June 5th, Sunday
We left for the Centre with Dan by 8am and went in through the back -> suite -> side door (I felt like we had detail on us "just in case") and we were seated center section, second row. Pastor (PST) Tom introduced us three to the church and we each had to address the congregation for a second - Mrs. Mom talked about undying hospitality in Zimbabwe, then Bren & I said a few words about how it is funny being the ones told we have accents and touched on how nice and welcoming everyone had been so far.
The service was very good itself -- PST Tom spoke on Colossians 3:1-11 which is the same section Andrew spoke on at FUEL (college group at my home church) a few weeks ago about forgiveness. Hearing the same passage-based messages by two different pastors was good perspective.
After service we went back to the suite for a semi-surprise party for Sarah, popped over to PST Bonnie's cd/book signing, then went back home, chilled, had lunch with the fam + Dennis + Dr. Jess + Nicole & we took our life language tests then slept for a bit before going back for the evening service. I've said in my other journal [posts] and I'll say it again: AFRICAN WORSHIP TIME IS, bar none, THE BEST!! I'd move here forever, right now if it meant not going to another self conscience worship service in America... even though I love my church.
I am sitting here at the front of the house in a wooden chair writing, watching tall branches sway and leaves dance to the ground, listening to Death Cab For Cutie and honestly, truly, cannot think of any single place I'd prefer to be other than here... =)
29 April, 2012
06 September, 2011
"Capture the Flag in the Dark" goes Swimming
June 4th, Saturday
2 pages, written on Sunday
Yesterday was a 'sleep in' (45 mins) + lazy day. We were woken up to Uncle (Pastor) Tom saying they'd like to take us out for breakfast at this cute little garden side restaurant - which was good, Aunt Bonnie ordered these desert things for everyone to pass around with a delicate flaky base, whipped cream, cinnamon, sprinkled with rose petals -- which most of us tried (tasted fine/a little bitter).
The rest of the day was mainly just set up for Sarah's birthday party. Brenna & I sliced and buttered hot dog and hamburger buns until our hands cramped, haha! The party in itself was fun :) Brenna and I played foosball with some of the boys we met the night before at Youth (Josh "Gray" - 18, Glynn - 16, and Josh "Strydom" - 18) for like half an hour then conversed with some new adult friends (Nicole, Rachel, and the Stwearts) before/during/after dinner, then I decided to be more out going and joined in with the teens again for Capture the Flag in the Dark: I captured one opposing player, was imprisoned 2x, then as I almost crossed back to my side of the line on a jail break I was caught again BUT this time I was rescued by the boys (Gray, Dan, Glynn, possibly Strydom) who had a plan to deteriorate the game so nobody won by throwing selected people into the swimming pool. It just so happened that somehow they guys jumped/fell in while throwing someone in so after they all got out and started to comment how freezing cold it was I went and put my hand in (on the opposite side alone so nobody would push me in) & it really wasn't that cold. And I said that to the lot of them -- apparently in a hinting sort of way... Not half an hour later Ms. J asked me to come help serve ice cream -- being there to SERVE naturally I jumped up to help. I headed towards the house but was intercepted by the guys who started to swarm then pounce, made sure my pockets were empty & shoes were off before counting to 3 and throwing me in! It was only like ice for about 20 seconds, then I was able to show off my Colorado/viking blood and be a man for a little while with them haha :) Later, Dan said that was my Zim initation haha. Then he asked "Lyz, where is my cousin? She should be initiated as well hey!" After he shared a look with his buddies, I told them she'd gone for bed around 7:30 way back during Capture the Flag, because she was still hardcore hit with jet lag so if they went and dragged her out of bed to throw her into the pool she would not be a happy camper!
After more pictures were taken [that still haven't surfaced on Facebook - Strydom?] and their "Fully clothed person: meet our Winter backyard pool at 10pm!" fun was wrapping up, we moved over to the fire pit and just talked, it was nice. I was given 2 different break dance lessons from a 5 year old named Ethan who was "bored" (but really just wanted to show off his breaking skills) + the guys kept sending him to me because they didn't want to play with him so Dan + Strydom + Glynn would say "Hey, Lyz wants to know how to dance - teach her!" So I was a good sport 'for the kids' & the pictures [?]. I just hung out with Dan, Glynn & Strydom (as "holiday friends") at the fire until the party was over and we all split...
