L'Oceanogràfic

We had a wonderful time at the aquarium today! The dolphin show was our favorite.... And the hamburgers were amazing! I think that we were all longing for a taste of home :D








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In Valencia

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La Alhambra

On Wednesday we visited the Alhambra palace, the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain!








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Morocco

Our trip to morocco was today! The ferry ride on the way three was a little rough, but worth it! We took a walking tour through thrvold medina where we saw an open air market with multicolored chickens, beans, spices, and meat. We haggled over prices for carpets and made a visit to a local pharmacy that had herbal remedies for almost everything...including baldness and acne!
















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Group Photo!

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More Seville sights!

The Cathedral in Seville! The third largest cathedral in the world!



The Royal Garden at the Alcazar palace!


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Plaza de Toros

We visited Seville's famous bullring today. Wish we could have seen an actual bullfight!


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Good Morning from Seville!

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Flamenco

We to a flamenco show last night! Kelsey and Alli even got to go on stage and learn some flamenco moves!!


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La Mezquita

I am so proud of our kids today :) we are traveling with two groups from California. One is a group of 6 girls and one guy from Morgan Hill, California, just south of San Francisco. The other is group of deaf students.

Right we are in the bus on our way to Cordoba to visit the largest mosque in Europe,, La Mezquita, and several of the girls are learning sign language and speaking with the deaf students! Alli Rybak, Kelsey, Madalyn, and Karson are going to come back knowing so many signs!

It is a joy to see them interact with and love these students!



In the Mezquita with new friends!

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Metro ride

We rode on Madrid's metro. For several students this was their first time!


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Museo del Prado

Yesterday we did a whirlwind tour of the Museo del Prado, considered one of the three most important museums in the world (the louvre in France is another). We saw painting by Rubens, Velazquez, Goya, Rembrandt, Titian. Our favorite: Las Meninas by Velazquez!


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Hanging out at the Royal Palace

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Starbucks

A little taste of home :D


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Ready for a new day!

Waiting in the lobby of our hotel. City tour this morning!



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First day complete

Everyone us in bed after a long first day! Dinner was yummy, pasta, potatoes and ham... Ice cream for dessert.

We did a lot of walking this evening through downtown Madrid. There were thousands of people out enjoying the Semana Santa (Holy Week) activities. We saw living statues, part of a holy week procession, a live jazz band. Excited for tomorrow!




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First day in Spain

We made it!!

Our flight arrived early the Spanish time of 6:30am (12:30am at home)! We were exhausted, but excited!

This morning we dropped off our bags at Hotel Mediodia right in the center of Madrid, near the Atocha train station. Then we enjoyed a yummy breakfast of porras(think long, skinny Spanish donuts, but less sugary) and coffee at a little cafe next to the hotel.

After that we went with our guide Matthew for a walking tour of the beautiful Buen Retio park. Everyone was out running, riding bikes, and enjoying the beautiful day. Most people were off work for Good Friday!

A small group of us went to the Reina Sofia museum (right next door to the hotel) to see the famous Pablo Picasso painting Guernica, which depicts the Nazi Bombing of a small Spanish town in 1937.

Tonight, orientation and dinner at the oldest restaurant in Madrid!


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At the CLT airport

We are on our way!!!


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Spain 2010

In just under 12 hours we (14 SLCA students and 4 adults) will be leaving for a whirlwind tour of Spain. Our cities include: Madrid, Cordoba, Granada, Tetouan (Morroco), Seville, Valencia, and Barcelona. ¡Vámanos!

Book # 12 The Lightening Thief

Book: The Lightening Thief
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Author: Rick Riordan
Acquired: SLCA Bookfair

So, I should be packing my bags right now, but as usual there is some mental block that makes packing a suitcase an extremely painful and long process. There is something in me that doesn't want to commit to the clothes that I have laid out until the last possible moment. What if I change my mind?

In honor of my procrastinating, I have decided to write a blog.

Book #12 is underway. I was inspired to choose it by reading book #8, Edith Hamilton's Greek Mythology (which I am still working on). And, seeing that there are now two Greek Mythology movies out right now, it seemed appropriate. See Lightening Thief trailer here and Clash of the Titans here (don't think I will see this one....looks really violent)

Cooper River

This weekend was the Cooper River Bridge Run. It was a fun weekend in Charleston with one of my students and her mom and grandma. YAY :D

Two minute PR. Still not as fast I want to be, but at least it was faster than the last one!

