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Monday, January 27, 2020
Update 11
When we landed in Maputo, our ride, Goodman was waiting for us. We climbed into his air conditioned van and headed for Kruger National Park in South Africa—about a 3 hour drive. I'd worried about getting into & out of SA without a visa but in the end, both turned out to be no big deal & didn't even cost us $$!
We stayed at the Elephant Lode where the roof was made of grass, monkeys played in the yard & elephants were grazing near by. Delightful! At 5:30 a.m., our safari guide, Lynne met us & we headed into the park. Lynne is SAfrican and made her first safari at the age of 2 in 1953. Kruger was a part of her and this trip was especially sentimental as it would be her last one before moving to Scotland. She was an expert in finding the animals. Think of the Magic School Bus series with our own Mrs. Frizzle at the wheel! We spent two days & covered a lot of ground but the park seems endless as you scan the horizon. Kruger is 14 million acres & has been a park since 1926. The animals don't even blink when you get close. We watched the baboons frolicking in the trees & river, the elephants & water buffaloes wallow in the mud, the grunting hippos bob up & down while the guys drank coffee & we watched the sunrise, the zebras & giraffes hug each other, the warthog lovingly shoo her babies into her den & then back in so her husk would protect them. There were birds of unique colors some with amazing tails & I think, six types of eagles perched in "The Bush."
Really, the name says it all. Small shrubs, tall grass and a variety of trees cover most the area making it easy for the animals to find food & cover. We saw lions so clearly one minutes and the next, they had disappeared. Only the sand rivers were open areas...in dry season the animals will dig there & find water below. Rog & I did a safari in Kenya ten years ago. There the vegetation much more scarce with an occasional tree so it was much different. I'd go on another one in a heartbeat! To spot & watch animals in their natural habitat is a spectacular experience!
B & J were also awed as we bounced about in our open Jeep feel like we were as close as possible to the animals. I can't help but think of how huge some of the animals are yet they don't need houses, cars, stores etc. And besides the elephant (18,000 in the park) that kill lots of trees by eating all the bark, the animals don't cause damage to our earth. Though I must say, may places it smelt like a barn yard...especially where the rhino dug his poop hole & his females made a circle of poop around it!
Picture that & imagine the smell!!
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We stayed at the Elephant Lode where the roof was made of grass, monkeys played in the yard & elephants were grazing near by. Delightful! At 5:30 a.m., our safari guide, Lynne met us & we headed into the park. Lynne is SAfrican and made her first safari at the age of 2 in 1953. Kruger was a part of her and this trip was especially sentimental as it would be her last one before moving to Scotland. She was an expert in finding the animals. Think of the Magic School Bus series with our own Mrs. Frizzle at the wheel! We spent two days & covered a lot of ground but the park seems endless as you scan the horizon. Kruger is 14 million acres & has been a park since 1926. The animals don't even blink when you get close. We watched the baboons frolicking in the trees & river, the elephants & water buffaloes wallow in the mud, the grunting hippos bob up & down while the guys drank coffee & we watched the sunrise, the zebras & giraffes hug each other, the warthog lovingly shoo her babies into her den & then back in so her husk would protect them. There were birds of unique colors some with amazing tails & I think, six types of eagles perched in "The Bush."
Really, the name says it all. Small shrubs, tall grass and a variety of trees cover most the area making it easy for the animals to find food & cover. We saw lions so clearly one minutes and the next, they had disappeared. Only the sand rivers were open areas...in dry season the animals will dig there & find water below. Rog & I did a safari in Kenya ten years ago. There the vegetation much more scarce with an occasional tree so it was much different. I'd go on another one in a heartbeat! To spot & watch animals in their natural habitat is a spectacular experience!
B & J were also awed as we bounced about in our open Jeep feel like we were as close as possible to the animals. I can't help but think of how huge some of the animals are yet they don't need houses, cars, stores etc. And besides the elephant (18,000 in the park) that kill lots of trees by eating all the bark, the animals don't cause damage to our earth. Though I must say, may places it smelt like a barn yard...especially where the rhino dug his poop hole & his females made a circle of poop around it!
Picture that & imagine the smell!!
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Update 9
My birthday! The 11th year in 11 different countries. I got lots of attention: balloons, signs, chocolate wafer cookies, white chocolate bar and Coke Zero! It was an aha moment when I realized I was the oldest person on base. At the work site, Ben took my shovel away & I got the easier jobs working under shade. I cut rubber inter tubes (actually made in USA) so they could line the wood post. So Ben did a lot of shoving, Rog continued to pound on strappings and Jen got to help finish up the temporary school and put the desk back in it. The kids hanging around were encouraged to come sit in them. An unforgettable moment!
At the evening meeting, since we'd all posted the fund raising page Ben helped design and we raised over $1000 dollars for AHAH—we were awarded a AHAH sweatshirt. Jen had so wanted it and was thrilled when she got it! She quickly put it on (in spite of the 90+ temp) as every cheered. She was over the moon excited! It was our last meeting, so we were asked to speak. Rog talked about how he loved being around such good people doing good work. Ben talked about how impressed he was with AHAH & all the volunteers. Jen & I mostly cried.
Last meeting note was to sing Happy Birthday to me.
After the meeting, we jumped in the van & went into town to play basketball with the locals. B & J played while R & I cheered. An intense game! When we got back, they had a birthday cake...well some banana muffin like balls...waiting & sang another round of Happy Birthday. Then I headed to my mosquito netted bunk bed to read my Facebook birthday wishes.
Now how's that for a birthday!
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At the evening meeting, since we'd all posted the fund raising page Ben helped design and we raised over $1000 dollars for AHAH—we were awarded a AHAH sweatshirt. Jen had so wanted it and was thrilled when she got it! She quickly put it on (in spite of the 90+ temp) as every cheered. She was over the moon excited! It was our last meeting, so we were asked to speak. Rog talked about how he loved being around such good people doing good work. Ben talked about how impressed he was with AHAH & all the volunteers. Jen & I mostly cried.
Last meeting note was to sing Happy Birthday to me.
After the meeting, we jumped in the van & went into town to play basketball with the locals. B & J played while R & I cheered. An intense game! When we got back, they had a birthday cake...well some banana muffin like balls...waiting & sang another round of Happy Birthday. Then I headed to my mosquito netted bunk bed to read my Facebook birthday wishes.
Now how's that for a birthday!
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Update 8
Last night, B & J popped corn to celebrate my upcoming birthday which every one devoured as crazy Scott ran a Trivia Competition. He's so full of fun! Yesterday he declared it was Nat'l Hug Day & stood by the dinner line with a sign describing a variety of hugs and requiring everyone to oblige.
Ben helped the staff develop a fund raiser so Tiana helped me set that up and AHAH Mozambique will benefit. Donations are already coming in so thanks to our great supporters!! Staff here is fabulous. Emille (from Traverse City) answers all our questions before & after arrival & made our transportation arrangements. She also keeps base clean along with a few alternating volunteers. Jonny, head director, stays so calm & is so friendly. Cat, Jazz, Monique and our old friend from Philippines, Ryan are project leaders. They are so knowledgeable & encouraging all the while they keep about 15 volunteers & around 8 hired locals working. And Tiana—truly the energizer bunny who offers evening entertainment as well as Portuguese lessons. Tonight many are playing Portuguese bingo. It's kinda like being at camp...a work camp.
