Day 21 - Loneliness Met - All In His Timing

   This day was bound to come. Leaving. I found that it was not as hard to leave as I thought it might be. God answered prayers - that I would have the strength to say 'See you later' to my family as well as Africa and getting my 'fix' of Africa until I am able to return in a few years. I had a peace the whole morning I was finishing up packing, getting my boarding pass, eventually hugging my parents and brother and going through security. I didn't shed a tear of sadness because I knew God planted Africa in my heart and in His timing I would return and that I would be seeing my parents in a year and a half. 
   The waits in the airports were long and the flight from Johannesburg to D.C. was tough, but I eventually made it back to the states Saturday at 6:30am. Knowing before I got there that I would have an eleven hour layover, I got off of my plane that had been my source of transportation the last eighteen hours and found 'Customer Service' to see about switching flights and find a one that would get me to Kansas City earlier than my original time. Thankfully I was able to find a route that would take me to KC via Chicago and I would only have to wait three hours in D.C. instead of eleven. I had to make arrangements to pay a fee for the change as well as get the tags on my luggage changed so that they would accompany me on my new route. I was so thankful I was able to find an earlier flight back to my sister's.
   By the time I got everything done it was 8:30am and I was starving. The airport gave me a food voucher to use at any restaurant in the airport. After not sleeping hardly at all on the plane and having my last five meals be airplane meals, I decided to go for some Starbucks. I got a muffin and a mocha, walked over to my gate and stretched out on three seats to rest. I was not able to sleep so I laid there reflecting on everything that had happened. I began to feel lonely and was ready to see my sister and my girl friends at school. I'll admit - I cried. The trip was tough on me not only physically and mentally, but emotionally. 
   I was not able to sleep so I decided to get up and read my book and eat my muffin. Having two more hours until I boarded my next plane, I sat there and waited. At some point a man approached me with a young lady trailing behind him. He asked if I was going to Chicago and I told him I was. He then introduced me to this lady and explained that she spoke French and hardly any English and asked if I would help her get food and board the plane when time cam (as he had to catch a different flight). I ensured him that I would love to help! Maria was her name. She was from Dominican Republic heading to Chicago to see family. The few words in English she knew were enough to help me understand what she wanted and what she needed. I helped her get a pastry and a Coke. We sat side by side not saying much to one another as we waited at our gate. I could not even imagine being in a foreign country alone and not having any real way of communicating with those around me. When it came time to board, we grabbed up our things and got in line. Later when I was sitting on the plane I realised that God filled my loneliness by putting Maria in my path. I just smiled and thanked Him. 
   I only had an hour and half layover in Chicago before it left for KC, putting me there three hours earlier than planned. Time to board came around and we lined up, scanned our boarding passes, then filed onto the plane. Not two minutes after half of the people got onto the plane, an announcement was made over the intercom - an instrument of the plane was not working and would need to be replaced, which would take thirty minutes to get there and another twenty minutes to install and test. They said we could stay on the plane or exit it and wait in the airport. I grabbed my things and backtracked to the airport. I sat around for a little while and then was tired of sitting down so got up to stretch my legs. Another announcement was made that the new instrument had been tested, but was not working, so another one would have to be put in and tested. By the time they got the piece to work, two hours had gone by. It was frustrating, but throughout it all I had peace and not once got annoyed or irritated. I have gone through many traveling experiences and this one was not bad at all. And I knew there was nothing I could do and being mad or upset would be a waist of energy.
   When we finally touched down in Kansas City it was only one hour earlier than what I was suppose to arrive. I just kind of shrugged my shoulders and was thankful I was still able to get back earlier. I followed the crowd over to the carousel with our luggage on it. As pieces of luggage kept coming and getting picked up, people began to leave. I waited there hoping there was some way my two pieces of luggage would appear any minute - it didn't. As Holly was out parking the car in the parking garage, I went to 'Customer Service', again. I asked if they knew if my luggage was on my original flight and the lady thought that it was most likely. Holly and I waited an hour for the next flight to come in. As the carousel started back up again we waited ten minutes when we FINALLY saw my luggage. We grabbed the two pieces up and headed to the car. Even when this inconvenient thing happened, I was still not feeling any irritation or annoyance. 
    Although I had made plans to make it back to my sister's earlier, God had different plans. Even though I did not leave KC airport any earlier than what I would have if I had stayed in D.C. for eleven hours and taken my original flight, God had this occur for a reason. I feel He wanted me to take the flight to KC via Chicago so that I would run into Maria and help her out as well as bless me with her by filling my loneliness. 
   I love how I was able to see this and recognise it was God at work! Since then I have seen Him at work in my life and I couldn't ask for anything better than that. My walk with God had become really rocky last semester and I felt so distant from Him, but ever since that day things have been looking up and I'm really looking forward to what else He is going to do in my life! Now, I have a semester ahead of me that will determine if I make it into the Nursing Programme at College of the Ozarks. God has shown me and revealed to me where He wants me and what He wants me to do. I'm learning to live one day at a time and continue to trust God, because He has never once failed me and never will.
  

Day 14 - Table Mountain & Lion's Head!

   This was probably by far my favourite thing I've done since I've been home! We got up early and drove over to Table Mountain, one of the 7 Wonders of the World! It has been closed several times this past week due to winds, so today it was very busy. We stood in queue for a good time before we finally made it to the cable car that took us up to the top of the mountain. It was only a four minute ride up, but it was crazy and exhilarating as the car rotated so we could see over Cape Town. The view from the top was absolutely gorgeous and indescribable and my photos cannot even justify how amazing it was up there! 