Mexico vs. Iceland

Mexico played a friendly match against Iceland last night here in Charlotte at the Bank of America stadium. So fun! I don't know if I have ever seen so much green or heard so many enthusiastic fans. One guy even took it a little too far (read about it here).

Lindsay and Trish


Josh and the luchador mask

The field and the fans.

;

Enthusiastic Fans

That Your Faith Might Grow..

As you know, I teach at SouthLake Christian Academy. Two weeks ago we had our yearly Mission's Week dedicated to raising awareness about and praying for Missions. We have chapel every day with special speakers and worship and skits done by our Student Missions Fellowship. We also pick a project to raise money for.

This year was a different year. The Student Missions Fellowship prayed before each chapel. We simplified a lot of things and decided not to have any prizes or competitions between classes to raise money. Instead, we told our teachers and students that we wanted to trust God to move on the hearts of our students to give even though they wouldn't receive a prize for their class giving the most money. We wanted them to give from their hearts, knowing their treasure is in heaven.

Our project this year was to raise 12,000$ for Double Harvest, a ministry in Haiti started by one of the families from our school (http://doubleharvest.org/index.html). On Thursday morning we had only raised 6,000$. I think all of us felt a little nervous. We didn't want the kids to be discouraged and we didn't want to guilt them into giving. We wanted it to be God's work in them.

Friday morning the Student Missions Fellowship students were collecting the final money. As they stopped by my room they said, "Miss Jackson, our buckets are so heavy. This is exciting!" I told them to come in so we could pray together. We prayed that God would not only meet the goal, but more, so that HE would be glorified and the students would know that God was the one who did the work!

That morning when they announced the totals, it was OVER 12,000$!! The kids all cheered! By the next Monday there was almost 16,000$. This is the most money that the school has ever raised for a missions project. There were no gimmicks or prizes, we just prayed!

God was truly glorified, and later that day two students gave their hearts to Christ with two different teachers. One of the conversations began specifically because of what God had done regarding the money!

It is true, God delights for us to ask Him and trust Him because when He answers, He is glorified!

John 14:13-14
¹³And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Book # 3: Quote

"Unforgiveness is the poison we drink hoping the other person will die."

My Teacher is a Pirate

Last Friday I was listening to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack while grading lots of papers (some good and some...mmmm.....not so good). The following poem resulted:

My Teacher is a Pirate
by Trish Jackson


My teacher is a pirate.
I know it's hard to tell.
Her red pen is a sharp, sharp sword,
Her car flies a dark, dark sail.

They say she went to pirate school
to learn the art of terror.
"Fail them all, fail them all,"
Squawks her evil parrot.

She pillages our papers
until there's nothing left.
Her sword pen slashing, cutting,
her pirate mark- a giant X.

Test day is the day of doom,
my mind comes to a blank.
I dare not try to face her sword,
I'd rather walk the plank!

Book # 8: Pan

Did you know that the word panic comes from the lesser Greek god Pan?

Pan was the son of Hermes (Mercury). Part human form, part goat. He was often thought to cause mischief and mysterious sounds in the forest causing travelers to tremble (panic) as they passed through.

Book # 8: Mythology by Edith Hamilton

Book: Mythology
Author: Edith Hamilton

So, this is where the inner nerd makes its appearance. When I was in elementary school I used to check out books on greek mythology, just for fun. When I saw this book for three dollars in a used book store a few years ago, it was impossible to leave it on the shelf.

The book includes Greek, Roman, and Norse Mythology. Before you laugh, it is a well known fact that CS Lewis was very fond of mythology (Have you read Til We Have Faces?). I also just verified this fact on wikipedia :)

Happy Reading!

Book # 7: I Capture the Castle

Book: I Capture the Castle
Author: Dodie Smith
Acquired: A Christmas present from my sweet Grandmother :)

I was hoping for a quick read so that I could feel like I was really moving along on this whole 42 book thing....I may have chosen the wrong book.

I did learn an interesting phrase, though. Can someone, without looking it up, explain what an "Auto da fe" is? A hint: Think Spanish Inquisition.

Book # 6: A little behind schedule...

Soooo.....that whole 42 book thing....it is still happening, but just at a slightly slower rate than I had anticipated. I got stuck in Richard Pratt's book Designed for Dignity. Some books just cannot be read in a hurry. They must simmer. Slow cooker vs. fast food.

The next book will probably be more of the fast food variety, just to feel better about my overall progress.

Here is a question from Mr. Pratt: WHY do you do what you do? What is your purpose?

