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...
06 September, 2011
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
13 March, 2011
Garden Update
I've mentioned that while we were working in Freedom Park we started a community garden. The people who run the OVC (Orphaned and Volunerable Children) program also have a facebook page and about a month ago they posted an update about the progress of the garden! It looks SO good! The community has clearly worked a lot on the land since we left -- Check out the facebook album :)
21 February, 2011
Side Effects of a Mission Trip
There is no way I hadn't written anything about SA since the top of September, so something else pre-dated may show up in a post soon if I find it, but for now I THINK we're all caught up!
Please rewind for a minute though...
Within two weeks of being back home, I had learned of three unfortunate incubations my body was dealing with since leaving Africa.
Dear South African Sweethearts: Thank you for the "forget-me-nots"! Even without my infection, there is no way that I could forget this trip. Ever. Too life changing... :)
Please rewind for a minute though...
Within two weeks of being back home, I had learned of three unfortunate incubations my body was dealing with since leaving Africa.
- Massive time change: going out there and switching my biological clock ahead 8 hours magically worked out just fine, coming home was the real trouble. With the way dates landed, I had to be at work (CYT summer camp) at 8:30a the day after getting home and for the next four days following! I'll even admit to you that I showered the night we came home but then it didn't even cross my mind again until Wednesday morning. Getting back into the swing of things can take a toll on you: especially when ambien doesn't work to help you sleep...
- Some sort of unidentified stomach bug. By the time I finally gave up on trying to deal with being sick every 3 - 4 days I went to the doctor who gave me an at-home test (but luckily I never had to take it because it conviently worked itself out after the visit).
- I broke out with a mild-moderate case of ringworm around August 15, 2010 that I'd apparently picked up from one of the kiddos at Freedom Park somewhere during our time there. Lucky for you, my readers, I did not take a picture of said disturbingly itchy inflammation. Now, 5 months and 5ish days later, I am still washing all my clothes with color safe bleach and applying a perscription cream + a band-aid to the dark circle (after washing the specific sopt with Dial) on my inner right elbow daily...
Dear South African Sweethearts: Thank you for the "forget-me-nots"! Even without my infection, there is no way that I could forget this trip. Ever. Too life changing... :)
18 February, 2011
After being home for 1 month.
September 7th: Amidst writers block on one of those nights you realize you won't be able to sleep until you write down what is on your mind keeping you awake. I'm not sure how much it just sounds like me complaining about my life, which is definitaly the last thing I mean to do. Also, I realize the rhyme scheme is kind of funky, but this one isn't meant to be perfect...
This year I've told so many people
that it is bad to keep everything in
but tonight while trying to word whats on my heart
I feel like it is being clenched shut, with a clothes pin.
There are lots of things on my heart
that I'd like to relay to our nation
but I don't know how to
rid myself of this suffocation.
Situation being what it is is fine,
nobody cares to listen -
nobody even cares to hear.
I figure that is the root where i feel this division.
Each line of a story
will strike everyone differently.
Love, fear, confusion, or anger -
every story brought something new to me.
I wish I could tell you
everything on my mind that
is making my thought process askew.
If anyone had to live my life for a day, their world would fall flat.
This year I've told so many people
that it is bad to keep everything in
but tonight while trying to word whats on my heart
I feel like it is being clenched shut, with a clothes pin.
There are lots of things on my heart
that I'd like to relay to our nation
but I don't know how to
rid myself of this suffocation.
Situation being what it is is fine,
nobody cares to listen -
nobody even cares to hear.
I figure that is the root where i feel this division.
Each line of a story
will strike everyone differently.
Love, fear, confusion, or anger -
every story brought something new to me.
I wish I could tell you
everything on my mind that
is making my thought process askew.
If anyone had to live my life for a day, their world would fall flat.
31 January, 2011
Sharp, Sharp!
