<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar.g?targetBlogID\x3d32063187\x26blogName\x3dThe+Purposed+Trek\x26publishMode\x3dPUBLISH_MODE_BLOGSPOT\x26navbarType\x3dBLACK\x26layoutType\x3dCLASSIC\x26searchRoot\x3dhttps://purposedtrek.blogspot.com/search\x26blogLocale\x3den_US\x26v\x3d2\x26homepageUrl\x3dhttp://purposedtrek.blogspot.com/\x26vt\x3d-3931317751716566422', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe", messageHandlersFilter: gapi.iframes.CROSS_ORIGIN_IFRAMES_FILTER, messageHandlers: { 'blogger-ping': function() {} } }); } }); </script>

The Purposed Trek

Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you. I say to God, "Be my Lord!" Without you, nothing makes sense.
 

And the 'Thank You' goes to...

25 June 2007

The Franzen Family
(Skyler - 8, Blake -5, Rich, Tori -2 1/2, Michelle)

Thanks to the amazing hospitality of your family and the warmth that has been shown has made this first month here in South Africa amazing. You truly have made me feel so welcome and allowed me to invade not only your ministry, but your family, your flat and your kitchen. Thanks for finding me my flat, buying my car, opening my bank account, showing me the different markets and malls, and how to navigate the aisles in the grocery stores. I am so happy to be a part of your family and I look forward to all the things I get to experienc with you during the time I am here.

Such a Time as This

20 June 2007

I was talking to my friend Bethany over IM tonight and we were talking about being clay on the potters wheel. I was reminded of how about 3 years ago, I felt a sudden change take place in my life, but I couldn't tell you what exactly it was or why it was the way it was. I was clay on the potters wheel and I was feeling like the wheel was spinning rapidly. We all knows what happens when the wheel spins real fast, you sometimes get some interesting looking pottery. So after some high-speed spinning which was fine-tuning and purging things that would cause the pottery to loose its beauty, the wheel slowed down and I felt like I was being formed and shaped for a specific purpose. I learned that if I remained pliable during a season that seamed so out of control, that is when I would truly walk into grace and peace. I believe that it took 3 years of rapid spinning to get me here, the place of grace and peace, which happens to be South Africa. It is so normal and right living here. The transition was super easy and I know it was because I was being shaped for this time and this place. I love it! I can now see why it took, intensely, that time and my life leading up to today, to tweak my shape. Otherwise I might not have been so excited or transitioned as well has I have into a completely new continent, culture, and lifestyle. For such a time as this, I am here in South Africa with my whole heart and being and will be here until my shaped is changed again.

Posing Lions

12 June 2007

I have posted some new photos to my collection for your viewing pleasure. The lions were in the mood to pose for me and it was amazing. (http://mdepersig.shutterfly.com)

A Problem in Every Country

07 June 2007

I move half way around the world and I didn't expect to see some of the same things as in America. But I have learned that many of the same issues exist. Some things that are in America and NOT here in South Africa are...street signs, extreme commercialism, free anything, sales, cheap electronics, decent ice cream, Starbucks, super size everything, 24 different kinds of croutons, and the list could go on.

However one thing that has made it's way to South Africa is crack. Today, during the kids crusade, I was exposed to crack. I was shocked.

Isn't that a Dodge?

06 June 2007

Actually nope...it is a Chrysler Neon. I have never owned an American made car in my life until I moved out of America. I just purchased a 2001 Chrysler Neon. It only has 58,000 KM's on it. It was such a good deal and I was so very thankful that I found it in less than 2 days of looking. It took longer for the money to be wired than the transaction at the dealer, which took about 15 minutes. No signing your life away like stateside car purchases. Here are some pics.

Better to be a Man in South Africa

03 June 2007

I have learned something living here in South Africa...it is far better to be a man than a woman. Men have to "sit" on the toilet fewer times in the day than a woman and goodness if that seat isn't bitter cold.