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Ben helped the staff develop a fund raiser so Tiana helped me set that up and AHAH Mozambique will benefit. Donations are already coming in so thanks to our great supporters!! Staff here is fabulous. Emille (from Traverse City) answers all our questions before & after arrival & made our transportation arrangements. She also keeps base clean along with a few alternating volunteers. Jonny, head director, stays so calm & is so friendly. Cat, Jazz, Monique and our old friend from Philippines, Ryan are project leaders. They are so knowledgeable & encouraging all the while they keep about 15 volunteers & around 8 hired locals working. And Tiana—truly the energizer bunny who offers evening entertainment as well as Portuguese lessons. Tonight many are playing Portuguese bingo. It's kinda like being at camp...a work camp.
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Update 10
Packed up this a.m. leaving behind things we'd not need once we leave here which meant we could leave behind one empty suitcase. We completed our exit questionnaires & gave a list of all who'd donated to our fund raising page so each would have their name put on a brick. (So thankful to them!!). Then we stood by the door along with 6 others who were also leaving today and got hugs from everyone as they left for the work sites. It's strange how 9 days of living, working & sleeping so closely together ...in such heat...can form such bonds. Yup, there were lots of tears!
So 10 of us loaded into the van & headed for the airport where we feasted on cheese sandwiches & potato chips...and more chips (aka French fries—misunderstanding) and COLD Coke Zero & beer. So refreshing!!
As we sat waiting for our flight, we realized that not once had we heard anyone be cross to anyone. Actually we didn't see any kids fighting or getting yelled at either.
Like so many times on these trips, my heart feels happy & my life's attitude has been adjusted.
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So 10 of us loaded into the van & headed for the airport where we feasted on cheese sandwiches & potato chips...and more chips (aka French fries—misunderstanding) and COLD Coke Zero & beer. So refreshing!!
As we sat waiting for our flight, we realized that not once had we heard anyone be cross to anyone. Actually we didn't see any kids fighting or getting yelled at either.
Like so many times on these trips, my heart feels happy & my life's attitude has been adjusted.
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Update 13
Animals we spotted on our safari:
Zebra
Impala
Owl
Eagles*
Wildebeest
Elephant
Hyaena
Giraffe
Hippo
Heron*
Monkey
Baboon
Water buffalo
Stork
Warthog
Kudu
Lion
Bird*
*variety of species
Most we saw many times & in large groups.
And I'm sure I forgot a couple....
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Zebra
Impala
Owl
Eagles*
Wildebeest
Elephant
Hyaena
Giraffe
Hippo
Heron*
Monkey
Baboon
Water buffalo
Stork
Warthog
Kudu
Lion
Bird*
*variety of species
Most we saw many times & in large groups.
And I'm sure I forgot a couple....
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Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Update 7
I've lost count of days. They are so full and overflow into the next day quickly. I think I left off on Sunday..our day off. We all slept in a bit then R & B went to the nearby village and picked up eggs & bread for our breakfast. Rain clouds burst open and didn't quit for most the day. Lightening forced us to hole up inside a room where 5-6 of us worked on a puzzle, some played Jenga & others read. No electricity made all of that a bit tough but we had solar lights...and each other. When the lightening finally stopped...the games did not. Scrabble, Yahtzee, Farkle & cards were added. Even played Brazilian Uno—a game that went on for a very loooong time!
Monday was back to work...in the mud. We did pretty much the same as last week only it was cooler thanks to the light rain on and off all day. Tuesday & Wed, I went to the site Rog has been working at. That site is in the center of a small community and I worked near the water pump so there was lots of activity. I loved the opportunity to play with the kids a copy cat game, practice counting in English and admiring the toys they showed me: a motorcycle & rider made out of clay, a boat made of a watermelon shell, a pull toy with squished pop cans for wheels & tic tac toe using can lids. The kids laughed so freely as they played in the mud puddles. Several came up wanting to dance...so I did...during breaks. Rog has been building a temporary building to use as the school until the real one is done. He splits the bamboo...makes him feel real African...and I & another volunteer nail it up to make the walls. Ben continues to be on the roof doing our kings & scrapings. Jen worked on sanding & painting the desk. Thursday we did a switch so B & J went to Site 2. Ben was still on the roof and Jen took over splitting & nailing up bamboo. Rog was up on the roof while I got stuck shoveling gravel into a wheelbarrow & dumping it into the huge pot holes our van keeps getting suck in. Eric, a character from Washington state, says we should collect toll $$ now. (Only paved road around here was built by the Chinese & they collect a toll.)
I finally suggested that when the next truck comes in, after we unload the bricks, we fill it with gravel & then have a few throw it off the back as they drive down the road. It worked!!
Was so happy to not have to fill anymore wheelbarrows! We do sleep well...8 or so to a room...to the sound of frogs, crickets & a few snorers. I wear a snore strip to keep mine to a minimum. Rog wears duct tape!
Who knew that'd work??
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Monday was back to work...in the mud. We did pretty much the same as last week only it was cooler thanks to the light rain on and off all day. Tuesday & Wed, I went to the site Rog has been working at. That site is in the center of a small community and I worked near the water pump so there was lots of activity. I loved the opportunity to play with the kids a copy cat game, practice counting in English and admiring the toys they showed me: a motorcycle & rider made out of clay, a boat made of a watermelon shell, a pull toy with squished pop cans for wheels & tic tac toe using can lids. The kids laughed so freely as they played in the mud puddles. Several came up wanting to dance...so I did...during breaks. Rog has been building a temporary building to use as the school until the real one is done. He splits the bamboo...makes him feel real African...and I & another volunteer nail it up to make the walls. Ben continues to be on the roof doing our kings & scrapings. Jen worked on sanding & painting the desk. Thursday we did a switch so B & J went to Site 2. Ben was still on the roof and Jen took over splitting & nailing up bamboo. Rog was up on the roof while I got stuck shoveling gravel into a wheelbarrow & dumping it into the huge pot holes our van keeps getting suck in. Eric, a character from Washington state, says we should collect toll $$ now. (Only paved road around here was built by the Chinese & they collect a toll.)
I finally suggested that when the next truck comes in, after we unload the bricks, we fill it with gravel & then have a few throw it off the back as they drive down the road. It worked!!
Was so happy to not have to fill anymore wheelbarrows! We do sleep well...8 or so to a room...to the sound of frogs, crickets & a few snorers. I wear a snore strip to keep mine to a minimum. Rog wears duct tape!
Who knew that'd work??
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Sunday, January 19, 2020
Update 6
Day 4
Up at 5 am as usual & in van around 6. Rog was assigned housekeeping & the rest of us to Site 1. B & J worked as a team leveling purloins with Jen in a harness straddling the roof boards. I worked on a team shoveling, raking & leveling the foundation. Luckily, I was mostly the leveler. At noon, those who wanted left to go shop in Nhamatanda. Ben was happy to stay to prove he could work a full day! I stayed too. Ben spent the whole afternoon on the roof harnessed & nailing on strappings in the 95 degree humid & sunny weather. I was cutting the strapping & had set up my operation in the shade. Around 3, the clouds rushed in & we quickly gather tools but not before we got soaked & covered with mud. I think you could hear the SSSSSsss as the rain cooled down our heated bodies. Felt so good. Back to base, showered and drank another cold Coke.
Rog & Jen got back from their shopping spree with fresh fruit, pasta, beans & eggs for tomorrow's meal as Sunday is a day of & everyone has to fend for themselves. Jen also found some gorgeous fabric—2 yards for $3.
After dinner, we headed to the tiny town, Lamego which is only blocks away. Kids now recognize us & shout Ole as we navigate the mud puddles. The thumb war boys find us quickly for a few games. Jen spotted a tailor sitting at his treadle Singer sewing machine on his porch. She showed him a picture of what she wanted, he took her measurements & she left smiling with her fingers crossed.
We went to the bar which was crowded with locals watching a soccer game with much enthusiasm. We went up to the 2nd floor where we had a view & a breeze. Several of our little buddies spotted us and started dancing & doing somersaults for us. We provided entertainment for each other!
