Leaving ...

South Africa Flag

 Just about a week yet before we depart. For some of us, that means driving just over an hour to the Sioux Falls, SD airport, flying to Chicago and Washington DC. A relaxing evening  and morning in DC, then a rather long flight from Dulles Airport to Johannesburg (by way of Dakar, Senegal). We'll get out of the plane in Jo-burg, walk to another gate and get on a plane to Capetown. Ahhhh. A few days and nights in this gorgeous city and the region around it.  Highlights include:

• Worship in Sarepta
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
• Table Mountain
• Cape of Good Hope
• Winelands Tour and visits to Stellenbosch and Paarl.

From there it's back to through the Jo'burg airport on our way to Nampula, Mozambique. Should be a fascinating few days there of being in one of the poorest countries in the world, but on the front lines of Business as Mission (BAM) and seeing the Gospel worked out in incredibly practical ways through chicken farming, education, nutrition and more. We'll meet up with some other Dordt-connected folk there who will give us insight into this unique country, region and ministry. 

Now it's back to Jo'burg and we actually leave the Jo'burg airport this time and explore the region there with our hosts, Michael and Megan Ribbens. These Dordt grads are missionaries in South Africa with Christian Reformed World Missions. We'll benefit from their insight into not only this country, but Africa as a whole as they draw on their years of experience in Nigeria and other places as well. While in this area, we'll also check out:

• The Voortrekker Monument
• Soweto
• The Apartheid Museum
• Attend a Metropolitian Evangelical Service
• ... and more. 

Then it's on to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, one of the highest and most spectacular in the world (for something interesting, read what David Livingstone had to say about it) and then an unforgettable few days of Safari in the Chobe National Park in nearby Botswana. 

One last visit to the Jo'burg Airport as we say farewell to this beautiful region and make our way back to Washington DC (via Dakar, Senegal) and home. 

And just like that, we'll be "leaving" again, but in the opposite direction, and with memories for a lifetime. 
"Safari Salaam'a" to the group! (Swahili for "peaceful travels").