Days 5 and 6 -- Airport and Game Drive

At the game park:

Tired of Shopping:

Picking up all of our friends at the airport yesterday was a trip. You should have seen their faces when all of our friends from Charity and Faith took over the JoBurg Airport with horns, whistles, singing and dancing. We got more funny looks and questions than we could answer, and the JOY in the room was tangible. What a way to start the trip! Buses ran our trip participants smoothly to our hotel, and they quickly ate dinner and crashed in their rooms. We grabbed a team of 8 and returned to pick up the second wave of travelers. They arrived at 10PM, and we were all back at the hotel (minus a few pieces of luggage). AP and I had quite the adventure coming back in the church bus with Will, Lindy and another Andrew when we got turned around on the way back to the hotel. For a while fear set in, but Will had made a promise to himself not to get stressed out for the next 10 days, he passed that peace to the rest of us, and we laughed most of the way home.

Breakfast this morning was great, followed by a drive to Chameleon Village, a local outdoor market. My favorite bead lady was in full effect, and I was able to bargain using the prices I paid last year. AP was a bargaining mastermind -- talking people down from R110 to R20 at some points. I actually felt sorry for some of the vendors when they approached AP to make a sale. They were sure in for it. We didn't spend too much, and got a kick out of the newest hot item -- American movies that are out in theaters now -- on DVD. I bet that's legal. Thanks to the African market, I can now divide any number by 7 -- the current rand exchange rate.

After the shopping, we got on the buses to head for Pilanisburg National Park, the game reserve. The beauty of the country is overwhelming as you drive among red rocks that reach the sky, tall grasses that dance in the wind, and trees that stand like lone soldiers in the vast expanses of earth. Man Rachel, good sentence.

We had a great time clicking "Christmas card" pictures of each other in front of giraffes, rhinos, and wildebeests. Today we started the day by reading Psalm 8 -- one of my favorites. Witnessing the beauty and creativity of God (like a giraffe 12 feet away) brings to mind the praises that all people should have for his creation.

Tonight at dinner Titus told us more of his life story with a running theme of "other people". He mentioned several times doing ministry for no salary, and that the payment of ministry is seeing other people's lives change. I was reminded that the last time I was in South Africa I was being called to ministry, and to act on faith. It's true. I've made the least amount of cash of my working life this year, but I have been the richest. Thank you all for supporting me in that.

Some other info:

Krissy, Brett, and Paul arrived tonight -- I was SOOOOO excited to see them! After 60 hours of travel delays, my friends are here.

We bought a new camera at the airport yesterday -- after ours apparently fried even with a converter. It's nice, but I haven't installed the software to download pics yet. It surely will not fry -- it has a South African plug!

Tomorrow -- church at Charity and Faith -- I can't wait!!! Also, we'll be staying with a host family in the township so no blog tomorrow -- I'll be back on Monday. Love to you all.