Since I have been here over an extended period of time, I have been blessed to witness a number of special occasions and celebrations here at Alabanza. Due to the interesting mix of South Africans and Americans, these celebrations take on many strange shapes and themes, but have all been quite memorable. Here is a brief look at a couple of the celebrations that have taken place:
Mariet’s 23rd Birthday
Mariet ("Mah- REET" and roll the "r") is the hostess of Alabanza. Her duties are extensive and ever-changing, but tend to include organizing the teams coming in, arranging beds and meals, finances, general knowledge for all visitors, shopping, décor, and a bizarre list of other miscellaneous tasks. Everyone who comes to Alabanza meets Mariet, and due to her unique personality, they never forget her. Thus, as her 23rd birthday approached, we knew we had to do something as unforgettable as our dear friend.
This will be difficult to understand and will probably sound quite strange. The word I used when inquiries about the theme came my way was "warped." I still say that it was. But if you know Mariet, it makes much more (though not quite complete) sense that we threw her a surprise wedding party for her birthday. Here’s the background: Mariet is one of those girls who has bene dreaming about her wedding since she was a young girl. She longs to be married more than anything, and this is no secret… no secret meaning that anyone who has ever met Mariet knows how much she wants to be married. God has even told her when the blessed event is to happen and to whom, but that information is too sensitive for me to share with you here. But, suffice it to say and as insane as it was, this was the perfect theme for her party.
We went overboard. Way overboard! We turned Dini’s stoop ("back porch" to southerners) into a wedding reception. Paper doves and bells hung from the ceiling, flower arrangements surrounded the room, nice linens adorned tables filled with every scrumptious delight Anmerie could make in time. Mariet was given a white dress to wear and told to wait for her escort. Albert’s car was shoe-polished with "Just Married" and sent to pick her up. We all waited anxiously on the stoop. I was recruited as the photographer and awaited the guest of honor anxiously in my best tie (aka Dawie’s old black tie) and name tag which read, "Photographer, Alabanza Images" with small writing at the bottom that stated, "tips accepted."
Mariet stepped out of the car and was given the arm of her escort for the evening, Jonathan. We (Jonathan, Dawie, and I) had gone out that morning to find something cheap, yet formal, for the event, and Jonathan wore his white suit and pink striped shirt proudly. As the two entered, they were bombarded with rose petals and bubbles, as every guest sang the wedding march. Mariet was told to blow out the candles on the enormous (and rather gaudy) cake that stood in the middle of the room. Luiza burst out of the cake wearing a jester’s cap (see, I told you "warped" was an appropriate adjective for this…), and the event began. Jonathan and Dawie shared DJ duties and many of the guests, which included Alabanza staff, AIM staff, Mariet’s friends and family, took to the dance floor.
I ran around taking pictures the entire evening, though more than one gentleman did grab me and pull me onto the dance floor. Everyone laughed and ate and danced for a couple of hours. Mariet was smiling and giggling the entire time—the wedding party was a hit! Jonathan and Dawie, who are known for duets at times like these, had worked up another performance especially for Mariet. The two sang "Just the Way You Look Tonight" and Mariet was absolutely delighted.
The evening took a strange turn at the end, as it was the same evening of the last game of the rugby finals. Rugby is kind of huge here. Some of you are thinking "Duh!" right now, but I had no idea. It was like soccer in Turkey last year—I had to be a fan or I had to leave the country. I had never seen a bit of rugby before coming to ZA, but I became a huge fan this night. The stoop instantly transformed from a formal wedding party to a small theater of rugby fans, with faces painted in Springbok colors and ZA flags. The FYM’s (First Year Missionaries here with AIM) filled the stoop and we all sat to watch the game. Though most of us had no idea what was going on initially, we followed the lead of our South African friends and were soon cheering and yelling as if we had been long-time Springbok fans. As you should already know, South Africa won and the celebration was filled with face-paint smearing hugs and giddy jumping.
