South Africa Mission Trip

My hope is in you, Lord...

2007-08-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

Chris Lindsey with Watershed taken by Alexis Robertson.

Home Sweet Home

2007-08-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-08-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

Unbeknownst to us Bill has enterprises worldwide.

Last stop for souvenirs

2007-08-21T16:31:00.000-07:00

On the road to the airport

2007-08-21T16:27:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

Huh???

2007-08-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Watershed led us in song to say goodbye to students.

Multitasking shop

2007-08-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

Galatians 6:17

New Friends

2007-08-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

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

VBS

2007-08-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

South African plants

2007-08-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

Roadside tree

2007-08-20T17:08:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-20T15:48:00.001-07:00

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?

2007-08-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

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

Mac Daddy Tours

2007-08-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

Reinforcement

2007-08-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

Everyone has gates and razor wire.

Tony & Hazel's family

2007-08-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

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.

Breakfast at Tony & Hazel's

2007-08-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

Forever family in Chatsworth

2007-08-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

The church treated us so special feeding us a meal of hearty Breyani. Then we went to another member's home for several desserts. It was 10:00 p.m. by the time we arrived there. We were out on their porch in the cool night air singing praises to God and trying new desserts like "Vermicelli" which tasted like sweet buttery noodles. Another thing really special everywhere we went---we were served coffee and tea in pretty white china cups and saucers.

2 1/2 millon Indian community

2007-08-20T14:49:00.000-07:00

Chatsworth---largest concentration of Indians in the world besides India.

Many gods to overcome

2007-08-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

Voices Honoring the Father

2007-08-19T14:44:00.000-07:00

VHF helped us minister to House of Hope.

House of Hope Rehab

2007-08-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

The need for God to deliver humans from addictions has no respector of nations. Seeing these guys, reaching out for God's help, reaffirmed to us, that God's message of hope He has entrusted to us, should be on our hearts and lips no matter where we are. Side note: We were listening intently to Mac speak and then all of a sudden a family of long-tailed monkeys playfully paraded behind him!

Sing for joy in the house...

2007-08-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

More photos of the Durban concert---1500 tickets were sold.

Rockin' the house in Durban

2007-08-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

Singing groups: VHF, Inside Out, One Spirit, Watershed & Free Indeed
Interpretive signing groups: God's Hands & Silent Voices

Monkeygland Burgers

2007-08-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

Mac & I asked for a cow burger, please. Now the Samoosas (fried meat pies)were awesome at the Indian Market. I also purchased several spices they mixed up in huge bowls right on the spot. One mixture was for a dish called Breyani...similar to our deep dish pot pies except with a robust flavor unlike anything we had ever eaten. I was a little apprehensive to try unidentifiable foods, but was pleasantly surprised how great the food was and I didn't lose a pound.

Indian Marketplace

2007-08-19T13:21:00.000-07:00

This is outside the Indian Marketplace. Inside were hundreds of booths with eager traders selling their wares. What an interesting place to shop! We brought an empty suitcase with us to South Africa for souvenirs and then ended up buying another one in the market to bring home even more unique gifts to our friends and family.

The rest of the story

2007-08-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Mac & I are headed to southern California for the Celebrate Recovery Summit Aug. 13-18th. Upon our return I will finish our South African story through pictures. There is still much more to share!

Beauty & the Beast

2007-08-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

We saw so many spectacular scenes in South Africa. And then the next sight would be one like this---children behind razor wire. There are Armed Response cars & signs everywhere. Even the police station is protected by Armed Response.