Back at base, B & J got to FaceTime with their kids & I got to with Jake's & Bek's. A real treat!! Euchre, just chatting with others & enjoying the Brazilian dance party filled the evening. It's so fascinating & interesting to talk to people from other countries. On base currently there's people from Spain, Germany, England, Australia, Columbia, Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique and about 10 US states.
Favorite conversations:
Portuguese: We founded you guys! It interesting watching how that discovery is working out.
UK: Love watching the reality show: USA
To which we replied, what about the reality show your royalty provide us. To which they said: remember you guys hated the royalty not too long ago.
And a Japanese guy whose family joined the mass exit to Brazil in the 40's said everywhere will eventually look similar to Brazil where's there's such a huge variation of facial features due to so many different nationalities making babies together. Brazilians pay the most for passports cause of that.
As Mark Twain said years ago, traveling enriches the mind and minimizes prejudices.
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Up at 5 am as usual & in van around 6. Rog was assigned housekeeping & the rest of us to Site 1. B & J worked as a team leveling purloins with Jen in a harness straddling the roof boards. I worked on a team shoveling, raking & leveling the foundation. Luckily, I was mostly the leveler. At noon, those who wanted left to go shop in Nhamatanda. Ben was happy to stay to prove he could work a full day! I stayed too. Ben spent the whole afternoon on the roof harnessed & nailing on strappings in the 95 degree humid & sunny weather. I was cutting the strapping & had set up my operation in the shade. Around 3, the clouds rushed in & we quickly gather tools but not before we got soaked & covered with mud. I think you could hear the SSSSSsss as the rain cooled down our heated bodies. Felt so good. Back to base, showered and drank another cold Coke.
Rog & Jen got back from their shopping spree with fresh fruit, pasta, beans & eggs for tomorrow's meal as Sunday is a day of & everyone has to fend for themselves. Jen also found some gorgeous fabric—2 yards for $3.
After dinner, we headed to the tiny town, Lamego which is only blocks away. Kids now recognize us & shout Ole as we navigate the mud puddles. The thumb war boys find us quickly for a few games. Jen spotted a tailor sitting at his treadle Singer sewing machine on his porch. She showed him a picture of what she wanted, he took her measurements & she left smiling with her fingers crossed.
We went to the bar which was crowded with locals watching a soccer game with much enthusiasm. We went up to the 2nd floor where we had a view & a breeze. Several of our little buddies spotted us and started dancing & doing somersaults for us. We provided entertainment for each other!
Back at base, B & J got to FaceTime with their kids & I got to with Jake's & Bek's. A real treat!! Euchre, just chatting with others & enjoying the Brazilian dance party filled the evening. It's so fascinating & interesting to talk to people from other countries. On base currently there's people from Spain, Germany, England, Australia, Columbia, Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique and about 10 US states.
Favorite conversations:
Portuguese: We founded you guys! It interesting watching how that discovery is working out.
UK: Love watching the reality show: USA
To which we replied, what about the reality show your royalty provide us. To which they said: remember you guys hated the royalty not too long ago.
And a Japanese guy whose family joined the mass exit to Brazil in the 40's said everywhere will eventually look similar to Brazil where's there's such a huge variation of facial features due to so many different nationalities making babies together. Brazilians pay the most for passports cause of that.
As Mark Twain said years ago, traveling enriches the mind and minimizes prejudices.
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Update 4
Day 2: Ben woke up with a heart shaped blister about the size of a quarter. So he got a free visit to the local hospital!! Here's his description: The waiting room was outside with rows of old chairs next to a building 5 ft off it's slab & right in front was an old truck on blocks with all the wheels gone. Inside flimsy beds with visible dirt on them and broken tiles. The doctors were in clean white coats. The Chief Dr examined Ben and the diagnosis: peed on by a beetle. Orlundu tried to translate it that to Ben :). Now that's a story to tell...and exaggerate!!
He spent the afternoon working on and completing the base fix it projects.
Jen had housekeeping duties in the AM and taught English to locals in the PM. Jen described it like this: We worked on introductions and did lots of vocab building using picture cards. They spent much time trying to teach the difference between okay, good & great...cause they always just say "fine." There were about 25 pupils mostly young kids...6 yrs and up. About 5 adults too. It was really fun!
Roger went to Site 1 & Jane went to Site 2. It was HOT and humid! Probably in the 90s. For Jane, shoveling & raking and being the Goffer. I was too tired when I got back to ask Rog what he'd worked on.
After the nightly meeting & supper, most of the 25 volunteers walked to the local bar & got a cold drink. We took the plastic chairs outside & sat in a circle enjoying the friendly conversation and the shade of a tree! When my Coke —no Diet Coke :( —was gone, I walked over to where the kids had gathered to watch the "foreigners." I took a big boys hands to form a bridge & London Bridges was soon in full swing. Then we play Blue Bird & Ring Around the Rosie. The kids either knew the games or caught on quickly. Yesterday I'd taught a few boys to play thumb war & they found me and wanted to play with me...then Ben...then Rog. These are the experiences that make me keep traveling year after year!
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He spent the afternoon working on and completing the base fix it projects.
Jen had housekeeping duties in the AM and taught English to locals in the PM. Jen described it like this: We worked on introductions and did lots of vocab building using picture cards. They spent much time trying to teach the difference between okay, good & great...cause they always just say "fine." There were about 25 pupils mostly young kids...6 yrs and up. About 5 adults too. It was really fun!
Roger went to Site 1 & Jane went to Site 2. It was HOT and humid! Probably in the 90s. For Jane, shoveling & raking and being the Goffer. I was too tired when I got back to ask Rog what he'd worked on.
After the nightly meeting & supper, most of the 25 volunteers walked to the local bar & got a cold drink. We took the plastic chairs outside & sat in a circle enjoying the friendly conversation and the shade of a tree! When my Coke —no Diet Coke :( —was gone, I walked over to where the kids had gathered to watch the "foreigners." I took a big boys hands to form a bridge & London Bridges was soon in full swing. Then we play Blue Bird & Ring Around the Rosie. The kids either knew the games or caught on quickly. Yesterday I'd taught a few boys to play thumb war & they found me and wanted to play with me...then Ben...then Rog. These are the experiences that make me keep traveling year after year!
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Update 5
Day 3
Ben & I were on housekeeping duties which we knocked out in two hours, then we got to ride to the dump! We stopped & got a COLD 1 lt Coke and headed for Site 1 where Jen was. We did save some of the Coke for her. We picked up the shoveling & raking project for about 30 minutes and then the rain cloud burst. We took shelter & played Farkle till Cat, our site leader called it quits. We ran around in the blowing downpour locking up all the tools & dripping wet, we climbed into the van and headed by to base & with more rain in the forecast & all base jobs done, we had the afternoon off. Ben is getting accused of jinxing getting a full day of work in! He did spend much of the afternoon "working" in the office helping to create a brick fund raising option. I worked on catching up on writing, Jen read & worked on a puzzle. Roger was at Site 2 which had just a sprinkle so he worked all day mostly sawing. It's an hour away so didn't make sense to send us there. Believe it or not, the rest of us wish we were working on Site 2!
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Ben & I were on housekeeping duties which we knocked out in two hours, then we got to ride to the dump! We stopped & got a COLD 1 lt Coke and headed for Site 1 where Jen was. We did save some of the Coke for her. We picked up the shoveling & raking project for about 30 minutes and then the rain cloud burst. We took shelter & played Farkle till Cat, our site leader called it quits. We ran around in the blowing downpour locking up all the tools & dripping wet, we climbed into the van and headed by to base & with more rain in the forecast & all base jobs done, we had the afternoon off. Ben is getting accused of jinxing getting a full day of work in! He did spend much of the afternoon "working" in the office helping to create a brick fund raising option. I worked on catching up on writing, Jen read & worked on a puzzle. Roger was at Site 2 which had just a sprinkle so he worked all day mostly sawing. It's an hour away so didn't make sense to send us there. Believe it or not, the rest of us wish we were working on Site 2!