This is the note I posted on Facebook on August 27th. I'm posting it seperately/out of chronological order because it is so much longer than the things in the blog post before this one, so please just pretend that it was all done in order, thanks.
Sharp Sharp
In South Africa when you meet someone you show thumbs up, pound it, then press and twist your thumb off of theirs and say "sharp, sharp" (but with their accents it sounds like "shop, shop"). "Sharp" is almost the same as here, for example: after shooting somebody's picture on a digital camera you see it and can say "sharp!" meaning it came out well/"thank you for your time :)"; "Thank you" sounds like a fine mix between the "a" and the "o" in "danky/donky".
Apparently this is what I do: stay up until 3a looking through pictures of a trip that my team just got home from only 19 bizarre days post de-plaining a 36 hour trip back to DIA. This note is me, raw and straight up, being shared at 5 in the morning.
Rustengurg, South Africa was only my "home" for two weeks out of fifty-two in 2010. I haven't even been back in the States for three full weeks yet and I dont think I could be more "home" sick. The bruises on my shins from playing with (and being full on attacked by*) children may have almost faded by now, but I still have some kind of stomach bug and, as of Monday, a relatively minor case of ringworm. Anyobody's first thought would be to wish themselves better, but mine is more along the lines of how blessed I am to only be hit with these things now after being back in Denver and not having to deal with it where there are worse cases than my own, that are in desperate need of treatment that infected individuals cannot pay for.
*Lesson learned from experience: do NOT ever allow yourself to be sitting on the ground playing with 2 - 3 children at the same time 20 more children are dropped off in vans from school. They WILL all over power you - jumping and diving onto your torso or legs, pulling your hair, shirt, and arms, as well as pulling each other's clothes to try to make room for themselves - and you have to call a team mate of yours over for help to stand up but are still out-weighed. With so many young ones seeking love and attention from you, however, the normally simple movement of standing up is complicated by [what feels like] 70% and you are afraid for your life for a minute when you find yourself in a state of: A. needing your own air B. shock at how much children in other countries crave your focus.
I have cleaned through my clothes, closet, boxes, desk, bags and junk almost twice since coming home. I still have too much stuff! I realize that I am an average 20 year old American girl living at home and it is "normal" here to have a good deal of things, but really?
While we were in South Africa, some of the guys on our team built 3 shacks for selected people of the AIDS squatter camp (comminuty) we worked called Freedom Park. The first shack our team built was for a man, his wife, their 2(?) daughters, and little boy who is shy beyond words. I believe the care takers told us that the whole family is HIV positive. The second shack was for a girl who is my age and was just left with her much younger sister and brother (probabally 5 or 6 years old and 3 maybe 4 years old). Their mother recently died, leaving them with each other and the baby boy without pants. Our third shack more team members had a chance to help build because it was in the fence in area next to the garden our 'garden team' dug up for the community to develop. We built this one for a single man who steped up as a voulenteer to keep watch on the garden as it flourishes so nobody breaks in and steals everything at night. We left a bag of food and jug of tap water at each shack when we handed over the keys and prayed as a big group over the families. Every time I think about that day in the middle of the second week of our trip, I am amazed with how people know how to make so much of so little. I wish it were easier to live like that here and stand out in our communities like that.
We all have hypothetically enough energy, time, and food in our kitchens to stay home from school or work for a continual 24 hour period and do nothing but consume it. The children that I got sick from are fed typically once a day + given candy by "the white people" who are complete strangers who gave up a small amount of time to give the kids hugs, a bottle of bubles, a bag of legos, and/or crayons with a blank sheet of paper. Children who do not even know what a T.V. is can draw, color, play, dance, or find any other way to express themselves better than any modern day American 5 year olds that I know.