Partners in the Gospel

2007-08-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

Tony & Darin---our brothers in Christ! On our trip we saw and heard of much suffering, injustice, and violence in South Africa in our short visit of 2 weeks. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit are we empowered to give hope to the hopeless. Jesus Christ laid down his life to rescue us all from this present dark and dying world. We have the lifeline---rescue and redemption in Jesus Christ. We have the hope of a new heaven and new earth where God will wipe all our tears away. Tell the story until He returns---He came, He died, He arose, He ascended, He's coming back! Hope for the hopeless...check out the national website for Celebrate Recovery. www.celebraterecovery.com

God's children

2007-08-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

The “Valley” population is approximately 300,000 with a death rate which is lowering overall life expectancy at an alarming rate. HIV/AIDS infection rate is 42% with amother-to-child infection rate of 41%. Unemployment is at least 40% of the working age population. There is a frightening level of social violence which includes rape, child abuse, incest and murder. By 2010, there will be 40 million Aids orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in 19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, USAID predicts. To learn more how you can help, please visit The Valley of 1000 Hills Community Helpers at www.1000hch.com .

God's children

2007-08-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

Their kitchen is an 8X8 room to feed 100 children. There was only one pot of cabbage soup and a pot of maize which feeds all of them the one meal they would receive for the entire day. When we returned to the bus---the tears flowed freely. There was silence as we tried to make sense of what we just saw. We drove away praying for these children.

God's children

2007-08-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

Aids Orphanage

2007-08-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

We were told most the children born HIV wouldn't live past 3-5 years old. We were normally a rowdy & joyous bunch on our trip. But when we exited the bus this time, there was silence as we walked up a hill wondering what we were about to see. As we rounded the corner there was a fenced-in yard full of beautiful tiny children. We sang a song to them. Some were afraid of us but then one of their caretakers started a song and the children swayed, clapped their hands, and sang to us about Jesus. It was a battle to hold the tears back. We touched them and looked into their eyes with smiles offering candy and necklaces. Thanks to the VHF group for thinking ahead of bringing and sharing these gifts with the children.

The Valley of 1000 Hills Community Helpers

2007-08-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

This is in the beautiful sub-tropical area of Kwazulu-Natal not far from Durban. Dawn Leppan, founder of 1000 Hills Community Helpers has dedicated her life to improving the lives of HIV/Aids infected and affected children and adults through feeding schemes, clinics, counseling, Home-based care, crèches and support groups. These pictures are of women learning trade skills in bead work and textiles, and also a nursing school class. Jon & Julie Jouvenaux's young daughter, Jacy, collected 2800 Rand from our group in about 20 minutes. This equals 400 U.S. dollars which will provide 4 whole months of meals for the community. As Dawn received the gift, tears swelled in our eyes witnessing the joy on her face.

Supper at the Listers

2007-08-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

Brian is the preacher for Queen Mary Church of Christ. Dianne teaches school at the Queen Mary Church. Matthew & Cody are their handsome sons. The Bible tells us to practice hospitality. You can tell the Listers take this verse to heart because they made us feel right at home from the moment we arrived to the time we left. Two of the favorite desserts in South Africa are "Koeksisters" and "Melk Tarts". Both were extremely delicious!

Durban bound

2007-08-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

Durban population is 6 million.

4000 Penguin Colony

2007-08-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

We saw parent penguins feeding babies, sitting on nests, toddlers waddling, and teens squawking.

Chapman's Peak Drive

2007-08-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

Chapman’s Peak Drive is named one of the most scenic drives in the world.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge."
Psalms 19:1-2

Sharks get excited at Seal Island

2007-08-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

Seal Island

2007-08-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

There are 14,000 seals at Seal Island. We rode some 20 foot waves to get there. Mike & Mikel are getting married November 10th. Their wedding montage is going to be beautiful!

Oceanside living

2007-08-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

They have no hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes...no natural disasters. They leave that for us in the East.

Table Rock Mountain view of Capetown

2007-08-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

The fields are ripe...

2007-08-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

Multi cultures---Afrikaans, Zulus, Blacks, Coloreds, Indians, Whites, Rastafarian cultures. Multi religions---Hindu, Muslim, Christian. The fast growing area in the world for Christianity! There are also the Squatters, political refugees who migrate down to South Africa looking for hope. They stand on the side of the roads hoping for a job each day. Anything they can find in the trash or side of the road they will put together for a shack. They have no running water, no toilet, no electricity. There are thousands of these squatters villages all over the countryside. The government will put an electric pole in the middle of some of them as you will see dozens of wires running from one pole. Some villages have a few port-a-johns for hundreds to use. There is a problem with rampant fires throughout the villages because the shacks are so close together.

