August 4

After "work" I rushed home to pack my bags before Charlene fetched me. We drove to Neill and James' (James is their friend from church, he is 24, and working on his honors in building science by helping build their new church building) "rec" soccer game. They have neighborhood/community "club" teams, kind of like at home. Charlene and I sat on the bleachers and watched the game (unfortunately, their team took a beating, but the guys had a great attitude about it). When they finished playing we all piled in the car and drove to Charlene and Neill's family's beach house at Bazley Beach. It is about an hour south of Durban. When we got to the house (which was locked on the ouside with a gate and padlock) we went inside and everything in the house (mattresses, pillows, shelves, chairs, etc) was locked behind a garage style door (that is in the house) so that the people from a nearby township won't break in and steal. It is hard to describe all the measures they have to take to lock away everything in the house so their won't be a theft. We had to unload the furniture and kitchen stuff and set up the house. Finally it was all set up and we just hung out and talked (often the conversation veers towards comparing America and South Africa). I'm excited to spend the weekend with my new friends!