Home, Sweet Home

The five of our group who opted not to go to the game park have made it home safe and sound. It was a long but smooth trip, though Leigh Ann's suitcase zipper gave up the ghost while we were transferring bags at the airport in Atlanta. A duct tape solution was all that was needed, but I have a feeling the bag will not be making any more flights.

Our expert in all things travel, Jay, bumped our Cape Town - J'burg flight back an hour or two so our layover in Johannesburg would not be four hours long. That gave us extra time in Cape Town, which we spent in an activity that was very effective in helping ease the transition back to the States: we went to the mall. I suppose you could say that part of our ministry was helping support the economy of South Africa--in which case, blessings abounded.

After a trip like this, having seen so much need and done so many different things to try to help meet those needs in such a short time, and being reminded of how much we have, it's only natural to experience what I call the "Schindler Syndrome"—"I could have done more...." Could have built & painted more walls, installed more computer programs, taught more truths, sung more songs, hugged more children, taken more pictures (OK, that last one is a stretch—we took a LOT of pictures). Which is valid—we all could have done more, and still can, and I hope we will, as a group and as individuals. But as far as the work of the past week or so is concerned, at some point we have to "let go and let God" (if you'll excuse what may be a cliché to you) and hope that He will take the seeds we scattered so apparently haphazardly, and cause each of them to grow into something greater than we would ever expect.

In the meantime, don’t be concerned or offended if I don’t answer the phone in the next day or so—I’m probably dreaming about a breezy place by the ocean where my “extended family” is taking turns making each other laugh (sometimes on purpose), our neighbors the whales are waving hello, and ice cream is on the house.