My hope is in you, Lord...

Chris Lindsey with Watershed taken by Alexis Robertson.

Home Sweet Home

Callie made welcome home t-shirts for our grandkids to wear! I told myself I wasn't going to cry when I got off the plane---yeah, right---as soon as I heard their squeals there was no holding back!

Leavin' on a Jet Plane...

Back to 2 days of traveling...we are tired but happy. I stand corrected...add another day to that when we missed our flight from London to Chicago. Our flight was late and Alan was sequestered for questioning with a roomful of suspicious characters. Here's the details told by Alan, "I remember thinking that the chances for making our connection from Chicago to Memphis seemed so slim……1 hour to go through customs, re-check the bags and make it to the proper terminal. Everything would have to go perfect……passport control was not even a concern……..Back in the good ole’ USA would be just a quick “Welcome Home” after our “Nothing to Declare” and we would be trying to get to the express customs line….After Lisa and Alex got a quick computer check and pass through the custom agent said the short words one never wants to hear: “Uh-Oh!” I knew we were done, never going to get home that night when I heard those two little words & they really aren’t even words, just sounds! After some key strokes and mutterings, I was instructed to follow the officers back to another area where I waited for about 30 minutes until another agent took me back to the passport control area to a special “holding area” where everyone there (about 30) were all middle-eastern and waiting to be processed/questioned about why they were entering our country. I definitely was standing out alongside my fellow captives. An anxious hour went by without any word until I finally saw the guy again who brought me out and he checked to see why I hadn’t been seen. He told me they were having computer problems, but that I was next up to be processed. Finally my name was called almost two hours after I heard that first “uh-oh” and I was asked a few questions about where I worked (I never knew church work was so interesting) and the woman told me I was free to go. I asked her what had happened and she said, “You are free to go.” I said, “You aren’t going to tell me what happened are you?” Her reply, “You are free to go….” (A little more sternly this time) Not wanting to spend any more time with my new Muslim friends, I said goodbye to Chicago Passport Control and hello to a night at the Hilton. I will be holding my breath the next time I go through a passport control………until next time, “You are free to go!”

Bill Smith chain

Unbeknownst to us Bill has enterprises worldwide.

Last stop for souvenirs

On the road to the airport

This is a common sight. Even though South Africa is equipped with all the right machinery, they'll let people do work by hand, just to give them a job.

Our last meal together

Huh???

We were headed to the top floor of a building to eat our last meal together in a revolving restaurant and this was the sign over the elevator door.

Students at Queen Mary Church School

Watershed led us in song to say goodbye to students.

Multitasking shop

This restaurant was also a pet store and nursery! The food was superb but we had a hard time finding the restaurant. We weaved our way through the aisles looking at animals and paths of shrubs to get there! The lady sitting between Mac & I is our new friend, Leah. We had a great talk about Celebrate Recovery over dinner.

Bearing the marks of Jesus

Galatians 6:17

New Friends

Philip. 1:4, "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Gifts for WFR crew

The Durban Family Retreat gave Alan & Mac a plaque with a pair of shoes crafted by a member that are made out of tires--what the Africans wear. The verse engraved at the bottom, "How beautiful are the feet of those that preach the gospel of peace." Rom. 10:15...When Brian read the verse outloud, the tears streamed down my face. That verse is from Isa. 52:7---I remembered saying those same words a few days before my father passed away last October. I was massaging lotion on my dad's feet and quoted it outloud while thanking God for all my dad had done to proclaim the good news of Jesus to so many and how he taught me to do the same. It was not a co-incidence but a God-incidence reaffirming to me what is of most importance in our lives. Then Brian presented to Lisa & me beautiful African tablecloths. We will remember our South Africa brothers and sisters in Christ with such love and wonderful memories. We shared together our strengths, hopes, and weaknesses and that we don't have to walk this journey alone. The theme of the retreat was "For such a time as this" I Pet. 5:10, Strong...Firm...Steadfast

Surprise for Jon

The Queen Mary Church thanked Jon for all his hard work with an amazing picture that Tracy Lister painted.

VBS

Special thanks goes to, Paulette, Karen, and Cindy, along with all our Mission Team's kids who did a fabulous job of sharing the love of Jesus with the children.

Cooking on the Braai

There were 8 different braai places stocked with charcoal so we could all eat our evening meals together around the fires. I'm drinking a narchee flavored water. Narchees are South African tangerines...you talk about good! We ate a handful of these everytime we had the opportunity.

Durban Retreat at Natalia

South African plants

Roadside tree

Ok, I need to give you something pretty to replace the scene you just viewed. Thanks to David & Lezlie for this beautiful picture!

Food market cuisine

I forgot to include this picture of just a small portion of what we saw in the food market across the street from the Indian market. I can't even describe to you in words the aroma of this place. It was a fast paced walk through here!

Fun in the sun

We were leaving the Safari and Mac noticed we're having a flat tire. Thank goodness we weren't stuck on a lonely road. No, we're on wild animal's turf trying to get the tire off with no tools!

South African Bungalo

Here we are with part of the crew that checked out a luxurious vacation rental in the game reserve. Notice the young lady by herself perched up on the rock---that is the "Zulu Princess" aka Amanda Gammel. She was given that name for a reason on the trip because of the song, "Jambalani". Our lips are sealed...what happens in Africa stays in Africa. (smiling)

Thula Safari

Anthia had been to the game park recently and said they didn't see anything much so it could happen again. Well, from the very beginning it was non-stop seeing a herd of hippos and babies in the water, families of zebras, wilde beasts, wart hogs, kudu, ostrich, buffalo, spring bucks---to the most amazing sight---watching giraffes walk majestically across the road right in front of us!

Is it a tree or a cell tower?

It's a cell tower---they camouflage all their cell towers to look like trees!

Mac Daddy Tours

Reinforcement

Everyone has gates and razor wire.

Tony & Hazel's family

Tony and Hazel with their daughter, Natasha, her fiance, Clinton, and their son, Wesley...Please remember Tony & Hazel in your prayers as they are wanting to start an after care program for guys coming out of rehab. They have a passion for the lost and hurting to help them find the hope in Jesus. It was a blessing to stay in their home.