We were planning on going camping this weekend. But, when we could only find one tent and there was an available hut to sleep in half-way through a two-day hike, we took up that offer.

I’m really sore, sunburned and I’m pretty sure that it’ll take me a few showers before I stop noticing spots of dirt on my body…but it was fun. We hiked 5 hours yesterday and today blazed our own trail and ended up back to my car before we expected (that’s code for we lost the trail and just started heading east…).

The backpacks and camera are still in the car and as much as I’d like to post photos now, the walk to the car seems daunting at the moment.

But, I have to tell you that I’m absolutely amazed, once again, at God’s creation. I’ve been lucky so see some amazing natural wonders, like Victoria Falls. But, the last couple of days were right up there…the mountains were breathtaking and even though the water was FREEZING, it was definitely worth it to take the plunge and swim in a river this morning.

And, even though it was supposed to rain all weekend, we had great hiking days. Yesterday, there was an amazing thunderstorm that started minutes after we arrived at our hut. Being up in the mountains and hearing the thunder echo was awesome. And it stopped just in time for us to cook dinner on the braai.

Now, I’m just hoping I’ll be able to get out of bed in the morning…

I’m a proud owner (not sure if that’s the right word) of my first international library card.

I love South Africa, I really do. But sometimes, they make things extra difficult here. For instance, it took me months to get my car registered (the only downside to this is that now if I speed the traffic tickets will actually come to me instead of the previous owner…bummer). And then I had to go to the local tire store to get my license plates made (I thought it was a little weird too…).

So, I wasn’t exactly surprised that they gave me a hard time about the library card. I was grilled of course…why are you here? Oh, you’re not South African? What if you steal our books and take them to America with you?

But, after giving references so they can track me down if I run off with their books and nearly signing my first born child away, I have a library card.

When I was leaving, she said I could utilize my borrowing privileges, so I figured I better take her up on it before she changed her mind. I grabbed the first semi-interesting looking English book in the “new section”.

It starts with something along the lines of “they were two well-educated virgins on their honeymoon night…”. So, eh, I’ll pass on this book, but I’m sure I’ll have better luck next time…

I send out a monthly (or sometimes bi-monthly) newsletter.

Send me an email at tjarks.katie@gmail.com and I’ll add you to the mailing list!

Life isn’t fair.

I feel like sometimes we try too hard to make it that way. I listened to a Andy Stanley leadership podcast last week on mutual submission. There is a line I’ve been chewing on all week.

“When you can’t do for all. Do for one.”

It’s hard. I think most of the time, it’s easier to use the excuse “we can’t do it for everyone, so we wont’ do it at all” as a cop out.

When we take the hard rule of fairness out of the equation, it makes us think and have to evaluate things on a case by case basis–which can be time consuming. And sometimes, just plain hard.

But, I think it’s worth it.

What do you think? (You can listen to the podcast here.)

I’ve lived away from home for nearly all of my adult life. I moved across the country right after my nineteenth birthday.

When I lived in Florida, I knew that when I started to feel like I was really missing out on things, the big family stuff, I would have to move home. That at some point, enough would be enough and I’d end up at least closer.

And now, 8000 miles away, I’m feeling a little bit of that “enough is enough” business.

I’m wishing that someone would have invented teleporting. And wondering why plane tickets home are more than some people spend on their first car. And feeling like I’m the crappy family member who’s never there for the big stuff, that I get the easy way out. Unfortunately, this doesn’t feel easy.

But, God is good. My trust will stay with Him, where it belongs.

And, I will continue to hope for that teleporting machine.

I miss a lot of things from America. A lot of it is food. Specifically: Chipotle. Moe’s. Tijuana Flats. (Sensing a theme??).

Being vegetarian and all, the common ingredient in most mexican food is black beans.

I’ve never seen them in South Africa.

Until yesterday.

I bought 5 bags.

Which means I get to to ask the question I never thought I would ask while living on this continent. Anyone have a good recipe for Black Bean Soup??

I’ve been a little homesick lately. I think it hit me that I won’t be home for the holidays this year. (Although I’ll know soon when I’ll be home next year…that makes me seriously giddy).

On our way to Lesotho we went through Fouriesburg–just in time for their spring fair. Something about the town hall, homemade jam, bluegrass/folk band playing Johnny Cash and the Canadians we met (hey, at least they have the same accent) made me feel like home and helped to apease a little bit of my homesickness.

And seriously, who can resist a waffle cone?!

Although the weather and spring festival a few weeks ago [just wait, I'll post pictures] are helping to make it feel like summer, the landscape is still pretty dry. The areas burned by wildfires and intentional fire breaks are still black and lifeless.

Except, of course, for the jacaranda trees. Not only is purple my favorite color, but especially this week they represent hope. Hope for summer and hope for a new beginning.

While we were driving through Lesotho on earlier this month, the jacaranda trees were everywhere. It kept reminding me of the verses in Isaiah.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Not only does it apply to the literal season, but seemingly the season of life I’m in too. God’s calling us to not “hang out in” the past. We need to move on because He’s doing something new and I unless I can accept that, I won’t get the most out of what’s to come-I don’t want to be stuck in the wilderness.

Living in Orlando I spent a lot of Saturday mornings with Alice and the Mad Hatter (literally). When I wasn’t there, my favorite place to be was the Farmer’s Market in Winter Park. The fresh pasta, flowers and fruit was fab…but, mostly, it was about the bagels.

We can get bagels in South Africa. Sometimes. But, usually it’s at a grocery store 3 hours away.

This week, I’ve been determined to master the art of bagel making. No more waiting for trips to the city for a Saturday morning bagel.

The ones I made today definitely beat the batch I attempted on Monday (they tasted a little more like pretzels) and the bagel sandwich satisfied my Farmer’s Market bagel craving. Here’s the recipe if anyone wants to give them a try…

Homemade bagel recipe (I modified it a little from the one on the website…)

4 cups bread flour

1 Tbls sugar

1  tsp salt

1 Tbls vegetable oil

2 tsps instant yeast

1-1/4- 1-1/2 cups of warm water.

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. You don’t have to worry about soaking the yeast when you use instant yeast. The dough should feel stiff, but add the extra water if it’s really stiff, or you can’t get all the dry flour incorporated.

Knead for about ten minutes, or until the dough is uniform and smooth. Cut the dough into 8-10 equal sized balls, and let rest for 10-20 minutes.

Pre heat your oven to 425 (218 c).

Now, take each of the dough balls and using two hands, roll it into a little snake on the counter. When the snake is longer than the width of your two hands, wrap it around your dominant roiling hand. The dough rope should be wrapped so the overlapping ends are together at your palm, near the start of your fingers. Now take the two overlapping ends, and use your palm to squish/roll these two ends together.

Let your bagels rest on the counter for about 20 minutes, and meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil, and grease a large baking tray lightly.

After the 20 minute wait, your bagels will start to look puffy, and it’s time to get them boiling! Add them as many at a time as you can to your boiling water without crowding them. Boil for about a minute, turn them over, and boil for another minute. Take them out a let dry for a minute and then place them on your oiled baking tray. Repeat until all the bagels are boiled.

Add the tray to the oven, and after 10 minutes, flip the bagels over, bake for another ten minutes.

KFC is a big deal here. Colonel Sanders dominates the fast food market in South Africa.

I love their commercials. They fail to disappoint. I’ve been googling for weeks to be able to show you…this is the only one I’ve been able to find on YouTube. Enjoy!

side note: KFC here doesn’t have biscuits (I know!).