The only time I journal regularly is when I travel. I want to document where I've been and capture the feeling I had at that moment. I wrote every day of our African adventure and have grabbed a line or two from each day to share here.
So sit back, relax, and please keep all hands and arms inside the ride...until the ride has come to a complete stop.
July 2nd, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean - It's our first leg of a 19 hour flight. People are in good spirits and still getting along. Kelly and I are sharing our two-seat row. It's so much better to cuddle with someone familiar.
July 3rd, somewhere over Africa - I haven't slept and I feel it. We've decided to spend the night in Johannesburg since we're two hours delayed. We would rather be late then drive at night to Swaziland.
July 4th, Manzini, Swaziland - We've finally arrived, safe and sound. Dinner was Chinese food with the District Superintendent and his wife who sat next to me. She thinks I'm funny and wants me to marry her son. She jokingly offered 2 cows and 3 goats as the "bride price". Her husband paid 7 cows for her. Why am I only worth 2 and are goats really that valuable?
July 5th, Manzini, Swaziland - It is our first day of work. It feels good to get started but I think we have more hands than work to do. Heather and I went to the grocery store. They drive on the left side of the road and the rule applies to grocery store aisles as well.
July 6th, Manzini, Swaziland - I felt much more productive on the work site today. Heather and I worked together laying bricks. I split bricks and got two thumbs up from "the foreman". I'm sunburned and sore but that means we got stuff done.
July 7th, Manzini, Swaziland - There is a status women have in the country. The medical team met a woman with TB, the final stages of AIDS who was hemmoraging after losing her unborn baby after a 7 month pregnancy. She was alone and in complete despair. I am proud of those who sat beside her. Despair is a difficult thing to share.
July 8th, Manzini, Swaziland - We visited Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital today. Hospital politics are everywhere. I ache for those I saw and for many more I didn't see.
July 9th, Manzini, Swaziland - We worshiped with the Luve church this morning...the same congregation we are building with. It doesn't matter where in the world I go, visiting a church always feels like visiting distant relatives. The food is different, people do things differently than you do, but it feels like you belong together.
July 10th, Manzini, Swaziland - We took a detour to the candle factory on our way home from the work site. The best part was the tea shop across the street. Cappuccinos in foreign countries make me very happy.
July 11th, Manzini, Swaziland - It was our last day at the building site. Heather and I teamed up again and laid block. We also finished up our grocery shopping this afternoon. We are a novelty at the local market. They know us as the group that buys all the water and 24 packs of Coke, Coke Light, Appletiser, and Grapetiser.
July 12th, Manzini, Swaziland - We had a dedication service this morning with Pastor Lucky and his wife. The best part of the day was watching the Swazi workers eating freezer pops that we passed out after a half day of work.
July 13th, Kruger National Park, South Africa - We've left Swaziland and have arrived at Kruger. Our drive to camp was 52 kilometers and we checked quite a few animals off our list, including a herd of elephant.
July 14th, Kruger National Park, South Africa - We added several animals to the list today. Heather and I got separated from the group for our night safari. Somehow we joined the geriatric club from Loud Mouth, Texas. Not exactly what we expected but it makes a good story.
July 15th, Johannesburg, South Africa - We've arrived safely back in Joburg. We ate dinner at La Boma tonight. It's a "game" restaurant where we could eat some of the animals we saw over the last few days. I tried everything but the seafood.
July 16th, Somewhere over Africa - Headed home at last. I'm anxious to get home to John and hair products. We are so thankful for safety in all the situations we found ourselves in. I'm thankful for the experience of meeting another part of our family and now thankful for the life I have to go home to.
So sit back, relax, and please keep all hands and arms inside the ride...until the ride has come to a complete stop.
July 2nd, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean - It's our first leg of a 19 hour flight. People are in good spirits and still getting along. Kelly and I are sharing our two-seat row. It's so much better to cuddle with someone familiar.
July 3rd, somewhere over Africa - I haven't slept and I feel it. We've decided to spend the night in Johannesburg since we're two hours delayed. We would rather be late then drive at night to Swaziland.
July 4th, Manzini, Swaziland - We've finally arrived, safe and sound. Dinner was Chinese food with the District Superintendent and his wife who sat next to me. She thinks I'm funny and wants me to marry her son. She jokingly offered 2 cows and 3 goats as the "bride price". Her husband paid 7 cows for her. Why am I only worth 2 and are goats really that valuable?
July 5th, Manzini, Swaziland - It is our first day of work. It feels good to get started but I think we have more hands than work to do. Heather and I went to the grocery store. They drive on the left side of the road and the rule applies to grocery store aisles as well.
July 6th, Manzini, Swaziland - I felt much more productive on the work site today. Heather and I worked together laying bricks. I split bricks and got two thumbs up from "the foreman". I'm sunburned and sore but that means we got stuff done.
July 7th, Manzini, Swaziland - There is a status women have in the country. The medical team met a woman with TB, the final stages of AIDS who was hemmoraging after losing her unborn baby after a 7 month pregnancy. She was alone and in complete despair. I am proud of those who sat beside her. Despair is a difficult thing to share.
July 8th, Manzini, Swaziland - We visited Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital today. Hospital politics are everywhere. I ache for those I saw and for many more I didn't see.
July 9th, Manzini, Swaziland - We worshiped with the Luve church this morning...the same congregation we are building with. It doesn't matter where in the world I go, visiting a church always feels like visiting distant relatives. The food is different, people do things differently than you do, but it feels like you belong together.
July 10th, Manzini, Swaziland - We took a detour to the candle factory on our way home from the work site. The best part was the tea shop across the street. Cappuccinos in foreign countries make me very happy.
July 11th, Manzini, Swaziland - It was our last day at the building site. Heather and I teamed up again and laid block. We also finished up our grocery shopping this afternoon. We are a novelty at the local market. They know us as the group that buys all the water and 24 packs of Coke, Coke Light, Appletiser, and Grapetiser.
July 12th, Manzini, Swaziland - We had a dedication service this morning with Pastor Lucky and his wife. The best part of the day was watching the Swazi workers eating freezer pops that we passed out after a half day of work.
July 13th, Kruger National Park, South Africa - We've left Swaziland and have arrived at Kruger. Our drive to camp was 52 kilometers and we checked quite a few animals off our list, including a herd of elephant.
July 14th, Kruger National Park, South Africa - We added several animals to the list today. Heather and I got separated from the group for our night safari. Somehow we joined the geriatric club from Loud Mouth, Texas. Not exactly what we expected but it makes a good story.
July 15th, Johannesburg, South Africa - We've arrived safely back in Joburg. We ate dinner at La Boma tonight. It's a "game" restaurant where we could eat some of the animals we saw over the last few days. I tried everything but the seafood.
July 16th, Somewhere over Africa - Headed home at last. I'm anxious to get home to John and hair products. We are so thankful for safety in all the situations we found ourselves in. I'm thankful for the experience of meeting another part of our family and now thankful for the life I have to go home to.
5:04 PM
Great pics-n-play-by-play, Kimberoonie. I especially like the sunset (or was that sunrise?) shot. That and the "John = Hair Products" in terms of what you were looking forward to.
Later,
Tim "passport:MIA" James
2:22 PM
oh cool I like the elephant pick. I looking forward to seeing your presentation tonight.
9:30 PM
Your photos are newspaper worthy! Did you take them all? Very good quality! What an AWESOME opportunity and what a great-sounding trip! -- Gina Grate
12:39 PM
I didn't know you went to Africa! I'm so going with you next time!