23 Sept...
I love the suprises around each corner. I'm sitting across from Dave Hodgson on the plane from Jo'burg to Kampala... Turns out there are quite a few on this flight for the conference and we've all been chatting away which has been so nice. I ran into Taryn Swadling in the bathroom in the departure lounge. I haven't seen her for about 4 years so that was a little random! She's heading to the conference too so I'm sure we'll have a chance to catch up over the next few days... I'm getting excited in my spirit about what is going to happen in the next little bit. I don't know what is unfolding but I'm excited to be a part of it...
25th Sept...
I think I'm in emotional sensory overload... arriving here, Uganda felt strangely familiar... I've felt safe and at peace the entire time and the conference staff have bent over backwards to accomodate all of us. The church is only 3 blocks away from the hotel and I've enjoyed walking there in the mornings. At night I've taken the bus provided for us but I would feel equally safe walking home... Yesterday they took us to the babies home 'bullrushes' where the children stay until they are about 2 years old before they go into the villages. We go out to the villages for lunch on Saturday.
This morning the focus was largely on the child soldiers. Just thinking about the stories makes me want to weep but I'll save that for when I get to my room. We heard a testimony from one of the boys, David, who was abducted at 12 and forced to kill his friends and then villages of people... he's now 17? i think and wants to be a doctor so he can save lives instead of taking them...
One of the speakers is Robbi Sonderegger? (something like that)... and he deals with child trauma and has written a program that began in Northern uganda and now has spread the world... incredibly inspiring...
27th Sept...
I can't believe this amazing African Adventure is almost at an end (this time anyway) I've met some truly amazing people here. Wilberforce, Trinity, McLeenand Francis from here in Uganda, Kin from Hong Kong, Taryn and Simon and the rest of the guys from South Africa, the New Zealand bunch.... SO incredibly different and yet with such a desire to see God do something incredible on this beautiful continent. Today I got to hang out with two great guys from the States, Mark and Isaac. I guess Isaac is really now from Mozambique. He's been 'sent out' from there church in the States to start a church and orphanage in Moz. They really were so much fun and made what could have been a hard day a lot of fun. THe offer made in jest to me about going to Moz to help out is something I'll really think about... But I'm determined to not do anything until I'm sure it's God and He's coming with me!
30th Sept...
Day 2 in London and I'm sitting in the Garden Cafe in Regent's park eating my ploughmans lunch and escaping the rain. I'm also giving my legs a rest and consulting my map! It seems I've walked quite a way so far already... but am a little nervous to attempt the tube just yet. Roy has put me up in a hotel and organised a car to pick me up from the airport which was so lovely... I haven't managed to see him yet but we will catch up soon!
5th Oct...
I had a long conversation with a homeless man today. I don't know his name. I'm not sure he does either. He asked for change and I gave him what I had in my pocket. He didn't want me to walk away, craving human contact and someone to hear his story. I listen for a while as the words streamed from him. In a mixed up, garbled fashion he told of abuse going back who knows how long. The confused jumble of words defied reason and I listened for a point at which I could bring truth. It didn't come and eventually I sad I had to go. My attempts to bring Light into the situation with my words failed and I walked away with a new revelation. This life needs to be real so far beyond words and rational thought. Words, these beautiful words that I love failed. They, in and of themselves could not bring light. As powerful as they can be, they did not contain within them the power to reach this man. Only God can cut through the darkness and confusion of that man's thoughts, but more than that, his soul...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Snippets from around the world...
So finally I'm updating! Just a few snippets from the notes I've been taking along the way...
18th Sept...
SItting in Jo'burg airport day 2 waiting to board a flight to Cape Town. Mbizi Backpackers is a great place to stay and I woke refreshed ready to see the world. Patrick was great to talk to last night about the state of things in South Africa and even if half of what he says is true, the place seems to be in a bit of a mess with no real idea of how to fix itself. From his persepective, he wants to be out of here in 2 years... he's giving the place about 6 years to implode... He's just waiting around now for '2010' to make his millions before getting out.
The half day tour of Soweto was so interesting and left me wanting to know so much more about this place. Chabo, our guide said the common phrase is 'when Soweto sneezes, all of South africa gets a cold' and you can begin to see what he means. Any understanding of South Africa has to include an understanding of Soweto, and and understanding of Soweto has to go back a long way... I found myself looking at the architects of Aparthied on a DVD today andI wanted so much to reach throug the screen and the the arrogance and self righteousness out or them and scream "who do you think you are?!" If I felt that after one morning, is it any wonder that people who live here and live through this can turn to violence? And so the country now lives with this violence begotten by violence and things don't seem to be getting any better...
I know I'm being simplistic and have no real understanding of the state of things. I really hope I'm wrong and things are much better than I've stated.
19th Sept...
On the ferry back from Robben Island...
I'm not sure what to write about it... I'm finding it so hard to verbalise my thoughts and feelings. THe tour was funny and poigniant and confronting and enlightening and ver moving. To see the cell where Mandela - 466/64 - spent 18 years of his life and to hear the stories of the cruelty and indignity inflicted on him and so many others for so many years is so heart breaking I just want to cry...
21st Sept...