Mariet’s 23rd Birthday
Mariet ("Mah- REET" and roll the "r") is the hostess of Alabanza. Her duties are extensive and ever-changing, but tend to include organizing the teams coming in, arranging beds and meals, finances, general knowledge for all visitors, shopping, décor, and a bizarre list of other miscellaneous tasks. Everyone who comes to Alabanza meets Mariet, and due to her unique personality, they never forget her. Thus, as her 23rd birthday approached, we knew we had to do something as unforgettable as our dear friend.
This will be difficult to understand and will probably sound quite strange. The word I used when inquiries about the theme came my way was "warped." I still say that it was. But if you know Mariet, it makes much more (though not quite complete) sense that we threw her a surprise wedding party for her birthday. Here’s the background: Mariet is one of those girls who has bene dreaming about her wedding since she was a young girl. She longs to be married more than anything, and this is no secret… no secret meaning that anyone who has ever met Mariet knows how much she wants to be married. God has even told her when the blessed event is to happen and to whom, but that information is too sensitive for me to share with you here. But, suffice it to say and as insane as it was, this was the perfect theme for her party.
We went overboard. Way overboard! We turned Dini’s stoop ("back porch" to southerners) into a wedding reception. Paper doves and bells hung from the ceiling, flower arrangements surrounded the room, nice linens adorned tables filled with every scrumptious delight Anmerie could make in time. Mariet was given a white dress to wear and told to wait for her escort. Albert’s car was shoe-polished with "Just Married" and sent to pick her up. We all waited anxiously on the stoop. I was recruited as the photographer and awaited the guest of honor anxiously in my best tie (aka Dawie’s old black tie) and name tag which read, "Photographer, Alabanza Images" with small writing at the bottom that stated, "tips accepted."
Mariet stepped out of the car and was given the arm of her escort for the evening, Jonathan. We (Jonathan, Dawie, and I) had gone out that morning to find something cheap, yet formal, for the event, and Jonathan wore his white suit and pink striped shirt proudly. As the two entered, they were bombarded with rose petals and bubbles, as every guest sang the wedding march. Mariet was told to blow out the candles on the enormous (and rather gaudy) cake that stood in the middle of the room. Luiza burst out of the cake wearing a jester’s cap (see, I told you "warped" was an appropriate adjective for this…), and the event began. Jonathan and Dawie shared DJ duties and many of the guests, which included Alabanza staff, AIM staff, Mariet’s friends and family, took to the dance floor.
I ran around taking pictures the entire evening, though more than one gentleman did grab me and pull me onto the dance floor. Everyone laughed and ate and danced for a couple of hours. Mariet was smiling and giggling the entire time—the wedding party was a hit! Jonathan and Dawie, who are known for duets at times like these, had worked up another performance especially for Mariet. The two sang "Just the Way You Look Tonight" and Mariet was absolutely delighted.
The evening took a strange turn at the end, as it was the same evening of the last game of the rugby finals. Rugby is kind of huge here. Some of you are thinking "Duh!" right now, but I had no idea. It was like soccer in Turkey last year—I had to be a fan or I had to leave the country. I had never seen a bit of rugby before coming to ZA, but I became a huge fan this night. The stoop instantly transformed from a formal wedding party to a small theater of rugby fans, with faces painted in Springbok colors and ZA flags. The FYM’s (First Year Missionaries here with AIM) filled the stoop and we all sat to watch the game. Though most of us had no idea what was going on initially, we followed the lead of our South African friends and were soon cheering and yelling as if we had been long-time Springbok fans. As you should already know, South Africa won and the celebration was filled with face-paint smearing hugs and giddy jumping.
Luiza just out of the cake
Jo, me, and Leah
Luiza, Mariet, Anmerie, and Veli
Jonathan and Dawie serenade Mariet
she might just have a future in this...
