Out of the country and in

On the 28th of April Major and daughter Carolyn and visitor Julie and I flew from Harare to Johannesburg, South Africa to meet up with Major's son Michael who was on a 10 day break from school after finals (which he passed--yeah!).  He met us at the airport and we all took off in a rental car--first stop Pretoria.

We met up with Carolyn Hall and husband Russ McFarlane in Pretoria--our friends who visited us just before Easter with their 3 children at Chidamoyo.  Carolyn showed us around her CDC office and we enjoyed a lunch with prawns--wow, something we never get in our land locked country!

We took off after lunch for a 2 hour drive to the western boarder of South Africa to Sun City--the Las Vegas of South Africa.  We stayed in a time share resort that had water slides, putt-putt (miniature golf), pool table and ping pong--something we all enjoyed and a 5 minute ride to the gates of Sun City.

We went one day to Sun City to see the beautiful Wave pool, get lost in a stone maize, sit by their beautiful big pool and see the casino, Gary Player golf course and the Lost City hotel.  We went to a mall in a township close by and went one morning to a nearby Game Park.

In the game park we saw lion, rhino, zebra, hippos, elephant, impala, kudu.  We had a great time.

After 3 nights in Sun City we were off again to Pretoria to spend the night with Russ and Carolyn and the kids.  We had time to run to a big mall close by for an afternoon and met up for lunch with Major's older sister, Midess who lives in Pretoria with her husband.  

That evening we had a big braii (BBQ) with the McFarlane's and friends they invited over.  We had a feast of meat and it was wonderful. We visited until late and up early to head to the airport and fly home.  Michael went back to school and we landed in Harare and headed for home--packed to the ceiling with medicine we had bought earlier before we left for South Africa.  We were home at 10:45 p.m. and up early for a busy day of work the next day!

Thursday this week our area conference for Women started for our 52 churches.  It goes through tonight (Saturday) and then people leave early in the morning for home.  We are excited that all of our churches were represented and over 400 women attended.  They killed a cow and cooked lots of sadza for all the meals!

Last night (Friday) our Zimbabwe Christian College group came for their weekend with us.  For 33 years seniors come to here for a 4 day weekend to learn how to be hospital chaplains, visit sick people and minister to people with HIV/AIDS in their future congregations.  Five young men, 2 women and one of their teachers and his wife arrived.  We spent this morning teaching, students sitting in on counseling sessions and visiting with our patients in the ward.  Tonight they come for dinner here (cooking for 11) and a recap of their day.  Tomorrow we use the young men to preach in some of our local churches and the church here at mission and for Sunday night services at the hospital.  Monday they do our devotion before we start work and then head for home in Harare.

Julie was happy this week on Friday we had 2 C/Sections and she got to help assist on them and some other surgeries.  She is enjoying her time with us and getting lots of experience for her training in medical school ahead!

Just as I was ready to post this our internet went out for 11 days!  Sorry this is late!

At Harare airport ready to fly to South Africa

Major, Michael and Carolyn at the Maze 

 The Monkeys by the Monkey fountain

 Visiting the sites at Sun City

 Animals we saw in the Game Park

 Waterpark at the Timeshare we stayed at

Major's sister (2nd from right) with his kids and me

Dinner at Russ and Carolyn's house

Heading for home filled to the top!

 Women's meeting singing and dancing

Major preaching for Women's conference 

Julie helping Dr. Isala with a C/Section