Yes!
Three planes, 2 bus rides, a train, and five days later, we have all made it safely to Swaziland! I can not believe I am actually here. As the landscape resembles that of Northern Colorado it has not really hit me yet that I am in a different country. I feel like I just took a really – really — really long plane ride to Colorado. Well not quite, me being the overwhelming ethnic minority, outdoor markets, and different sights, and smells do bring home the point that I am not in Kansas anymore.
Oh and the sky here is amazing! It is the most brilliant blue I have ever seen!
So how am I doing? Well I am in the process of digesting a lot.
I am excited for the days ahead, and I am ready for training.
But overall I am doing well.
A little break down:
I arrived in Atlanta nervous, expectant, and ready to go! From the get go we were tested on our flexibility as we were not able to board our plane! Apparently British Airlines wanted to be extra sure we were going to be leaving Africa and wanted more documentation to insure we would indeed be leaving in Aug. I suppose the amount of luggage we had may have given them there suspicions.
That night we returned to the AIM base in Gainesville and returned to the airport the next day to start the process again. Half of us were able to board on Wednesday with the rest to follow Thursday. I have to say that despite the altered plans everyone has kept a great attitude and have responded with calmness and prayer.
We had a long layover in London, and although we were all tired we still ventured into the city for a couple of hours. I love London, and London people — so great!
I had fish and chips beside the Thames River across from Big Ben!
We then boarded a 9 hour flight to S. Africa. Upon arriving in Africa some missionaries from the base in Johannesburg met us and took us back to the base to wait for the other half of our group, before heading to Swazi. Saturday morning we met the other half of our team at the Airport. If you had been in the airport you would have thought we had not seen each other in 3 months, not three days! We missed our friends. After saying hello, all 26 of us piled into two taxi vans for a 5 hour bus ride to Swaziland.
Upon arriving, we were greeted by the 50 January World Racers cheering and holding a banner! It was a bit overwhelming, but they made us feel welcome and at home right away! All 80 of us will be staying here for our week of training. It is amazing how many people you can fit into a house.
It has been really great to chat with the current racers – they have been a wealth of knowledge and very encouraging!
We will be here till the end of the week for training. Unfortunately the internet connection here is very very slow and limited so I am not able to check myspace. So if you want to contact me please do so here or email me.
This year is going to be a process of letting go. Letting go of who it is that I think I am and diving into who it is that God knows I am and has created me to be.
Please continue to pray as we are in training. Thank you so much for your prayers this far – they are very much needed and appreciated!
More to come….