My last day in Cape Town and I have to say I've loved it... Well apart from the Sunburn that is! After Robben Island on Saturday I spent the rest of the afternoon at the waterfront just wandering around. Despite the touristy-ness of it all it is still quite a pretty place. I loved sitting listening to all of the different accents and opinions float by. The sad part is, you could come to Cape Town, stay in the 'safe' confines of the Waterfront and not see the rest of what Cape Town has to offer. wandering up Long St and down the myriads of lanes, taking in the sights and sounds... It was so nice to just soak up the atmosphere.
Yesterday I caught the city hop on, hop off tour bus and went up to cable mountain. Once up there the views over Cape Twon and the surrounds are spectacular. I went exploring a little down some of the more difficult paths and not suprisingly, the crowds didn't follow. For a little while there - probably about half an hour - I didn't see of hear another soul. I felt completely removed from everyone and everything and it was really quite something....
22nd Sept...
You just never know the conversations you are going to have! My driver this morning was a guy my age called David. He's lived in Cape Town his whole life and wants to see the world one day. He assures me that had he met me earlier he would have taken me out to experience the night life Cape Town has to offer - places I wouldn't have been game enough to go on my own... we got talking about sport, rugby, soccer, cricket golf... I told him I knew Aaron Baddeley's sister through church and that got the conversation onto God and Christianity... David has decided God must have it in for him as he keeps getting 'converteds' in his car...
22nd Sept...
Justfound this quote and I loved it. "Travel is only useful if you go open to the possibility of surrendering parts of what has formed you in exchange for the newer perspectives offered by difference - if you go out of curiosity and respect. If you enter a place on it's own terms. But tourism is travel with it's heart ripped out." Robyn Davidson, Guardian Travel Writer...
Maybe that's why I hate looking like a tourist so much!
More later....
18th Sept...
SItting in Jo'burg airport day 2 waiting to board a flight to Cape Town. Mbizi Backpackers is a great place to stay and I woke refreshed ready to see the world. Patrick was great to talk to last night about the state of things in South Africa and even if half of what he says is true, the place seems to be in a bit of a mess with no real idea of how to fix itself. From his persepective, he wants to be out of here in 2 years... he's giving the place about 6 years to implode... He's just waiting around now for '2010' to make his millions before getting out.
The half day tour of Soweto was so interesting and left me wanting to know so much more about this place. Chabo, our guide said the common phrase is 'when Soweto sneezes, all of South africa gets a cold' and you can begin to see what he means. Any understanding of South Africa has to include an understanding of Soweto, and and understanding of Soweto has to go back a long way... I found myself looking at the architects of Aparthied on a DVD today andI wanted so much to reach throug the screen and the the arrogance and self righteousness out or them and scream "who do you think you are?!" If I felt that after one morning, is it any wonder that people who live here and live through this can turn to violence? And so the country now lives with this violence begotten by violence and things don't seem to be getting any better...
I know I'm being simplistic and have no real understanding of the state of things. I really hope I'm wrong and things are much better than I've stated.
19th Sept...
On the ferry back from Robben Island...
I'm not sure what to write about it... I'm finding it so hard to verbalise my thoughts and feelings. THe tour was funny and poigniant and confronting and enlightening and ver moving. To see the cell where Mandela - 466/64 - spent 18 years of his life and to hear the stories of the cruelty and indignity inflicted on him and so many others for so many years is so heart breaking I just want to cry...
21st Sept...
My last day in Cape Town and I have to say I've loved it... Well apart from the Sunburn that is! After Robben Island on Saturday I spent the rest of the afternoon at the waterfront just wandering around. Despite the touristy-ness of it all it is still quite a pretty place. I loved sitting listening to all of the different accents and opinions float by. The sad part is, you could come to Cape Town, stay in the 'safe' confines of the Waterfront and not see the rest of what Cape Town has to offer. wandering up Long St and down the myriads of lanes, taking in the sights and sounds... It was so nice to just soak up the atmosphere.
Yesterday I caught the city hop on, hop off tour bus and went up to cable mountain. Once up there the views over Cape Twon and the surrounds are spectacular. I went exploring a little down some of the more difficult paths and not suprisingly, the crowds didn't follow. For a little while there - probably about half an hour - I didn't see of hear another soul. I felt completely removed from everyone and everything and it was really quite something....
22nd Sept...
You just never know the conversations you are going to have! My driver this morning was a guy my age called David. He's lived in Cape Town his whole life and wants to see the world one day. He assures me that had he met me earlier he would have taken me out to experience the night life Cape Town has to offer - places I wouldn't have been game enough to go on my own... we got talking about sport, rugby, soccer, cricket golf... I told him I knew Aaron Baddeley's sister through church and that got the conversation onto God and Christianity... David has decided God must have it in for him as he keeps getting 'converteds' in his car...
22nd Sept...
Justfound this quote and I loved it. "Travel is only useful if you go open to the possibility of surrendering parts of what has formed you in exchange for the newer perspectives offered by difference - if you go out of curiosity and respect. If you enter a place on it's own terms. But tourism is travel with it's heart ripped out." Robyn Davidson, Guardian Travel Writer...
Maybe that's why I hate looking like a tourist so much!
More later....
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