2 pages, written on Sunday
Yesterday was a 'sleep in' (45 mins) + lazy day. We were woken up to Uncle (Pastor) Tom saying they'd like to take us out for breakfast at this cute little garden side restaurant - which was good, Aunt Bonnie ordered these desert things for everyone to pass around with a delicate flaky base, whipped cream, cinnamon, sprinkled with rose petals -- which most of us tried (tasted fine/a little bitter).
The rest of the day was mainly just set up for Sarah's birthday party. Brenna & I sliced and buttered hot dog and hamburger buns until our hands cramped, haha! The party in itself was fun :) Brenna and I played foosball with some of the boys we met the night before at Youth (Josh "Gray" - 18, Glynn - 16, and Josh "Strydom" - 18) for like half an hour then conversed with some new adult friends (Nicole, Rachel, and the Stwearts) before/during/after dinner, then I decided to be more out going and joined in with the teens again for Capture the Flag in the Dark: I captured one opposing player, was imprisoned 2x, then as I almost crossed back to my side of the line on a jail break I was caught again BUT this time I was rescued by the boys (Gray, Dan, Glynn, possibly Strydom) who had a plan to deteriorate the game so nobody won by throwing selected people into the swimming pool. It just so happened that somehow they guys jumped/fell in while throwing someone in so after they all got out and started to comment how freezing cold it was I went and put my hand in (on the opposite side alone so nobody would push me in) & it really wasn't that cold. And I said that to the lot of them -- apparently in a hinting sort of way... Not half an hour later Ms. J asked me to come help serve ice cream -- being there to SERVE naturally I jumped up to help. I headed towards the house but was intercepted by the guys who started to swarm then pounce, made sure my pockets were empty & shoes were off before counting to 3 and throwing me in! It was only like ice for about 20 seconds, then I was able to show off my Colorado/viking blood and be a man for a little while with them haha :) Later, Dan said that was my Zim initation haha. Then he asked "Lyz, where is my cousin? She should be initiated as well hey!" After he shared a look with his buddies, I told them she'd gone for bed around 7:30 way back during Capture the Flag, because she was still hardcore hit with jet lag so if they went and dragged her out of bed to throw her into the pool she would not be a happy camper!
After more pictures were taken [that still haven't surfaced on Facebook - Strydom?] and their "Fully clothed person: meet our Winter backyard pool at 10pm!" fun was wrapping up, we moved over to the fire pit and just talked, it was nice. I was given 2 different break dance lessons from a 5 year old named Ethan who was "bored" (but really just wanted to show off his breaking skills) + the guys kept sending him to me because they didn't want to play with him so Dan + Strydom + Glynn would say "Hey, Lyz wants to know how to dance - teach her!" So I was a good sport 'for the kids' & the pictures [?]. I just hung out with Dan, Glynn & Strydom (as "holiday friends") at the fire until the party was over and we all split...
03 September, 2011
R*O*O*T*S
June 3 Friday
4 pages
Last night we were greeted at the visa stop by Snyx - super sweet! - who kept us company through baggage claim until we walked out and met Dennis, and 2 of Brenna's cousins: Ben (21 yrs, "handshake" kind of guy) & Dan (18 yrs, "I don't even know your name but you get a hug :D " kind of guy). Then we packed up the cars with our 6 suitcases (including donations) + carry ons. During the packing process Daniel pulled off to the side as to not block traffic. He was approached by a cop who said they were going to give him a ticket because he was in "taxi only" parking, despite Dan's protest and explanation of trying to be out of the way. The officer walks off and Dan turns around, looks at his aunt Bonney (Brenna's mom), and says "Welcome to Zimbabwe!" then they zoom off then Snyx calls someone in our car (Dennis or Ben) saying what was happening real quick and tells us us to book it because the copper was on their way to our car. It was a great first impression of Zim traffic and respect(?) for law enforcement. On the way to the house (about 40 minutes from the airport) Brenna commented that she felt like she was in Florida because it was warm and dry - but dark so with the street lights it apparently looked like FL. Ben and Dennis laughed and said "Just wait till morning..." . Once we got to the Deuschle house they boys told us where to go as they brought in all the suitcases. We met Mr & Mrs Deuschle (Zim side, obviously) and got a run down of what to expect tomorrow, met Dr. Jessica - who gave us quick neck adjustments, then we swiftly unpacked while each other showered real quick, each took a melatonin, then hit the sac around 11:45p.
