Halfway Home
I made up my mind to never go to South Africa (ZA) when I learned about it’s notorious reputation with crime and violence. Then within a year I find myself on the World Race, with a route change indicating I would indeed be in ZA for the month of February.
My squad left Asia, our first continent, after 5 months. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand were officially a closed chapter after a 12 hr bus ride from Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, a 6hr Bangkok airport wait, a 16hr flight, a 4hr layover in Kenya, another 4 hr flight, 2 nights in a hostel in Johannesburg, and then a (BEAUTIFUL) 18hr bus ride to get to Cape Town, the southernmost point of the African continent.
This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The Indian and Atlantic Oceans surround us, the clear blue skies are above us, and there are plenty of sunny rays to tan our skin. There is soft white sand, plenty of seashells, shifting sun light, sand dunes that back the beaches, giant black seaweed that has washed ashore, and shrubbery filled hills that sway in the wind like I would imagine underwater ecosystems sway in their oceanic currents. And then the mountains, they calm anxious thoughts, a homesick heart, and strengthen the patience within me for direction, for answers, for change, for new perspectives.
Safari aside, I’ve shared a swim with penguins, walked beside ostriches, had the fright of my life when a baboon shared a bathroom with me, and was submerged in the deep waters with great white sharks. I discovered things aren’t as scary as I thought, and would recommend paragliding to anyone who loves a great view, a relaxing swing in a hammock, and a memory from up in the sky (even you Mom, no excuses). I experienced, maybe for the first time, sleeping literally under the moon and all the stars with a +7C sleeping bag out on a mountain, and I saw the orange sun swell and set into the cool ocean many nights. I heard Afrikaans and South African English, I tasted a braai (BBQ), I was welcomed into the culture with neighbourly pop-in house chats, conversations with locals on their streets, in transit, praying with people wherever we were, whatever their concern, I loved hearing peoples’ stories, living life along side so many.
Team Pneuma celebrated our halfway point on Valentine’s. It is just nuts to think that we are halfway through our Race. What was a huge blessing for me was spending time with the Adventures In Missions Film Crew. We were their last stop after 5 weeks of collecting footage to create a new promotional video for the Race (to be released in May). They each have done the Race before and they offered us advice about what they wish they would’ve not done, what they would re-do, or actually do, and it left me really thinking about getting out of the Race as much as I can.
Please be praying for focus, for change, for a heightened trust in God, and for direction for my teammates and I.
Financial Update…
Our last financial deadline is March 1. I have 1800 USD left to raise to complete the $16, 250 it costs. Please prayerfully consider keeping me out on the field.
If you would like to donate, please see my blog alanavanmiddlesworth.theworldrace.org and click “support me”.