I have told a few of you that the team that went on this trip last year wrote a beautiful song - called "Lerato" ("Love") about "Peter Pan" & the "Lost Boys." What I have not told all of you is that my favorite lines from the song are the last two of the chorus:
Chorus
So come sail away with me off to the red soil
Step out of your boat and see what I can do
You might think that I’ve called you off to change the world
Maybe it’s the world that’s changing you
(all of the lyrics to the song can be found at http://smithsa.blogspot.com/search/label/Missions%20Teams towards the bottom of the page)
I realize the fact that I cannot do a whole lot to change the world. While in South Africa, through the surreal "culture shell shock" I did realize that I can put ALL of my energy into making a few children a little bit more happy daily regardless of how beat I will be at the end of each day of my "work". Swinging a child around in a circle by their arms for a minute while they are smiling, screaming, and laughing may be one less minute they are thinking about the scene of their shack being broken into and watching their mother/big sister/baby being rapped the night before... Hearing their stories definetaly puts you in your place.
I'm not sure if you can actually see how "home" sick I am. </3
I have a LOT of pictures form this trip up on my photography Facebook account in the albums "Lerato Wena" (1-3) (only visible to friends, so add it!)!! I know better than to expect anyone who made it through this whole note to go look at each picture because you most likely just used up any free time left in your day reading this monsterous note containing SOME of my 5am "home"sick emotions that kept me up tonight. A lot of you have asked me to tell you my stories and even though it may not be the same as me going through the albums with you (due to lack of time and coordination) I have a lot of stories set as captions with those pictures. Take a look, and you may possibly catch a glimps as to why I cried while writing this note. Sharp, sharp!
Sharp Sharp
In South Africa when you meet someone you show thumbs up, pound it, then press and twist your thumb off of theirs and say "sharp, sharp" (but with their accents it sounds like "shop, shop"). "Sharp" is almost the same as here, for example: after shooting somebody's picture on a digital camera you see it and can say "sharp!" meaning it came out well/"thank you for your time :)"; "Thank you" sounds like a fine mix between the "a" and the "o" in "danky/donky".
Apparently this is what I do: stay up until 3a looking through pictures of a trip that my team just got home from only 19 bizarre days post de-plaining a 36 hour trip back to DIA. This note is me, raw and straight up, being shared at 5 in the morning.
Rustengurg, South Africa was only my "home" for two weeks out of fifty-two in 2010. I haven't even been back in the States for three full weeks yet and I dont think I could be more "home" sick. The bruises on my shins from playing with (and being full on attacked by*) children may have almost faded by now, but I still have some kind of stomach bug and, as of Monday, a relatively minor case of ringworm. Anyobody's first thought would be to wish themselves better, but mine is more along the lines of how blessed I am to only be hit with these things now after being back in Denver and not having to deal with it where there are worse cases than my own, that are in desperate need of treatment that infected individuals cannot pay for.
*Lesson learned from experience: do NOT ever allow yourself to be sitting on the ground playing with 2 - 3 children at the same time 20 more children are dropped off in vans from school. They WILL all over power you - jumping and diving onto your torso or legs, pulling your hair, shirt, and arms, as well as pulling each other's clothes to try to make room for themselves - and you have to call a team mate of yours over for help to stand up but are still out-weighed. With so many young ones seeking love and attention from you, however, the normally simple movement of standing up is complicated by [what feels like] 70% and you are afraid for your life for a minute when you find yourself in a state of: A. needing your own air B. shock at how much children in other countries crave your focus.
I have cleaned through my clothes, closet, boxes, desk, bags and junk almost twice since coming home. I still have too much stuff! I realize that I am an average 20 year old American girl living at home and it is "normal" here to have a good deal of things, but really?
