Going Seperate Ways
Early this morning, I drove Kevin & Brian Cox to the airport. They flew to Zambia where they will be for the next 2 weeks. A former co-worker of Kevin’s and her husband are missionaries in Zambia. They work among HIV+ Women and the lowest strata of boys in Ndola. Kevin & Brian will also (jealousy alert) get to go to Victoria Falls.
After dropping them off at the airport in Jo’burg, I hustled back to Pretoria facing slow traffic because of accident/construction/rush hour. I arrived just in time for the rest of our group to load the vans and head over to Beam for one last time. We spent a couple of hours saying good-byes. It was a little easier for me because I could say I will see them next week.
The kids clung to us and little girls cry as we left (not accepted for the boys to cry). It was bitter sweet. It was sad that some will never see our team again. But a joy that we could impact their little lives in even a short time. God is good.
Then we drove to Jo’burg stopping by a mall for a late lunch before we checked into the guesthouse where the Dupras & McCulllough families will stay the night. We spent a couple of hours together debriefing – talking about preparing for reverse-culture shock, sharing about our time and encouraging each other. Then Brian Dupras and I took Cassie, Kayla, Jeanine, Kristin, Paul and Becca back to the airport. We returned one of the vans and tried to get the crocs released from customs. Turning in the van and checking in the six went okay. I did lose Paul’s van for a little bit going to the airport as I made a quick turn and they went straight but fortunately I had given him good directions of where to park and we hooked up with no problems.
Getting the crocs was okay I guess though we still don’t have them. British Air is sort of redeeming themselves a little in that Stephen at British Air baggage claim went the extra mile and took Cassie and I the back way through security to the customs office. (It was Cassie’s bag.) But the customs officer, just doing his job, says that we needed proof that Beam was a non-profit organization in order to get them without paying a lot of taxes. So I called Erika and she was going to fax proof. Instead of waiting and Cassie perhaps missing her flight, British Air says they will deliver the bag of crocs to BEAM. So hopefully I will not have to return to the airport and get it.
Brian and I hugged the six goodbye. What a great group of folks! What a blessing to serve with them all. I could go on and on about these people. We went through several little trials but they never complained. A great group of servants. So impressed with them all especially Kayla and Cassie who soon will be just starting college.
Tomorrow am, the Dupras and McCullough’s head to Saint Lucia to lead a midyear retreat for 8 STINTers. It will be the last WSN event I will ever lead after more than a dozen midyears/briefings/leader training venues through the years that I have had the priveledge of leading not countign all the others I helped lead or particpated in.