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Friday, January 17, 2020
Re: Update 2
Wow! What a long trip to get there, but you made it! Love your 2 stories thus far. I'm glad you're working with AHAH. Sending love & prayers from WOW & me.
Jean
On Fri, Jan 17, 2020 at 7:38 AM Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com> wrote:
We had our fingers crossed when we arrived as we had not gotten our Mozambique Visa before we left. Long story just suffice it to say...it was too confusing due to contradicting info. AHAH said, just get it at the airport. Visions of us getting all the way there and not getting a Visa kept drifting in and out as I sat on the airplane. But after waiting for about an hour outside the immigration office, we got them!! And luckily, our AHAH ride was still waiting for us. It took us just about an hour to get to the AHAH base!! Successsss!
In so many ways I can say I've been here before: kids milling around everywhere; Mamas carrying babies on their backs while balancing old miscellaneous jugs of water on their heads; tarps covering so many homes or what we'd call shacks built of bamboo, mud and some cement; the Chinese built highway lined with make-shift shores & all side roads muddy & chuck-holed, bicycles over loaded with people & carrying piles of you name it, mass of pedestrians & a variety of old & new vehicles...all fighting for a slice of the road. Rich green plants quickly recovering, blue sky with a huge rain front in the distance and even a rainbow! Most everywhere I look, a stark reminder that much of the world doesn't live like me.
Cyclone Idai in March 2019 wrecked havoc to Beira & the surrounding area. As AHAH usually does, their base is in the small town of Nhamatanda where they are building two schools but also becoming a friend to the locals. Small towns don't get the attention but suffer the losses usually even more.
After settling in to our assigned bunks & taking a quick cold shower, we crashed.
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Update 3
Day 1 on base: fixed our own breakfast, did assigned cleaning and than had an orientation which included a walk through Nhamatanda. With a line of kids following us, we located the bakery (mud oven/rolls only), the hardware & grocery stores (6'x4' room with limited selection), several bars and my favorite: the movie theater (4 post covered with tarps with a TV blaring an action movie with about 15 kids sitting on 4' logs.
We also got some background information from a local man hired by AHAH, Orlundu: Two tribes live in this area and are separated by the highway. Locals still prefer witch doctors to certified doctors. Witch doctors use lots of herbs & potions and are identified when babies. Babies are also identified as being witches who can do harm to others. Only ancestors can keep witches from causing you harm. At age 9, boys are expected to have jobs & girls begin to learn "wifely" duties. Boys go to school till 18 and then marry...usually prearranged & sometimes even before they are born. Girls marry at 13–that's not a typo—and live with their in-laws for 6 months to prove they're capable of taking care of their husbands. Most have 4+ kids. Farming & fishing are the most common income. Only a handful of factories here.
Orlundu was proud to say that Mozambicans are happy and positive people. They just accept difficulties like cyclones saying you just have to pick up the pieces and move on.
The AHAH staff went over basics also. As always, I'm impressed with the base rules that allow things to run like a well oiled machine. But mostly, AHAH motto to go early, stay late and strengthen both the community and the volunteers. They do that so well. And AHAH has earned a 4* on Charity Navigator for 6 yrs achieving a perfect 100%. I'm so proud and humble to be a volunteer for five projects now.
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We also got some background information from a local man hired by AHAH, Orlundu: Two tribes live in this area and are separated by the highway. Locals still prefer witch doctors to certified doctors. Witch doctors use lots of herbs & potions and are identified when babies. Babies are also identified as being witches who can do harm to others. Only ancestors can keep witches from causing you harm. At age 9, boys are expected to have jobs & girls begin to learn "wifely" duties. Boys go to school till 18 and then marry...usually prearranged & sometimes even before they are born. Girls marry at 13–that's not a typo—and live with their in-laws for 6 months to prove they're capable of taking care of their husbands. Most have 4+ kids. Farming & fishing are the most common income. Only a handful of factories here.
Orlundu was proud to say that Mozambicans are happy and positive people. They just accept difficulties like cyclones saying you just have to pick up the pieces and move on.
The AHAH staff went over basics also. As always, I'm impressed with the base rules that allow things to run like a well oiled machine. But mostly, AHAH motto to go early, stay late and strengthen both the community and the volunteers. They do that so well. And AHAH has earned a 4* on Charity Navigator for 6 yrs achieving a perfect 100%. I'm so proud and humble to be a volunteer for five projects now.
Sent from my iPhone
Re: Update 2
Did you get RT tickets?
On Jan 17, 2020, at 6:38 AM, Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com> wrote:
We had our fingers crossed when we arrived as we had not gotten our Mozambique Visa before we left. Long story just suffice it to say...it was too confusing due to contradicting info. AHAH said, just get it at the airport. Visions of us getting all the way there and not getting a Visa kept drifting in and out as I sat on the airplane. But after waiting for about an hour outside the immigration office, we got them!! And luckily, our AHAH ride was still waiting for us. It took us just about an hour to get to the AHAH base!! Successsss!
In so many ways I can say I've been here before: kids milling around everywhere; Mamas carrying babies on their backs while balancing old miscellaneous jugs of water on their heads; tarps covering so many homes or what we'd call shacks built of bamboo, mud and some cement; the Chinese built highway lined with make-shift shores & all side roads muddy & chuck-holed, bicycles over loaded with people & carrying piles of you name it, mass of pedestrians & a variety of old & new vehicles...all fighting for a slice of the road. Rich green plants quickly recovering, blue sky with a huge rain front in the distance and even a rainbow! Most everywhere I look, a stark reminder that much of the world doesn't live like me.
Cyclone Idai in March 2019 wrecked havoc to Beira & the surrounding area. As AHAH usually does, their base is in the small town of Nhamatanda where they are building two schools but also becoming a friend to the locals. Small towns don't get the attention but suffer the losses usually even more.
After settling in to our assigned bunks & taking a quick cold shower, we crashed.
Sent from my iPhone
Update 2
We had our fingers crossed when we arrived as we had not gotten our Mozambique Visa before we left. Long story just suffice it to say...it was too confusing due to contradicting info. AHAH said, just get it at the airport. Visions of us getting all the way there and not getting a Visa kept drifting in and out as I sat on the airplane. But after waiting for about an hour outside the immigration office, we got them!! And luckily, our AHAH ride was still waiting for us. It took us just about an hour to get to the AHAH base!! Successsss!
In so many ways I can say I've been here before: kids milling around everywhere; Mamas carrying babies on their backs while balancing old miscellaneous jugs of water on their heads; tarps covering so many homes or what we'd call shacks built of bamboo, mud and some cement; the Chinese built highway lined with make-shift shores & all side roads muddy & chuck-holed, bicycles over loaded with people & carrying piles of you name it, mass of pedestrians & a variety of old & new vehicles...all fighting for a slice of the road. Rich green plants quickly recovering, blue sky with a huge rain front in the distance and even a rainbow! Most everywhere I look, a stark reminder that much of the world doesn't live like me.
Cyclone Idai in March 2019 wrecked havoc to Beira & the surrounding area. As AHAH usually does, their base is in the small town of Nhamatanda where they are building two schools but also becoming a friend to the locals. Small towns don't get the attention but suffer the losses usually even more.
After settling in to our assigned bunks & taking a quick cold shower, we crashed.