We woke up this morning at 8a to "be ready" at 10-10:30 & it was a whirlwind thereafter. We were introduced to some people at the house, Aunt Sophie (maid) and Leonard (chef) then out front we met some of the boy's friends - Simon (training in DC to be a Navy Seal), Keegan(Navy Seal, I think), Austin (photographer), and Andrew(goes to school with Keegan) - who had the same itinerary as us today. We also met Pastor Taz (PT), who was our driver for the day. We all caravaned out to Mbare where we passed through the ghetto where 6 - 25 people share single room flats using curtains for walls and 1 common bathroom per floor/every few rented rooms. On the outside of the buildings - which were framed with clothes lines and tons of people begging each other for money, work, spare food, whatever whatever - you'd see busted and rusted pipping where sewage had backed up and broken through the old building's system then molded over in the heat. I wished so bad to have my camera with me today, but Aunt (/Pastor) Bonnie said not to look like a tourist, so I left it at the house. We got to Mbare which is a lot like - but not as nice as - Hartsbesport (SA posts): bartering market. We left a couple people from our group (locals) to watch the cars and the rest of us took off after Aunt Bonnie speed walking as her "little ducklings" in a row behind her, up and down and in and out all the stands on a mission! At one stand, the boys were talked into buying a bag of worms, I don't know what they're planning to do with the whole bag, but if offered I'd have to help by consuming one. I'd be game to try it just to add to my weird foods list... whatevs. Another place we stopped was the stand of a witch doctor. He had a hook of lamb's fat hanging from his roof as well as a mix of all sorts of weird "remedies" for what ales you.
After Mbare we went to Celebration Ministries International (their church), which is about 10 minutes past the house in the other direction, where we watched some short clips about the history of the organization, were guided on a walking tour - including stopping in on Grade 2 in the Celebration School, watched the 30 year tributes to Mr./Mrs. Deuschle respectively then were sent to lunch in the coffee shop, Connections.
After all that excitement we jumped into the car where we rode out to the rurals (bad, bad potholes + bumps) of Hatfield where we met our second driver/pastor's daughter + in-laws (who he is abnormally staying with whilst his wife is in school out in downtown Harare). This pastor has an incredibly adorable daughter! His mother in law was very nice + hospitable - especially for someone who was not expecting house guests. In the heat of awkward silence Ms Mom commented on the bowl of peanuts on the table in the kitchen on the moderately sized on-a-few-acres-of-rural-land house to which was responded "Oh yes, those are 'peanuts' -- let me cook them up for you on the fire outside!" "Oh no thanks," Brenna responded. "We are still very full from lunch." "Oh, yes please I will heat them up for you" * "Ok! That sounds great :) " replied Ms Mom - who explained once the family and PT stepped outside conveniently that *it is very impolite to turn down food in someones home. Anytime you have a guest over it, expected or not, it is custom to offer them some sort of orderve. The mother in law came back inside and sprinkled salt over the lot but before bringing them inside for everyone we learned how to wash hands: Tea kettle of warm water + bowl = youngest person in the room (in this case me .minus the baby of course.) pours the water over the next youngest hands to rinse them and so on through the eldest present until every one's hands have been rinsed/washed then the next capable youngest person (Brenna) turns and pours for the youngest. We complimented on her home roasted peanuts a lot in hopes to make up for the refused the first time around, which I think worked out because we all took a couple pictures before leaving after seeing some of their land, pets - pigs, dog, chickens, few cows - and crops. We said our goodbyes and went on our way back to the house where the whole time Ms Mom was talking about the dynamics of her family-in-law for Pastor Taz...
So we finally get home but are only here for about half an hour before going back to the Celebration Centre (not misspelled) for Youth [Group]. Worship was cool because Daniel leads it and most of the songs were written by his family & they were pretty good. The speaker (who's hand we got to shake on his way out) was the ambassador to Zimbabwe from the States, sent by Obama himself, who shared some of his personal life, past/present ambitions + goals, along with some advice for the youth of Zimbabwe in attendance. He spoke a major point along the lines of "Where you come from does not represent who you will grow up to be, as a person or in your personal life..." "You can be ANYthing + ANYone as long as you have enough perseverance in your heart + mind to get you to each milestone you need to hit in order to achieve the greatness set in front of you..."
