July 29th, 2010--En route to Jo'burg, Jo'burg

To continue Victoria Falls...
We walked back absolutely drenched. I got a lovely little splinter; a painful souvenir. The ones who had chosen the dry path looked smugly on as we shivered in the twilight chill. The overlander was half way warm, and Tony donated a blanket to aid Sarah's and myself warmth. When we got back, we changed clothes and had a few minutes to chill before walking over to the Boma, Place of eating. Let's just say it was quite the experience. They tied wraps around us as we went in and were greeted with a drum. It was supposed to be an authentic Zimbabwe place, and it didn't disappoint. I tried warthog and ostrich, along with other authentic foods (crocodile tail too!). Warthog is my new favorite meat. Yum! We got back around 10 PM and had our devotions in our lodge. Brad taught Jonah 4 and we did a debriefing. I was so exhausted I was almost nodding off, but after everyone dispersed, I got a hot shower and climbed gratefully into bed. The alarm went off at 7 AM this morning and we got up and packed our bags for our flights. Pancakes for breakfast, then we loaded the overlander and climbed aboard. They took us to the craft market where a culture experience ensued. It was a game; whoever blinks loses. I know I got taken in the two items I purchase, but I was too reluctant to negotiate very low. I was torn between the realization that I was being taken and the fact that I knew they were overcharging me. Ah well. $30 for a couple of beautiful souvenirs was worth it. And no, I would NOT do well in a bartering culture. :-) They also were willing to trade anything we had. One man asked Sarah for her head band to trade. Another man asked me for a Bible, which I would have given, except for the fact that possessions that are received with no cost have little worth. After negotiationswere completed, we climbed into the overlander one last time. We drove to the airport and unloaded our baggage. A group shot with Andrew and Stephen, farewells and well wishes, and we're on the plane, winging our way to Jo'burg.
There is a bittersweet feeling for me right now. I honestly wanted to stay. Many in fact most team members will have families eagerly awaiting them at the airport. Kyndra and the kids will be there to greet me, of course, so that is heartening. This is just a season of life. A large part of it is the fact that there is so much work to do with the Tonga. I have no family to care for, no set in stone jobs and responsibilities. I could go. There is opportunity to go. However, it is the realization that I have more preparation complete that stays my ambitious mind from making plans. There is still much work to be done in my heart before I take that step. Zimbabwe and the Tonga people will forever be in my prayers, but I fervently pray that the Lord will allow me to serve them in the future. Mr. Duncan and Mrs. Tatiana will also be in my prayers. Lord willing I'll be able to serve along side them.

Afternoon, 3 PM
We made it to Jo'burg. The landing left me queasy, but my empty stomach thankfully didn't betray me. Tony was sweet and bought me an ice tea earlier and now we're waiting for the Delta desk to open.

Evening
We made it through immigrations, security, and the airport to wait for our flight. I have felt extremely nauseous; I almost thought I was going to throw up. Thank the Lord I haven't. They got me a coke and that seems to have settled my stomach. The Jo'burg airport is massive. It almost feels like a mall when you're walking through. Crazy. On the plane from Victoria Falls Sarah and I had a good conversation about speaking truth. She is such a sweet girl; I hope we can keep up when we get back. Lord, please give me strength and health to get through this 16 hr flight! I was already dreading it, but being sick doesn't make matters easier. God is good, through thick and thin, through nausea and fainting. Lord, please sustain me!