Sent from my iPhone
In so many ways I can say I've been here before: kids milling around everywhere; Mamas carrying babies on their backs while balancing old miscellaneous jugs of water on their heads; tarps covering so many homes or what we'd call shacks built of bamboo, mud and some cement; the Chinese built highway lined with make-shift shores & all side roads muddy & chuck-holed, bicycles over loaded with people & carrying piles of you name it, mass of pedestrians & a variety of old & new vehicles...all fighting for a slice of the road. Rich green plants quickly recovering, blue sky with a huge rain front in the distance and even a rainbow! Most everywhere I look, a stark reminder that much of the world doesn't live like me.
Cyclone Idai in March 2019 wrecked havoc to Beira & the surrounding area. As AHAH usually does, their base is in the small town of Nhamatanda where they are building two schools but also becoming a friend to the locals. Small towns don't get the attention but suffer the losses usually even more.
After settling in to our assigned bunks & taking a quick cold shower, we crashed.
Sent from my iPhone
Update 1
We're sitting in the Ethiopian airport on a lay over and watching a fashion show of cultural clothing worn by every shade of skin and overhearing a horde of languages all the while engulfed by potent smells of all types. We ain't in Dexter any more! This is what makes our trips so fascinating!
Yesterday we took off from home headed for Mozambique along with Ben & Jen! We are so thrilled to share this love of traveling and experiencing other countries & cultures with them...and finding a way to help in some small way. When B & J told us they wanted to go with us, we asked 2 questions—how far & what type of work. They said as far as possible to somewhere they'd never go and do rebuilding. A few days later, we hear All Hands & Hearts (AHAH) was opening a base in Mozambique due to the damage last spring caused by Cyclone Idai. I also recently had heard from a contact I'd made last year (explain later). So as usual, we knocked and God pointed the way.
We left January 13 after celebrating 4 times and my birthday that week and hosing Lynn & Laura. B & J had lots of coordinating to do so their 3 kids' bases were covered.
We'd boarded in Detroit at 6 am, 3 hrs to Wash DC, then 12 hrs to Ethiopia. Another 6 hours to Beira, Mozambique and we'll be there! Ready or not, here we come!!
PS Remember: I don't edit my updates...I'm writing them as a journal for me and don't want to waste my travel time editing.
Yesterday we took off from home headed for Mozambique along with Ben & Jen! We are so thrilled to share this love of traveling and experiencing other countries & cultures with them...and finding a way to help in some small way. When B & J told us they wanted to go with us, we asked 2 questions—how far & what type of work. They said as far as possible to somewhere they'd never go and do rebuilding. A few days later, we hear All Hands & Hearts (AHAH) was opening a base in Mozambique due to the damage last spring caused by Cyclone Idai. I also recently had heard from a contact I'd made last year (explain later). So as usual, we knocked and God pointed the way.
We left January 13 after celebrating 4 times and my birthday that week and hosing Lynn & Laura. B & J had lots of coordinating to do so their 3 kids' bases were covered.
We'd boarded in Detroit at 6 am, 3 hrs to Wash DC, then 12 hrs to Ethiopia. Another 6 hours to Beira, Mozambique and we'll be there! Ready or not, here we come!!
PS Remember: I don't edit my updates...I'm writing them as a journal for me and don't want to waste my travel time editing.
Monday, December 30, 2019
Checking
We're headed out to Mozambique, South Africa & Botswana on January 13....so here's your chance to ask me to eliminate your name from my emails...believe me I won't be offended!! I write my updates so I have them...without editing and just putting down our experiences & my thoughts...so just let me know if you'd rather not be on my list!
Hope you have a good winter, stay healthy and we'll be back March 28!
Jane
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Final Thoughts
I had really wondered if staying 2 months in a city of 20 million was going to be too long and feel too crowded. Nope. It actually felt like home...as long as I didn't let myself dwell on missing my family. It helped a lot that we could talk to them often via Messenger. Especially when the grandkids were calling and messaging us!
Being with the refugees & the Refuge Egypt staff, I constantly felt needed, useful and appreciated. Each morning I had the privilege to walk into the courtyard and mingle with the refugees sitting there waiting. Just to offer them a smile & the kids a balloon felt so good.
The variety of "jobs" we did kept us busy and gave us the opportunity to be involved with many different RE staff members and see how much RE does for the refugees. It also made us realize just how many difficult obstacles the refugees face. My heart aches for them. To be able to help was our honor. To have our home church send donations through us was humbling. To know those donations will allow food bags to be distributed for 2 more months is so rewarding.
We had to remind each other to leave RE every so often and see the sights! We actually never ran out of remarkable things to see and do.
Our accommodations in Cairo were great, a wide variety of ethnic food was readily available, transportation was easy and prices were relatively cheap...less than 50% US cost.
Being able to soak up Athens & the Holy Land were tremendous bonuses!! How inspiring & sacred to be where Jesus was!!
Of course, I would have liked warmer weather & a beach close by. There were a few Airbnb's I'll drop from my memory. And there were a few scares: Cairo train station fire just a half hour after we'd left there, two Gaza bombs hitting Tel Aviv two days before we got there and we couldn't tour the Dome of the Rock due to heavy protesting.
Traveling to us is adventurous, enlightening, enriching, rewarding and we love doing it together! But we're always really ready & happy to go home!!
Sent from my iPhone
Being with the refugees & the Refuge Egypt staff, I constantly felt needed, useful and appreciated. Each morning I had the privilege to walk into the courtyard and mingle with the refugees sitting there waiting. Just to offer them a smile & the kids a balloon felt so good.
The variety of "jobs" we did kept us busy and gave us the opportunity to be involved with many different RE staff members and see how much RE does for the refugees. It also made us realize just how many difficult obstacles the refugees face. My heart aches for them. To be able to help was our honor. To have our home church send donations through us was humbling. To know those donations will allow food bags to be distributed for 2 more months is so rewarding.
We had to remind each other to leave RE every so often and see the sights! We actually never ran out of remarkable things to see and do.
Our accommodations in Cairo were great, a wide variety of ethnic food was readily available, transportation was easy and prices were relatively cheap...less than 50% US cost.
Being able to soak up Athens & the Holy Land were tremendous bonuses!! How inspiring & sacred to be where Jesus was!!
Of course, I would have liked warmer weather & a beach close by. There were a few Airbnb's I'll drop from my memory. And there were a few scares: Cairo train station fire just a half hour after we'd left there, two Gaza bombs hitting Tel Aviv two days before we got there and we couldn't tour the Dome of the Rock due to heavy protesting.
Traveling to us is adventurous, enlightening, enriching, rewarding and we love doing it together! But we're always really ready & happy to go home!!
Sent from my iPhone
Update 71 by Roger
A few days before leaving Cairo we were the featured speakers at a special meeting. After driving around back alleys in the dark for what seemed like an hour, our driver once again stopped the car. Calling out to a random person beside the road, "Where is the meeting?" , he asked.
We had already stopped and asked this question about ten times and we were starting to wonder if this meeting was ever going to happen.
Francine had asked us to speak to the parents of the school where we had visited classrooms in this mostly Sudanese area of Cairo. Student behavior was to be our topic.
We finally arrived and were quickly led up several flights of a dark stairway to meet the parents. They (mostly men) were seated and patiently waiting when we entered but immediately smiled and reached out to shake our hands to welcome us. Their hopes were high.
The strains of being a refugee here are multiplied when you have a wife and children whose lives have also been uprooted and then placed here where everything is different and difficult. These parents hoped that we would be able to help them fix their broken families.
First the teenage choir joined us and sang two songs...their harmonizing was beautiful and their voices were strong. We could almost imagine them singing in their home village.