Afterwards, we all went downstairs to Connections again where we met a handful of people. Brenna + Daniel had lots of childhood flashbacks, and - apparently in order to embarrass some kids - shared our 1. Parents' first names 2. Our middle names... cuz apparently names are a fascination here. This was when my whit was complimented because I kept up better than Brenna (to be fair she is way more jet-lagged than I am) and apparently, I got some laughs so my cynical sarcasm is appreciated out on this side of the world as well! haha. Following this we scolded Ben for ditching us with the 16-18 year olds - he figured we didn't want to feel babysat, which in turn kind of turned US into the sitters... whatever it was fun haha. Seriously though - after table fellowship we went to the shell station for local teen Friday night fun including "Cheers!" For every sip of your $0.50 bottle of CokeACola ( straight from the bottle = best ever) at a random in-store tall table where we all went in a circle saying something totally random to cheers... This next week I will be thinking of something really good to say for the next time because I couldn't think of anything tonight, and trying to find the kid who bought for us to say thanks... On the ride home, Simon decided that my new nickname is now "Zipper" - except he says it with his cool accent of course. When I asked why, he said he didn't know. Now while I'm writing this down I can't help but wonder if I was being too loud/sarcastic/open/?? or just being annoying so he meant to shut up. Anywho, somehow I scored a nickname on the first day here [which ended up being my Skype name once we set it up a couple days later] Welp now it is midnight and time for bed!
Every so often one of the rats that lives in our ceiling with scamper across from one side of the cottage to the other; this sends chills down my spine and a disgusted look to my face. However, on the plus side everything else in the cottage is good ---> including our "Welcome to Zimbabwe fruit basket!" Come on, who else can raise their hand to say they've been given one of these before?
(The stuff in the carton tastes like it is straight from Jamba Juice!)
The theme of this day is without a doubt "Roots", full of flashbacks for lots of people in our different groups throughout the day.
4 pages
Last night we were greeted at the visa stop by Snyx - super sweet! - who kept us company through baggage claim until we walked out and met Dennis, and 2 of Brenna's cousins: Ben (21 yrs, "handshake" kind of guy) & Dan (18 yrs, "I don't even know your name but you get a hug :D " kind of guy). Then we packed up the cars with our 6 suitcases (including donations) + carry ons. During the packing process Daniel pulled off to the side as to not block traffic. He was approached by a cop who said they were going to give him a ticket because he was in "taxi only" parking, despite Dan's protest and explanation of trying to be out of the way. The officer walks off and Dan turns around, looks at his aunt Bonney (Brenna's mom), and says "Welcome to Zimbabwe!" then they zoom off then Snyx calls someone in our car (Dennis or Ben) saying what was happening real quick and tells us us to book it because the copper was on their way to our car. It was a great first impression of Zim traffic and respect(?) for law enforcement. On the way to the house (about 40 minutes from the airport) Brenna commented that she felt like she was in Florida because it was warm and dry - but dark so with the street lights it apparently looked like FL. Ben and Dennis laughed and said "Just wait till morning..." . Once we got to the Deuschle house they boys told us where to go as they brought in all the suitcases. We met Mr & Mrs Deuschle (Zim side, obviously) and got a run down of what to expect tomorrow, met Dr. Jessica - who gave us quick neck adjustments, then we swiftly unpacked while each other showered real quick, each took a melatonin, then hit the sac around 11:45p.
We woke up this morning at 8a to "be ready" at 10-10:30 & it was a whirlwind thereafter. We were introduced to some people at the house, Aunt Sophie (maid) and Leonard (chef) then out front we met some of the boy's friends - Simon (training in DC to be a Navy Seal), Keegan(Navy Seal, I think), Austin (photographer), and Andrew(goes to school with Keegan) - who had the same itinerary as us today. We also met Pastor Taz (PT), who was our driver for the day. We all caravaned out to Mbare where we passed through the ghetto where 6 - 25 people share single room flats using curtains for walls and 1 common bathroom per floor/every few rented rooms. On the outside of the buildings - which were framed with clothes lines and tons of people begging each other for money, work, spare food, whatever whatever - you'd see busted and rusted pipping where sewage had backed up and broken through the old building's system then molded over in the heat. I wished so bad to have my camera with me today, but Aunt (/Pastor) Bonnie said not to look like a tourist, so I left it at the house. We got to Mbare which is a lot like - but not as nice as - Hartsbesport (SA posts): bartering market. We left a couple people from our group (locals) to watch the cars and the rest of us took off after Aunt Bonnie speed walking as her "little ducklings" in a row behind her, up and down and in and out all the stands on a mission! At one stand, the boys were talked into buying a bag of worms, I don't know what they're planning to do with the whole bag, but if offered I'd have to help by consuming one. I'd be game to try it just to add to my weird foods list... whatevs. Another place we stopped was the stand of a witch doctor. He had a hook of lamb's fat hanging from his roof as well as a mix of all sorts of weird "remedies" for what ales you.
