The context for the title, Continental Shift, is about me processing the changes in environment and culture between Panama and South Africa. I feel like I need a reset before I jump into an entirely different culture. It almost seems like a disservice to my time in Panama since it’ll become eclipsed by my most recent experiences here in South Africa. So what follows are some complaints, funny observations and a few serious points.

Funny things about South Africa:

• Add South Africa to the list of countries who drive on the left (read: wrong) side of the road. It suddenly makes boarding a bus or loading a car a huge chore. And I don’t even want to talk getting on the freeway!
• The electrical outlets are ridiculously huge and don’t actually charge anything. Seriously, it’s like going from Legos to Duplos. Not to mention it took my phone three different attempts to finally charge. I feel like I’m living out the Brian Regan sketch where he says, “It’s fun to fly!” except mine would be,  “I like to plug in things. This is fun! The square goes in the square hole…”
• The beef is always jerky, by default. I suggest small bits and careful chewing.
• There’s separate faucets for hot and cold water. The only reason I can possibly imagine for this is that some people don’t actual have hot water (oh, kinda like Panama!). Regardless, the best method I’ve developed to combat first degree burns involves cupping a full hand of cold water and then adding in some hot until it reaches the desired temperature. Genius, I know.
• The internet is sold by the megabyte here. For example, I bought 100MBs of internet for 30Rand (about $4US). I think it’ll last me about three or four days. So far, so good! Oh, and no companies actually sell monthly contracts, it’s all per use. Although, some sell for hour increments as well. (Those are the places you go to upload photos and watch YouTube!)
• My life is still punctuated by important educational moments in the realm of common sense/life experience. This month’s lesson: a spa is not a hotel at all! For one, everything’s single story. We’re staying in a rondawel (read: bungalow) which feels more like a studio apartment for three people.
• But at least it came fully stocked with food, right?
  For one week of breakfast they gave us three guys:
  2 bags of bread, 6 eggs, a bag of shredded cheese, some bacon, milk and a box of corn flakes.
  But the best part was their recommended week plan: bread with cheese, bread with egg, bread with bacon, etc.
• At least they have some hot water spring swimming pools. I melted in one of those for three hours the other day. That was a nice change of pace!
• The weather is now beautiful but it was ridiculously cold before. I’m finally getting some use out of the inside of my sleeping bag as opposed to the outside that I used in Panama.
• Not having a consistent internet connection causes me to stop and look back at a lot of my offline/draft emails and realize how much I complain about something that ends up improving shortly thereafter.

1. the weather changed
2. I eventually got internet
3. the food is actually pretty good
4. the seminars ended up being great
5. the worship is meaningful
6. the night gatherings at this conferences are better than the mornings
7. I missed out (read: skipped out) on an afternoon evangelism outreach to the local town and missed out on God working in a teammate’’s life and also an awesome miracle of a foot growing back.

• But despite all that, God still uses me and gives rest where I’m at.
• I’ve more clearly learned that “in all things, I can praise the Lord.”
• I’ve been told several times that I’ve lost some weight. That’d be encouraging if I actually noticed it too though.
• Switching from the hot/humid summers of Panama to the cold/dry winter weather of South Africa has caused my lips and heels to crack. I suddenly miss humidity!
• I was under the false assumption that I’d have more alone time in South Africa after living in the sanctuary of a church for almost three months in Panama. I guess I’ll have to wait until I’m done with my time in YWAM before I experience some great alone time again.

James Natchwey, Photographer.