Now it was time for the parents and kids to listen to us. We told them that students are usually better behaved if do better in school. To do better in school they should get enough sleep, eat meals with their families, feel loved by their parents and parents should have high expectations for them. We also suggested that the parents work together as a support group to encourage each other in raising their children.
Every dad there had a question or two for us and each began by first thanking us for coming and offering our time and thoughts to help them. This was very humbling as they had been up very early and worked twelve hours, then they came to this meeting and waited for another hour or more to hear from us.
The questions they asked made us aware of the difficulties they face....
"I work twelve hours each day and get home at 8 PM. How can I make sure that my child is not getting high on drugs or having sex when I am not at home?"
"How can I control my child when they misbehave? My parents beat me when I was bad but it is not OK for me to beat my child here in Egypt."
"When I tell my son that he cannot use his phone to view porn or play violent video games he tells me that he will just leave home and do what he wants to do."
"My son wants what his friends have but I can't afford it."
"Should I let my daughter spend the night at her friend's house?"
It seemed that every parent there was struggling to find answers.
We learned from them that the community support network that once held their families together does not exist here. Children are out of control. Even many wives have given up as each refugee tries to make their way in this land that is foreign to them. Racism was not directly mentioned but we know it exists here and many are abused or mistreated because of the color of their skin...another huge obstacle.
How many trials must they endure?
They spoke glowingly of the beauty of their homes in Sudan, but sadly say it is too dangerous for them to return.
We left feeling that we were the ones who learned from the them.
Our hope is that they will continue to meet and support each other to set guidelines and standards of behavior that will serve their families well and keep them safe as they continue their search for a new life.
Sent from my iPad
We had already stopped and asked this question about ten times and we were starting to wonder if this meeting was ever going to happen.
Francine had asked us to speak to the parents of the school where we had visited classrooms in this mostly Sudanese area of Cairo. Student behavior was to be our topic.
We finally arrived and were quickly led up several flights of a dark stairway to meet the parents. They (mostly men) were seated and patiently waiting when we entered but immediately smiled and reached out to shake our hands to welcome us. Their hopes were high.
The strains of being a refugee here are multiplied when you have a wife and children whose lives have also been uprooted and then placed here where everything is different and difficult. These parents hoped that we would be able to help them fix their broken families.
First the teenage choir joined us and sang two songs...their harmonizing was beautiful and their voices were strong. We could almost imagine them singing in their home village.
Now it was time for the parents and kids to listen to us. We told them that students are usually better behaved if do better in school. To do better in school they should get enough sleep, eat meals with their families, feel loved by their parents and parents should have high expectations for them. We also suggested that the parents work together as a support group to encourage each other in raising their children.
Every dad there had a question or two for us and each began by first thanking us for coming and offering our time and thoughts to help them. This was very humbling as they had been up very early and worked twelve hours, then they came to this meeting and waited for another hour or more to hear from us.
The questions they asked made us aware of the difficulties they face....
"I work twelve hours each day and get home at 8 PM. How can I make sure that my child is not getting high on drugs or having sex when I am not at home?"
"How can I control my child when they misbehave? My parents beat me when I was bad but it is not OK for me to beat my child here in Egypt."
"When I tell my son that he cannot use his phone to view porn or play violent video games he tells me that he will just leave home and do what he wants to do."
"My son wants what his friends have but I can't afford it."
"Should I let my daughter spend the night at her friend's house?"
It seemed that every parent there was struggling to find answers.
We learned from them that the community support network that once held their families together does not exist here. Children are out of control. Even many wives have given up as each refugee tries to make their way in this land that is foreign to them. Racism was not directly mentioned but we know it exists here and many are abused or mistreated because of the color of their skin...another huge obstacle.
How many trials must they endure?
They spoke glowingly of the beauty of their homes in Sudan, but sadly say it is too dangerous for them to return.
We left feeling that we were the ones who learned from the them.
Our hope is that they will continue to meet and support each other to set guidelines and standards of behavior that will serve their families well and keep them safe as they continue their search for a new life.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Update 70
Here's the rest of the story of our trip to Israel ...kinda the nuts & bolts part. First night in Tel Aviv we had sketchy accommodations, then trying to get around proved to be tricky & expensive. Luckily our room in the Old City with old stone walls...though very minimal...we loved the authenticity and it made it easy to get around. David's tomb and the upper room (site of the Last Supper) was in the building right next to us. It was an easy walk to many holy sites. We hopped local buses to get to the ones a bit farther away.
In Egypt we were in the midst of Muslims easily identified by their clothing. Here the Jewish men proudly wear their skull caps, tallits, tall black hats, short pants & white shirts...many with beards and long side curls. Women wear long black skirts & scarfs. Again telling the world they are Jews. The Wailing Wall, massive Dome of the Rock mosque and 5' golden menorah are their most holy sites. Later we'd experience how the entire public busing system & most stores shut down Friday at sundown & stay closed until Saturday at sundown. After two days in Jerusalem and Bethlehem we headed to Tiberias...about 2 1/2 hour bus ride. The roads were excellent. The landscape was lush green with lots of rocks on the rolling hills. Even saw a few flocks of sheep. The spring flowers were in full bloom!! And everywhere !! They were sneaking out of cracks & crevices and filled hillsides in their vibrant colors. I took way too many pictures of them. Huge fields of corn, grapes, veges, palm trees, banana trees and miles of netted covered crops. Saw several tractors but unlike Egypt, no one stooped over & working in the field.
The bus stopped many times to pick up & drop off...and often young soldiers with their guns slung over their shoulder got on. Here all youth...boys & girls...must serve. Not sure how long. Both here and in Egypt there are guards at most every corner.
Again our Airbnb was sketchy ...made us think that probably that's how most middle class live
After dropping our bags, we took a bus into town to see the sites there. Tiberias was once the main city in this area and so there were several old structures there to remind one of it's past importance.
We didn't find a guided tour that would match our plans so we did it our way. The next morning, we took the bus to Tabgha and we just started walking a trail along the Sea of Galilee for about a mile to Capernaum where Jesus called the fishermen to follow him and where he walked on the water (along the trail we saw several markers labeled, The Gospel Trail, how'd we find that??). We took a taxi to a nearby hill where he spoke to the five thousand delivering the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.
We met an adventurous Indian couple from Toronto who were not with a tour. They were happy to share the taxi with us down the hill to Tiberias. There were many tour buses filled with tourists at each site but we agreed that the tour group experience did not appeal to us.
Since we'd visited the church "built on a rock" where Jesus told Peter to build his church we thought it was fitting to finish the day with a "Peter's fish" dinner in Tiberias. And as our luck continued, there was a small church built in 1040 AD next to the restaurant. The door was open so we went in...glorious paintings of the storm & walking on water bible stories adorned this simple , tiny church...later we came back to celebrate Mass there. Could not have planned a better place to be that night.
Next morning, our luck ran out as it was pouring rain and since it was Shabat, we couldn't get a public bus out of town. So we paid the big bucks and hired a taxi (driver was Muslim) to get to Tel Aviv. Again the road was excellent. The driver pointed out the Palestinian Wall as we followed along it for several miles. He drove us right to our Airbnb...and a bit better than last night...not what we expected...but then we are used to expecting the unexpected! It was still raining and we were hungry so we walked to what our host said was a "close" place to eat. It was at least a mile...in the rain...and it was a bakery. But... we did find a restaurant a couple blocks later. Had a huge and delicious authentic Israeli dinner.
Our host told us the area we're in use to be all Arab. After the war in '47, Jews were allowed in. It's really a run down area with lots of high rise housing.