July 28th, 2010--Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

We've arrived at the lodge and are settling in for a bit before heading out again. We woke this morning and bundled against the cold. The toilet seat was the coldest I've ever sat on; but at least its a toilet! We had french toast for breakfast then we all headed out for the game drive. It was basically a pick up truck with a seat apparatus (9 seats, 11 people, do the math). It was so cold; it was probably 45-50 degrees outside, but drive 40+ mph, we about froze. Bundled with sweatshirts and a wool blanket overall, we rode the fifteen minute drive to Hwange. At the gate was a family of baboons; I literally felt like at the zoo. As we drove, we saw Sable, Giraffe, Impala, Hippos, Crocs, Hornills (Zazoo!), Zebra, Warthog, Spring buck, Kudu, Cape buffalo, and Ostrich. It warmed up considerably as the day went on. We never saw any elephants, to our disappointment. We got back later than we anticipated, so we immediately threw everything into the overlander and began the trip to Victoria Falls around 11:30 AM. It was a three hour trip, so we were grateful to arrive at the lodge. Our lodges are amazing! So neat, organized, and wonderfully authentic. Sarah and I are sharing a room, Vickie is across the hall, and Nick and Robbie are in the loft. We got settled in and looked around; we're in a national park so wild animals, warthogs and impala mainly, roam freely. It is an interesting experience to walk up to five warthogs outside the front door. Disconcerting and exciting at the same time, it hammers home the fact that this is a whole 'nother world. Steve prepared hot dogs in one of the lodges and after lunch we loaded up again to visit Victoria. We visited one of the largest Baobob trees in Africa. It supposedly has David Livingstone's initials carved in it. It was huge; we were told that it dates back to the time of Christ. We drove to the Victoria Falls park; its on the edge of the Zimbabwe/Zambia border. Stephen told us that we'd get wet, but wow, that was an understatement! We walked into the park and immediately the low roar of the falls beckoned us along the small rock paved path. The mist of the falls met us, kissing our faces as we walked expectantly closer to the falls. Our first glimpse of Victoria Falls took my breath away. A huge waterfall plummeted down the steep cliff, disappearing into the misty gorge below. The enormous size, combined with the mighty roar sent chills up my spine. "Its just a taste" our guide promised us with his Rhodesian accent. I couldn't imagine that it could get any better, but it most infinitely did! The path led around the front of the falls, then along the raging river that fed the gorge below. It looped around and ran along the length of the falls. Look out points brought us straight to the ledge, giving a breathtaking view of the 1 1/2 mile falls. The mist was absolutely amazing. It felt like rain, soaking us to the bone. Many chose the dry outer path, but I couldn't peel myself away from the gloriously majestic wonder. As I stared at the sheer immensity of the falls, I wondered how anyone could think there was no God. The falls roared, quite literally, the glory and majesty of our God. It was a taste, a tiny hint of the glory that is to come in the kingdom of God. If this fallen world can contain such glory, I can only imagine the glory that is to come. It creates a longing, a hunger, a desire to see the kingdom fulfilled. All in God's timing of course, but it was such a visually striking reminder of God's majesty and the absolute helplessness of man. Pictures don't do it justice. I will never forget the feeling of being soaking wet, looking at the panoramic falls and feeling God's power in the swirling mists and roaring might. Words fail the beauty and power displayed by that particular piece of God's handiwork. Amen, Alleluia, we serve an awesome God!