Coca-Cola

2007-08-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

You don't usually find ice in drinks. Mac was happy to have a iced Coke.

Some things you can find anywhere in the world

2007-08-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

Barbara found a part of home in South Africa---Louisiana Hot Sauce---let the good times roll!

Mac & Waitresses

2007-08-10T14:44:00.000-07:00

We sang for them after our meal. The owner of the restaurant said he wants to host a concert at his expense in 2009 behind his restaurant on the beach!

Calamari and Fellowship

2007-08-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

Their pine trees are cool looking!

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Headed to Cape Point

2007-08-10T12:03:00.000-07:00

Leaders who made this trip happen

2007-08-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

Noel, Jon, Ken, Brian

Whale sighting

2007-08-10T10:42:00.000-07:00

We screamed spotting a whale spray a water blast high in the air. You can't see it in this picture but we watched a whale show off jumping out of the water and flapping his tail. It's the time of year whales come close to shore for birthing.

Differences in South Africa

2007-08-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

Celsius instead of farenheit, kilometers instead of miles, rand instead of dollars, 7 hr. time change, winter instead of summer. GPS said we were 9000 miles from home!
Different terminology: french fries are called chips, biscuits are scones, cookies are called biscuits, napkins are serviettes, diapers are called napkins, bathroom is the loo or toilet, swimsuit is a costume, get in line is get in the que, watch your step is mind the gap, small truck is a lorry, medium truck is a bucky, van is a combi. It became a fun game realizing the different terminology. The hardest difference to get used to was driving on the left hand side of the road. And did you know the water in their drains runs opposite of ours? And why is this---they are south of the equator.
People crammed in the back of a bucky was a common sight. Another unusual sight was watching people walk the center of the highways selling golf balls, sunglasses, purses, sling shots, grass hut frames, sports jerseys, maps, and firewood.

Baboon hunting

2007-08-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Lisa leaving a snack to see if we could see a baboon upclose.

Prayer time

2007-08-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

Behind our bunkhouse I would go here to have my quiet time. I kept my eyes open though hearing of a baboon sighted there the day before. BTW, they hire people full time as whale watchers, shark watchers, and baboon watchers. At times, the baboons will come down in packs out of the mountains to raid the homes. So they will sound an alarm for everyone to bring their children inside, close the windows and lock the doors. The baboons identify people with food. They ransack people's homes if they get in and the Alpha male has teeth like a tiger. As we were driving along one day, we saw a pack of baboons on the side of the road with their babies dangling from their backs. There was a man coming up behind them with a slingshot. The baboons are trouble!

Partners in Recovery

2007-08-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

This is Donovan & Tonya, Director of Leon Bosman Addiction Treatment Centre. They were excited to hear about Celebrate Recovery. The last day of the Capetown Retreat, Amy, recovering drug addict, accepted Jesus as her Lord and asked to be baptized in the mountain stream fed pool. Someone asked her if she was freezing after coming out of the water and she said, "No, not with all the warmth of love surrounding me." Please keep them all in your prayers as they help the hurting find the hope of Jesus in South Africa.

New Friends

2007-08-10T10:19:00.001-07:00

Capetown Retreat

2007-08-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

Our first retreat was in the Capetown mountains---brrr below freezing at night. We stayed in bunkhouses, men & women separately with light sleeping bags. During the first few days of our trip we were jet-lagged. Then we headed to the mountains for a retreat, so add shivering cold to that. So for the first few days in Capetown I didn't think to take pictures half the time. I'm sorry to say I didn't get a picture of the Frosts in their home who were so gracious to welcome us for our first night's sleep after 2 days of flying and no sleep. Billy, Jannine, and their beautiful family were so much fun to fellowship with. Jannine, send us pictures after Lauralee's baby is born!

Berry Farm back deck

2007-08-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

Remember it is winter in South Africa. It felt like we were in the Swiss Alps that morning. The scenery was breathtaking!