After Mbare we went to Celebration Ministries International (their church), which is about 10 minutes past the house in the other direction, where we watched some short clips about the history of the organization, were guided on a walking tour - including stopping in on Grade 2 in the Celebration School, watched the 30 year tributes to Mr./Mrs. Deuschle respectively then were sent to lunch in the coffee shop, Connections.
After all that excitement we jumped into the car where we rode out to the rurals (bad, bad potholes + bumps) of Hatfield where we met our second driver/pastor's daughter + in-laws (who he is abnormally staying with whilst his wife is in school out in downtown Harare). This pastor has an incredibly adorable daughter! His mother in law was very nice + hospitable - especially for someone who was not expecting house guests. In the heat of awkward silence Ms Mom commented on the bowl of peanuts on the table in the kitchen on the moderately sized on-a-few-acres-of-rural-land house to which was responded "Oh yes, those are 'peanuts' -- let me cook them up for you on the fire outside!" "Oh no thanks," Brenna responded. "We are still very full from lunch." "Oh, yes please I will heat them up for you" * "Ok! That sounds great :) " replied Ms Mom - who explained once the family and PT stepped outside conveniently that *it is very impolite to turn down food in someones home. Anytime you have a guest over it, expected or not, it is custom to offer them some sort of orderve. The mother in law came back inside and sprinkled salt over the lot but before bringing them inside for everyone we learned how to wash hands: Tea kettle of warm water + bowl = youngest person in the room (in this case me .minus the baby of course.) pours the water over the next youngest hands to rinse them and so on through the eldest present until every one's hands have been rinsed/washed then the next capable youngest person (Brenna) turns and pours for the youngest. We complimented on her home roasted peanuts a lot in hopes to make up for the refused the first time around, which I think worked out because we all took a couple pictures before leaving after seeing some of their land, pets - pigs, dog, chickens, few cows - and crops. We said our goodbyes and went on our way back to the house where the whole time Ms Mom was talking about the dynamics of her family-in-law for Pastor Taz...
So we finally get home but are only here for about half an hour before going back to the Celebration Centre (not misspelled) for Youth [Group]. Worship was cool because Daniel leads it and most of the songs were written by his family & they were pretty good. The speaker (who's hand we got to shake on his way out) was the ambassador to Zimbabwe from the States, sent by Obama himself, who shared some of his personal life, past/present ambitions + goals, along with some advice for the youth of Zimbabwe in attendance. He spoke a major point along the lines of "Where you come from does not represent who you will grow up to be, as a person or in your personal life..." "You can be ANYthing + ANYone as long as you have enough perseverance in your heart + mind to get you to each milestone you need to hit in order to achieve the greatness set in front of you..."
Afterwards, we all went downstairs to Connections again where we met a handful of people. Brenna + Daniel had lots of childhood flashbacks, and - apparently in order to embarrass some kids - shared our 1. Parents' first names 2. Our middle names... cuz apparently names are a fascination here. This was when my whit was complimented because I kept up better than Brenna (to be fair she is way more jet-lagged than I am) and apparently, I got some laughs so my cynical sarcasm is appreciated out on this side of the world as well! haha. Following this we scolded Ben for ditching us with the 16-18 year olds - he figured we didn't want to feel babysat, which in turn kind of turned US into the sitters... whatever it was fun haha. Seriously though - after table fellowship we went to the shell station for local teen Friday night fun including "Cheers!" For every sip of your $0.50 bottle of CokeACola ( straight from the bottle = best ever) at a random in-store tall table where we all went in a circle saying something totally random to cheers... This next week I will be thinking of something really good to say for the next time because I couldn't think of anything tonight, and trying to find the kid who bought for us to say thanks... On the ride home, Simon decided that my new nickname is now "Zipper" - except he says it with his cool accent of course. When I asked why, he said he didn't know. Now while I'm writing this down I can't help but wonder if I was being too loud/sarcastic/open/?? or just being annoying so he meant to shut up. Anywho, somehow I scored a nickname on the first day here [which ended up being my Skype name once we set it up a couple days later] Welp now it is midnight and time for bed!
Every so often one of the rats that lives in our ceiling with scamper across from one side of the cottage to the other; this sends chills down my spine and a disgusted look to my face. However, on the plus side everything else in the cottage is good ---> including our "Welcome to Zimbabwe fruit basket!" Come on, who else can raise their hand to say they've been given one of these before?
(The stuff in the carton tastes like it is straight from Jamba Juice!)
The theme of this day is without a doubt "Roots", full of flashbacks for lots of people in our different groups throughout the day.
