Arrived Safe On Jaelyn's Birthday!

Everything with our flight went smooth, except for the turbulents, but they were not too bad either.  We arrived early in Johannesburg and had no problems making our way through Customs and picking up our baggage, including the two bow cases!  Always happy to have everyones bags after a two day journey like that!  We were met by Jannie who came to pick up our extra luggage that we are not taking to Zambia and by the staff from our Inn.  How great to be able to come to the other side of the world and meet a fellow christian who you can trust to leave your luggage with even though you have never seen him before.  There is that common bond in Christ right away!

We had a slight delay at the airport waiting for hunters who were also staying at the same Inn as us.  They didn't have their proper paperwork for bringing their rifles into South Africa so we were delayed about an hour waiting.  Those crazy hunter, what is it about them!

Our place to stay tonight is great.  It is a small Inn with an unique African decor.  With only four parties staying here tonight it was fun to visit with people from Australia and USA while we all ate in a small dining room restaurant.  The meal was a great African BBQ with great steaks and sausage and several things I don't know what they were but all tasted great.  It was fun to see the excitement of these hunters as they prepare to go on their safari's and to be able to tell them about why we were in Africa too.  We never heard a single negative comment about coming to share the gospel and teach archery.  In fact most people seem to think that it is an awesome combination.  I tend to agree!  It is fun being a hunter and having that common bond to talk to so many other people who are here only to hunt.

We also enjoyed tonight's supper as it was Jaelyn's 16th Birthday.  She had wanted to swim tonight but after feeling how cold the pool is we easily changed our minds.  Nobody should have to come to Africa to have a Polar Bear swim!  The staff here made up for it partially by having a special Birthday greeting and decorations for Jaelyn in our room.

It is good to be able to get some rest tonight after enjoying the supper and getting a few things organized for tomorrow.  We have to leave here at 7:45 tomorrow morning to get to airport in time for our flight as they want you there three ours early because it is international.  So no sleeping in but we look forward to arriving in Zambia tomorrow and seeing how we can serve God and the people there.  I don't feel prepared at all personally but while ready a few chapter of the book "Radical" today I am reminded that it is not 'us' who will do the work but rather the Holy Spirit working through us.  There is no doubt He is prepared.

As I mentioned before we don't know if we will have internet while in Zambia so there may not be an update until the 14th.  Please pray for safe travels tomorrow again.  We thank God for the safety so far, despite some swollen ankles from sitting so long.  We also feel it was an answer to prayer that Crystelle's back didn't give her any trouble on the long flight despite having some pain on the earlier two flights yesterday.  Pray that the baggage we have will not be too much to fit in Jacques six seater plane that we will be taking from Livingstone to the RaG base.        We think we did well packing this light but not sure Jacques will agree.  Our "carry-ons" are pretty stuffed!  I look forward to the adventure of that flight.

Please pray that the food will not be a big issue for the girls to adjust to.  Pray to that we will remember to take our Malaria pills on time each day and that they wouldn't cause any serious side effects.  Finally and most importantly,  pray for those we will be serving and that we can be blessing to them while assisting to bring the Gospel message to them.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would work through us to produce the results and that all the glory would be to God!