Heaven

I think I felt a little of what heaven must be like this morning as I was riding through the South African bush, sun shining, wind blowing, cool enough for a jacket.  The breeze blew at me but didn't stop me from viewing all of the beauty of God's creation from the scrub bush to the Acacia trees and the birds flying high.  As we drove I listened to the symphony of Afrikan, Italian and English being spoken around me all taking about this wonderful countryside and somehow all understanding one another as we turned a corner and spotted a giraffee family or a lioness and her cubs.  It didn't matter I was wearing the same pair of pants from yesterday and the day before, nor did it matter that my neck still bothers me.  In that incredible time we were truly in heaven being given the rare opportunity to see such beauty and reality mixed that it carried me away.  I felt a connection to God and to this earth in a way I've never before experienced.  What a place!

Now, for all of you who want more practical details of our trip we are on Day 8 without luggage and our next hope is tomorrow when we get back to Johannesburg for one night to see if it is there.  Between the three airlines - United, Ethiopian Airways and South African Airways - no one really seems to know where it is!  It was spotted a couple of times back in Washington Dulles but supposedly came to South Africa.  Truthfully you know as much as we do about where our luggage resides!

Blogs have been spotty because there is not much internet access here in the bush.  We are at Camp Chapungu, which has 8 wonderful tents fully outfitted for us.  There is, however, no heat, so each morning when we get up before daylight for our safari we are thankful we did some shopping in Cape Town to come up with enough WINTER clothes to keep us warm.  I bought a t-shirt here so I now have 3 shirts, one pair of pants and some undergarments.  I do have a toothbrush and deoderant but that is from the first night hotel when we stayed in Virginia!  It does save time every day as no real decisions about what to wear.

The communal area of this camp is lovely with a pool in the middle and the occasional wild animal walking through for a snack!  All of the buildings are open and we eat dinner every night by lamp and firelight after our last safari.  I have so many photos to share but of course my cords are in my suitcase so I cannot upload any of them!

So, there you go.  Next stop is Johannesburg then on to Victoria Falls.  Can't wait to see what's next!

A Sense o Humor

I think it's times like this that I am reminded God has a sense of humor.  No matter how much I believe in a higher power I still think things are going to turn out as I expect - until something like this trip happens.  And just because it does not turn out as planned doesn't mean it's bad, just another road traveled!

We made to  Capetown via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Ethiopian Air!  Never thought I would end up in Ethiopia but what I saw from the airport was lovely and an unexpected bonus to the trip.  We lost our first day in Cape Town arriving one full day late but today we made the most of it with an absolutely fabulous trip down to the Cape of Good Hope.  We saw penguins and sea lions in their natural habitiat, baboons sauntering down the middle of the road, ostrich and bok in the national park and finally the wild and beautiful cape, the southern most point of western Africa.  the weather was perfect, the tour guide wonderful and all of us put our cares away and just enjoyed this wild and beautiful place.

However, we are about to begin day 5 without luggage and that's beginning to take its toll.  We suspect it never left Washington D.C. but no one seems able to find it!  You either laugh or cry  and we have decided to laugh.  We bought enough close to be warm on our excursions and hope tomorrow will bring our luggage to us.  My neck, which was fine during all of the flights, has declared war on me and so  I writhe in pain periodically but always find the strength to take photos of all of this wonder!

So, I think the perils of humans, in this case the four Boche sisters, is giving God a good laugh.  And we are laughing too.  After all, we are on vacation in a garden spot in the world.

Blessings!

On our way?

Patience is certainly a virtue and that is never more clear than when you travel.  You just never know how things will go!  For instance, we arrived at the MSP airport by 1030a for our 1230p flight to Washington DC then on to Johannesburg.  But we didn't leave MSP until 2p, missed the flight onward and are now in a hotel by Dulles Airport trying to figure out how to get to South Africa!!!  So many options but not many with 4 seats available so it may take us DAYS to reach South Africa.

With all of this you get to know not only those with whom you are traveling but you end up connecting with others who end up in the same place with you!  A couple heading to a safari, as well as two other couples on the same flight out of MSP were all going to Africa!  We got to know one of the couples well and spent time with them at the airport, standing in lines, and even tonight in the hotel.  You connect with people in the strangest places.

We still don't know how we will get to our destination but what we do know is that we are all on vacation and with a little patience and a lot  of humor it will all just be part of the experience.  After all we are called to live life abundantly, right?  So that means accepting the detours along with the wonders.  What a day - and who knows what tomorrow brings!

Almost Time!

In a little more than 12 hours our odyssey to Africa will be underway! I have left Duluth and am in the Twin Cities doing final packing, saying goodbye and preparing for this great adventure. Even the disc problem in my neck won't keep me from this great opportunity to learn more about another part of the world and to meet new people. That's how you really build a global community, isn't it? We cannot be a community until we know about the way we all live together on this planet of God's creation.

I am excited, a little fearful and a little sad at leaving. I will miss my family, friends and of course Bella but I am looking forward to a vacation, a chance to learn about Africa and the wonderful experience of connecting with United Methodists around the world.

How do you feel about the opportunities in your life? Are you ready to grabe them or content to watch for the sidelines? Next time I write I will be in the southern hemisphere and that in itself will be a next experience!

One more week...

After a few technical difficulties with being able to get back in to my blog, here I am again!

In one week I will be leaving Duluth and heading for the Twin Cities where on Saturday we will begin our journey to Africa.  I have been planning for a long time but with only a week to go I am feeling the pinch of getting everything done at work and packing.  It's amazing how much pressure we can put on ourselves even when we are trying to get ready for a trip of a lifetime!

I had the opportunity to meet the General Secretary of the UMC Commission of Archives and History, Robert Williams, this week in Winona.  He is an interesting and knowledgeable man and I will see him in Durban!  What a wonderful world where we can make connections such as this one and have it when we travel to places far outside our comfort zone.

Life is about relationships and making new ones in places we don't expect is part of the web of life that gives us meaning, inspiration and hope.  The topic for worship on Sunday is "Keeping the Faith" which is appropriate as I remember that what I am doing is for a purpose and it will work out.  I take some quiet time to just breathe in and out and try to relax so that when I begin my journey I am ready physically as well as mentally.

As I go into this last week of preparation I am thankful for great people with whom I work and for the love and enthusiasm of friends and family.  I can't wait to explore, learn, rest, renew, reconnect with my sisters and make new friends!