Here’s the Forestry float in progress. This is the NMMU symbol done in thousands of paper flowers.
The campus societies were asked to be a part of the parade by decorating a grocery cart. Each society was to represent on their cart one of the school’s 9 core values. We were given “Responsibility”. The day of the parade the societies would then race against one another to start off the parade.
There was a group of 7 or so of us who worked on our trolley. The societies were supposed to request paints and supplies they would need. Like all things organized by the school, this was done but then when it came to distributing the supplies it was a free for all and everything was gone when we got the chance to meet together. It turned out alright though. As a result, we bought our own paints and did up our trolley nice and proper. I don’t have any pictures of us working because I forgot my camera, but our crew worked 3 nights and endless hours to make and paint our trolley.
One side says: What are you living for?
The other side says: Jesus is life! With our verse for the year John 10:10
Nontethelelo: our Events Coordinator on our student committee
Bradley: the first of our 4 guys who would run Nontethelelo to the finish line
Before the parade got started
Some of the other society trolleys
Maxwell representing another society even though he’s also one of ours. This kid is crazy smart. He’s going for distinctions and is doing a great job. He attends Stephen’s Bible study and in the last couple of weeks he started meeting with Stephen one-on-one. Although quiet and reserved, he seems to be grasping the message of grace. Stephen hopes to continue meeting with Maxwell next semester.
Zethu (one of my bible study girls). I love this girl. See how she’s holding tin cans? Instead of throwing candy like we do in U.S. parades everyone here goes around with tin cans and collects donations! Weird right!?!
The trolley race! I believe we ended up second. :)
Sikhumbuzo and Clive – 2 of our other runners (also on our committee)
Resting after the long run.
Nontethelelo and Pinky
NMMU Business schools float.
The tail end of their float.
The monstrous tractor that pulled the forestry float.
They had a “Go Green Avatar” theme.
Clive, as we poked along in the parade.
Society trolleys
Lee, as we near the end of the parade.
Pauline
Sakhile (in the middle) He just became a believer and Stephen has been meeting with him weekly and going through the book “Welcome to the Family.” This picture is literally the first time we met him. He is such a sweet kid and he exudes joy. His story is really amazing.
When Stephen met with him for the first time, Sakhile told him about how he grew up in a home where his mother is a witch-doctor, called a sangoma. Starting around the age of 12 and then more during his high school years, he felt that “something” or “someone” was controlling and directing his life in positive ways. He was involved in a horrific passenger train accident where he miraculously survived. He walked away from the hospital with some severe scars, but he told Stephen he could never understand why he was “permitted” to live. His mother told him it was the ancestors watching over him. But something within him told him that it was more than that…much more.
He graduated high school with distinctions in math and he told Stephen there was absolutely no way he could explain his success. He said he’s not a very smart person and he has to work really hard for him to get the grades he needs. He started going to church after he graduated and he began to see that instead of his ancestors directing his life, it was none other than the living God.
It has been a joy for Stephen to meet with Sakhile these last couple of weeks and teach him the fundamentals of salvation. He’s hungry to know the Truth and eager to know more about the God who has been directing his life!
Other interesting things at the parade. I’m guessing a traditional German dance society?
Motorcycles
Cool cars
And lastly, the George Herald (our local newspaper)…which is written in both English and Afrikaans, so typically we can only read half the paper!
