Showing posts with label Wilhites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wilhites. Show all posts
Friday, June 17, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Update
Ah, what to say...
Sorry for the lack of posting, whoever may be following this blog. We have had very little internet access. I don’t really know what to say. Africa is an amazing place, mostly because it’s different than anything I’ve ever seen, but I’m a little overwhelmed right now so I can’t think of any details to give. I’m not in shock or anything, but it is kind of a lot for my mind to process. It’s not nearly as bad as any of the horror stories people have been telling us.
Jet-lag hasn’t seemed to effect me much, but Bekah and Krista slept for almost all of the first day. Mornings and evenings are cold, so I am able to where my beloved sweaters. Yes, I brought a few. My eyes and face have been very itchy and my lips have been chapped, so it may be dryer here than it was in Alaska, but it doesn’t feel much dryer. The itchiness could be from allergies. I think I might be getting a little cold or something. I don’t know. It seems that I’ve been getting exhausted sooner in the day than I normally do. I don’t know if this is because of jet-lag, the fact that it gets dark early here compared to Alaska, the busy schedule, or the fact that we’re staying with an exhausting family.
The Wilhite family have been really awesome. They are a practical, but crazy family (not unlike our own) who have gone out of their way to make us comfortable and show us around Polokwane, the town where we’re currently staying, 3 hours from Johannesburg. I always feel guilty for not being good at showing appreciation. With 8 children (that’s only the ones currently here, they have like 11 I think) there’s usually always one or two annoying brats, but they all have great personalities and are a joy to be around. This is surprising because I am easily annoyed and tend to be an unjustifiably critical person. But although I was reluctant to spend a week or two with a family of strangers, I now have no regrets and hope to call each of the Wilhites my friends far into the future.
It’s also been a blessing to meet some of the other people that are a part of the ministry here. Maybe I’ll talk more about them in the future. This is what we’ve been up to:
Thursday: Slept the Jet-lag off and met the Wilhites. Believe me, that makes for a full day.
Friday: Visited the Lion Ranch.
Saturday: Went to a Bible study with Bro. Wilhite.
Sunday: Went to a village called Dikgali for morning services, visited in town for afternoon services, and gathered for a Gospel message video with a Bible study group that Bro. Wilhite’s been meeting with.
Monday: Went to a funeral and had dinner with George and Kristen Hammett at the Wilhite’s.
I’ll definitely be posting more updates, but they may be few and far between. No promises.
Sorry for the lack of posting, whoever may be following this blog. We have had very little internet access. I don’t really know what to say. Africa is an amazing place, mostly because it’s different than anything I’ve ever seen, but I’m a little overwhelmed right now so I can’t think of any details to give. I’m not in shock or anything, but it is kind of a lot for my mind to process. It’s not nearly as bad as any of the horror stories people have been telling us.
Jet-lag hasn’t seemed to effect me much, but Bekah and Krista slept for almost all of the first day. Mornings and evenings are cold, so I am able to where my beloved sweaters. Yes, I brought a few. My eyes and face have been very itchy and my lips have been chapped, so it may be dryer here than it was in Alaska, but it doesn’t feel much dryer. The itchiness could be from allergies. I think I might be getting a little cold or something. I don’t know. It seems that I’ve been getting exhausted sooner in the day than I normally do. I don’t know if this is because of jet-lag, the fact that it gets dark early here compared to Alaska, the busy schedule, or the fact that we’re staying with an exhausting family.
The Wilhite family have been really awesome. They are a practical, but crazy family (not unlike our own) who have gone out of their way to make us comfortable and show us around Polokwane, the town where we’re currently staying, 3 hours from Johannesburg. I always feel guilty for not being good at showing appreciation. With 8 children (that’s only the ones currently here, they have like 11 I think) there’s usually always one or two annoying brats, but they all have great personalities and are a joy to be around. This is surprising because I am easily annoyed and tend to be an unjustifiably critical person. But although I was reluctant to spend a week or two with a family of strangers, I now have no regrets and hope to call each of the Wilhites my friends far into the future.
It’s also been a blessing to meet some of the other people that are a part of the ministry here. Maybe I’ll talk more about them in the future. This is what we’ve been up to:
Thursday: Slept the Jet-lag off and met the Wilhites. Believe me, that makes for a full day.
Friday: Visited the Lion Ranch.
Saturday: Went to a Bible study with Bro. Wilhite.
Sunday: Went to a village called Dikgali for morning services, visited in town for afternoon services, and gathered for a Gospel message video with a Bible study group that Bro. Wilhite’s been meeting with.
Monday: Went to a funeral and had dinner with George and Kristen Hammett at the Wilhite’s.