Michelle, Dawn, and Michael at the rugby gameMy Birthday
I turned 24 on November 15th and celebrated my first out-of-the-country birthday here at Alabanza. I awoke at midnight to the sounds of somebody at my window. I was frightened at first, as crime is a part of our lives here in South Africa, until I realized that paired with the tapping was a familiar song.
I opened my window to see Dawie ("Dah-vee") holding something with a candle on it singing the Happy Birthday song in English (as opposed to his first language, Afrikaans). As my eyes adjusted to the moonlight, I saw that he had a cinnamon roll with a candle sitting on a plate surrounded by pink flowers and flower petals. The candle kept blowing out in the breeze, and when this would happen, Hugo ("Hee-who") would run around the corner, relight the candle, and then run back into the darkness. This happened four times during our interaction, and Hugo seemed greatly relieved when I finally blew it out. Dawie slid the plate and a gift through the bars on my window and wished me a Happy Birthday and a good night’s sleep and went to bed. The gift was a bag of South African goodies—teas, cookies, and candies. There was a card inside that told me that since I was celebrating my first South African birthday, I should do it with South African treats, and I did!
In the morning, Dawn and I went to the gym like we always do (every weekday morning at 6am), and then returned for stoop, our morning Alabanza staff prayer time on Dini’s porch (every weekday morning at 8am). Anmerie surprised me at stoop with fresh-baked shortbread (my favorite thing we sell in the coffee shop!), and fresh Starbucks coffee. I am so spoiled!!! But it gets better… I had birthday money from Gran, which I used for my very first massage and a much-needed pedicure. I can’t believe I waited 24 years before my first massage—and I will definitely not be waiting very long for the next one! It was divine! And all of the Americans have discovered here that our feet turn black and our heels become hard like rocks—so pedicures are a must (and they are freakishly cheap and we take advantage of that).
After lunch, I met the girls at House of Coffees for a ladies lunch. Mariet, Anmerie, Luiza, Jo, Leah, Dawn and I ate, drank, and were quite merry as Veli (Luiza’s son) entertained not only us, but the restaurant staff as well. It was very special to me because we’d recently had a difficult time living in community, especially us girls. When they ALL showed up to birthday lunch I was overwhelmed (more on "community" later). From there, I went to the internet café to call home and speak with EVERY member of my family. It was the first time I had spoken with Mallory and Daniel since arriving in Africa since my calls home happen so early in the morning. Mom had warned them that I would call, and they both woke up just enough to wish me a happy birthday. (Thanks, you two! I love you!) I talked to Mom and Dad, too, before they took off to work, and as each person got on the phone, I opened the birthday card they had sent me. They all sent me musical or movie quote cards, so they wanted to hear my reactions as I opened the cards and heard them for the first time. The entire internet café thought I was insane, but it was worth it, as the cards were hilarious! Then, Dawie picked me up and took me back to House of Coffees (I LOVE that place!) for coffee. Yay, coffee!
I came back to Alabanza and hung out with Landi for a while, since she was at school all day and missed celebrations up to that point. She talked to me as I got ready for my birthday dinner. Landi is sixteen, and lives with me and Dawn in Fonteinkie ("little fountain"—named so for the way the water likes to run down the hill and straight through our house during a hard rain). At this point a card was delivered that had come in the mail that day from the Riggs. My Bible study from home signed an adorable card that claimed they made me a chocolate cake and ate it, something I laughed at until I saw pictures of a chocolate cake adorned with jungle animals with "Happy Birthday Lindsey" written on it. They actually made me a chocolate cake, stood around it and smiled for a picture, and then ate it! I love my friends!!!
They came and got us when dinner was ready and we all went up to the upstairs of the coffee shop for a fajita dinner. I had to teach everyone how to put a fajita together, and we all enjoyed them immensely. Brownies followed (thank the Lord!) and everyone went to bed with full tummies of a little piece of Lindsey’s home.
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
-2 Corinthians 9:15
Leah and Veli, Jo, Dawn, Luiza, Anmerie, Mariet, and me at House of Coffees
I love my girls...
me and Veli :)
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