ART: 1. the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

Vision:

An art museum of world renown, specialising in South African art.

Mission: 

Collecting, documenting and conserving outstanding examples of mainly South African art; researching and compiling exhibitions from the permanent collection; hosting major national and international travelling exhibitions, supplemented by educational activities.

I want to do it all. I want to see it all. I'm on the other side of the world, in the most beautiful city, during Springtime and I want to soak it all up. Alas, while my intentions are good I have two immediate issues: I don't have any transport and I am living on a small missionary stipend. 

Have you ever talked about doing something but never made it happen? After weeks of talking about visiting the museum on Saturday, November 5th, the most unlikely trio of international friends walked to the museum to make it a reality.

With the entrance fee 6 Rand = .75 cents, I sprung and paid for all of us.

Christoph taking a picture of himself

Us, the international trio. Christoph Schmidt-Dahl the most remarkable 19 year old in the world. And I can say that cuz we've gathered 5446.2 Miles (8764.8 Kilometers) from his home in Germany. 50% shy child, 50% wise, old man; 100% amazing. He has toiled tirelessly at the most boring job on campus; entering books into the computer system and then looking up and labeling each book with the Dewey Decimal System (I know, I know, everyone keeps saying we ought to be using the Library of Congress.) I personally can attest that it is the most boring job on campus because I, myself have logged more hours/days/weeks/ months doing the same task. We arrived the same day, September 1st.  Whereas I had 9 days of orientation and jet-lag to deal with Christoph immediately immersed himself into the campus life and also with the life of the German Lutheran Church 200 kilometers from here. I could go on and on about this wonder kid but if you knew only one thing about boy genius it should be that he is the most amazing photographer, EVER!

All these photo's were taken by Christoph!!!

Ashenafi

Ashenafi Gonemo Desta is number two of us three. Coming 2499.67 miles or 4022.71 Kilometers from Ethiopia, my new best friend is a very serious seminary student.  I'm impressed with his discipline and the seriousness he takes with his studies.  Quick with a smile and we have a running joke: every time he sees me pulling out of the seminary with the seminary car, he asks if I am driving to AMERICA.  'Why, yes I am." I answer and we always crack up.

Ashenafi

I round out the madcap tres and also came from the furthest distance with Pensacola, Florida being 8518.8 Miles (13709.6 Kilometers) from Pretoria.

huge sculpture made from millions of Q-tips (ear buds)

Our visit to the Pretoria Art Museum, wasn't so much a quick break from studying or taking a walk in the sunshine or even looking at art work.  My time in South Africa is about building relationships, trying to figure out who I am, especially in the context of a missionary.  Seeing and living the words of St. Paul, in which so often he wrote in Scripture about, 'every nation, every tongue, every tribe, every language,' all worshipping our Creator God.  I am so very fond of men living here on the Lutheran seminary campus, this 'small world' from so many countries, has left a tremendous impact on me and has touched my soul forever;  much the way beautiful art does.