Berry Farm

2007-08-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

Our first meal after airplane food for 2 days. We feasted on homemade scones(biscuits) with Tayberry jam (raspberry & blackberry grafted together)and hot Rooibos tea with sugar & milk complimented our lunch. We savored every bite!

Capetown waves

2007-08-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

A cascade of waves would roll in 5-8 sets at a time.

Hurry up and wait

2007-08-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

...more from London

2007-08-10T09:20:00.001-07:00

Sightseeing during London lay-over

2007-08-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

We traveled by way of the Piccadilly Tube (subway) to get to our double-decker open air bus to tour London. The bus tour was like a Disney land ride riding up top in the brisk air swerving through the streets while our British accented tour guide sporting punk rock hair entertained us. Some of the sights we saw were Big Ben, West Minister Abbey, original Scotland Yard, Buckingham Palace, the changing of the guards, London Bridge, London Eye, Thames River, and a soccer game in St. James Park.

Times Square in London

2007-08-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

International Customs

2007-08-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

Mac was always waved right through. Now me on the other hand, was frisked or x-rayed 4 times! What's up with that???

First story after we left home...

2007-08-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Read on throughout this blog to hear and see what we experienced for 16 days. Please don't check the grammar for I am not the expert---I am just sharing from my heart what comes to mind when I look at the pictures. I hope you will enjoy the pictures and a little part of the story of what all happened. Leaving home, we had no clue what we were about to embark on that would touch our hearts forever. We didn’t have much time between our first flight from Chicago to London. After 35 minutes of navigating to the new airline and waiting in line for international customs, Alan realized his wallet was missing holding all their cash. Alan started sprinting with 45 minutes to board, while we started praying. Could he make it back in time? Would we all be traveling together or not? Alan had no clue what happened to his wallet. On top of that, it’s a requirement to have a boarding pass to go back through customs to the other terminal---airport tram, bridges, escalators, long runways. But Murphy’s law didn’t continue---Alan, out of breath, talked the agent into giving him clearance. He raced to the gate and found out an attendant had discovered his wallet on the plane who proceeded to scrutinize him to make sure he was indeed Marshal Alan Robertson. Alan was ready to snatch it right out of her hands to make the mad dash back. More good news---all their money was still intact. We cheered when we saw him darting through the travelers back to our gate! We have more stories of missed flights and lost luggage to South Africa. But on the whole we made it, all 56 of us, to experience the trip of a lifetime.

Leavin on a Jet Plane...

2007-07-10T11:27:00.001-07:00

On to Memphis, Chicago, London, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Valley of 1000 Hills, Chatsworth, Empangeni...

2007-07-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

Mac baptized, Todd, friend of Greg & Lesa Rhodes, in the swampy waters of Cheniere Lake behind our home at 7:30 a.m. this morning before we left to catch our plane. What a way to begin our trip!

How this trip came about...

2007-06-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

One of my most recent joys has been co-authoring the book, “Witness”, with Debbie Webb. Free Indeed, Jon Jouvenaux, read “Witness” and decided to use this as their theme for their 2007 tour. As a result, my husband, Mac, and I along with Alan & Lisa Robertson, and their daughter, Alexis, are going to South Africa to share the hope we have in HIM with others! Part of our story---as a testimony to God’s saving grace and power, Mac, was rescued from certain death, both spiritual and physical, from the world of drug and alcohol addiction in 1988. When Mac accepted God’s call, the Father refused to let him stay where he was and started carrying out the work He began in Mac. In 1990, Mac and I, started a recovery program for addicts, alcoholics, and their loved ones. We led this ministry for 15 years until we changed it to Celebrate Recovery, which is designed for anyone with a hurt, hang-up, or habit. You may have escaped a habit or hang-up but no one is exempt from hurts. Mac and I have a new addiction now---seeing changed lives through the power of the Savior at the cross! In His Grace, Mary Owen

2007-06-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

Brothers in the Faith: Stacy, Mac and Greg

The gospel symbols are a universal language!