July 27th, 2010--9:45 PM, Miambo Lodge, Zimbabwe

Up at 6:30 AM, devotions at 7 AM, breakfast at 7:30 AM. At 8 AM we headed to Saba general store; we had all our bags packed and Steve loaded them into the truck. The leadership team assembled and they met underneath a large tree. The women spread out some wraps and sat nearby, listening. After awhile, I got up and walked some. The mountains were just across the road so I walked across and had prayer; just me and God looking at the Zimbabwe mountains. After the meeting we all joined hands and prayed for the leadership team. Afterwards, we women took Naomi aside and prayed for her. We took some pics of the team with the Pitts, even though we were running late. Duncan reminded me to get ahold of him if I want to do the internship. "Don't forget" he told me with his steely blue eyes and gravelly voice.. I promised him I wouldn't. I couldn't forget Zimbabwe even if I tried. I want to come back for a longer term. I have just begun to scratch the surface, to become accustomed and comfortable in that setting. I want to come back and finish the work the Lord has begun here. Mr. Duncan said that Ramona Bean that I were perfect for one another. We shall see what the Lord brings of this. After saying goodbyes, we sped back for lunch, packed the remaining items, and we set of for Hwange. It was a three hour drive; very bumpy. We are staying at Miambo Lodge just outside of Hwange. It is such an exotic out of the way place' very Africa! Our lodges are cement, small, with thatched roofs, an open air shower (shower under the stars!), and the bathroom outside each hut. The guys opted for the optional game drive this afternoon, but since I didn't want to lose an extra $65, I opted out and took a nap. We had dinner at 7 PM, devotions around the campfire. The shower was an interesting experience. Because I showered without glasses, I kept peering at the trees above, wondering if some monkey was perched up there. But we had hot water that didn't smell like Lake Kariba, so I was content. Game drive at 6 AM tomorrow morning so up at 5 AM. I could sleep forever and a day. Good night!

July 26, 2010--9 AM, Mlbizi, Zimbabwe

Another day. The alarm went off at 6:30 AM and after a complacent groan we got up and got dressed. We walked to devotions and they sang with a drum, then we sang with the guitar, "You are Holy". They read Ez. 18:25-32. After devotions we went back to the chalet for a bit before breakfast. During breakfast they asked me to write Col. 1:28 in a Tonga Bible that they're giving to Theo, the owner of the Resort. We don't have anything until after lunch because of the Constitutional Council meetings. Everyone has congregated at our chalet, so we're just talking and eating Vickie's chocolate.
A couple nights ago we were talking in our chalet and decided to try to push back our departure half a day so we could get an extra half day of ministry in. We lost the half day today due to the meetings, but we're going out tomorrow morning, so we ended up not losing anything. The Lord worked everything out. :-)

6:30 PM
We hung out at our chalet until lunch, and after we ate we headed out to the school. The kids were waiting for us, and they walked with us to the school. It was 2:30 PM so we had some time with the kids. The school headmaster gathered all the children for a brief service, then we played. Sarah and Vickie taught the kids how to play Goat, Goat, Pig (African version of duck, duck, goose). Robbie and Adam ran races with the kids. Jim had a small group of kids together to sing with him, so I joined him and ended up teaching them songs in English. The service never materialized. The meetings went long so no one came. Canaan, Obert, Charles, and the other translators showed up around 4 PM. so they began to have their leadership meeting. After an hour or so, the kids began getting impatient with one another, begging for books, sweets, anything we might be able to give. I was taking pics of the kids and they were beating one another off with sticks to keep the others out of the frame. I was fairly fed up with them; I think the whole team knew it was time to move on. We went and spoke to the ladies for awhile, making halfway decent chit chat with broken English and Tonga. Naomi, one of the Saba ladies that was on the original evangelism team, was there and she wrote the words to one of the songs we hear a lot from the kids. They then brought out all the basket the WMU (Women's Missionary Union) women had woven, 29 in all, and we bought the whole lot for $58. It was about $2 a basket, so it was a good deal for both parties. Mrs. Tatiana and I carried the baskets to the overlander and left them with Andrew, our driver. By the time we walked back, the men were finishing up and after saying our farewells, we headed back to the resort. Steve had prepared a fantastic dinner with steaks, so we ate very well. Adam led the devotions and as it was the last night with the Pitts, we had a special time of prayer for them. To bed late again. So tired.

July 25th, 2010--7:45 AM, Mlbizi Resort, Zimbabwe

"Now the Law increased, grace abounded all the more, so that as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" Romans 5:21

Another day has dawned; Sunday, believe it or not. We have the service between 9 and 10 AM. Africa time really isn't precise or much of a priority, so we must remain flexible and understanding of that cultural reality. AS Nick told us, AWA, Africa Wins Again. He also said Africa is a place that you love or hate, and if you love it, it gets in your blood. I'm afraid I am feeling the love right now. Africa is winning my heart...