30 July, 2011
Killing time in Dulles/US Marine Corps Hymn
Quick Trip Basics for anyone reading who didn't know that I went to Zimbabwe:
Time: Spring 2011 I was working full time at Christian Youth Theatre here in Denver teaching children aged 5 - 7 and directing CYT's newest original musical "Sleeping Beauty" with children ages 8 - 18. Three days after our run ended, I hopped on a plane with Brenna and her mom for a 6 week trip! The trip included 25 nights in Zimbabwe, 5 nights in Paris, & 2 nights in London (both conveniently extended layovers on the way home). We were gone for a total of 36 days (basically 6 weeks) & 32 days settled at a house/hotel... everything else was travel time. Roughly 96 total hours in airports/planes... so worth it!
Team:
1. Brenna Deuschle: We have been best friends since we were introduced at 1.5 years old. We stayed with her dad's eldest brother and his family in Zimbabwe June 2 - 27 2011 (minus our 5 night trip to Vic Falls). Brenna's Africa experience can be found through this link but she hasn't posted anything since we got there, so give her some time before checking her blog :)
2. Bonney Deuschle: Brenna's mom/my second mother who made sure we were always out the door on time and would never miss a flight or appointment.
3. Myself : This was my second time to Africa, first time to Zimbabwe... We'll leave it at that.
Other: These blog posts are straight out of my journal that I kept while out of Colorado/after coming home. Somethings only made sense in the moment I guess though because I do not know why the "US Marine Corps Hymn" was stuck in my head while I was writing... haha. I publish my trips knowing that not many people will actually read through all of it, which makes it feel like a waste of time. However for the faithful reader I promise to give you all the raw details that are in ink in my journal except the parts where I am venting about somebody. I will provide as much visual aid as possible:) Often times my brain is much more expressive on paper so when I label each blog entry with a page count then it looks really short, it means that it looked more busy/full on paper.
The blog post from the end of May 2011 was an introduction of the trip, the two posts from June 2011 are things I wrote and posted while we were in Zimbabwe, but I may re-post them in the correct order with the journal when we get there so they make more sense.
Let's roll!
Getting there.
June 1, 2011.
5 journal pages.
Over the Atlantic: 8 hours in the air, refuel/restaff in Dekar Africa, 8 more hours to Johannesburg.
It is still official: the city night lights in Jo'burg from on the air/during take off or landing is the best view I have ever seen. I'm looking forward to seeing it during the day for once, in air, on our way out at the end of the month! If I knew when I was going to die I would take time to see Jo'burg lights again, & I'd bring everyone with me. Still don't have a picture of it though -- get it? Because you cannot have cameras/phones turned on during take offs or landings? Yeah.
Just sitting here in 15D looking out the window watching as each solo or clump of lights pass left to right shinning their little light-bulb-hearts out reminding everyone that they don't have to worry about the possibility of crashing over the ocean and being attacked by sharks or deep sea creepy fish or dolphins (it happens) anymore because you're over land. Of course now after finishing writing this all that can be seen is the red, blue, and white lights on the ends of the wings out either window...
Starting to get air sick again. Good thing we "commence our landing" in 5 minutes! Shortest flight ever!
*Shout out to Taylor Kelln - this flight is showing a movie called "Merecat Madness" haha!*
Anything put in place by the law/officials you cannot photograph. They can take your camera away from you - forever, even if you delete the picture in front of them - if you're caught and that is definitely not something I'd risk, so I dunno how many pictures I can take home from here :(
Time: Spring 2011 I was working full time at Christian Youth Theatre here in Denver teaching children aged 5 - 7 and directing CYT's newest original musical "Sleeping Beauty" with children ages 8 - 18. Three days after our run ended, I hopped on a plane with Brenna and her mom for a 6 week trip! The trip included 25 nights in Zimbabwe, 5 nights in Paris, & 2 nights in London (both conveniently extended layovers on the way home). We were gone for a total of 36 days (basically 6 weeks) & 32 days settled at a house/hotel... everything else was travel time. Roughly 96 total hours in airports/planes... so worth it!
Team:
1. Brenna Deuschle: We have been best friends since we were introduced at 1.5 years old. We stayed with her dad's eldest brother and his family in Zimbabwe June 2 - 27 2011 (minus our 5 night trip to Vic Falls). Brenna's Africa experience can be found through this link but she hasn't posted anything since we got there, so give her some time before checking her blog :)
2. Bonney Deuschle: Brenna's mom/my second mother who made sure we were always out the door on time and would never miss a flight or appointment.