While we were in South Africa, some of the guys on our team built 3 shacks for selected people of the AIDS squatter camp (comminuty) we worked called Freedom Park. The first shack our team built was for a man, his wife, their 2(?) daughters, and little boy who is shy beyond words. I believe the care takers told us that the whole family is HIV positive. The second shack was for a girl who is my age and was just left with her much younger sister and brother (probabally 5 or 6 years old and 3 maybe 4 years old). Their mother recently died, leaving them with each other and the baby boy without pants. Our third shack more team members had a chance to help build because it was in the fence in area next to the garden our 'garden team' dug up for the community to develop. We built this one for a single man who steped up as a voulenteer to keep watch on the garden as it flourishes so nobody breaks in and steals everything at night. We left a bag of food and jug of tap water at each shack when we handed over the keys and prayed as a big group over the families. Every time I think about that day in the middle of the second week of our trip, I am amazed with how people know how to make so much of so little. I wish it were easier to live like that here and stand out in our communities like that.
We all have hypothetically enough energy, time, and food in our kitchens to stay home from school or work for a continual 24 hour period and do nothing but consume it. The children that I got sick from are fed typically once a day + given candy by "the white people" who are complete strangers who gave up a small amount of time to give the kids hugs, a bottle of bubles, a bag of legos, and/or crayons with a blank sheet of paper. Children who do not even know what a T.V. is can draw, color, play, dance, or find any other way to express themselves better than any modern day American 5 year olds that I know.
I have told a few of you that the team that went on this trip last year wrote a beautiful song - called "Lerato" ("Love") about "Peter Pan" & the "Lost Boys." What I have not told all of you is that my favorite lines from the song are the last two of the chorus:
Chorus
So come sail away with me off to the red soil
Step out of your boat and see what I can do
You might think that I’ve called you off to change the world
Maybe it’s the world that’s changing you
(all of the lyrics to the song can be found at http://smithsa.blogspot.com/search/label/Missions%20Teams towards the bottom of the page)
I realize the fact that I cannot do a whole lot to change the world. While in South Africa, through the surreal "culture shell shock" I did realize that I can put ALL of my energy into making a few children a little bit more happy daily regardless of how beat I will be at the end of each day of my "work". Swinging a child around in a circle by their arms for a minute while they are smiling, screaming, and laughing may be one less minute they are thinking about the scene of their shack being broken into and watching their mother/big sister/baby being rapped the night before... Hearing their stories definetaly puts you in your place.
I'm not sure if you can actually see how "home" sick I am. </3
I have a LOT of pictures form this trip up on my photography Facebook account in the albums "Lerato Wena" (1-3) (only visible to friends, so add it!)!! I know better than to expect anyone who made it through this whole note to go look at each picture because you most likely just used up any free time left in your day reading this monsterous note containing SOME of my 5am "home"sick emotions that kept me up tonight. A lot of you have asked me to tell you my stories and even though it may not be the same as me going through the albums with you (due to lack of time and coordination) I have a lot of stories set as captions with those pictures. Take a look, and you may possibly catch a glimps as to why I cried while writing this note. Sharp, sharp!
30 January, 2011
Word Association
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 (we got home the night of the 8th).
36 +1/2 hours of travel later, we're home. Sunday night I got home around 8:30 - 9, showered, tried to eat dinner (fresh salad, bratwurst, grilled zucchini), checked facebook, then was "sleeping like a dead person" by 10:40 and didn't wake up once till 6a Monday morning for work [work = CYT summer camp Area Coordinator(talk to parents and keep everything running smooth and give kids band aids, etc]. Yep, the plan was to bounce right back. Hahah. Went to work at 8, talked with Jenni Hoag about the impact of "missionary trip shell shock" regarding the level of poverty in Freedom Park (much less any 3rd world country)(I mentioned the story of the moms pawning off their 3 year olds), I don't think she'd heard that one before, but I don't remember her exact reaction. We also talked about how eager I am to go back, or go somewhere new, to serve. She thinks it's crazy-awesome how much God seems to have worked in me out in South Africa (because it is) and made sure to note that it is so important to take time to process everything we worked on, saw, and did because then it will benefit me, and possibly/hopefully other people for the rest of my life.
[Here in my journal for some reason I decided to document the rest of the day after camp got out and most all of Tuesday, but it doesn't seem to hold much value so you readers won't have to be concerned with it haha.]
