Sorry not to have put an ending to that great Africa trip but I managed to get a cold as soon as I returned home, then right back into the rush of life in the United States! How quickly we get back to rushing around!
The ending of our trip was extremely peaceful in comparison to our trip to South Africa. We left Durban, flew to Johannesburg, then from there to Dakar, Senegal for a stop and refueling. That was about the half-way point to Washington D.C.! It was interesting that just as we had when we left Victoria Falls, we were subjected to some sort of bacterial fogging before we could leave Senegal. This time though it was a jet with 73 rows and nearly 600 people and stayed with us a good while on the trip.
Dulles Airport was uneventful except that we almost missed our flight once again from U. S. Customs and Immigration having so few people working. But as with every step of our tirp we learned once again how small our world really is. As we were getting off our plane the people next to us heard us talking about the Methodist Conference. It turns out they live in Dairlyand, Wisconsin and attend church at Faith UMC in Superior so we had friends in common!
We then flew from Washington, D.C. to Chicago where we had some good old U.S. junk food before boarding our final flight to Minneapolis/St. Paul. It was great to be back in Minnesota and I did the crazy part - after 33 hours of travel I got in my car and drove to Duluth! I just wanted to be home, to be with my dog, my friends. So, after 36 hours of travel I made it home.
I am glad to be back but already miss being where life is a little less hectic, where we could stop a while and talk to people, where we could relax. But I am thrilled to be back in Duluth - loved the Indian Ocean but nothing is llike Lake Superior! This trip wasn an adventure, a time away, a time to reconnect with my sisters and a time to connect with new friends from around the world. It was an opportunity I was glad I didn't miss.
And the footnote to the trip - as of TODAY, 35 days after we left, Jan got her luggage back!!! They called her from the airport and she went out to get it - so far nothing seems missing! I told her she should ask United for her baggage's frequent flyer miles as well as her own. What a great ending to a great adventure!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
World Methodist Conference at Last!
I cannot begin to describe what thhe conference has been like. Over 1800 people from all branches of Methodism (UMC, Wesleyan, British Methodists, AME Zion, to name a few) in one place worshipping together and trying to figure out how to help our world in a united effort. I have made new friends from the USA, Italy, South Africa, Venezuela, and more and it is inspiring and uplifiting listening to voices singing Wesley hymns in many lanaguages and just having the opportunity to share with so many Methodists.
The highlight of the conference for me was today when we marched, over 2000 strong, through the streets of Durban, South Africa from the convention center to city hall. More than just the delegates marched and it was a great show of solidarity from diverse faces, races and cultures. The Salvation Army band of SA played well known hymns while the African churches chanted and sang their own songs in another part of the parade. But as we passed, this wonderful sea of children of God and believers in Jesus, people of Durban hung out their windows, stopped to wave on the street and I think they too might just have been inspired by the show of love and peace by so many. What a great moment to take part in!
We leave Durban tomorrow and head home. We have 4 flights to make and we'll see this time how far our luggage makes it! Jan never did get her suitcase but she's been a trooper about it. Oh, and we did find time today to go to the football stadium (soccer) from last year's world cup and ride the funicular up the side to a viewing platform at the top of the stadium!!!! For several of my sisters who are afraid of heights it was an extrordinary effort and wonderful views for all. Never a dull moment.
So much more has happened and tomorrow's closing ceremony should also be moving. See you soon!
The highlight of the conference for me was today when we marched, over 2000 strong, through the streets of Durban, South Africa from the convention center to city hall. More than just the delegates marched and it was a great show of solidarity from diverse faces, races and cultures. The Salvation Army band of SA played well known hymns while the African churches chanted and sang their own songs in another part of the parade. But as we passed, this wonderful sea of children of God and believers in Jesus, people of Durban hung out their windows, stopped to wave on the street and I think they too might just have been inspired by the show of love and peace by so many. What a great moment to take part in!
We leave Durban tomorrow and head home. We have 4 flights to make and we'll see this time how far our luggage makes it! Jan never did get her suitcase but she's been a trooper about it. Oh, and we did find time today to go to the football stadium (soccer) from last year's world cup and ride the funicular up the side to a viewing platform at the top of the stadium!!!! For several of my sisters who are afraid of heights it was an extrordinary effort and wonderful views for all. Never a dull moment.
So much more has happened and tomorrow's closing ceremony should also be moving. See you soon!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Baggage at Last!
It's a funny story of how we found three of our four bags. We were waiting for our "new" luggage in Johannesburg when Jan suggested we go ahead and check once again with SAA baggage for our luggage. She and Susan were at the counter and Robyn and I were watching the people. A man came with a huge cart of luggage and I commented that I was watching those suitcases as they were all so big. Robyn then decided to look at them and one had a similar tear to hers - because it was hers!!! Mine was also there as was Susan's bag so now it's only Jan's bag bouncing around the airport universe.
But the interesting thing about all of this is the reaction to having our luggage. Some of us were kind of sad to have it - we had gotten used to and even started to enjoy the simplicity of having only one or two things to put on each day. We knew we needed more clothing as we are switching to warmer climates but it was in many ways a let down and even a burden to now have these huge suitcases and all of these clothes.
For me this whole first half of this trip has been a lesson in simplicity and enough. We had enough, not more, not less. I was constantly reminded of Jesus sending out the disciples with just what they had on to go into the world. It made me realize I have been carrying a lot of extra baggage that maybe I am better off without! That was my lesson for yesterday, Sunday, as I started the day watching God's creatures in the scrub bush and ended it with luggage and a new beginning of understanding of what enough really is. It was truly worship in so many ways!
But the interesting thing about all of this is the reaction to having our luggage. Some of us were kind of sad to have it - we had gotten used to and even started to enjoy the simplicity of having only one or two things to put on each day. We knew we needed more clothing as we are switching to warmer climates but it was in many ways a let down and even a burden to now have these huge suitcases and all of these clothes.
For me this whole first half of this trip has been a lesson in simplicity and enough. We had enough, not more, not less. I was constantly reminded of Jesus sending out the disciples with just what they had on to go into the world. It made me realize I have been carrying a lot of extra baggage that maybe I am better off without! That was my lesson for yesterday, Sunday, as I started the day watching God's creatures in the scrub bush and ended it with luggage and a new beginning of understanding of what enough really is. It was truly worship in so many ways!
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