2:45 PM

After breakfast at 8 AM, we had a late start, but we got to the school around 9:30 AM. There was, of course, many children around, but adults began showing up slowly. The leaders were dressed in suits and ties, and they set logs on rocks for benches.

9:25 PM

My last entry was cut off quickly due to the fact that we were leaving for the afternoon meetings. Picking up where we left off...

They began the service with singing, and they filled the air with beautiful voices. Their harmonies are so beautiful! Canaan has an amazingly deep voice...wow! Tony preached parts 4 and 5 of C2C and John preached parts 6 through 8. Two other churches were meeting in the two school buildings behind us, and it was the case of dueling banjos. The Pentecostal church got very vocal in its speaking in tongues at one point. The team prayed fervently that Tony and John wouldn't be distracted; The Lord was faithful. They didn't hear anything going on around them, and preached like pros. I am so thankful that the Lord was there and provided clarity and direction. Charles shared his testimony, the choir sang, Kelvin sang, Jonathon sang, John sang, and it was an all together powerful experience to be worshipping the Lord in two languages with one heart and goal in mind; to glorify God. After the three hour service, we came back for lunch. We were off again at 3 PM for the leadership meanings. The men went to Alex's house for the meetings and we went to the school to meet the women. They expected a service, so fearless Vickie took the lead and we took turns singing until Naomi arrived to interpret. Vickie taught on several subjects: mothers, submission, obedience, etc. We sang songs with the kids and the women asked questions about the WMU in America. The kids got bored so Sarah and Holly took the kids aside and played with the. Vickie continued to teach the women and told them that women were important to Jesus. She told the story of the woman who couldn't stop bleeding, but touched Jesus' cloak and was healed. She shared the Gospel, tying it into the earlier service. It was getting dark so we prayed and dismissed. We visited for a little while, then walked back to the overlander to wait for the guys. The men came back as the sun set and we set off for the resort. Dinner, devotions, shower, fellowship. In the morning we have devotions at 7 AM, breakfast at 8 AM, then nothing till after lunch. A little time to rest will be welcomed. We'll see what tomorrow holds. G'night!

