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When we returned to the house, he lent me a full wardrobe (everything but underwear) for
we headed to the ballet with his girlfriend.
Ididnotknowitatthetime,butIwastospendalmostthreeweeksinBloemfontein
most of which was filled with public speaking engagements and several media interviews.
Since I stayed so long, I had developed many friendships which made it that much harder
to leave in the end. The first person I really fell for was Carin, a medical student I met at
theballet.Ihaddinnerwithherfamilyonafewoccasionsandreallyenjoyedhercompany.
Alas, it wasn't meant to be.
My first full rest day was spent with Reinier as I accompanied him on his errands
and went to his Bible study group in the evening to share my African experiences.
The next morning, Reinier took me to his former high school, Grey College a
private all-boys school with a fabled history. I met the dean and without really thinking I
repeated a joke I heard earlier about the school: How do you know if someone attended
Grey College? …He tells you. I started to laugh but quickly stopped for the dean was not
amused.Thankfully,hedidn'tholditagainstmeforhegavemepermissiontospeakfor15
minutes to the student body during the next morning's assembly. Reiner and I then went to
the university where we met Professor Kotze. He told me that he had arranged interviews
with both the local newspaper and Radio Oranje FM with Manie Kitching.
OnFridaymorningIstoodinfrontof800studentsatGreyCollegeandsharedwith
them my experiences throughout Africa, the power of prayer and the message of just get-
ting involved. I was conscientious of the time and when I neared my allotted 15 minutes,
I looked at the dean. He remained seated and motioned for me to continue. It was past the
30 minute mark when he stood up to thank me and then asked me to play something on the
piano (Reinier mentioned to him earlier that I studied music.) It was a strange request for
by no means was I an accomplished pianist (I studied trumpet) but I think the dean wanted
to illustrate to these rugby-crazed students that playing music doesn't lessen you as a man.
So as I played a few pieces, the school's announcements were read aloud. Before I left the
school,achequewasmadeoutinmyname.IaskedtheminsteadtomakeitouttoSTC-Jo-
hannesburg and to mail it to Lucy. Incidentally, throughout my entire stay in South Africa,
all my public speaking honorariums were donated to STC.
This opportunity at Grey College opened the door for me to share my experiences
with other schools in Bloemfontein. As soon as they heard that I addressed the staff and
students of Grey College, I was invited to make several appearances and thus needed to
form a schedule.
Mystayinthecityalsogavemeaplethoraofamazing opportunities wherepractic-
allyeachdayIhadalitanyofactivities.Tostart,onthedayaftermyGreyCollegepresent-
ation, I went with Reinier to photograph a wedding as his assistant and was invited to stay
as a guest. It was my first Afrikaner wedding and I had a blast.
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