**I'm finding it hard to even know how to process everything right now...!
8/29: 2 of the past 3 nights I have only slept under/with my SA airlines blanket... Coincidence? Maybe. Sub-conscience something? Possibly. [SA airlines blanket = the background for the picture below.]
8/30:
Word Association: South Africa
(more like "thought process")
36 +1/2 hours of travel later, we're home. Sunday night I got home around 8:30 - 9, showered, tried to eat dinner (fresh salad, bratwurst, grilled zucchini), checked facebook, then was "sleeping like a dead person" by 10:40 and didn't wake up once till 6a Monday morning for work [work = CYT summer camp Area Coordinator(talk to parents and keep everything running smooth and give kids band aids, etc]. Yep, the plan was to bounce right back. Hahah. Went to work at 8, talked with Jenni Hoag about the impact of "missionary trip shell shock" regarding the level of poverty in Freedom Park (much less any 3rd world country)(I mentioned the story of the moms pawning off their 3 year olds), I don't think she'd heard that one before, but I don't remember her exact reaction. We also talked about how eager I am to go back, or go somewhere new, to serve. She thinks it's crazy-awesome how much God seems to have worked in me out in South Africa (because it is) and made sure to note that it is so important to take time to process everything we worked on, saw, and did because then it will benefit me, and possibly/hopefully other people for the rest of my life.
[Here in my journal for some reason I decided to document the rest of the day after camp got out and most all of Tuesday, but it doesn't seem to hold much value so you readers won't have to be concerned with it haha.]
**I'm finding it hard to even know how to process everything right now...!
8/29: 2 of the past 3 nights I have only slept under/with my SA airlines blanket... Coincidence? Maybe. Sub-conscience something? Possibly. [SA airlines blanket = the background for the picture below.]
8/30:
Welcome to the only page of my sketch pad you'll most likely ever see.
Word Association: South Africa
(more like "thought process")
- Yes.
Move in June?- Start (mission work) with YWAM? ---> focus on: child ministry, child development, child psychology --> forever?
- I feel like I should moce to Rustenburg. This idea makes me feel like crying, except it is good. I don't know why I have this urge... but I don't feel like if it is going to happen in June, then June can't + won't come fast enough
- I would like to do this :) God is too good to put this on my heart and not provide the means for it to happen. My heart is with South Africa. My heart is for South Africa. My Heart is in South Africa.
- South Africa: sounds lonely...
- South Africa: keeps me awake at night
- South Africa: seems all I think about most of the time, even being home 22 days + processing all I have from the trip so far...
- South Africa: (Congo)(Africa)sounds scary -- 200 women + 4 babies raped?!
- Anything that happens is for God's glory
- South Africa: sounds perfect!
29 January, 2011
Homeward Bound (pt 2)
Days 13-14; August 7th-8th 2010 - The Atlantic, apparently about to fly over Bermuda
Somewhere in the 2nd half of the 16 + 1/2 hour flight
The male flight attendant came down the aisle closing all the window shutters - at freaking SUNRISE!! Since people were sleeping I GUESS it makes sense, at first. But I sneaked [at ?:?? after 10ish hours of flying you'd forget that the correct word to use here is "snuck" too...] a couple peeks out my window with my camera & today's sunrise was FREAKING BEAUTIFUL! I don't understand why Chris barked at me for having my window cover open half way (if even). It was bright out, but crazy beautiful and he didn't understand that I wasn't planning on leaving it open... If he reads this then I guess he WILL. haha.
(some amount of time later)
We have 2 hours and 58 minutes till we get to New York and there is a baby on the flight. I've either had music or a movie this whole time so far so it isn't an issue for me, but Janelle, Jeremy, Chris, and Kristy man... They keep turning around to look at the baby with annoyance, just hoping it'll quite down long enough for everyone to sleep. The mom has most likely been awake with it longer than any of us have though!