July 24th, 2010--8:30 PM, Mlbizi Resort, Zimbabwe

I am so tired this evening it will be difficult to recall all that we did today. The alarm went off at 5:30 AM, so after rolling over, we climbed out of bed and got ready. Breakfast at 6:30, then we led devotions at 7 AM. The men sang again; I could listen to them all day, it was so beautiful. We got our stuff and headed out in the truck at 8 AM. We went to Alex's house where the men taught leadership sessions for the pastors and translators. We women sat nearby, talking quietly with the women and holding a adorable baby. After about two hours, the men wrapped it up and we walked back to the road to split up in Evangelism teams. Our goal was to invite people to the service that afternoon. We split up into Evangelism teams. John and I were teamed up with Canaan Kowena and Charles Saba. We set off down a side road; we met some kids walking on the read, and they visited with us as we invited people. It was almost awkward as the translators and ourselves weren't quite sure how to work things, but we talked it over and things went much more smoothly after we determined a pattern of conversation. Cultural note: Men talk to men, women to women. The two do not approach one another. If there is a man present, then he is always addressed. If it is just women, then its my job to speak to them. Conversation has never been a strong point for me, but I am learning to ask about their marital status, children, etc to engage the women and establish some sort of relationship. We are so different. I am a wealthy white woman from America. They are poor Zimbabweans with absolutely nothing. Our connection point is the fact that we are both dead apart from Christ. We both desperately need him. Cultural note: Men don't make eye contact with women. Mrs. Tatiana says its a respect thing. It is such a hard habit to break! I still remember mom telling me that if I didn't look a person straight in the eye, I was being rude. It is a strenuous mental process to adhere to cultural expectations, remember C2C, make conversation, and be in prayer at the same time. I was able to share the C2C story with some teenage girls; they claimed to be members of the church of Christ. It seems every other person you meet is Church of Christ! Who would've thought? Our translators, Charles and Canaan were wonderful. Charles Saba is the head man of the area. He did the majority of the translating and had very good English. His son is Kelvin, one of the men working with Mr. Duncan. I didn't know Charles was the head man until afterwards, but I very much enjoyed working and talking with him. He was very friendly and asked questions about my studies and age. Mr. Duncan says Canaan is the best translator because he's very precise and clear with his Tonga. He let Charles do most of the talking, but he translated later at the service. We went to about six huts and were gone for two hours. We did a lot of walking! There are hundreds of little trails through the bush, connecting, branching off, leading from hut to hut, grouping to grouping, The ground is pure sand. I don't know how trees grow in it, but it literally feels like your walking on the beach. Scrubby sharp bushes and plants grow, and goat and chickens find shade under trees. If you hear rustling off the path, it is most likely a black goat or mamma hen with her chicks. Because we have the permission of the head man, our safety is guaranteed. If anyone does something to us, they are, in effect, doing it to the head man. This is a comfort as we walk along the barren and somewhat unsafe looking areas. We are safe in the hands of the Lord, but this reassurance is comforting. We came back for a quick lunch of sandwiches and headed out again. By this time I had worn a hole into the soles of both my shoes, so I got some duck tape and repaired them temporarily. We went to the school where we were having the service and immediately the children flocked to us. People began trickling in and we sat on benches. Kelvin led the group in three songs, then Jim talked through part one of the extended C2C. The choir sang two songs, then Adam taught part two. More singing, then Brad taught part three. They then asked us to sing, so we sang "Amazing Grace", which was better than our previous attempts. They closed the service with prayer and everyone began to disperse. I played with the kids for a little bit, then I had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Duncan. His heart for the Tonga was so moving. Their term ends in October, and if their church doesn't pick up their support, they'll have to go back home and leave all their work with the Tonga behind. I could see that his just broke his hear; his burden for the Gospel to be shared with the Tonga was so strong. He has faith that God will complete the work he has begun, but there is such a need for a facilitator and go-between for the people who want to help spread the gospel. They have two pastors, the Kowena brothers, Canaan and Obert, along with the men serving as interpreters who are learning how to be spiritual leaders. There is such a need for discipleship among the Christian Tonga. The need is so great; the people are hungry. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. I mentioned to Mr. Duncan that I'm studying missions and will need to do an internship in the next two years. His face lit up and he said that he knew exactly where I could go. There's a woman named Ramona Bean in Zimbabwe, working with the "True Love Waits" curriculem. He said we'd be perfect for one another. We walked back to the overlander and rode back for dinner. After dinner we had devotions on Jonah 1:17-2:6; Jim led. We had discussion afterwards, then we were dismissed. I am so tired. I'm not sure if its from jet lag, or from lack of sleep, but I am ready to crash. Sunday service tomorrow at 9 AM, so we can sleep till 8 AM. It's hard to believe its only been four days...two more days of ministry, but perhaps that will change. Skeeters are eating me up. Lord, protect me from Malaria.

July 23rd, 2010--7:30ish AM, Mlbizi Resort, Zimbabwe

After a very good dinner last night, we met in the main lodge to go over logistics and for our time of devotions. We are reading through the book of Jonah, so Nick read and taught the passage. We sang "Hope of the Nations" and "O For a Thousand Tongues" together and had an all together wonderful time of worship and fellowship. Mr. and Mrs. Pitts shared some of themselves and gave us a brief summary of the Tonga. Warnings, precautions, and wisdom was given. After prayer we went back to our Chalets and Vickie, Sarah, John, and Robbie (the chalet mates) sat on our porch and did an overview of our creation to Christ stories to brush up on and critique one another's stories. We ladies took showers, cold and slightly gritty, then sleep. I slept like a baby.

