Onward to Johannesburg

So, Saturday was an all-day Companions in Christ Training in a church in Cape Town, with about 75 people attending, all Anglicans. Great day--very hot in that hall. We were all sweating all day, and I thought the people were so kind to stay there and listen to us!

We went straight to the airport--Steve, Sharon, Cary, and I. We stopped at a little Sports Bar in the restaurant for dinner. Cary told us about his unbelievable week in Joburg the week before (he had been on his own), and we shared about our week. As we were getting ready to fly back, I felt myself falling into a sort of funk. I know I was tired, but I think the bigger reason was that I was not ready to say goodbye to Cape Town and all the great people I had met there. I just wasn't ready. I knew that Joburg had a whole new week of new people and new scenes, and maybe--some heartbreaking encounters?

I buried my head in a book for the 2-hour flight back, and hoped that Sunday would be a day of recovery and transition for me. We got to Common Ground, which is a Methodist retreat center. Sharon and I shared a room there. Sunday morning, Steve decided he'd take whomever to a game park to see the animals. So Sharon, Cary and he went on, and I decided to take a quiet day. So glad I did. It was perfectly what I needed.

I was awoken that day by some heavenly singing downstairs. A group of African women were staying in the center with us, and they were all together downstairs singing the most beautiful songs in their beautiful way. I felt somehow held in their song, soothed, calmed, and loved. I didn't get up in time for breakfast, so just thought I'd wait till the next meal. A knock on the door, and the innkeeper, Joan, appeared with a tray with scrambled eggs, sausage, buttered toast, and juice. Yes, breakfast in bed in South Africa! I was overwhelmed by this act of kindness. Her Jack Russell Terrier, Spottie, came up with her and jumped in my lap to be petted. Spottie and Sharon and I have become good friends.

That whole day I just napped and read (a book given to me by one of the Anglican clergy in Cape Town, very meaningful) and wrote and relaxed. It was the balm I needed, and I felt ready to greet the week and also the gamespeople who had come back from their great safari!

It seemed that Cary, Steve, and Sharon had had a close encounter with a Rhino! It got in front of their car, pawed at the ground as if to charge, and then . . . pooped! Yes, that's all it was. But Cary was daring, got out of the car, and took marvelous video footage of the marvelous creature, and Sharon took pictures with my camera. (Thanks, Sharon!)

Monday morning was a great meeting with partners about developing the Anathoth property here with ComeBack Missions, an active organization that helps addicts and people with HIV/AIDS to recover and get their lives back. It looks like we will be building houses to have these folks on the property for short periods of time. It is all so exciting and feels like we are really contributing to some solutions, at least for one person at a time.

So Monday afternoon, Cheryl Pillay and Ruby of Come Back Missions took Cary and I to a Lion Park. We saw Zebras, lions, giraffes, springbok. We got very close, and I got great pictures! The most exciting adventure was in lion park, where you have to stay in your car with windows rolled up (no fences), and we had stopped to look at three lionesses, about 8 feet from the car. The car died and would not start up again! I got scared, thinking, what will we do, not being able to get out of the car! Cheryl got great kicks out of this American laughing nervously in the back seat! After about 5 minutes, the car started again. God answers prayer!

I fed a giraffe, and he wrapped his big old tongue around my had as he took the food out. We got to pet the lion cubs, and they sort of attacked Cary! But, tough guy that he is, he survived it.

Today I have met with South Africa authors who have stellar publishing ideas, and I can't wait to see what will happen there.

Tomorrow I go to Soweto with an Anglican priest who grew up there. More later, dear readers.

Dad, giving you equal time with Mom here--love ya!