Eleven down...how many more trips to go?? I sure don't know.
Again we experienced a unique, enriching & wonderful trip. Having Ben & Jen with us for the first 2 weeks in itself made this trip extraordinary. To work beside them, see their excitement of being with the locals & the thrill of spotting animals in the wild! All priceless.
Mozambique poverty makes my heart hurt. Yet as in other poor countries, we find much joy. Joy in their everyday lives. We, of course, found joy in helping build new schools along side AHAH volunteers, playing with orphans & disabled kids, spending time with the Larsons & Iris missionaries.
South Africa has spectacular landscapes: felt covered mountains, roaring waterfalls, gorgeous flowers, rich crops & endless fabulous beaches. But we fear for it's future. Many of our Airbnb host shared much about the real South Africa...a 3rd world county with a 1st world veneer...that's cracking. The rich white own everything and the struggling blacks do the work. A black leader governs. The tension was always in the air.
Lesotho is a proud tiny country that is barely surviving & still living in the last century. Herding animals still common. They are tightly holding on to their traditions.
And Botswanan emerging as an African success story. Never had the white/black issue. Their middle class is increasing & mostly black shop in their brand new malls...or in the small vendors right in front of the malls. Several good roads with animals grazing on the side and mediums. Time spent with Em added the sprinkle on top.
The Coronavirus cut our trip 2 weeks short as news of travel bans & flight cancellation escalated. In spite of all the hype, we did not experience any precautions..no temps taken, no gloves/mask offered & no hand sanitizer available before or after flights. Not in any of the 4 airports we were in. Not even Detroit.
When we got to Canada, I put my US sim card in. A recent message from Sarah hit us like an asteroid. Jake had fallen and was in ICU. Ben (with Lysol spray bottle) picked us up, stopped & got us groceries, dropped us off at home and then he & Bekah left for Allegheny Hospital. We made the heart wrenching decision to stay home & self isolate. Did not want to take the chance of exposing Jake or his family to the virus.
Now three days later, Jake is still in ICU but improving and we're on the phone lots but still isolated.
What a strange blessing that we were on our way home when Jake fell...but can't be with him.
Life is so full of twist & turns. Our trips increase them making our lives richer, more fulfilling & exciting and open our eyes & hearts to many places & people in this increasingly shrinking world!
Sent from my iPhone
