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Sunday, December 4, 2011

The Beauty of Cape Town

As we descended in to Cape Town on Tuesday the 15th, I snapped this picture.  After 16 hours of flying, we finally saw Table Mountain and it was beautiful!
Months before the trip Amy, Adriana, and I decided to travel to Cape Town a few days earlier than the team.  The reason for this was to have a little vacation before we actually began the mission's trip.  Although it was incredibly restful and fun, Amy and I were so thankful we came a few days early to do some planning.  We were able to meet with Jacques (the Pastor of Point Community), work out logistics for our team, get our schedule finalized, and learn our way around the area.  This was incredibly helfpul before leading a team of 14 others in a foreign land!  Other than doing all those things, we had an amazing time enjoying this beautiful city!  

On Wednesday after meeting with Jacques at Amy and my favorite South African cofffee shop, Mugg and Bean(we each spent a summer in Africa separately, but both love this place!), we took a little day trip down the coast to  Cape Point!  I will let the pictures speak for themselves, but I just have to say that I have never seen beauty like this.  I knew pictures would not truly capture it, but that did not stop me from snapping away.  We would drive a little bit and then pull off to enjoy the beauty.  The further we drove down the Cape, the more beautiful it seemed to get





 We saw these baboons signs everywhere, but never saw a baboon.  Maybe we were crazy, but we were really hoping to see one.  

 The water was chilly, but it felt amazing to run in the soft sand and put my feet in the crystal clear water.  

 If you know me, you know my all-time favorite place on earth is the beach.  I love everything about it.  Being in the sand and the waves is worshipful for me.  You can imagine that the beauty of this beach was a truly worshipful experience for me

 We finally made our way to Cape Point National Park and took the cable car up to the top of the peak
  This point is the very southern tip and where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean meet.  Although there is no clear line, this was my first time seeing the Indian Ocean.  
 What a sweet sign reminding us how far away New York was!  A little piece of home in a far far away place!  
 We drove around the national park for a bit and saw some pretty ostriches just walking around on the road
 We made a stop at Cape Of Good Hope - the southwestern most tip of Africa.  How cool is that?
As we headed back towards Cape Town we watched the sun begin to go down over the mountains.  Although this picture does not capture it at all, it was beautiful.  I had forgotten how amazing African sunsets are.  Since we were on the highway, this was the only way I could snap it! ha

 After a long day of driving and taking in beautiful scenery, we stopped in Camps Bay for a nice dinner at Cod Father.  My friend Maggie recommended it and it was such a cool place.  They have no menues but only fish in a clear fridge.  You literally walk up and pick out the fish you want to eat and then they cook it for you!  Now that is fresh seafood!  They also had a revolving sushi bar which was also the first for us.  And last but not least they had the best mints ever!  Seriously Amy and I became addicted to them and bought them regularly at the grocery store.  They are called Endearments and go right up there with Jelly Tots in the favorites list for African candy!  
The view from dinner
As we spent the day taking in the beauty of this country, I really felt like I was in a state of true worship. I kept thinking of the Laura Story song "Indescribable"  From the heighest of heights to the depths of the sea Creation's revealing your majesty.  I saw the majesty of the Lord revealed in all that we saw.  I just continued to think how indescribable it was , and yet the God who loves me and cares for me created it all!  I thought of Isaiah 40 "who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand"  That all that we saw is held in the palm of our God's hand!  As I processed through this day, I thought about how much I have struggled with doubt and trust latey.  I feel so foolish for doubting a God this big, and yet I do it so often.  He knows the grains of sand that we saw, these majestic oceans bow at his feet, the mountains are weighed on a scale.  This is the same God.  He created it all, he holds it all, and he knows it all!  
I felt so priviledged as we made this drive.  I know that I don't deserve to have experienced such indescribable beauty.  It was a sweet gift from the Lord to give me this day.  I soaked it in and experienced the richness and majesty of the Lord.  
Day 1 down and many more days to share....
Stay tuned!

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