It is taking all I still have in me not to:
1. Peek out a small crack I could make under my window blind
2. Snap at a few of the team members before landing in Denver (but probably same with them towards me)
Security in Jo'burg to get on the plane was intense!
mental note: look up muslimsforpeace.com (it was on someone's shirt or something)
Laguardia Layover --- which was extended twice (from 3p to 4:25p)
I did the "tourist-y" thing and bought a I (heart) NY t-shirt! It is green & makes me happy (& I got good coffee, which also helped the layover...)
Went to "drinks" with
Deb Janelle Sean Jeremy
-----------------------------------
|_____________________|
Kristy Me Charles
(that was a diagram of the table and who sat where, beteedubs)
This is when Jer told me again that he won't be surprised if this journal ends up being a NY #1 best seller (but he hasn't even read it) because I'm always adding to it. Then there was a talk about how they don't like that I'm always writing because it makes them self-conscience. They flatter themselves ;)
Cathy is sooo beat tired! I can hear it in her voice and it is all over her...face... and so are tears?! =(
(just after I wrote this I went and checked on her and apparently she'd just learned that her grandma had died the day before)
Taking off from New York.
Finally - it wouldn't've been so bad if we could've known it would've been such a long layover because then we would've been able to adventure the city a bit & I would've been able to hang out with Amy Pierce (who apparently lives really close to Laguardia!) :(
As we all heard a man's voice stream through the overhead speaker informing us about the movie being played (Oceans), I was looking out the window[shocker, right?]. Off in the distance I saw one of New York's skylines - I think Manhattan. I would've taken a picture, but the timing with take off wasn't right -- story of this trip home *pout*. The city was softly back lit with light pink, light orange, and white tones. It was something you wouldn't normally expect to see in New York - understated, soft spoken...ness. The next time the man spoke I looked out my window again. With any city life far, far beneath us, all that was visible was clouds. These clouds were the picture definition of the place called "Utopia" - as cliche' as it may sound. The first image that came to mind was free falling from this little window, back first, with a big smile on my face and 100% carefree! The clouds appear softer, more fluffy, animated, and lively than those on toilet paper commercials. Just by watching one clump of "vanilla cotton candy" for a minute I saw 11 different images ranging from a puppy to a lobster to a boot. The picture I shot of it [above] does not come close to reality of how pretty it was...
(Some time later)
What if God brought me on this trip to plant/instill the idea in my mind that one of the best possibilities for me to learn patience + people skills + diligence would be to work on a long term project in Freedom Park? Derek, Rebecca, Lincoln, and Jenny (along with other YWAM team members) have gone in to work there but after some time they realized/felt like they were working for nothing because they were trying to get results quickly instead of long term/big pictures [according to Lincoln]. I don't know what 20 year project Lincoln keeps referring to about that place but if it is God' plan for me to go work in Freedom Park (or anywhere) for 20 years of my life, I'll go do it in a h(e)artbeat! [I'm not insinuating that I do not believe they are all there doing His will.]
... Home!
I wish that I hadn't been too tired to get a picture with my welcome team [mom, Johanna, & Kevin(who claimed the first 2 hugs before I'd even gotten off the plane)]...
NOTE:
Anything I publish after this post is what I've written since being home. I think everything has dates, so check them because they won't be consecutive like the actual journal was. PS: Thanks for continuing to read! :)
Somewhere in the 2nd half of the 16 + 1/2 hour flight
The male flight attendant came down the aisle closing all the window shutters - at freaking SUNRISE!! Since people were sleeping I GUESS it makes sense, at first. But I sneaked [at ?:?? after 10ish hours of flying you'd forget that the correct word to use here is "snuck" too...] a couple peeks out my window with my camera & today's sunrise was FREAKING BEAUTIFUL! I don't understand why Chris barked at me for having my window cover open half way (if even). It was bright out, but crazy beautiful and he didn't understand that I wasn't planning on leaving it open... If he reads this then I guess he WILL. haha.