 The view from the cable car

 Luke and I looking down on Cape Town

 Panoramic view of Cape Town

   Heading over to the bottom of Lion's Head we ate a quick picnic lunch then made the long hike up the mountain. It was steep and definitely a challenge, but a great hike and it was the perfect day for it! The higher up we got the more climbing we were doing. We did not make it to the very tip of the top, but we made it to the top. It took us about an hour and forty-five mintes to go up and down. We enjoyed the day and had some wonderful family time!

 The view from partway up Lion's Head

 The path up the mountain was this narrow the whole way

 Yikes! So many places where you could slip and fall

 Almost to the top

 We decided not to go any further, but next time we'll climb to the top of that part of the mountain

Day 12 - Luke's Birthday

    I cannot believe Luke is 17! He is getting so old! For his birthday he wanted to go to Cape Pointe. This includes: penguines, Boulder Beach, hiking and shipwrecks. Our first stop was Boulder Beach. We walked along the beach and climbed, you got it, boulders. This beach is famous for the African Penguines, which were everywhere. We were inches away from the penguines, but we still had to be careful they didn't lunge at us with their sharp beaks.

   Continuing our journey to Cape Pointe, the most southwestern tip of Africa, we drove and entered into the national park. We walked up the steep hill to where the lighthouse was located and could see the ocean going on forever! It was a gorgeous sight and it was hard to believe that we were standing at the furthest tip of the African continent!

 Directions of where major cities are at

 Mma's photo bombing

The most southern tip of Africa

   Our last destination of the day was driving down to where the beginning of the trail which would take us to the shipwrecks on the beach! We walked 45 minutes one way and happened upon the first shipwreck sight. It was so fascinating to see pieces of the Thomas Tucker ship from 1942. We continued down the beach, with the roaring waves and the large amounts of seaweed to our right and the sand dunes to our left, and made our way the second wreck sight. This ship had been buried deeper into the sand over the last few months, when my family had last visited.

   After a long and exhausting day we ended Luke's birthday with a Chicken Pot Pie dinner and an African version of ice cream cake (ice cream in the shape of a cake). 

 We collected candles around the house to use for Luke to blow out

Day 11 - Happy 2013

   Happy New Year!! I cannot believe it is another year!! I have many things that I am eager to get started on this year. I'm looking forward to a fresh semester of college, I'm looking forward to finding a church to get involved in and I cannot wait to have many more adventures!
   With Luke still being gone it was just my parents and me. We met up with some of their friend to go to the beach and hand out Jesus tracts. There were several thousand people there and out of those thousands of people there were about a dozen white people. The area we were in are mostly blacks and the reason for thousands of people being there  today (not only to celebrate the new year) is due to the fact that during the apartheid in South Africa blacks were not aloud to go to the beach, so once the apartheid ended it has become a tradition to go to the beach because they have the right to now.
The winds were strong today so sand was blowing everywhere, but it didn't stop people from going to the beach or stop us from spreading the Word of God. Mma and I grabbed a bag of tracts and began to walk around passing the tracts out to men, women and children wishing them a 'Happy New Year.' As we walked together we had to be on guard as a majority of the people were drunk. I had two marriage proposals and a few younger girls took photos with us acting as if Mma and I were celebrities. Although we were covered in sand and had sand in our hair, nose, ears and mouth, it was a great way to start of the year.

   In the evening we drove to the airport to pick up Luke from MK Camp! He had a blast and I'm so glad he was able to go! MK Camp is awesome, as all the MKs, from a few surrounding countries, get to see each other after a long time and have worship together and enjoy games and make the best memories! It's good to have Luke back!

Day 10 - Green Market, Eastern Bazaar and Fireworks

   When I got back from my run this morning I decided to make granola bars with a new recipe that I had yet to try! They were SO delicious and I even added a few of my own ingredients to change it up!

 Point Lookout Granola Bars



>4 C Oats
>3 Tblsp Butter
>1 1/2 C Coconut
>1 1/2 C Almonds
>1 1/2 C Chocolate Chips
>1 C Craisins
>1 can condensed milk
>2 tspn cinnamon (optional)

• Mix together dry ingredients with hands. Add wet ingredients and mix with hands (this is very messy, but works best).
• Press granola into a 13x9 pan with a metal spoon.
• Bake at 325 F for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden.

I used butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips, so be creative - experiment!!

   The Green Market was very similar to the Zambian markets I've been too! We haggled for the items we bought and even met a Zimbabwean woman! It was tons of fun!
For lunch we headed for to the Eastern Bazaar where, yes, they had foods from the east! I was about to order Veggie Fried Rice (something I was familiar with), when Mma gave me the idea to order something new. So I looked at the menus and ordered the 'Chicken Bunny Chow'. I had no idea what I had just ordered, but I stood in line until I saw them place my plate on the counter. It reminded me of the Soup-Bread Bowl at Panera, but it did not taste close to that. It was chicken-curry dish in, not even joking, half a loaf of bread. It was spicy and good.

Chicken Bunny Chow

Down Town Cape Town!



   For New Years Eve night we went and parked in a car park part way up Table Mountain to see the fireworks shot off from the bay. With winds of 45mph it was crazy outside and chilly, but it was still fun to celebrate the new year with my parents.