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18 KJV

SLCA Peru Teacher Trip 2009

Book # 6: Designed for Dignity

Book: Designed for Dignity- What God has made it possible for you to be
Author: Richard Pratt, Jr.
Acquired: Pilfered from Josh Stockment's library while helping him organize his books....he had like three copies. Don't feel bad for him :)

ATM: Arm Twisting Machine

Dear Wachovia ATM creators,

We would like to make you aware that not all of your clients drive SUVs. The height of your ATMs have required us to use awkward card retrieval techniques which result in back pain, neck injury, fingernail breakage, and bad emotions. If this issue is not resolved at once, we may have to file a lawsuit for vehicle discrimination.

Thank you for your time,
Compact Car Drivers of America

Book # 5: Is That Really You, God?

Book: Is That Really You, God?
Author: Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM
Acquired: Bought at an ASCI teacher's conference, recommended by my friend Laura Bookout Matias who is a missionary with her husband Felipe to children in the favelas of Recife, Brazil.

Book # 4: Crazy Love.Relief

Whew! Just when I was feeling the lowest of the low, he finally uttered the words I was waiting for... I was nervous he wouldn't say them...just command me to will to love Jesus more so I feel guilty that I can't.

"The answer lies in letting HIM change you. Remmeber His counsel to the lukewarm church in Laodicea? 'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If a anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me' (Revelation 3:20). His counsel wasn't to 'try harder,' but rather to LET HIM IN." Crazy Love, 103.

"The fact is, I need God to help me love God." Crazy Love, 104.

Friends, we cannot do this alone. We cannot make ourselves love God. We can't psyche ourselves up, we can't sing enough songs, we can't do enough things to change out own hearts. IT IS GOD who changes hearts. His grace comes in and changes us to the core.'

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

I love this prayer at the end of chapter 6:

" Jesus, I need to give myself up. I am not strong enough to love You and walk with You on my own. I can't do it, and I need You. I need You deeply and desperately. I believe you are orth it, that You are better than anything else I could have in this life or the next. I want you. And whne I don't, I want to want You. Be all in me. Take all of me. Have Your way with me." Crazy Love, 111.

Book # 4: Crazy Love.First Impressions

Book #4: Crazy Love
Author: Francis Chan
Acquired: My friend Brenda, who is working at PACA, a Christian School in Brazil sent it to me :) 'brigada, Brenda!

I have read about 100 pages of Crazy Love. Here are some first impressions.

Like: Francis Chan is calling the church to a deeper walk with Christ.

Don't like: The way he does this. The book, instead of inspiring me to a grace walk with Christ, has left me feeling guilty and fearful and insecure in my relationship with the Lord (vs. another book I read recently about Adoption in Christ that moves me to deeper relationship with Christ and to action because of the way grace is presented)

. This morning I spent a few minutes talking with my friend Jessica Dean about the way the book uses guilt (different from conviction), rather than grace, to motivate its readers, and she suggested look at some reviews of the book to see if anyone else was saying something similar.

Sometimes I have a hard time putting into words what I am thinking , but here is what some others have said and they seem to capture what I want to say (these are from Amazon.com book reviews):

1. "My favorite explanation of the... concept of "Law and Gospel" is "Disturbing the Comfortable and Comforting the Disturbed"... Francis succeeds in disturbing the comfortable, but not in comforting the disturbed and giving the empowerment to do that which God has set before us. To me, that means that the job is only half-done."

2. "While I am sure that many "older" Christians might be able take this book as a genuine challenge to live their faith more boldly, I find very little in the way of encouragement in this book. I think that this book is downright dangerous to newer Christians. I at least thought I had been growing in my faith over the last several months, but this book put a nice big question mark over all of that. Frankly, by the time I was finished reading this book, I didn't feel in any way inspired to be a better Christian... I felt like I had been torn into little pieces, I felt destroyed."

3. "Well I was expecting this book to be all about God's love for us, But I found the book to be more about my love for God."

4. "Yet, noticeably lacking from this treatment of Christianity is Jesus - at least Jesus presented as a Redeemer and Savior. Little time is spent on the "crazy love" that God has shown us in the cross, and that....well....it's just crazy."

Note: I am not finished reading the book. I know there are also some really good things about this book (I will post those later). But, until then, does anyone else have thoughts on the book?

PS: This is not meant to be a place of argument, I am just looking for other feedback because of the above mentioned thoughts.