3. Myself : This was my second time to Africa, first time to Zimbabwe... We'll leave it at that.
Other: These blog posts are straight out of my journal that I kept while out of Colorado/after coming home. Somethings only made sense in the moment I guess though because I do not know why the "US Marine Corps Hymn" was stuck in my head while I was writing... haha. I publish my trips knowing that not many people will actually read through all of it, which makes it feel like a waste of time. However for the faithful reader I promise to give you all the raw details that are in ink in my journal except the parts where I am venting about somebody. I will provide as much visual aid as possible:) Often times my brain is much more expressive on paper so when I label each blog entry with a page count then it looks really short, it means that it looked more busy/full on paper.
The blog post from the end of May 2011 was an introduction of the trip, the two posts from June 2011 are things I wrote and posted while we were in Zimbabwe, but I may re-post them in the correct order with the journal when we get there so they make more sense.
Let's roll!
Notes of encouragement for the trip, a boarding pass, and the journal!
Getting there.
June 1, 2011.
5 journal pages.
Sitting here manning the caryons at a little table in front of The Great American Bagel & Bakery (ahem, Einsteins for the east coast) watching diversity walk by every second, left and right. I'd use the "melting pot" reference now, but this is an international airport so all the different clothing styles, beautiful accents, travelers' attitudes, workers' attitudes, and the types of people that walk by at any given moment is to be expected.
Two men in black suits without luggage, the family from in front of us who all got air sick (& rubbed off on us), two "normal" girls, two French(?) ladies, two German ladies, two blonde army men - in traveling uniform, college student in sweats, people taking their time & people rushing like there is no tomorrow. Typical airport.
[[We just met this very attractive South African individual - accent and all, but I didn't catch his name - who goes to Oklahoma State for golf and was close to the tornadoes. Good news: same 1/3 of the plane for this 16 hour Atlantic flight. Bad news: he is sitting one row up almost on the complete opposite side of the plane... guess we aren't actually destined to be friends.]]
Our day started when we met up at DIA this morning at 6 to fly to DC where we're about to leave on a 340-300e Air Bus (seating plan = xx xxxx xx) & Trevor Binburg is our pilot.
Last year I took pictures or as many sunrises/sets as possible. This year I'm thinking as many people groups as possible... I'd like to be able to show the difference between the classes without dissing on any. Last year I also documented EVERYTHING. I think I'll leave that up to Brenna this year, being a first timer to the whole "missions" trip thing. Also, she has her own new blog I can link to so that'll work, I'll still journal normal though - for myself.
Over the Atlantic: 8 hours in the air, refuel/restaff in Dekar Africa, 8 more hours to Johannesburg.
Back in DC we were trying to fly out but there were thunder/lightening storms + frost which delayed us like an hour and a half. I wasn't freaking out at all - too tired already! But we finally got out after most everyone turned into flying buddies, this is a nice seeming group of people :)
I've swallowed 2 pills -- finally! Milestone :) :)
Baby steps, haha. Malaria & sleeping pill (which doesn't knock me out as I was hoping but it is a huge help even with the dozing in and out. While we were both awake, Brenna and I played a few games of M-A-S-H (yes, like from middle school) to pass time, haha. [[Speaking of M-A-S-H, Joe Smith: you two get married and end up living in a shack in Africa doing what you do now after honeymooning in Normandy...]]
Forty minutes in Johannesburg:
Booking it through Jo'burg was crazy -- having flash backs left and right... Mrs. D can mob, let me tell you! We'd kept hearing different things about changing bags/not so it was lots of stressful 30 mins checking in everywhere we needed to then going back through security and BOOKING it to our gate. Stupid DC thunderstorms delaying our flight....*Shout out to Sean Mundt - I was journaling on the first half of the flight and "Alejandro" by Lady Gaga came up and then later in Jo'burg we ran past "Out of Africa" and I remembered when Jeremy was making fun of your hair while you were complaining about sneezing goats, oh man, flash backs to South Africa 2010!*
It is still official: the city night lights in Jo'burg from on the air/during take off or landing is the best view I have ever seen. I'm looking forward to seeing it during the day for once, in air, on our way out at the end of the month! If I knew when I was going to die I would take time to see Jo'burg lights again, & I'd bring everyone with me. Still don't have a picture of it though -- get it? Because you cannot have cameras/phones turned on during take offs or landings? Yeah.
