations with people who want to explain to me why they dance. It's as if they're self conscious or they worry we think them strange.
The best explanation I got was from Pastor Albert. He said that, according to Zulu tradition, any Zulu person may approach the king. He named the holy city where the king, a divine figure, resides, but I can't recall it. Anyway, when you go to that place you must begin dancing in worship while you are still far off. This proves to the king that you are a child of Zulu. When he is satisfied, he will send his servants to fetch you to him.
Albert says this is how they view their dancing now that they have been found by Jesus. They always begin their church gatherings with song and dancing. I've been wondering why the songs here are such simple forms. That's why. Because the singing is only to allow for the dancing.
The point he was making is that in order to gain influence with people you must understand them. He has a wealth of experience with white missionaries coming to him to teach his people. Mostly they make no effort to learn the ways of the Zulu. They teach the way that they were taught and it falls on deaf ears.
Jesus was cross-cultural. He once travelled out of his way to visit a woman in Samaria and spoke right into her cultural situation, even though he, himself, was a Jew. He was able to gain influence because he understood her.
This is the way we are to teach; by first understanding.
130PM
To give an honest picture of my personal experience here I have to admit how inadequate I feel. I know this is not about me and that's what's so frustrating. I cant escape my insecurity. I want to be useful and clever and charming but I think god just wants me to be here.
We spent the morning with the grannies. These are older ladies who have lost adult children, mostly to AIDS, and are now raising their grandchildren, or the children of family members. The grief and hardship that these women face every day is just unimaginable to me. What am I doing here? What help can a white foreigner possibly offer in this situation? One lady told me about how she lost her husband, her daughter and her son. She said she has only Jesus to turn to.
It made me angry. It made me think of this line I heard once that was written in a letter by a medic in world war 2.
"Dear God, please come and save us. Come yourself. Don't send Jesus. This is no place for children."
3PM
As I've processed what I heard this morning from the grannies, I find one thread:
"Please pray. This is hard."
I'd like to pass that message on to you. Seriously, contact me. I can get you names if you'd like. Prayer is no joke for these people. For some, it's all they have. When they thank us for being here with them, which is often, it's because they believe, with all their being, that our prayers will somehow make it hurt less. Think about that when you tell someone "I'll be praying for you."
530PM
We visited one of the orphan center caregivers at his home today. He's on bed rest recovering from surgery. We walked through the township to get there, which was cool. His name is Soli. I'm sure that's short for something. He plays piano. Thulani says he's pretty good. Maybe we'll jam with him someday.
8PM
Andrew Brightenburg arrived today. He fit into our misfit group right away. We had a little miscommunication about his schedule today so we may be scrambling a bit tomorrow but we have the paint and the painter so we're gonna go make it happen. Welcome, Andrew. Sorry we couldn't have a beer to celebrate, but my suitcase is full of partially crushed goldfish.
1115PM
Story time was epic tonight. Hanging out at the house is really like medicine after some of these days. I'm thankful for Marcia and Jennie, who couldn't be here with us, for letting us make their house our home for the week. We are taking good care of it, though the occasional pillow has been thrown when the situation warranted.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Day 4: The Vast Expanse of the Heart and Soul
930AM
The ladies from Harrisonburg arrived yesterday. They were really tired but they sat through our clinic at the church, listened to mine and Jarred's obnoxious banter over dinner and then stayed up late making paper plate tambourines and cupcake wrapper flowers to prepare for today's visit to the orphan care center. They inspire me. I hope that I can be of some use today.
1245PM
People die everywhere. Here they just die alot. It's good business for stone companies. We visited the cemetery today. There were so many graves. Out of respect, I didn't take pictures of the smallest. But I will describe them.
They put them all together in one block because it's more efficient that way. All of the adult graves are adorned with trinkets like plates and cups and such needful things, a custom of the local ancestral beliefs. But the children's graves are covered with brightly colored toys, bows, ribbon, painted cups, dolls...like that. From a distance it looks like the detritus of some holiday parade. Not all of the parents could afford stones. But then not all of the children had parents.