The alarm went off at 6 AM and we rolled out of bed and got dressed. Breakfast at 6:30 AM, devotions with the resort staff at 7 AM. Monkeys watched us eat breakfast, as well as a man outside the gate who begged us for food for his family. This made me lose my appetite, as we couldn't give him anything. Gluttony stared at me from my bowl of warm oatmeal with apples. The devotions this morning were wonderful. The men's singing literally gave me chills. It was all men, but the harmonies, melodies and rhythms made me close my yes in delight. The fact that they were praising God was a sweet start to our day. Now off to meet the evangelism team. May God be glorified in word and deed today!

5ish PM--Sunset Deck

What an amazing first day of ministry! We were slightly delayed because the two brothers who we were supposed to work with couldn't be found. Mr. Duncan and Nick went off in the truck to find them, but had no luck. They found Kelvin, one of the interpreters, so we loaded int0 the overlander and set off. We parked on the side of the road near a school, disembarking our enormous mode of transportation. We didn't have permission from the head man to begin evangelism, so we spent the morning doing some sight seeing. We walked around the small clusters of mud and stick huts, exploring and being laughed at by the women we encountered. They jabbered Tonga at us, and when we smiled in our confusion, they laughed heartily at us. One of the ladies knew a little English, so they immediately began teaching us the Tonga equivalent to every word they could think of. They all knew "Good afternoon" and "thank you", but otherwise it was quite the challenge to communicate with out an interpreter. When we got to the school, the teacher dismissed class, so we were surrounded by curious children. They were gathered together and they sang us a song. We went back to the truck and the guys broke out a soccer ball. Cheers went up and all the guys set off for the barren sandy scrap of land on the other side of the road to begin a game with the boys. We continued to talk with the women and I had a chance to ask Mrs. Tatiana about some of the ministries they were doing, including discipleship. She gave a lot of insights into the Tonga people and piqued my interest to learn more. We broke for lunch around noon, going back to Mlbizi to eat some mac and cheese. We went back out after forming into evangelism teams. We went to the school where we had visited that morning. They gathered all the children again and they assembled for us. They sang for us, we sang for them and Robbie gave his testimony. Nick talked to the kids about staying in school and listening to their teachers. He also incorporated the story of the rich young ruler. The children were dismissed, but they hung around, staring at us and whispering with giggles whenever we tried to speak to them. My evangelism team, Brad, Tony, Robbie, Edward, Alex, and myself set off for the huts in the bush behind the school. We spoke first to Silus, a 54 year old man who was sitting in the shade of his hut, twisting rope. Brad shared the C2C (Creation to Christ) story and he prayed to put his trust in Christ. My faint heart doubted his profession of faith, as we have been told that the Tonga will tell you yes to please you. However, God knows the man's heart, and if it was a genuine confession, a souls has been brought into the kingdom of God! At the second house, I shared the C2C, but they said they went to the Church of Christ church. The other two homes visited were Church of Christ, so we invited them to the service tomorrow. We walked back to the truck and head back to the resort.

9:19 PM--Mlbizi Resort

The sunset was gorgeous tonight. As I watched the sun sink on the horizon of Zambia, I wondered how it was possible that anyone could believe there wasn't a creator and designer. A group of clouds sat just above the horizon, ablaze with the sun as it sunk through them and finally emerged at the horizon's edge. The blazing ball of fiery red rapidly sunk, leaving nothing but a hazy pink sky and soft golden clouds above. The lake was peaceful, and the remaining blue sky and clouds reflected in the shallows as it gently lapped on the shore. Absolutely beautiful.

Dinner was good again; we had a good time of visiting and fellowship. Our time of devotions was interesting with Tony leading. We sang Kumbaya, held hands, and most of the team danced to Jambulani Africa!. Not me of course. :-) We are leading staff devotions tomorrow morning and we'll be singing. Breakfast at 6:30 AM, full day of ministry planned. I pray God uses us!

