around the world.

Greetings from the far side of the world. One filled with little tiny baby lizards, branchy cashew trees, and beautiful, colorful people. I think I could blog for hours about all my experiences in the last five days, but then that means you’d have to read for hours and I really don’t think you feel like doing that!

After my last blog post, I rushed to my gate to board on time. I got a little confused along the way, went the wrong direction, and had to take the train back. Oh Atlanta airport, thank you for being organized, but why must you be so incredibly huge?!

I made it thankfully, and jumped in line to board. I was pleasantly surprised when I did: the South Africans were friendly and sweet people! After bidding my family goodbye for the last time via phone, I went down the hallways and got on the plane. More surprise… Pretty much the whole plane was full of nice people. A stark contrast to the cold and closed people on the Seattle/Atlanta flight who obviously weren’t morning people. I gave up my window seat to a lady who wanted to sit by her family, and settled for a middle aisle seat which turned out to be perfect. One of my seat buddies graduated to first class! So, it was just Mike and me, a friendly middle-aged South African who enjoyed his alcohol on the 15 hour flight, with a seat in-between us, perfect for stashing things.

Sleeping. Movies. Journaling. Eating. Yep, pretty much my flight summed up in four words. And somewhere over the Atlantic, it hit me that I was very far from home and this was really happening.

We arrived to a freshly wet and humid Johannesburg, South Africa ahead of schedule and I eventually made it to immigration and then to claim my bag. Thank you Jesus, that was easy! I did feel a bit uneasy since I’d read and been warned by the South Africans that theft was common in the airport. I kept my camera and bags close to me as I trekked through customs and then out to meet my soon-to-be new friends, the Verlaan’s, NTM missionaries serving in South Africa. They were waiting and kindly took most of my bags from my half dead arms. Note to self:  pack a little lighter next time please?!

When we got to the car, Maria went to the driver’s side door and I was a bit surprised. Then I got in. That wasn’t the driver’s side door! That was a new experience. Driving was a bit interesting, but we made it to Checkers for some tomatoes, I learned that South Africans love their meat, and we made it home for tea and relaxation. It was a night full of yummy cheese-plus sandwiches, visits, and being awake. On my whole trip, I jumped ten time-zones, so my body was quite perplexed. I did eventually fall asleep after a refreshing shower and emailing my mama to let her know I made it safely. I slept off and on and then couldn’t stand it any longer and got up at 5:30. Let me tell you, the birds are very cheerful in the morning there!

It took some shinigling of my bags to get my carry-on down to 18 pounds. And then when I finally did get to security after gratefully telling the Verlaan’s goodbye, they didn’t even weigh it. dang-it, I could have not had to pay eight kilos worth of over-weight! Oh well, honesty is still the best policy J Being able to stay with Maria and Tony was such a blessing. They are amazing people of God with huge servants hearts. Thanks friends!

Once behind security, I played the tourist and bought some souvenirs and made it to my gate. I started to really feel the minority and out of place when I hopped on the bus that would take me to the plane. I was like a giant pink petunia amid a mass of white and black man forest, most of who spoke words I couldn’t understand. In fact, on the whole flight I think there were only about five other women, one of who was the flight attendant. There was this guy who was staring at me at first on the bus, and then we occasionally sort of made eye contact. And when I got on the plane, he was my seat buddy. AWKWARD! We both flipped through the plane magazines and said not a word to each other. I’m not even sure he spoke English. He jumped to the window seat in front of us when no one sat there. Thank goodness!

Upon descent into Nampula, Mozambique, right after the surprise of the mountains jutting from the plains, I was shocked by the houses. Mostly wooden huts and buildings with grass roofs, and just general poverty. After landing, meeting up with DJ, successfully getting my visa and having the visa guy tell Trish he wanted to marry Avery, we drove through town. More shock. Dusty paved streets. Crazy drivers. Masses of people, some of which walked scarily close to our car. Very poor looking buildings. And stares at the white people. Lots of stares.

It being the rainy season, the dirt roads were bumpier than I don’t know what. We finally made it to the SIL compound where the Morrisons live, took my stuff in, and had a Coke on the porch. I was generally in shock and awe pretty much that whole first day, some of which I can’t even remember. It was sunny, hot, and humid. ‘Todo, we are NOT in Kansas anymore!’ (or anywhere near it for that matter!) Praises to Jesus that I made it smoothly!