I was at war with myself as we walked because I was determined to keep it together. I did, mostly, but I could not speak. I stared for a long time past the childrens' graves at the bulldozers digging new rows for the weekend.
5PM
Some of you live in South Africa, and I want you to know that I find this country both beautiful and familiar. Some vistas seem almost like northern Arizona. The people I've met are amazing. We actually talked yesterday, for a while, with the worship leaders about relations with the whites. They honestly have a better understanding of their differences here than we do in America. It's hard to explain. Apartheid was pretty messed up and it wasn't that long ago. There is a lot of healing to do.
We were talking today about tragedy. People always say they are surprised at the strength of others who endure it. Like we all think that if it were us we'd just implode or something. I don't think that's true. I think the human spirit is just such that it finds a way to carry on. I mean, what else can it do? I won't say that these orphans and their caregivers are strong, though I'm sure many of them are. I'll just say that they're people.
The orphans come after school. They get a good meal, cooked buy ladies like Prudence who, by the way, has a killer voice. They have activities and crafts and learn their maths and english. I say forget all that. Get the soccer ball!
The kids are really fun and amazingly kind, and I don't honestly care for kids who aren't mine. I had a pretty awesome time playing soccer and giving piggy back rides. My wife would have thought I'd lost my mind.
6PM
We're on our way to Willem's house again.
Andrew Peterson wrote this song called 'World Traveler'. It draws a metaphor of relational growth as a journey. 'Im a world traveler, into these uncharted lands to blaze a trail in the vast expanse of the heart and soul.'
That's what we're doing here; blazing trails, and we can do this anywhere. I had to fly coach for 14 and a half hours to figure that out.
615PM
Roundabouts suck.
The ladies from Harrisonburg arrived yesterday. They were really tired but they sat through our clinic at the church, listened to mine and Jarred's obnoxious banter over dinner and then stayed up late making paper plate tambourines and cupcake wrapper flowers to prepare for today's visit to the orphan care center. They inspire me. I hope that I can be of some use today.
1245PM
People die everywhere. Here they just die alot. It's good business for stone companies. We visited the cemetery today. There were so many graves. Out of respect, I didn't take pictures of the smallest. But I will describe them.
They put them all together in one block because it's more efficient that way. All of the adult graves are adorned with trinkets like plates and cups and such needful things, a custom of the local ancestral beliefs. But the children's graves are covered with brightly colored toys, bows, ribbon, painted cups, dolls...like that. From a distance it looks like the detritus of some holiday parade. Not all of the parents could afford stones. But then not all of the children had parents.
I was at war with myself as we walked because I was determined to keep it together. I did, mostly, but I could not speak. I stared for a long time past the childrens' graves at the bulldozers digging new rows for the weekend.
5PM
Some of you live in South Africa, and I want you to know that I find this country both beautiful and familiar. Some vistas seem almost like northern Arizona. The people I've met are amazing. We actually talked yesterday, for a while, with the worship leaders about relations with the whites. They honestly have a better understanding of their differences here than we do in America. It's hard to explain. Apartheid was pretty messed up and it wasn't that long ago. There is a lot of healing to do.
We were talking today about tragedy. People always say they are surprised at the strength of others who endure it. Like we all think that if it were us we'd just implode or something. I don't think that's true. I think the human spirit is just such that it finds a way to carry on. I mean, what else can it do? I won't say that these orphans and their caregivers are strong, though I'm sure many of them are. I'll just say that they're people.
The orphans come after school. They get a good meal, cooked buy ladies like Prudence who, by the way, has a killer voice. They have activities and crafts and learn their maths and english. I say forget all that. Get the soccer ball!
The kids are really fun and amazingly kind, and I don't honestly care for kids who aren't mine. I had a pretty awesome time playing soccer and giving piggy back rides. My wife would have thought I'd lost my mind.
6PM
We're on our way to Willem's house again.
