Road Trip Insanity!!!!

        It took all day driving to the border and the officers were friendly as they checked our tiny rental and put a single stamp on our passports. Day was long gone by now and we quickly found our campsite. My eyes were fixed on the ground as we set up camp and when they glanced upward I stammered in amazement as the Milky Way sparkled with a clarity you only see in text books. The new Namibian morning revealed the canyon wall across the river from our site as we sipped our coffee. The expanse of Namibia wasn’t meant for little cars like Sparky with small gas tanks, creating a worry as towns grew 2, 3, 4 hrs apart the further we rolled north.

        Reaching Mariental earlier than expected we grabbed a wrap at the gas station/Wimpy Burger and watched the spectacle as a car burst into flames 50ft from the pump. The 10ft fireball drew a crowd a bit too close to be safe. Luckily, after half an hour or more, the fire truck arrived to save the pile of ashes…oh Africa.

        For many hours life catch up was our topic with Adam and his new fiancée Jeanine who moved out here for Peace Core. Adam had our whole week planned which started at 2 am tomorrow. So much for sleep. Making it to Sossuvlei for sunrise would’ve been amazing if it were possible, but the early morning made climbing the mountainous sand dunes fun. After that the grueling hours on terrible gravel roads made 2 nights in Swakopmund a joy. Our next camp was under Spitzkoppe’s stone mtns where Mel and I tried climbing to the top and ended up in a real sketchy spot, so we played it safe after that.

        We were stopped, passing through the checkpoint into northern Namibia. They were asking for some document for our car and we didn’t know what they were talking about. I the middle of questioning Adam realized we were in trouble. The stamp we got on our passports was leaving South Africa but we never got the stamp for arrival in Namibia or the road permit. This meant not only did we not legally exist in any country but we were not allowed to be there with a car. After confusing them thoroughly and Adam and Jeanine dropping the Peace Core card we wiggled out of it, but still had to get out of the country.

        Driving through Etosha NP was an incredible display of African wildlife, most of which we caught in our video. The last day we reached the Angola border and descended long, steep stairs (which also meant we had to go back up them, who said that would be fun?) At the bottom was an old abandoned hydro plant by a waterfall now inhabited by monkeys. Making it to Jeanine’s village, we sat by a fire under the stars instantly rekindling my desire to be in Mozambique.

        Leaving Adam and Jeanine we headed for Botswana. At the very end of Namibia we found the Bezi River Bar tucked away in a farm on the Zambezi River at the border of Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana. That’s a good place for dinner. At the Botswana border keeping a cool composure was difficult. The officer looked back and forth through our pages of stamps with a puzzled look on her face then said “You entered Namibia illegally…and you leave legally” then shrugged her shoulders and stamped our passports, and after ACCIDENTALLY bribing another officer for not having a car permit we got out home free. We only took 3 days to get through Botswana and driving through more game reserves made it exciting.

        In Pretoria now. We had a week of incredible blessing and rest. Our good friend Esther and her family has been taking care of us. We’ve been blessed with so much food and even a guitar! Melody reminded me I prayed for one back in Costa Rica. God has done so much for us through other people. The future doesn’t look any more clear, but after fighting in our hearts to keep going we will finally leave for Mozambique tomorrow morning. And I am believing for impossible things.

Refreshment, Provision, & Hospitality

South Africa

A sweet friendship refreshes the soul. (Prov. 27:9)

It had been four days of travel. With one night on a ferry, one night on an airport floor, and one night in an airplane seat, we were ready to have a few nights in a bed. As we passed through South African customs early Tuesday morning Nathan and Brittany jumped out behind a corner. Nathan picked me up with a big brother kinda hug and swung me around while Brittany squealed with excitement. As we drove to the place we were staying Brittany could not keep from saying “just wait ‘till you see this place! You will love it!” And she was right. Spencer and I along with four other married couples were staying in a guest house right on Nordhook beach. As we walked into the dining room we were greeted by Brock and Crystalin, a cup of coffee and a simple breakfast. Jake and Daina as well as Will and Andrea completed the group that evening and laughter stretched to early am as the family reunion was too exciting for sleep.

        To be around happy, loving, giving friends who treat you as if you are their long lost brother and sister was the best medicine for two weary travelers. Staying up too late each night, led to sipping coffee for long hours in the morning. Tears were frequent. At times due to deep conversation and other times a result of breathtaking laughter. To live in community each day and worship God together each evening was the refreshment of our souls. Each couple individually gave listening ears to our pain, comforting words that brought us out of our pain, and financial gifts to pat us on the back and say “keep going, you can’t give up now.”  A week in Cape Town and then a few days in Port Elizabeth left us in tears as we embraced with goodbyes. 

He will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory.(Phil. 4:19)

        As we left Italy spending the last of our money on a place to sleep for three nights we were scared what to do next. God provides in many ways and we are still learning to not put him in a box. We have heard stories of random people walking up to God chasers on the street and handing them a wad of cash, stories of exciting miracles and amazing testimonies. Yet God works in whatever way he sees best for you. For us it was during a conversation with my amazing in-laws. They found out of our financial predicament and supplied our needs. Our amazing miraculous testimony on provision is the God given family we are blessed with.

        We had a month before our plane flies to Mozambique. Researching our options we decided to rent a car. After being completely taken care of by a wonderful couple in Port Elizabeth we pulled our tiny ice teal Chevrolet out of the driveway and the next time we stopped the car, was terrifying… 216 meters, 709 feet of free fall. Spencer and I decided to jump off the world’s highest bungi jump. As we walked to the middle of South Africa’s longest bridge each step made my legs shake a little more. Each heart beat walked my heart upwards toward my throat. As the energetic workers listed the order of jumpers I was relived to be last. I watched my brave husband face a fear of heights and fall gracefully off the side of the bridge with a loud deep yell. I stood in the same spot not long after he came back to solid ground and as I my body pushed into only air,  my arms did not want to glide like a bird, instead they curled up around my chest and my knees inched close as well. I became a ball thrown off a tall bridge. The fear didn’t subside after the gentle bounce and stretch of the bungi. The fear penetrated ever square inch of my body ‘till I reached the bridge once again. We received our certificates proudly and got back in the car. 

I was homeless and you gave me a room. (Matt 25:35)

Some amazing people we met in Port Elizabeth lined us up with a place to stay in Knysna about half way between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. We had heard it was a pretty cute town but we could not have even begun to understand just how blessed we would be. We met a man named Paul about our same age and he took us home to his family that had a hot dinner waiting. After dinner Paul whisked us to a church meeting. At the end of the meeting the speaker pointed us out and encouraged us to continue on our path. We had never met this man before but he spoke exactly our hearts as if we had known him for years.

The next morning Paul made the best latte` I have had our entire trip and took us to a mountain that overlooked a manicured golf course and the town.  We were again blessed with a complimentary breakfast thanks to our host and he then took us to other beautiful view points of the town and ocean. Knysna will remain in my mind one of the most beautiful places on the planet. We said our goodbyes and continued the road to Cape Town.

Jan and Allen Kilpatrick had a room ready for us as we pulled into their driveway. A week with the Kilpatrick family was like a cold glass of water on a hot day. With two girls and two boys we enjoyed being a part of a family again. It was a relaxing balance of getting stuff done, being a Cape Town tourist, and catching up on rest. The week flew by and goodbyes were once again hard to say. Only “see you again soon” could come from our lips. The journey turned a new page and it was just Spencer and I once again on the road. And so starts our Africa road trip.