We have arrived!

We just landed in Johannesburg a little while ago and are now at the Dove's Nest Hotel. There were no problems on the flight...other than that Sarah and Ann's video players were malfunctioning. Vaughn slept very well, as did Ann, Jim, Webb, and Caroline.  We think Betsy might have been so exhausted she wasn't aware of how well she slept.

Lane made two friends on the plane and was given gifts by each of them. Tom (the birthday boy) made sure everybody was happy.

We are a happy group, ready for our first African meal and a good night's sleep before heading to Malawi early tomorow morning!

Packing is far more complicated!!!

Well, I now think that I have finished packing! I spoke too quickly earlier about just how easy it was! Clothes, shoes, etc. were a piece of cake....but cramming all of the other stuff in our bags has been a challenge. Along with lots of cameras, several books, and health supplies for three weeks, we also have the "what if this happens" stuff to pack.

The adventure begins very soon. We head out knowing that we will be followed by lots of prayers and cheering us on from home.

Love to all, Ann

Packing

I have just finished a most humbling task....packing the clothes I will take for our time in Mozambique! I have packed for many trips. Never have I done it so quickly.

What hit me in the face is how little we will need compared to how much we always think we need! I have always prided myself in "my packing rule." I try to wear everything I have packed for any trip while I am traveling. All I can say that I know for sure is that there will be NO problem with that this trip!

A fortnight to go until we meet in D.C.

Gifts for churches in Mozambique

Of course, we will be spending our first week visiting villages in Mozambique. We will be taking small gifts made by children at Westminster. The 4-year-olds made some crosses like the one we have in front of the church on Easter Sunday. And Webb Hunt came in to "supervise" the project!

Then Tom McDow came and talked to the children about what we are going to be doing. It was evident why Tom is such a wonderful grandfather!

We will take these photos with us to share with the children with whom we visit.

Heading to Africa

After eight months of planning, we are now down to three weeks before the Hunt family, Lane Harvey, Tom McDow, Jennifer Fouse, Sarah Vianey, and Ann Neely meet others traveling with the Presbyterian Outreach Foundation at Dulles Airport in D.C. At 5:40 on Monday, June 6, our South African Airways flight takes off for Johannesburg....a 21 hour flight.

I am going to start posting a few photos that will get us even more excited about the journey!

This first one comes from Manenberg Public Library. The library won an award for this photo. Sarah and the librarian, Jurena, have become great chums via e-mail. The ten of us in the Westminster group will visit Jurena on June 16 when Sarah will deliver books that she has been collecting to donate to the Library (which serves the 100,000 people living in the township).