We had some girls over (from the youth group at Gelvan Park, where we worship) for breakfast, so Diana went to pick them up. They got here at around 10.10 or so, and about 15 minutes later Diana heard the car alarm go off, but she thought she had accidentally set it off, so she just silenced it without really looking at the car. But then about 10 minutes later, a man rang our doorbell and told us that he was part of the neighborhood watch group and that our car window was smashed. We went to check it out and, sure enough, it was smashed. And Diana's cell phone was taken. But everything else - the papers, the radio, the R70 that was on the floor of the passenger side - was there. So we taped black trash bags over the window (it had started to rain), and called the insurance company and the police. The police told us that we needed to come to the station within 24 hours (which we did, and gave a statement and got a case number - I don't think it'll really go anywhere), the insurance said they'd call us back. Usually in South African business (or at least from what I've observed), "I'll call you back" means "call me back later." So that's frustrating. But I don't think our insurance covers stuff like this on our car anyway - I think it just covers the third party. Nice.
But we did manage to get the window replaced quickly - God has good timing, and He is good to us. It was R900 for the window and the labor, which is around $140 American dollars. Not bad, I think. Especially because it was fast.
But it's just been frustrating. Lots of things have happened today, have piled up today, and that can be very wearing on a girl's nerves, you know?
For those of you concerned about my physical safety, please transfer that energy into prayer. We don't live in a bad part of town - it's just an older part, a busy part, a more rundown part. We live closer to the bad parts of town than we were in Summerstrand, but it's nothing to be really concerned about. If Ken and Judy thought it wasn't safe, we wouldn't have ever thought about living here. And my room is safe - it has two locks and it's part of the security system. I haven't felt really unsafe or threatened, but I do have to keep my eyes open and I have to be aware. And honestly, I'm just not used to that. I took advantage of security and safety in the States, and I wasn't even aware of the fact that I didn't have to be aware. So constantly having to keep my eyes open is exhausting. But I'll get used to it, I know it.
Just don't worry about me. Once I get curtains up in my room, I will feel a lot better.
It's just the initial getting used to here, you know?
Prayers and encouragement deeply appreciated.
-Tara.