July 22, 2010---4:48 PM Mlbizi Resort, Zimbabwe

We have safely arrived at our destination! Our plane landed in Zimbabwe at 11:14 AM (we're in all Africa time here!), safe and sound with no complications! Air Zimbabwe was fabulous. We walked off the plane down stairs Hollywood style and into the Victoria Falls Airport. It was the smallest airport I've ever been in, but we filled out our immigration forms and breezed through immigrations. Our ACTS (African Christian Tours and Safaris) guide Stephen Hippel was there to meet us. We got our luggage (every single piece made it!) and went to our mode of transportation, the overlander. It is a huge vehicle that we climbed into and sat high above the world. It was a four hour drive to Mlbizi, and we got a beautiful view of Africa from above. The land was hilly, even mountainous in some areas, and we drove down and up valleys with great effort. Small thatched huts grouped into villages could be seen from the road. People walked along the roads, waving as we walked along. It was in the seventies; perfect blue sky and clouds above.

6:30 PM
After unpacking in our chalets at the Mlbizi Resort, we explored. We are right on Lake Kariba and is guarded by "watch for crocodiles and hippos" signs. There is a small area called Sunset Deck where we watched the sun dip below the horizon and set the lake afire with golden pink light that rippled under the golden sky. Zambia can be seen on the other side of the wide lake. Our missionary hosts, Duncan and Tatiana Pitts joined us at the sunset deck and spoke to us about the Tonga. The owner came with an employee and a freshly caught Tiger Fish, which he showed us. It was the biggest fish I'd ever seen in person. It had razor sharp teeth and would be an impressive hunter under water. I wouldn't want to run into one of these. Of course crocodiles and hippos aren't exactly any kinder inhabitants of the lake, but none of those were spotted this evening. On the way back to the chalets, Mr. Pitts was talking about the effects of Malaria, so I just doused myself with bug spray. Lord willing, that 98.25% deet will keep me covered. Dinner should be soon. Steve will cook for us this week. We'll see what delicacies await.

P.S. There's already been a spider sighting... :-)

July 22, 2010--7:30 AM, Johannesburg Airport

After a comfortable and warm night's sleep, we awoke in the predawn cool darkness. The sun had not yet risen and starts twinkled overhead as we went to the cozy dining room for a hot breakfast. Our hostess was sweet and welcoming, and the food was a good start to the day. We were all bundled in our jackets as it is in the fifties, and it was odd to see our breath after the hot and humid KY weather. We loaded into the van again and drove to the airport as the sun began to rise, gilding the clouds in golden pink near the horizon. It was very foggy, so we didn't see a lot of Johannesburg. It was so odd to see how everyone drives on the opposite sides. The driver seats are on the right and the lanes of traffic go opposite directions. That at least makes sense for me.

We're at the airport now, waiting for our flight to Victoria Falls. An hour flight, a two hour drive, then we'll get settled in our accommodations. After three days of travel, we'll be in Zimbabwe!

In devotions this morning, I read Romans 2. Verses 14 and 15 jumped out at me. "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them". In a world that denies ultimate truth, God's word reminds us that God wrote his law on the hearts of men. Every man is knowledgeable of his sin and one day will be judged. We speak so often of the people who have no access to the Gospel, yet I think we sometimes miss the urgency. We were put on this earth to proclaim God's glory, and after being rescued by the depravity of our sinful nature bondage, we are given God's grace and strength to do just that. Lackadaisical Christianity is one of the greatest tools of deception by our enemy. His strategy is cunning. Step 1: lull new believers into a sense of security in their personal salvation. Step 2: feed them milk (shallow preaching) with no meat (depth of understanding of God's Word) to stunt their growth. Step : down play the world's need for the proclamation of salvation. After this is accomplished, you've got the majority of mainstream middle to upper class Christianity. This is not to say that there is any flawless Christian movement on earth, but the same Word that condemns the hearts of men also has the power to save them. The law of God is written on their hearts, along with the unfulfilled purpose of their existence. Who will break the mold? Who will step out of their comfort zone? Who will forsake the wisdom of job security and materialism for the infallible, perfect wisdom of God? The world and the things of this world will wither and pass away. Hay, wood, and stubble will one day burn in the fires of judgement. Who will place their lives, their resources, their hope, in the imperishable work of God? The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, says the Word. O Church, arise! The time has come to shake off the chains of comfort and step out in faith in the One who orchestrates every aspect of life. Let no the enemy lull us into spiritual sleep, but let us awake out of our stupor and go to the task that we have been called to! May our legacy be one of faith an d courage to turn away from the fleeting pleasures of the world and to the flawless work of God.