When we got back, hung our coats to dry and a German couple who were staying there also joined us. They offered us beer & wine and we sat and chatted for over an hour. ..mostly about immigration. Germany is also at a loss as to how to address the issue. They told us there are more immigrants in Berlin than Germans!
They made a point of telling us that they believe as travelers, we were ambassadors of our home country. Good point.
We had to be up early to catch our flight and many connecting flights home so we went to bed early...excited to think we will be home in 36 hours!!
from my iPhone
In Egypt we were in the midst of Muslims easily identified by their clothing. Here the Jewish men proudly wear their skull caps, tallits, tall black hats, short pants & white shirts...many with beards and long side curls. Women wear long black skirts & scarfs. Again telling the world they are Jews. The Wailing Wall, massive Dome of the Rock mosque and 5' golden menorah are their most holy sites. Later we'd experience how the entire public busing system & most stores shut down Friday at sundown & stay closed until Saturday at sundown. After two days in Jerusalem and Bethlehem we headed to Tiberias...about 2 1/2 hour bus ride. The roads were excellent. The landscape was lush green with lots of rocks on the rolling hills. Even saw a few flocks of sheep. The spring flowers were in full bloom!! And everywhere !! They were sneaking out of cracks & crevices and filled hillsides in their vibrant colors. I took way too many pictures of them. Huge fields of corn, grapes, veges, palm trees, banana trees and miles of netted covered crops. Saw several tractors but unlike Egypt, no one stooped over & working in the field.
The bus stopped many times to pick up & drop off...and often young soldiers with their guns slung over their shoulder got on. Here all youth...boys & girls...must serve. Not sure how long. Both here and in Egypt there are guards at most every corner.
Again our Airbnb was sketchy ...made us think that probably that's how most middle class live
After dropping our bags, we took a bus into town to see the sites there. Tiberias was once the main city in this area and so there were several old structures there to remind one of it's past importance.
We didn't find a guided tour that would match our plans so we did it our way. The next morning, we took the bus to Tabgha and we just started walking a trail along the Sea of Galilee for about a mile to Capernaum where Jesus called the fishermen to follow him and where he walked on the water (along the trail we saw several markers labeled, The Gospel Trail, how'd we find that??). We took a taxi to a nearby hill where he spoke to the five thousand delivering the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.
We met an adventurous Indian couple from Toronto who were not with a tour. They were happy to share the taxi with us down the hill to Tiberias. There were many tour buses filled with tourists at each site but we agreed that the tour group experience did not appeal to us.
Since we'd visited the church "built on a rock" where Jesus told Peter to build his church we thought it was fitting to finish the day with a "Peter's fish" dinner in Tiberias. And as our luck continued, there was a small church built in 1040 AD next to the restaurant. The door was open so we went in...glorious paintings of the storm & walking on water bible stories adorned this simple , tiny church...later we came back to celebrate Mass there. Could not have planned a better place to be that night.
Next morning, our luck ran out as it was pouring rain and since it was Shabat, we couldn't get a public bus out of town. So we paid the big bucks and hired a taxi (driver was Muslim) to get to Tel Aviv. Again the road was excellent. The driver pointed out the Palestinian Wall as we followed along it for several miles. He drove us right to our Airbnb...and a bit better than last night...not what we expected...but then we are used to expecting the unexpected! It was still raining and we were hungry so we walked to what our host said was a "close" place to eat. It was at least a mile...in the rain...and it was a bakery. But... we did find a restaurant a couple blocks later. Had a huge and delicious authentic Israeli dinner.
Our host told us the area we're in use to be all Arab. After the war in '47, Jews were allowed in. It's really a run down area with lots of high rise housing.
When we got back, hung our coats to dry and a German couple who were staying there also joined us. They offered us beer & wine and we sat and chatted for over an hour. ..mostly about immigration. Germany is also at a loss as to how to address the issue. They told us there are more immigrants in Berlin than Germans!
They made a point of telling us that they believe as travelers, we were ambassadors of our home country. Good point.
We had to be up early to catch our flight and many connecting flights home so we went to bed early...excited to think we will be home in 36 hours!!
from my iPhone
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Update 69
Here in Israel are so many names I've read or heard about in the Bible since I was a child...surreal:
Bethlehem, Jerusalem , Capernaum, Damascus, Zion, Jericho, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, David, Solomon...
For 5 days those names were swirling around me.
Bethlehem - how many times have I imagined that scene. Today it's a sprawling city of 22,000 & on the "birth site" sits an elaborate church...far from the stable. Yet the holiness remained.
The Sea of Galilee - peacefully surrounded by rounded mountains. A replica of boats of the time period make it easy to envision Jesus sitting in one with his disciplines...walking on the water...and calming the storm.
Capernaum- where Jesus chose 5 of his discipline and lived during most of his ministry. Here Jesus told Peter "upon this rock I will build my church." A simple but very inspiring church surrounds the rock. A contemporary church with a glass floor sits above and in the middle of the excavated remains of Capernaum. Here He fed the multitude by multiplying 2 fish & 5 loaves of bread. Here He taught us the beatitudes...and the church built there is octagonal & 8 stain glass windows featuring them. Here so many were cured. the man lowered through the roof, the leper and the centurion who had such faith that whatever Jesus said would be fulfilled.
Our bus ride between Jerusalem & Capernaum gave me a true sense of just how far Jesus & his disciplines had to walk. We passed the Dead Sea (lowest spot in world) and followed the Jordan River (now the border of the West Bank & Jordan). The mountains that surround Jerusalem made the picture of Jesus entry on a donkey so real.
Many of the great gates of Jerusalem still proudly stand. Inside the old city wall we stood in the Upper Room, then lingered in the Garden of Gethsemane where flowers were blooming around a massive old gnarly tree trunk.
Then we walked the Via Dolorosa...the path Jesus was forced to walk carrying the cross. On that spot of the crucifixion , a stunning & lavish church sits.
We stood on a platform looking toward a hillside where there's a large cave...perhaps Skull Hill. It's empty of course.
When we planned our trip to Israel ...it had not occurred to us how appropriate the timing is...a couple weeks before Easter. A tiny miracle.
How I wish I could go back & see it as it was 2019 years ago...instead of today: sprawling with markets, hawkers, tourist & humongous churches.
I had to close my eyes and focus my thoughts to recall the Bible stories to bring them to life...that feeling was so very surreal and I feel so humbled and honored to have been this close to Jesus.
Sent from my iPhone
Bethlehem, Jerusalem , Capernaum, Damascus, Zion, Jericho, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, David, Solomon...
For 5 days those names were swirling around me.
Bethlehem - how many times have I imagined that scene. Today it's a sprawling city of 22,000 & on the "birth site" sits an elaborate church...far from the stable. Yet the holiness remained.
The Sea of Galilee - peacefully surrounded by rounded mountains. A replica of boats of the time period make it easy to envision Jesus sitting in one with his disciplines...walking on the water...and calming the storm.
Capernaum- where Jesus chose 5 of his discipline and lived during most of his ministry. Here Jesus told Peter "upon this rock I will build my church." A simple but very inspiring church surrounds the rock. A contemporary church with a glass floor sits above and in the middle of the excavated remains of Capernaum. Here He fed the multitude by multiplying 2 fish & 5 loaves of bread. Here He taught us the beatitudes...and the church built there is octagonal & 8 stain glass windows featuring them. Here so many were cured. the man lowered through the roof, the leper and the centurion who had such faith that whatever Jesus said would be fulfilled.
Our bus ride between Jerusalem & Capernaum gave me a true sense of just how far Jesus & his disciplines had to walk. We passed the Dead Sea (lowest spot in world) and followed the Jordan River (now the border of the West Bank & Jordan). The mountains that surround Jerusalem made the picture of Jesus entry on a donkey so real.