Andrew Peterson wrote this song called 'World Traveler'. It draws a metaphor of relational growth as a journey. 'Im a world traveler, into these uncharted lands to blaze a trail in the vast expanse of the heart and soul.'
That's what we're doing here; blazing trails, and we can do this anywhere. I had to fly coach for 14 and a half hours to figure that out.
615PM
Roundabouts suck.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Day 3: Soshanguve (Blocks P and Y)
We spent the entire day in the township. We went to church at River of Life Christian Fellowship. I could not have been more out of my comfort zone. There's video.
They made Robb preach and made me sing and play guitar. They made all of us dance laps around the room several times. Then we went over to the Kerus house of encouragement and had lunch. It was good.
We gave a clinic for worship leaders at the church. By 'we' I mean Robb. That dude can teach. We shared some songs back and forth and talked alot about cultural barriers and the meaning of worship and that.
6PM
I'm now at Willem's house where Internet lives. Im checking email and I'm realizing that people are actually reading this. I have mixed emotions about that.
840PM
Soshanguve is not really what I expected. I mean it looks like I expected and everything but the people are different than I thought. They don't act poor. You're all wondering what I mean by that and I guess so am I. I had a conversation with this lady named Patricia. She's the pastors daughter. We were talking about challenges they were facing in the church. She didn't say anything about poverty or hunger or poor facilities or anything I could leap in and solve for her like Superwhite Man. Instead she talked about young people making poor choices and broken relationships and getting people to understand who Jesus is.
It's not enough to say my expectations were wrong. The entire framework for my thought process about coming here was erroneous. This is a partnership and I find myself digging deep into my limited experience as a church leader just to try and offer them some weapon against the same darkness we face in our own church. I'm ill-prepared. I may as well be in New Jersey or something, you know, except everyone is black and more polite.
They made Robb preach and made me sing and play guitar. They made all of us dance laps around the room several times. Then we went over to the Kerus house of encouragement and had lunch. It was good.
We gave a clinic for worship leaders at the church. By 'we' I mean Robb. That dude can teach. We shared some songs back and forth and talked alot about cultural barriers and the meaning of worship and that.
6PM
I'm now at Willem's house where Internet lives. Im checking email and I'm realizing that people are actually reading this. I have mixed emotions about that.
840PM
Soshanguve is not really what I expected. I mean it looks like I expected and everything but the people are different than I thought. They don't act poor. You're all wondering what I mean by that and I guess so am I. I had a conversation with this lady named Patricia. She's the pastors daughter. We were talking about challenges they were facing in the church. She didn't say anything about poverty or hunger or poor facilities or anything I could leap in and solve for her like Superwhite Man. Instead she talked about young people making poor choices and broken relationships and getting people to understand who Jesus is.
It's not enough to say my expectations were wrong. The entire framework for my thought process about coming here was erroneous. This is a partnership and I find myself digging deep into my limited experience as a church leader just to try and offer them some weapon against the same darkness we face in our own church. I'm ill-prepared. I may as well be in New Jersey or something, you know, except everyone is black and more polite.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Day 2: Pretoria and Soshanguve
845AM
I'm reading selected psalms. I'm noticing that David had a particularly kingly way of talking to God that the other psalmists did not have. Take psalm 30 for example. David is recalling one of his earlier lamentations where he asked the Lord something like 'if I am dead then who will praise you? The dust?'
We talked about it and decided this was not a healthy way to talk to God, but Robb pointed out that the more significant thing is how God would respond to David when he acted up like that. In 2nd Samuel 7, David declares that he's going to build God a house because David had a house and God lived in tents (David reasons alot like Peter would later). God tells him, basically, "Silly David. I will build you a house." God responded to David's pride with enormous and humbling blessing. I think that's cool.
1230PM
There's a lemon (or lime?) tree in front of our house.
1240
We're on our way to Soshanguve for the first time. David is filming everything. He's probably filming me blogging back here.
We had an amazing time this morning at Kwa Kerus, singing and playing together and talking about the bible. This team is perfect. It's hard to explain why, but I can just tell that we we're hand picked for this.
