Welcome from Welkom, South Africa. My how time flies. It is 11:30 pm South Africa time and 4:30 pm Iowa time. First thing – math quiz. We left Des Moines International Airport at 6:05 a.m. on Monday, March 12th. Our flight stopped in Detroit, Michigan, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Georgia, Dakar, Senegal, and last but not least, Johannesburg, South Africa. Oh, we weren’t finished yet. Then in a truck and a van (pulling an open air trailer with all the luggage, except one bag, in it), we embarked on a 3 hour trip to the Pines Village here in Welkom. Praise God for wonderful transportation and very, very, friendly people on all the flights. Okay, if your math isn’t the greatest, Dawn said that we spent 34 hours (give or take a couple) on our journey. Boy are my ankles swollen and I didn’t sleep very well on any of the flights!!!!!! Brian and Lois Neihoff (the couple that runs the orphanage) met us at the airport in Johannesburg along with two of the girls (they are the sweetest things) with their Point of Grace signs in hand. It was a wonderful welcome and they made us feel right at home. God blessed me already in the trip back here to the Pines. I was sitting in the back of the van with the two girls and Justin Davis (16 year old son of Tara and Chris) and the girls proceeded to sing about 15 – 20 minutes of different songs they have learned about Jesus. I cried because I couldn’t have had a much better blessing in the first couple of hours here in South Africa. The land from the plane was fantastic – really red clay dirt. Most of what you see from the plane looks upscale. From what I saw in the dark closer to here was a different story. I have had a shower since about 3:30 am Monday morning – I feel good. Need to sign off for now since I am very low on energy. Many, many, thanks to God for choosing me to be so blessed here. I am sure I will be a very different person when I get home.
Love in Christ,
Dee Dee
7 comments:
Hi Dee Dee
I Just read your blog please write daily. Lori and I will read it and pray for you all as we do. I know God will do a great work through you and your team. We wish we were there with you as dooes everyone who has been there.
All Gods Love and Protection
Tim Hommer
Glad to hear all of you made it safely to Welkom. Thanks for taking the time to post an update to your blog. The temperature today reached 76 degrees. This set a new record for March 13. The old record dated back to 1933. We will keep you all in our prayers. Drake says "Hi!"
Greeting from Iowa!
Thanks for updating your blog. It is so special to hear from you in Africa! Our Bible study is praying for your mission group.
Please say "hello" to my dear friend, Martha!
Give each child a smile and a hug....at least once today! What a joy!
May God continue to bless you! Val Near
Greetings From Phoenix Arizona,
Glad to hear you arrived safely and hope you have had good rest,hot shower,food and ready to start your work. Please tell our sister/sister-in-law Martha Cole "HELLO" from us and that we are thinking about her each day. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.
Bo & Etta Grismore
Hello!
Thank you for the update it is great to hear you made it safely! I am praying for all of you. Please tell Tara, Chris and Justin hello.
Holly Reinhardt
Nice to see that you got onto a flight to South Africa (my home country). Enjoy. Prayers.
Hi Dee Dee and Tom,
How exciting to see you serving the Lord in this way. We are praying for you both and look forward to all you will be able to share when you return.
A selfish side note........Ben and Angela are having a BOY........so we can both celebrate as we watch our little guys grow!
Love you lots and sorry I didn't get to say good bye.
May God bless you with physical strength, spiritual growth and also use you in the lives of those
you are in contact with.
Love you,
Tim and Pam
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