(some amount of time later)
We have 2 hours and 58 minutes till we get to New York and there is a baby on the flight. I've either had music or a movie this whole time so far so it isn't an issue for me, but Janelle, Jeremy, Chris, and Kristy man... They keep turning around to look at the baby with annoyance, just hoping it'll quite down long enough for everyone to sleep. The mom has most likely been awake with it longer than any of us have though!
It is taking all I still have in me not to:
1. Peek out a small crack I could make under my window blind
2. Snap at a few of the team members before landing in Denver (but probably same with them towards me)
Security in Jo'burg to get on the plane was intense!
- Normal security, but not intense at all -- my bag was opened and browsed through though
- Gender-segregated frisking lines
- Another bag/carry on search
- Passport check
- Ticket check
- "Here is a plastic card with a number on it. Carry it down the loading ramp and give it to that man 150 ft in"
- Ticket checkers to tell you which way to go to your seat (standard)
- When we stopped in Dakar (after the first 8 hour flight) to switch some staff/passengers out, everyone had to go grab their carry-ons from up above & whatever wasn't claimed was gotten rid of in case in was a bomb or something
mental note: look up muslimsforpeace.com (it was on someone's shirt or something)
Laguardia Layover --- which was extended twice (from 3p to 4:25p)
I did the "tourist-y" thing and bought a I (heart) NY t-shirt! It is green & makes me happy (& I got good coffee, which also helped the layover...)
Went to "drinks" with
Deb Janelle Sean Jeremy
-----------------------------------
|_____________________|
Kristy Me Charles
(that was a diagram of the table and who sat where, beteedubs)
This is when Jer told me again that he won't be surprised if this journal ends up being a NY #1 best seller (but he hasn't even read it) because I'm always adding to it. Then there was a talk about how they don't like that I'm always writing because it makes them self-conscience. They flatter themselves ;)
Cathy is sooo beat tired! I can hear it in her voice and it is all over her...face... and so are tears?! =(
(just after I wrote this I went and checked on her and apparently she'd just learned that her grandma had died the day before)
Taking off from New York.
Finally - it wouldn't've been so bad if we could've known it would've been such a long layover because then we would've been able to adventure the city a bit & I would've been able to hang out with Amy Pierce (who apparently lives really close to Laguardia!) :(
As we all heard a man's voice stream through the overhead speaker informing us about the movie being played (Oceans), I was looking out the window[shocker, right?]. Off in the distance I saw one of New York's skylines - I think Manhattan. I would've taken a picture, but the timing with take off wasn't right -- story of this trip home *pout*. The city was softly back lit with light pink, light orange, and white tones. It was something you wouldn't normally expect to see in New York - understated, soft spoken...ness. The next time the man spoke I looked out my window again. With any city life far, far beneath us, all that was visible was clouds. These clouds were the picture definition of the place called "Utopia" - as cliche' as it may sound. The first image that came to mind was free falling from this little window, back first, with a big smile on my face and 100% carefree! The clouds appear softer, more fluffy, animated, and lively than those on toilet paper commercials. Just by watching one clump of "vanilla cotton candy" for a minute I saw 11 different images ranging from a puppy to a lobster to a boot. The picture I shot of it [above] does not come close to reality of how pretty it was...
(Some time later)
What if God brought me on this trip to plant/instill the idea in my mind that one of the best possibilities for me to learn patience + people skills + diligence would be to work on a long term project in Freedom Park? Derek, Rebecca, Lincoln, and Jenny (along with other YWAM team members) have gone in to work there but after some time they realized/felt like they were working for nothing because they were trying to get results quickly instead of long term/big pictures [according to Lincoln]. I don't know what 20 year project Lincoln keeps referring to about that place but if it is God' plan for me to go work in Freedom Park (or anywhere) for 20 years of my life, I'll go do it in a h(e)artbeat! [I'm not insinuating that I do not believe they are all there doing His will.]
