Ok, so a little more than a vlog. We were invited by Bishop Bowles to a fundraiser, a debutante ball, put on by a local congregation.

It was a lot of fun, the kids were great. When the floor was opened up everyone was dancing, all of the generations danced together; a great way to spend a Friday night.

We also sat down this morning and reflected on our time so far in South Africa.

Hi everyone, this first update is a little later than planned, to make up for that please accept this picture of a wildebeest and zeebra as payment.

Anyway, we made it to Joburg as planned on Tuesday night after a day of travel capped off with a 15 hour flight from Atlanta. On Wednesday we met with Phil Kuntson, Regional Program Assistant for Southern Africa, ELCA who was very helpful in understanding more about the various Diocese in South Africa, and especially the Cape Orange Diocese. 

We then traveled to the Apartheid Museum, where the history of apartheid, is presented bare, without leaving anything glossed over or omitted. I'll have more on that visit later (once we are somewhere with a little better upload speed.) 

Today, our last day in the Johannesburg area, we went North to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Where the above picture was taken. No selfies with buffalo here though, there are plenty of signs reminding you that staying in the car is a pretty good idea. (More pictures when we get to better internet)

I'm sure we'll have much more from Pilanesberg and the Apartheid Museum, but tomorrow we begin the trip out to Kimberly to meet with the Diocese staff and Bishop Bowles.

More soon!

Colter M.

This time next week, the delegation from the Montana Synod will be in South Africa. (Well, we'll be somewhere over the Atlantic, but you get the point.)

Pastor Peggy Paugh Leuzinger, Pastor Will Sappington, Colter McCarty, and Bishop Jessica Crist will all be traveling around the Cape Orange Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa. Its that entire Western Portion including Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape.

Here is a little size comparison

If you want to learn more about what we will be doing, go ahead and read this weeks Words from the Bishop.

This space will be where we post vlogs, pictures, written blogs, etc, whenever possible. We will be connected down there, but don't know for sure where or when we'll be able to update. So check back regularly!

More to come,

Colter M