Many of the great gates of Jerusalem still proudly stand. Inside the old city wall we stood in the Upper Room, then lingered in the Garden of Gethsemane where flowers were blooming around a massive old gnarly tree trunk.
Then we walked the Via Dolorosa...the path Jesus was forced to walk carrying the cross. On that spot of the crucifixion , a stunning & lavish church sits.
We stood on a platform looking toward a hillside where there's a large cave...perhaps Skull Hill. It's empty of course.
When we planned our trip to Israel ...it had not occurred to us how appropriate the timing is...a couple weeks before Easter. A tiny miracle.
How I wish I could go back & see it as it was 2019 years ago...instead of today: sprawling with markets, hawkers, tourist & humongous churches.
I had to close my eyes and focus my thoughts to recall the Bible stories to bring them to life...that feeling was so very surreal and I feel so humbled and honored to have been this close to Jesus.
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Update 68
Saying good bye to our class was tough. They are a great group of "kids"... 17 - 40ish. About 20 of them showed each Tuesday & Saturday for 1 1/2 hours to improve their English. They were attentive, actively participated and worked hard at trying to understand our lessons. If they failed to understand, they asked questions & kept trying.
They loved it when Rog or I got silly or when we bounced innocent jabs back & forth between us.
We were so very pleased that most of them did very well on their midterm exam. And we told them so! Some, of course, wished they'd done better.
I'd read Leo the Late Bloomer to them after trying to explain that everyone learns at their own rate. When I got to the page where Leo blooms....one of the kids shouted out, "That's us!!" Teaching is so very rewarding!!!
We had the students each write a short story about themselves so we could keep a piece of each of them.
And then we meet in the court yard for cookies & juice and pictures.
The last class was the next week. We covered the necessary lesson and then Rog blew up a balloon and told them who ever caught the balloon could ask anyone any question.
They loved asking us questions. A few used their turn to thank us and one asked himself a question!
I won't write about each one...but a couple...so I won't forget...
Zebeb: early on I noticed she was leaning over close to her book to read...I asked if she could see the board..nope. I asked if I could try to get her glasses. She smiled. After talking to the RE director, she got an eye exam and had new glasses 2 weeks later!! That sure made both of us very happy!!
Akmed: Such a huge smile, struggled but kept trying. Told me, "I was ignorant...you made me...how you say? Intelligent? Yes! "
Hussein: I'll really miss you. When Rog said he'd miss him too, he said...not as much as I will miss you. You bring us hope. I will never forget you.
An unknown girl who wore a niqab (so only her eyes were visible) was in the class that met after our class ended. She said to Rog: "I'll miss you and remember you."
These are the treasures we store in our hearts...the reason we love volunteering.
Sent from my iPhone
They loved it when Rog or I got silly or when we bounced innocent jabs back & forth between us.
We were so very pleased that most of them did very well on their midterm exam. And we told them so! Some, of course, wished they'd done better.
I'd read Leo the Late Bloomer to them after trying to explain that everyone learns at their own rate. When I got to the page where Leo blooms....one of the kids shouted out, "That's us!!" Teaching is so very rewarding!!!
We had the students each write a short story about themselves so we could keep a piece of each of them.
And then we meet in the court yard for cookies & juice and pictures.
The last class was the next week. We covered the necessary lesson and then Rog blew up a balloon and told them who ever caught the balloon could ask anyone any question.
They loved asking us questions. A few used their turn to thank us and one asked himself a question!
I won't write about each one...but a couple...so I won't forget...
Zebeb: early on I noticed she was leaning over close to her book to read...I asked if she could see the board..nope. I asked if I could try to get her glasses. She smiled. After talking to the RE director, she got an eye exam and had new glasses 2 weeks later!! That sure made both of us very happy!!
Akmed: Such a huge smile, struggled but kept trying. Told me, "I was ignorant...you made me...how you say? Intelligent? Yes! "
Hussein: I'll really miss you. When Rog said he'd miss him too, he said...not as much as I will miss you. You bring us hope. I will never forget you.
An unknown girl who wore a niqab (so only her eyes were visible) was in the class that met after our class ended. She said to Rog: "I'll miss you and remember you."
These are the treasures we store in our hearts...the reason we love volunteering.
Sent from my iPhone
Update 68
Saying good bye to our class was tough. They are a great group of "kids"... 17 - 40ish. About 20 of them showed each Tuesday & Saturday for 1 1/2 hours to improve their English. They were attentive, actively participated and worked hard at trying to understand our lessons. If they failed to understand, they asked questions & kept trying.
They loved it when Rog or I got silly or when we bounced innocent jabs back & forth between us.
We were so very pleased that most of them did very well on their midterm exam. And we told them so! Some, of course, wished they'd done better.
I read Leo the Late Bloomer to them after trying to explain that everyone learns at their own rate. When I got to the page where Leo blooms....one of the kids shouted out, "That's us!!" Teaching is so very rewarding!!!
We had the students each write a short story about themselves so we could keep a piece of each of them.
And then we met in the court yard for cookies & juice and pictures.
Our last class was the next week. We covered the necessary lesson and then Rog blew up a balloon and told them who ever caught the balloon could ask anyone a question using English.
They loved asking us questions. A few used their turn to thank us and one even asked himself a question!
I won't write about each one...but I must put down a couple...so I won't forget...
Zebeb: early on I noticed she was leaning over very close to her book to read...I asked if she could see the board..nope. I asked if I could try to get her glasses. She smiled. After talking to the RE director, she got an eye exam and had new glasses 2 weeks later!! That sure made both of us very happy!!
Akmed: Such a huge smile, struggled but kept trying. Told me, "I was ignorant...you made me...how you say? Intelligent? Yes! "
Hussein said, "We will really miss you! " Rog told him we'll miss them, too. He replied, " Not as much as we will miss you. You bring us hope. I will never forget you."
An unknown girl who wore a niqab (so only her eyes were visible) was in the class that met after our class ended. She said to Rog: "I'll miss you and remember you." Why?
These are the treasures we store in our hearts...the reason we love volunteering.
Sent from my iPhone
They loved it when Rog or I got silly or when we bounced innocent jabs back & forth between us.
We were so very pleased that most of them did very well on their midterm exam. And we told them so! Some, of course, wished they'd done better.
I read Leo the Late Bloomer to them after trying to explain that everyone learns at their own rate. When I got to the page where Leo blooms....one of the kids shouted out, "That's us!!" Teaching is so very rewarding!!!
We had the students each write a short story about themselves so we could keep a piece of each of them.
And then we met in the court yard for cookies & juice and pictures.
Our last class was the next week. We covered the necessary lesson and then Rog blew up a balloon and told them who ever caught the balloon could ask anyone a question using English.
They loved asking us questions. A few used their turn to thank us and one even asked himself a question!
I won't write about each one...but I must put down a couple...so I won't forget...
Zebeb: early on I noticed she was leaning over very close to her book to read...I asked if she could see the board..nope. I asked if I could try to get her glasses. She smiled. After talking to the RE director, she got an eye exam and had new glasses 2 weeks later!! That sure made both of us very happy!!
Akmed: Such a huge smile, struggled but kept trying. Told me, "I was ignorant...you made me...how you say? Intelligent? Yes! "
Hussein said, "We will really miss you! " Rog told him we'll miss them, too. He replied, " Not as much as we will miss you. You bring us hope. I will never forget you."
An unknown girl who wore a niqab (so only her eyes were visible) was in the class that met after our class ended. She said to Rog: "I'll miss you and remember you." Why?
These are the treasures we store in our hearts...the reason we love volunteering.
Sent from my iPhone
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