Just sitting here in 15D looking out the window watching as each solo or clump of lights pass left to right shinning their little light-bulb-hearts out reminding everyone that they don't have to worry about the possibility of crashing over the ocean and being attacked by sharks or deep sea creepy fish or dolphins (it happens) anymore because you're over land. Of course now after finishing writing this all that can be seen is the red, blue, and white lights on the ends of the wings out either window...
Starting to get air sick again. Good thing we "commence our landing" in 5 minutes! Shortest flight ever!
*Shout out to Taylor Kelln - this flight is showing a movie called "Merecat Madness" haha!*
Anything put in place by the law/officials you cannot photograph. They can take your camera away from you - forever, even if you delete the picture in front of them - if you're caught and that is definitely not something I'd risk, so I dunno how many pictures I can take home from here :(
We are only just about to get to Harare & the binding on my journal is already getting bent and misshaped from being beaten up and shoved into my backpack so many times thus far for landings... Ms. Mom just informed us that we've been traveling for 30 hours. So now we all know: Harare, Zimbabwe is only 30 hrs away from Denver, including layovers and delays :)
23 June, 2011
Dear Prayer Team,
Sorry for the brevity: this post has to be blunt because I am on my way into a hectic (but amazing) day.
There is some crazy spiritual warfare going down here in Zimbabwe and we are expecting this to be an insaine last few days in the country for us. PLEASE PRAY HARD STARTING NOW! Pray over your Bibles with the Scripture spoken into your prayers and pray for healing, guidance, love, perserverance, and faithfulness from any person here.
Thank you prayers!
Elizabeth, Brenna, & Bonney
Ephesians 6:10-13 & v. 18-20 -- 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
There is some crazy spiritual warfare going down here in Zimbabwe and we are expecting this to be an insaine last few days in the country for us. PLEASE PRAY HARD STARTING NOW! Pray over your Bibles with the Scripture spoken into your prayers and pray for healing, guidance, love, perserverance, and faithfulness from any person here.
Thank you prayers!
Elizabeth, Brenna, & Bonney
Ephesians 6:10-13 & v. 18-20 -- 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
07 June, 2011
Scream Your Heart Out
Standing in the back of classrooms observing cultural differences. Hearing kids greet in unison anybody who enters the class while in session. Here teacher, administration, and helpers get much more respect than many in the states. Seeing the little kids leave school at the end of each day wearing their Barbie and Spiderman backpacks. Outside lizards hurry freely about, consuming bugs off the ground while birds are perched on rooftops that rats settle in. If you watch a nat or a fly or a bee for a minute it look simply lost. If you ride down the road watching out the window into the hitch hiker's eyes only for a few seconds they look lost, broken, and hurt. Eventually you get to a point where all you would like to do is write a letter to everybody you drive past declaring that they are children of God who He created in His own image. Whom He loves dearly. Whom He cares about. Whom He'd only like the best for. Whom He has a plan for. Who hurts Him when he hurt others. Who is beautiful. So child, scream your heart out.
31 May, 2011
New trip?! YES PLEASE!
Dear Family & Friends,
I have found myself blessed again, having another opportunity to visit the place that stole my heart last summer: Africa! This summer we're moving a little north, headed to Harare, Zimbabwe. I am going with my friend, Brenna, and her mom, Bonney Deuschle.
We are going to visit Brenna's uncle, Tom Deuschle, and his family – who live and work in Zimbabwe - to help out at their church & ministry, Celebration Ministries. We will also get to work with kids in orphanages, which was one of my favorite parts of the South Africa trip last July. We may also get to provide medical relief in a nearby hospital. Working with children, in general, is my passion so I am beyond excited to go love on these kids in need! As it is sounding right now through our email contact with Mr. Deuschle's assistant, they are making many plans to keep us three very busy & productive from the moment we land to the hour we take off at the end of the month.
This will be a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime, opportunity for Brenna & me to see numerous new corners of the world and we are both pumped to leave Colorado tomorrow, on June 1st! We will be gone until July 6, 2011. I hope you will conider helping sponsor me via prayer. Please pray that God will prepare the hearts of everyone we get to minister to on our trip. Please pray for God to break our own hearts & provide us with strong stamina and a sense of urgency so we do not hold back from serving Him, or His people. In addition, we ask for you to keep our safety & health in your prayers. Praise be to God how many donations we've been given of lightly used toys and art supplies for the kids in the orphanage(s) we'll visit!
Thank you for your prayers over this trip. Brenna and I believe without a doubt that God is going to change us while we are serving for His glory in Zimbabwe!
Many thanks,
Elizabeth Wolz
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