130PM
The Kerus House of Encouragement is in block y on the western end of Soshanguve. It's really a beautiful place. Simple and clean and well-kept. We met Prudence there who tends to the care of the place.
They have a garden where they grow spinach and cabbage and other vegetables. They used to get frost in the winter. They were promised a greenhouse but it never came. They planted grinadella around the garden and that made a big difference once it grew in.
While driving through the township we saw a sign taped to a post that read "Same day abortions. Safe."
Willem is an amazing host. He knows alot of stuff. But so does Robb. He knows what "desiduous" means. If this were a text message, I would put a smiley face here.
215PM
It's clear now that I'm changing. The mountains make me cry. Andrew Peterson should come here.
3PM
We're having tea at Willem's house. We all asked for tea thinking it was the more culturally appropriate thing to do. It turns out its not. They have afternoon coffee here. Afternoon tea is a British custom and Afrikaners are not fans of the Brits. Something about a boar war...
No telling when I'll have Internet access again. God bless, everyone!
I'm reading selected psalms. I'm noticing that David had a particularly kingly way of talking to God that the other psalmists did not have. Take psalm 30 for example. David is recalling one of his earlier lamentations where he asked the Lord something like 'if I am dead then who will praise you? The dust?'
We talked about it and decided this was not a healthy way to talk to God, but Robb pointed out that the more significant thing is how God would respond to David when he acted up like that. In 2nd Samuel 7, David declares that he's going to build God a house because David had a house and God lived in tents (David reasons alot like Peter would later). God tells him, basically, "Silly David. I will build you a house." God responded to David's pride with enormous and humbling blessing. I think that's cool.
1230PM
There's a lemon (or lime?) tree in front of our house.
1240
We're on our way to Soshanguve for the first time. David is filming everything. He's probably filming me blogging back here.
We had an amazing time this morning at Kwa Kerus, singing and playing together and talking about the bible. This team is perfect. It's hard to explain why, but I can just tell that we we're hand picked for this.
130PM
The Kerus House of Encouragement is in block y on the western end of Soshanguve. It's really a beautiful place. Simple and clean and well-kept. We met Prudence there who tends to the care of the place.
They have a garden where they grow spinach and cabbage and other vegetables. They used to get frost in the winter. They were promised a greenhouse but it never came. They planted grinadella around the garden and that made a big difference once it grew in.
While driving through the township we saw a sign taped to a post that read "Same day abortions. Safe."
Willem is an amazing host. He knows alot of stuff. But so does Robb. He knows what "desiduous" means. If this were a text message, I would put a smiley face here.
215PM
It's clear now that I'm changing. The mountains make me cry. Andrew Peterson should come here.
3PM
We're having tea at Willem's house. We all asked for tea thinking it was the more culturally appropriate thing to do. It turns out its not. They have afternoon coffee here. Afternoon tea is a British custom and Afrikaners are not fans of the Brits. Something about a boar war...
No telling when I'll have Internet access again. God bless, everyone!
Day 1: Johannesburg and Pretoria
10AM
I'm in the back of a car being driven by a man named Bob. Bob is from Colorodo where they drive on the left side of the road, and incidentally the left side of the car. They don't do that here and this is causing Bob and me distress. Still, Bob is doing remarkably well under the circumstances.
Sitting next to him is Willem. You pronounce that 'Villem' because, hey, why not? Willem is speaking afrikaans on the phone. It sounds Dutch but he says it's closer to Flemish.
11AM
People live in constant fear here. The intense and nearby poverty generates alot of crime, mostly violent. Willem is pointing out neighbors houses, as we stand in his driveway, and telling us about the break-ins. It's pretty awful. His house is surrounded by a 12ft wall topped with electric wire and has multiple perimeter alarms.
130PM
A trip to the local pick-and-pay confirms a suspicion that arose when I packed Andrews care package from his folks: no goldfish.
340PM
We're staying at a guest house operated by a slightly crazy afrikaner family. They host childrens' parties here. Out my window I see children taking pony rides and chickens running around.
