We arrived safely home, both intact and with all luggage. Thanks for following along and the prayers while we were away. For Kat, school starts in 2 weeks, and for me, well, I've already started laundry and have begun to process the transition to life here. I am hopeful that there will be more posts, more stories, more pictures of our trip.
I Can't Believe 2 Old Ladies Tried to Snag My Luggage
8:21 AM Wednesday, August 13th
It was an odd feeling. I had seen both of my pieces of luggage coming down the conveyer belt but when it turned they turned the corner to come around to the other side, my larger suitcase was gone! I know I had seen it so I quickly went around to the other side and started looking for it. Not seeing it anywhere, or seeing anyone with it, I went back to Kat who was still waiting for hers to come out.
Feeling uneasy about this entire situation, I once again went over to the other side, scoping out the people, trying to find my bag. It seemingly had disappeared, or someone snagged it and walked away quickly.
On my third attempt to scout the area, I noticed this large motorized cart sitting there with two old ladies in it. Figuring it wouldn't hurt to check out their luggage... I SAW MINE! After running over to them, tackling both of them out of their seats, we had quite the scuffle as I attempted to rip my bag away from the back of their buggy. One of them clocked me real good up-side of the head with her purse, heavily laden with medication no doubt. However, I was victorious in getting my luggage.
Okay...so there was no struggle. We are bored and wanted to liven things up here. Seriously, they did have my bag and I simply walked up to them and said..."Excuse me, but that's my bag." Both had a surprised look on their face and said, "It is?" I quickly pointed out the bright yellow Arandis/Rehoboth tag and said yes, see.
We made it safely to London, switched airports and are at Heathrow waiting for the U.S. Airways desk to show up....ooohhh...they just did.
In a little more than 12 hours, we will be arriving at the airport in Windhoek to begin our journey home. Our flight leaves here at 7:40PM and we will be arriving in London about 10 hours later, before 6 AM on Wednesday. From London, our flight leaves around 1PM, arriving in Philadelphia around 4PM. No, it's not just a 3 hour flight, we lose 5 hours heading back over the pond. Then our final leg of the journey has us leaving Philadelphia and arriving in Manchester after 10PM.
Today, we are planning on visiting the woodcarvers market, the Hope's Promise shop they have here in Okahandja, and spending a few more hours with the children the Ark. By 4PM we will need to leave and head into Windhoek for our flight.
Most of our short time here was spent visiting the Ark on Sunday, and many of Joan's preschools within Nau Aib on Monday. Joan is involved with about 24 different pre-schools in the area, mostly within the squatters camp Nau Aib. There are only 36 teachers in all, for the 700+ children who attend these pre-schools.
We also spent some time at the new resource center in Vyf Rand. It's not open yet, but it does consist of a library and computer center. We discussed their ideas and technological needs. There is much that needs to be accomplished before it can open. However, they remain steadfast in their vision and pray that the time will come.
Monday afternoon, Mike, Kat and I went to Okapuka, a ranch/game reserve located about a half-hour south of Okahandja. I'm guessing you will be seeing some of Mike's photography which I guarantee will be spectacular. He could just about reach out and touch one of the five white rhinos that were hanging around the Land Rover. While there is some wild game which you would not want to get this close and personal with, these rhinos seemed to like the food the guide provides for them daily.
After the game drive, we attended a lion feeding. Unlike the openness of viewing the rhinos, we were behind a wall, with open ports for viewing. And it's a good thing, these lions are nasty when it comes to raw red meat! Mike took, oh I don't know...almost 300 pictures in the 15-20 minute feeding span. I've got some video footage of a small argument for one of the last pieces of game that had been thrown in.
Four days without an entry and you would expect I might have so much to say. Fact is, words have been difficult to come by for this trip; sorting out my thoughts has been tough for me to do.
And, although Kat and I will be leaving Arandis in less than three hours, and will be getting on a plane for our trip home Tuesday evening, the trip and experience here is not over yet. Our next stop is Okahandja; only three hours away, yet seemingly still a different world than Rehoboth and Arandis.
After taking all of yesterday to make our rounds to see the families, I am never sure what to say anymore. Do I say goodbye? Do I say see you later? Do I say see you next time? Many have expectantly asked, so when will you be back; as if it is a foregone conclusion that I will be. For many, the expectation IS that I will be.
That's quite an expectation in a world I do not have absolute control over future events.
Being here with Kat, and trying to see this trip through her eyes, continues to be a great experience. One that I will reflect and think back on for years to come. Now, instead of hearing me talk about it, she has experienced it herself and I'm sure her reality was different than her expectations based upon my accounts of the people and place, or the accounts of others she has talked with.
What she will soon see and feel for herself, however, is that the experience really never ends. You bring it back with you. Like any experience, it now becomes part of your life, in what you think, say or do. I am anxious to watch and listen.
I should be much more afraid of being mistaken and then finding out that Christianity is true than of being
mistaken in believing it to be true. (Pascal)
We all want to get to heaven but nobody wants to die. (Unknown...still looking)
God hasn't given you the events of your life to hold in your own hands. He is allowing you to watch them
unfold in His. (Shannon Kubiak, "God Called a Girl")
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