I'm driving across South Africa, late start today, but I should arrive in White River on May 3rd. Driving during the day and staying at a safe hotel at night. Still jet lagged but feeling much better.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Visit to Beautiful Gate
I've been dreading and yet anticipating this day. I'm not sure if it's good for the children of Beautiful Gate to see me again or if I should just pass through Cape Town and not see them. Others have convinced me that it is good for them to know I haven't forgotten them.
So…I went to Beautiful Gate. This feeling that I'm having everyday here, how it's so familiar, but yet so different. The kids are beautiful and stilll remember me. The older ones had some kind of class so I didn't see them too much. The younger ones, even new ones who I was just meeting were quite clingy. Their English isn't as good so I can tell there is less International Staff interacting with them. They asked about Caroline too the other Dutch teacher that left at the same time as I did. Only 4 kids left in the pre-school, everyone else in regular school for the day. A large number of kids have left to homes of extended family members or foster care, especially grandmothers, so that's encouraging.
Enjoyed seeing Mama Sindi again, Tata Solomon and Nosipho especially.
Lots of good memories, I cried when I hugged the kids. I wish they could know how much I missed them and wish I could be a part of their lives, especially Thembekile who is deaf. Emotional too because of the tough memories. Draining but good day.
So…I went to Beautiful Gate. This feeling that I'm having everyday here, how it's so familiar, but yet so different. The kids are beautiful and stilll remember me. The older ones had some kind of class so I didn't see them too much. The younger ones, even new ones who I was just meeting were quite clingy. Their English isn't as good so I can tell there is less International Staff interacting with them. They asked about Caroline too the other Dutch teacher that left at the same time as I did. Only 4 kids left in the pre-school, everyone else in regular school for the day. A large number of kids have left to homes of extended family members or foster care, especially grandmothers, so that's encouraging.
Enjoyed seeing Mama Sindi again, Tata Solomon and Nosipho especially.
Lots of good memories, I cried when I hugged the kids. I wish they could know how much I missed them and wish I could be a part of their lives, especially Thembekile who is deaf. Emotional too because of the tough memories. Draining but good day.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Khanyisa Community Church
April 26
Great to be back at my church here in Cape Town. It used to encourage me so much to attend here when I lived here so see all the things going on helping so many people with a group of racially mixed friends. A lot of faces I still recognize, and those who recognize me, but my stay is so short.
Nthutuzelo, my good friend from before, is in the hospital with TB, they say it's incurable. Don't know where the hospital is. She always knew how to make me laugh.
Great to be back at my church here in Cape Town. It used to encourage me so much to attend here when I lived here so see all the things going on helping so many people with a group of racially mixed friends. A lot of faces I still recognize, and those who recognize me, but my stay is so short.
Nthutuzelo, my good friend from before, is in the hospital with TB, they say it's incurable. Don't know where the hospital is. She always knew how to make me laugh.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Same but Different
Everything so familiar yet so different. So much of what is around me is so much like what I remember from when I lived here, so much is the same. But yet everything is different, I'm different, people are different, I'm here for different reasons.
Sorting through the things I had stored here at Lew's house. He's a gracious host . He's helping me sell my furniture but I'm just giving away a lot of things too. If it doesn't fit in my car - it doesn't go.
Sorting through the things I had stored here at Lew's house. He's a gracious host . He's helping me sell my furniture but I'm just giving away a lot of things too. If it doesn't fit in my car - it doesn't go.
Friday, April 24, 2009
I hate Jet Lag
Arrive in Cape Town. No time to transition, from the airport to the pastor's home who has been using my car, taking it to get registered, then driving off on the other side of the road. At least the roads are someone familiar. I hate jet lag.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I'm leaving on a jet plane
Breakfast with Pastor Danielle from ALCF, she's a real encouragement. Finished packing, everything takes longer than I plan. Drove out to the beach for a relaxing walk and lunch. Craig was very thoughtful and took me to his Dad's grave, so we could remember out Dad's. He remembered that the anniversary of my Dad's death is coming up soon, and it was special to remember that with him.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
AnneMarie
AnneMarie, my friend who I know from PNG & CA, played hokey from her Bible Study so we could hang out and talk and laugh and catch up.
Monday, April 20, 2009
my prayer group
There is a small prayer group that gets together once a month to pray for me and other people that used to attend the 'Journey' group but now are missionaries. They are such a blessing, and I feel like I can share deeply with them. Many in the prayer group have attended for years, so I was so encouraged to see them all again. Each year they have 'Christmas-in-October' and put together a CD/tape, pics, and presents for the missionaries. I've kept all the personalized messages from all the years since I started in Indonesia. They make me feel special.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Friends who came to open house
Great to go to my church again. Hooray. I sure do miss that. I attended both morning services so I could absorb it all, since I’m only here one Sunday. Very few familiar faces. Phyllis & Rose hosted a reception for me this afternoon. I am so grateful to them. They went above and beyond making me feel very welcome and making it easy to reconnect with friends and make new friends. Although I'm not extroverted I love the opportunities to share about what I do and why I love it. Another opportunity at the Journey group tonite. Potluck too. Great to see AnneMarie again. Staying at her house until I leave, so carted my suitcases around me with all day to all these events.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Nathaniel's Birthday
Great to reconnect with friends. Invited to Nathaniel's Birthday party and saw some old friends. I'm so relieved I'm not forgotten. Everyone making me feel so welcoming.
Richard
Richard picked me up to go to Filoli Gardens for a few hours. Beautiful gardens and deep conversation. Peaceful.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Emily
Staying with friends, the Fangs, even though they just had a beautiful baby a month ago. Enjoyed time at amusement park with Craig. Strange to be back in the Bay Area again.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sad Goodbyes
4:14 flight to San Francisco. Hard to say good-bye to everyone. I know I'm going to miss so much of their lives. Kurt graduates in less than a month, little Elijah is going to change so much, Ethan won't even remember me. My mom will be home-alone again. Very sad. This is harder than I thought.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Calm? Defenately NOT
Yes, now it's time to panic. Got a massage today that my Mom gave me a gift-certificate for for Christmas. Helping to keep me relaxed. Ahhhhh. Sad too as I said good-bye to Jon and Amy and the kiddos. A friend is helping me stay calm. Ha, that's an impossible job.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Packing, repacking, packing, repacking,....
Lots of things packed, but suitcases too heavy. Haven't solved that problem yet. What a mess everything is in. Not as bad as I usually am this close to leaving.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Quadrupel Great Day
Today is Easter, my commissioning service, and my 'Birthday-Goodbye' Party. Quadrupel Great Day. Not thinking about all the things I have to do just enjoying the day. Check out the other fun pics by clicking the link under the pic.
I got an amazing treasure hunt with gifts at each clue. So much like the birthdays my Mom used to throw for us when we were kids. Thanks Mom.
I got an amazing treasure hunt with gifts at each clue. So much like the birthdays my Mom used to throw for us when we were kids. Thanks Mom.
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