We pulled up to the first school Tuesday morning to sounds of kids yelling “Makgoa” out the windows. At first it seemed a little strange, Makgoa is white person in Sosotho, but after being here over 6 months we’ve embraced it. As the car pulls to a stop they stare inquisically at us and then start pointing and waving.

Alfred and I go inside to meet the school headmaster to figure out where we’ll be doing the assembly. We sit in the school lobby and wait, and wait. About 15 minutes later, after meeting with the deputy headmaster and several teachers, none of which who knew what was going on, we finally met with the now infamous headmaster. He directed us to a teacher who was able to get us set up in an outdoor meeting area. Kids started streaming out of classrooms, curious why the Makgoa were here.

Kaylen and I started talking to a bunch of kids in grade 10. We started talking about music. They call techno music house music. It’s their favorite. I explain how we use both terms in the states. They ask me who my favorite South Africa DJ is. I laugh and tell them I have no idea, but we talk a little about Lucky Dube [thanks, Amy...] they like him too. Then, the question I’ve been waiting for comes, “do you know 50 cent?” As if, as Americans, we rub shoulders with rappers on a daily basis. I explain that America is huge and most of don’t know celebrities. They act disappointed. The conversation quickly switches to something else.

A few hours later we’re on our way home. We did two assemblies at schools to promote our village discipleship program, LaunchPad. We ate a packed lunch on the steps of a church we spent a lot of time at during Thrive Trip, it was odd without everyone there. Shannon and I ran and visited a family she had spent a lot of time with a few weeks ago, they were so excited to see her.

LaunchPad classes start next week, I’m co-teaching Love, Sex and Relationships at a school, if all the kids come that we’re hoping for, the class will be nearly 200 people.