As I wrote that about comfort, a twinge of guilt assailed me. The best accommodations have been provided; warmth, comfort, and tasty meals. May we be ready and willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary for the glory of God. Jesus plus nothing, no matter the cost.

Boarding at 9 AM...till then

July 21st, 2010--8:50 PM, Marle Lodge, Albertson, South Africa

My oh my, what a whirl the past 24 hrs have been! We landed at the Jo'burg airport at 5:40 AM African time. We were forty minutes late, but we eagerly bounded off the plane, thrilled to be on our feet again. After making our way through the Jo'burg airport, we got throgh immigration with no trouble and all our luggage made it too, thank the Lord! We were met by Doug, our van driver, and a friendly porter helped load all our luggage into a trailer. Nick asked Doug where we could eat and he drove us to "Roman's Pizza where we ate our first African meal; pizza. :-) We then drove to Merle Lodge, where we are staying for the night. It is a quaint stucco complex. Cultural Note: all hotels, motels, resorts, etc are called lodges in Africa. Our room has three beds and a hot shower. A small tea set reminds us that Zimbabwe was once a British colony. Vickie, Sarah, and I are rooming together. Vickie has brought lots of chocolate. :-) Goodnight for now. Breakfast at six AM sharp. Till then...

July 21st, 2010--5:45 AM Eastern Time, Atlantic Ocean

We are just halfway through our flight to Jo'burg. I can't say its been an enjoyable flight, as this cold/flu (whatever it is) has made sleeping nearly impossible. My eyes are gritty and I wish I could sleep like my two seat mates, but hopefully tonight will provide sufficient rest to gear up for the week.
It really is amazing to think that we're flying over the Atlantic ocean, smack dab between two continents. I cannot wait to get there. I have confidence that God has orchestrated this trip from its very conception He knows what is in store for us. I only pray that in our human weakness God might be glorified. That is our aim, our goal, our only hope. Jesus plus nothing. God is my portion forever. He is more than enough.
Time for devotions. I am reading through Romans this week. Till then...

July 20th, 20010--8:18 AM Eastern time, somewhere over GA

In just a little bit, America will fade behind us and the Atlantic ocean will be our companion for the next sixteen hours. The airplane is huge compared to the small plane we flew in from Louisville, in which we were packed like sardines.
Our trip has been uneventful thus far. Our flight from Louisville lasted an hour, and after grabbing a quick bite to eat from Qudoba (last American food!), we immediately boarded the plane to Jo-burg. It was a fairly long wait before we took off, but we are now winging our way towards Africa. I cannot quite describe how I feel right now. I am excited, but not nervous like I was when I was on my last mission trip. I have an inexplicable sense of peace. No fear, no worry. It is hard to believe that we are finally on our way to Zimbabwe, and when the sixteen hour flight is over, I'm sure it will hit home even more significantly.
Sarah Haygood is sitting on my right. Sarah is a very sweet girl a year older than myself. She's nervous about flying, so its been fun playing around with her. The man on my right is going on a visionary mission trip to Rwanda and Zambia with his church from AZ. He has kids my age and knew about Boyce! It is a small world after all.
There's turbulence now. I think I'll watch a movie.