Interbook reflections: Aimee

I am sitting in my kitchen looking out the window over the sink. From here I can see some very beautiful and highly anticipated snow falling outside. I am eating some left over guac from my favorite restaurant (Moe's), brought to me by my friend Josh. Beside me are two Francis Chan books sent to me from my friend Brenda in Brazil. My heart is full. I am content in this moment, not because everything is easy, but because God is so good.

This past week or so has been some of the hardest, saddest moments I have experienced. It is not what anyone of us would have planned. My sweet friend and roommate, Aimee Powell, was killed in a car wreck last Thursday on her way to work. All of us who knew her count ourselves blessed to have known someone who loved God so genuinely and who taught us all how to love more fully and deeply and selflessly. I wish I could capture with words more of who she was; she was radiant, joyful, sweet, compassionate. She was refreshing in so many ways.

In the midst of this sad, hard time, God has shown Himself faithful. Surrounding and comforting His people. Speaking to all of us with the hope of the Resurrection though Christ. This is not it. There is more. He has given us His Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. As Pastor Malloy said at Aimee's funeral, we have a deposit, but she has it all! Oh, my heart wells up! The joy she must know now as she hears the words, "Welcome home! Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come and enter into your Master's joy!"

No, it is not easy, but He is good!

One of the books that Brenda sent me is called Crazy Love. The back says, "It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe- the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor- love us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love."

His self-sacrificing love defeated death! He died, so that we would not have to. And even though death may take us from this earth, it is just a door by which become more fully alive, in the Presence of our Savior forever!

We will miss you, Aimee! See you soon!

Book # 3: The Peace Maker

Since deciding to read 42 books in 365 days, somehow 2 more books have been added to my library. I think that the only way to read all these books will be to read some simultaneously (<--totally just misspelled that word and had to use the auto corrector).

Book # 3 is The Peace Maker by Ken Sande. We are doing this as a Bible Study in my Life Group. The cover of the book says: "Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict." Anyone with personal conflict out there? As I have found myself avoiding conflict and then handling it incorrectly when it does happen, even despite my best efforts to side step it, I am hoping that God show me how to handle conflict in a way that honors Him!

Book # 2: Definitions

So....here they are! Did you get them right?

1. moeity: an indefinite portion, part, or share.

2. barouche: a four-wheeled carriage with a high front seat outside for the driver, facing seats inside for two couples, and a calash top over the back seat.

3. pique: to affect with sharp irritation and resentment

4. chagrin: to vex by disappointment or humiliation

5. demesne: land belonging to and adjoining a manor house; estate.

6. cavil: o raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily

7. insipid: without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid

8. raillery: good-humored ridicule; banter.

9. curricle: a light, two-wheeled, open carriage drawn by two horses abreast.

10. nabob: any very wealthy, influential, or powerful person.

11. mohr: A West African gazelle

12. palanquin: A covered litter carried on poles on the shoulders of four or more bearers, formerly used in eastern Asia.

How did you do?

Book # 2: Say what?

I am only on page 75 of S&S and I already have a huge list of words that I need to look up. Some of them I have a general idea of what they mean (Thanks to my high school English teachers who taught be about context clues). I have heard some of them before...but I am not sure of the exact definition. See if you can match them up!

My favorite one was moiety. I have a feeling this has nothing to do with my favorite burrito place.

Here they are. Do you know these words?
1. moeity
2. barouche
3. piqued
4. chagrined
5. demesne
6. cavil
7. insipid
8. raillery
9. curricle
10. nabob
11. mohr
12. palanquin

Match the definition to the word. Answers to follow tomorrow :)
a. A covered litter carried on poles on the shoulders of four or more bearers, formerly used in eastern Asia.

b. land belonging to and adjoining a manor house; estate.

c. without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid

d. any very wealthy, influential, or powerful person.

e. an indefinite portion, part, or share.

f. to vex by disappointment or humiliation

g. A West African gazelle

h. a four-wheeled carriage with a high front seat outside for the driver, facing seats inside for two couples, and a calash top over the back seat.

i. a light, two-wheeled, open carriage drawn by two horses abreast.

j. to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily

k. to affect with sharp irritation and resentment

l. good-humored ridicule; banter.

ALL DEFINITIONS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

Book # 2 Sense and Sensibility

On Monday evening my friend Elizabeth and I watched Sense and Sensibility. It was a very enjoyable experience because my friend, who is some what of a Jane Austen enthusiast, gave some very interesting commentary on the social blunders of various characters. I think she should write a book on Social Etiquette according to Jane Austen. I would be the first in line to purchase this book. It seems that I have an affinity for social faux pas...two within the past two hours, in fact!