I’ll definitely be posting more updates, but they may be few and far between. No promises.
Us with the Wilhites at Mug & Bean
Friday, June 3, 2011
We're Here!!!!
We are all here, sort of. : ) The first day we were pretty much useless. You feel like you're trapped in your own body. You can see and hear everyone but forming a response is almost impossible. Kinda like trying to run in a dream. Today we are starting to feel human again. : ) It feels good.
So, Fairbanks to Seattle was fine. We all love the Seattle airport. We have all also decided that we like long layovers, all our layovers were too short and felt rushed, going from plane to plane with no time to recover. I hate planes right now, good thing we have three months till we have to get on other one. Amsterdam was so neat looking from the sky, very flat. It looked like a patchwork quilt from the air. They have windmills in the ocean. Very odd looking. We all hated the Amsterdam airport though. So confusing. The section that our flight to Johannesburg flew out of didn't have enough seating or anywhere to buy a good cup of coffee or something to eat, or a good bathroom. It was also kinda dirty. They might have been under construction or something. We were glad to leave it and not sad we'll be flying through Paris instead on the way back.
I can't really say what Johannesburg looks like because we flew in at night and drove out right away. While we were landing Krista pointed out the fact that if the Wilhites had not volunteered to pick us up we would have had a 17 hour layover in Johannesburg and another flight to Francistown. Wow, I am so thankful we didn't go that route, I seriously think me and Krista would have had a mental, physical, emotional breakdown at that point. : ) Going through customs was incredibly easy. Just show your passport and you're done. All are bags came through just fine. Nothing missing much to the relief of some in our party. : ) We are safely in Polokwane with the Wilhites. They do not have internet at their house so we are at a internet cafe. Everything is very modern. Reminds me alot of Brasil. Same sort of style, foods, and architecture. Very interesting since they are across the ocean from each other. The Wilhites have been wonderful. You sort of just get immersed. Good thing most of them do not require a lot of response to keep a conversation going. : ) They all (even the littlest) take turns making meals, which can be a little interesting. : ) Jeremiah forgot to spray the waffle iron this morning, so we spent a few minute scrapping of waffle mix till Dyanna came and rescued him. We just came from the famous Mugg & Bean. : ) We didn't get a picture though. We have three month though, so maybe we'll get another chance to get a picture. We probably would be posting a lot of pictures or videos till we get to Francistown and have a more reliable internet. Not home sick yet. The Whilhites have three dogs, a cat, and a new litter of puppies. : ) So we're happy.
So, Fairbanks to Seattle was fine. We all love the Seattle airport. We have all also decided that we like long layovers, all our layovers were too short and felt rushed, going from plane to plane with no time to recover. I hate planes right now, good thing we have three months till we have to get on other one. Amsterdam was so neat looking from the sky, very flat. It looked like a patchwork quilt from the air. They have windmills in the ocean. Very odd looking. We all hated the Amsterdam airport though. So confusing. The section that our flight to Johannesburg flew out of didn't have enough seating or anywhere to buy a good cup of coffee or something to eat, or a good bathroom. It was also kinda dirty. They might have been under construction or something. We were glad to leave it and not sad we'll be flying through Paris instead on the way back.
I can't really say what Johannesburg looks like because we flew in at night and drove out right away. While we were landing Krista pointed out the fact that if the Wilhites had not volunteered to pick us up we would have had a 17 hour layover in Johannesburg and another flight to Francistown. Wow, I am so thankful we didn't go that route, I seriously think me and Krista would have had a mental, physical, emotional breakdown at that point. : ) Going through customs was incredibly easy. Just show your passport and you're done. All are bags came through just fine. Nothing missing much to the relief of some in our party. : ) We are safely in Polokwane with the Wilhites. They do not have internet at their house so we are at a internet cafe. Everything is very modern. Reminds me alot of Brasil. Same sort of style, foods, and architecture. Very interesting since they are across the ocean from each other. The Wilhites have been wonderful. You sort of just get immersed. Good thing most of them do not require a lot of response to keep a conversation going. : ) They all (even the littlest) take turns making meals, which can be a little interesting. : ) Jeremiah forgot to spray the waffle iron this morning, so we spent a few minute scrapping of waffle mix till Dyanna came and rescued him. We just came from the famous Mugg & Bean. : ) We didn't get a picture though. We have three month though, so maybe we'll get another chance to get a picture. We probably would be posting a lot of pictures or videos till we get to Francistown and have a more reliable internet. Not home sick yet. The Whilhites have three dogs, a cat, and a new litter of puppies. : ) So we're happy.
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