... Home!
I wish that I hadn't been too tired to get a picture with my welcome team [mom, Johanna, & Kevin(who claimed the first 2 hugs before I'd even gotten off the plane)]...
NOTE:
Anything I publish after this post is what I've written since being home. I think everything has dates, so check them because they won't be consecutive like the actual journal was. PS: Thanks for continuing to read! :)
27 January, 2011
Homeward Bound (pt1)
Day 12 - 1 page. I decided today that I have to marry a South African -- they are SO beautiful & have accents to DIE for!!
On the way to/at the Johannesburg airport.
"I hate Lady Gaga!" - Sean (out of nowhere)
"Hahah, where did that come from?!" -Everybody in the van
"She is just stupid! 'Ale-Ale-Alejandro'? Really? How does she make money off that?!" - Sean
Sean was complaining about almost every aspect of life while we were waiting for people to pay at the counter in "Out of Africa" (a tourist shop in the airport in Jo'burg) - specifically about being hungry, people being slow, stupid goats, being super tired, and people were picking on his hairstyle... Really, Sean, what were you seeing the past two weeks?! haha.
The on-site shelter pastor (Mr. Khumalo) & his wife + their son gave us a really sweet card right before we packed up to head out today...
*"MAY YOUR OBEDIENCE REMAIN OUR TURNING POINT TO CHRIST" (they wrote in caps, maybe just to make it look nice I dunno, but that was one of my favorite parts of their card)
*II Corinthians 9: 11-15 (NIV) 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Airport dinners in SA = high class: chicken curry with rice, green beans, and sweet potatoes...
Flight.
Sitting next to (Kristy) Murdock; Our captain is named "McYork"
I couldn't get a shot of the sunset because it was happening right when we were checking bags, but what I caught of it was AMAZING!! The sight from my window as we took off from the airport in Jo'burg of the downtown night lights is most likely my new FAVORITE sight ever!! [Even now months later I'm sad that I'm such a rule-follower and didn't sneak out my camera to get a shot of it... :( ] It was sooo Beautiful (that's right, with a capital "b")!
On this flight I watched Date Night and slept and wrote during the first 8 hours (to Dakar) then the Sex & the City movie somewhere during the second.
On the way to/at the Johannesburg airport.
"I hate Lady Gaga!" - Sean (out of nowhere)
"Hahah, where did that come from?!" -Everybody in the van
"She is just stupid! 'Ale-Ale-Alejandro'? Really? How does she make money off that?!" - Sean
Sean was complaining about almost every aspect of life while we were waiting for people to pay at the counter in "Out of Africa" (a tourist shop in the airport in Jo'burg) - specifically about being hungry, people being slow, stupid goats, being super tired, and people were picking on his hairstyle... Really, Sean, what were you seeing the past two weeks?! haha.
The on-site shelter pastor (Mr. Khumalo) & his wife + their son gave us a really sweet card right before we packed up to head out today...
*"MAY YOUR OBEDIENCE REMAIN OUR TURNING POINT TO CHRIST" (they wrote in caps, maybe just to make it look nice I dunno, but that was one of my favorite parts of their card)
*II Corinthians 9: 11-15 (NIV) 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Airport dinners in SA = high class: chicken curry with rice, green beans, and sweet potatoes...
Flight.
She was stoked to come home but was uber stressed about Thempi (catch 22)
& I just wasn't ready to leave :(
I couldn't get a shot of the sunset because it was happening right when we were checking bags, but what I caught of it was AMAZING!! The sight from my window as we took off from the airport in Jo'burg of the downtown night lights is most likely my new FAVORITE sight ever!! [Even now months later I'm sad that I'm such a rule-follower and didn't sneak out my camera to get a shot of it... :( ] It was sooo Beautiful (that's right, with a capital "b")!
On this flight I watched Date Night and slept and wrote during the first 8 hours (to Dakar) then the Sex & the City movie somewhere during the second.
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