1) I arrived late to a birthday dinner. This is completely different than a party. Dinners are meant to start on time. Five minutes, ok....twenty minutes late, BAD!

2) I brought a gift, even though the invitation clearly said, "NO GIFTS." (I didn't actually read it that closely).

Dear Jane Austen, please give me some insight into the mystery of proper social decorum!

Book #1 The End

Just finished book #1! Five out of five stars. If you, like me, sometimes act like an orphan, forgetting who your Heavenly Father is, this book is for you!

"He said very quietly, 'Rose Marie, you act like an orphan. you often live as though the Holy Spirit never came, could never help you live in impossible places, and do impossible things. You act as though there were no Father who loves you.'" -p137 From Fear to Freedom

"Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:14-17

Rose Marie (the author) helps teach the Sonship course offered through World Harvest Mission. You can check out their materials here: http://www.whm.org/sonship

Book #1 Day 3

Favorite Quote: "The deepest wisdom comes to those who admit they don't have it." p92 From Fear to Freedom

James 1: 5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Book #1 Day 2

I make everything too complicated....I was thinking I needed to sit down and make some elaborate reading plan to get all these books read. Then, my roommate informed me that if I read one book a week, it leaves me 10 weeks of wiggle room. I don't know why I didn't think about it that way....Way to go, Aimes!

Favorite quotes from today:

"Think of the human state as one of stubborn blindness. We will rely on everything but God. He in turn will prepare us for grace by closing our favorite escape exits until there is only one way left." -From Fear to Freedom, p53

The thirst became so bad that she almost felt she would not mind being eaten by the Lion if only she could be sure of getting a mouthful of water first.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion. It was the worst thing she ever had to do, but she went forward to the stream, knelt down, and began scopping up the water in her hand. It was the coolest, most refreshing water she had ever tasted.
- C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair (quoted in From Freedom to Fear)


Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4:10

Book #1 From Fear to Freedom

Book # 1: From Fear to Freedom: Living as Sons and Daughters of God
Author: Rose Marie Miller
Acquired from a friend over 3 years ago. Greg Conover, let me know if you want your book back!
Current Page: 27

Favorite quote so far: "I did not realize that the confidence I had always had about life was not faith, as I had assumed, but a reliance on my own competency, be it real or imagined... Presumptive self-confidence may look like faith, but it has a very different spiritual root."

42 Books in 365 Days

Last night Aimee and I watched Julie and Julia. I was inspired by Julie's challenge to cook all 564 of Julia Child's recipes in one year while at the same time writing a blog about her experiences.

Today I was dusting my bookcase and realized that I have so many books in my "library" that I have not even read! Some of them I bought, others were given to me, and some of them...mmmmm...I actually have no idea where they came from! If you happen to see a book belonging to you come up on this blog, feel free to email me your address, and I will mail it back to you as soon as I finish (sorry!).

This is the goal, then: Read the 42 books in my library that I have not yet read (this excludes textbooks, Bible concordances/helps, foreign language dictionaries, and other books that would be considered reference books)......so here goes! Happy Reading!

Danger: Earbuds

Thursday in class my students shared something fun/interesting/crazy that they did over Christmas break. This is my favorite, shared with his permission :)

One young man, whom we will call "Tito," was listening to his iPod. When he removed his earbuds, the squishy part stayed inside his ear. He could not get it out! His solutions, in order:
1. Tried to pull it out with tweezers (did not work).
2. Went to bed because it was late and he would figure it out in the morning.
3. Dad used a VACUUM cleaner to try to suck it out (did not work).
4. Finally went the hospital to have it removed (did work).

Ryan Hall + World Vision

Testify

I am sitting in St. Mark's Lutheran in Mooresville waiting for the Testify Youth Choir to begin their final performance for this Christmas season. They are an incredible group of over 120 teens representing 30+ churches who share about Christ through music.

If you are interested in joining for the spring season contact Susan O'Keefe at testify4God@gmail.com

Congrats Allie, Hannah, Lauren, Charity, and Jackson!!!

Saudades

I was just talking to my friend Brenda in Brazil. And we ended the conversation with the Portuguese word "saudade"....she said that she likes that word because it means so much more than the English phrase "I miss you."....So, I typed it into google, and this is what I got http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudade

JoBurg

My home church Grace Covenant has a missions team in South Africa right now. Read about their work here.