420PM
Kwa Kerus (the place of Kerus) is really nice but i have no internet connection. Bob gave me this thing called "magic jack". Magic Jack is a dongle that you plug into a usb port. Its supposed to connect you to the internet. It failed and asked me if I wanted to launch "magic fix". Magic Fix is a website...on the internet.
My jet lag is like the jet lag of a thousand suns. Else I'd have realized earlier that magic jack has an rj-10 port on it. Oh.
I'm in the back of a car being driven by a man named Bob. Bob is from Colorodo where they drive on the left side of the road, and incidentally the left side of the car. They don't do that here and this is causing Bob and me distress. Still, Bob is doing remarkably well under the circumstances.
Sitting next to him is Willem. You pronounce that 'Villem' because, hey, why not? Willem is speaking afrikaans on the phone. It sounds Dutch but he says it's closer to Flemish.
11AM
People live in constant fear here. The intense and nearby poverty generates alot of crime, mostly violent. Willem is pointing out neighbors houses, as we stand in his driveway, and telling us about the break-ins. It's pretty awful. His house is surrounded by a 12ft wall topped with electric wire and has multiple perimeter alarms.
130PM
A trip to the local pick-and-pay confirms a suspicion that arose when I packed Andrews care package from his folks: no goldfish.
340PM
We're staying at a guest house operated by a slightly crazy afrikaner family. They host childrens' parties here. Out my window I see children taking pony rides and chickens running around.
420PM
Kwa Kerus (the place of Kerus) is really nice but i have no internet connection. Bob gave me this thing called "magic jack". Magic Jack is a dongle that you plug into a usb port. Its supposed to connect you to the internet. It failed and asked me if I wanted to launch "magic fix". Magic Fix is a website...on the internet.
My jet lag is like the jet lag of a thousand suns. Else I'd have realized earlier that magic jack has an rj-10 port on it. Oh.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Day 0: Virginia, New York, The Sky
6AM
We slept in this guy Zach's living room last night. It was like college, which is fine because one of us, David, is in college and the rest of us think of college fondly(ish).
Robb has Ebola. Ok, so it's just an infection, but man, the coughing. He's 60 hours into an antibiotic though which is a good thing for all of us.
I just realized that David, who plays bass, is also our videographer. I'm sure I knew that already and just forgot. He has a steady cam. We could totally make a found-footage film like Chronicle or the Blair witch project.
Our flight is at 8:30. It's 6:15 am. I need Starbucks.
930AM
Just landed in New York. Flight was nice because I had a whole row to myself. The down side is that those seats were supposed to be occupied by Robb, Jarred and David. Dang.
They're trying to get a direct flight to Joburg. We'll have to meet up there. Looking forward to having a whole row to myself on the long flight though and this way I'll avoid catching whatever death plague Robb has.
This is it for day 0 since i'll be on a plane for the rest of it. Caffeine headache starting. Plane stuck on tarmac. Still need Starbucks.
We slept in this guy Zach's living room last night. It was like college, which is fine because one of us, David, is in college and the rest of us think of college fondly(ish).
Robb has Ebola. Ok, so it's just an infection, but man, the coughing. He's 60 hours into an antibiotic though which is a good thing for all of us.
I just realized that David, who plays bass, is also our videographer. I'm sure I knew that already and just forgot. He has a steady cam. We could totally make a found-footage film like Chronicle or the Blair witch project.
Our flight is at 8:30. It's 6:15 am. I need Starbucks.
930AM
Just landed in New York. Flight was nice because I had a whole row to myself. The down side is that those seats were supposed to be occupied by Robb, Jarred and David. Dang.
They're trying to get a direct flight to Joburg. We'll have to meet up there. Looking forward to having a whole row to myself on the long flight though and this way I'll avoid catching whatever death plague Robb has.
This is it for day 0 since i'll be on a plane for the rest of it. Caffeine headache starting. Plane stuck on tarmac. Still need Starbucks.
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