Another day, another phone call. Hurrah.
Talia called from Thailand. It was so good to talk to her. I knew she was going to call; she had called this morning while we were at church and said she'd try again this evening. I'll admit I didn't wander too far from the phone as the afternoon wore on and the evening began.
First she called asking permission to be baptized. They're having a special service at one of the rivers there, and she'll be baptized by one of the team leaders she's grown to admire. Of course I said that would be fine. I know she was baptized just before she was confirmed, but I think this has a little more personal meaning for her. She told me she would come home with a picture and a certificate, so you'll all get to see the picture here.
And she said her time in Thailand is almost over. She's spent her weeks there planting rice (which was very fun she said), teaching English, working with orphans and with old folks and doing lots of shopping. What size shirt do you wear Loren?
Tomorrow (today in Thailand) is their free day and after the baptismal service; they'll be riding elephants, watching an elephant show and going bamboo rafting. Then I think they have one last day in Thailand before they board their plane for Texas, and a few days later for home.
The newest news? She's hoping to live with Donna and Loren in Iowa for a bit, working and saving her pennies, and then she's considering art school or Bible school. She's so much like I was when I was her age -- she changes her plans about every 10 minutes :)
Anyway, same as last post, there probably won't be any more entries until I've actually squeezed her to pieces. I'll give both girls hugs from all of you until you can see them yourselves.
Later,
b
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
News from South Africa
This morning (a lovely, warm, sunny North Dakota morning) as I was drinking my coffee, the phone rang. It was - surprise - Kate in South Africa. It was so lovely to talk to her. She sounded healthy and happy and like she's having the time of her life.
Since they finished teaching school, they came back into the slums around Johannesburg and starting doing "hut-to-hut" ministry. I think it's been an enormous eye-opener for Kate. They basically spend their time as part of a small team (usually 4 kids) going from hut to hut in the slums doing whatever needs to be done. They clean. They wash clothes. They take care of small children. In small, electricity-free huts. Kate tells me she's gotten very good at washing clothes by hand. They are also doing VBS part of the time, but mostly they're just helping people and talking with them and trying to form relationships.
The only time Kate hasn't been 100% healthy was when they were teaching school. Then she says she had a terrible cold and couldn't even talk. Luckily they were team teaching so she either drew illustrations on the chalk board or had someone repeat what she said in an audible voice. They also did a lot of individual tutoring, trying to slide the gospel in when it was appropriate.
Next week will actually be her last week in Africa. Monday they're going hut to hut in the morning and packing their bags in the afternoon. Tuesday they're going on safari. Wednesday they're flying back to Texas. And on Saturday they'll be coming HOME!!!
Hurrah.
I'll post pictures when Kate gets home with her camera. And hopefully a few stories of some of her adventures.
Next time you see me, I'll have my girls home again.
Later,
b
P.S. A couple of quick notes: She said it was REALLY cold when they were out in the bush. Like 20 degrees at night and 40 to 50 during the day. Luckily it's warmer near Jo-berg, about 70 degrees during the day; and, sadly, she did manage to get sunburned.
She also said that one of Talia's leaders in Cambodia had come to South Africa and was leading one of her group's smaller teams. Cool, eh?
P.P. S. I am posting one picture of the area where they're working that I borrowed from the Global Expeditions website. Yikes.
Since they finished teaching school, they came back into the slums around Johannesburg and starting doing "hut-to-hut" ministry. I think it's been an enormous eye-opener for Kate. They basically spend their time as part of a small team (usually 4 kids) going from hut to hut in the slums doing whatever needs to be done. They clean. They wash clothes. They take care of small children. In small, electricity-free huts. Kate tells me she's gotten very good at washing clothes by hand. They are also doing VBS part of the time, but mostly they're just helping people and talking with them and trying to form relationships.
The only time Kate hasn't been 100% healthy was when they were teaching school. Then she says she had a terrible cold and couldn't even talk. Luckily they were team teaching so she either drew illustrations on the chalk board or had someone repeat what she said in an audible voice. They also did a lot of individual tutoring, trying to slide the gospel in when it was appropriate.
Next week will actually be her last week in Africa. Monday they're going hut to hut in the morning and packing their bags in the afternoon. Tuesday they're going on safari. Wednesday they're flying back to Texas. And on Saturday they'll be coming HOME!!!
Hurrah.
I'll post pictures when Kate gets home with her camera. And hopefully a few stories of some of her adventures.
Next time you see me, I'll have my girls home again.
Later,
b
P.S. A couple of quick notes: She said it was REALLY cold when they were out in the bush. Like 20 degrees at night and 40 to 50 during the day. Luckily it's warmer near Jo-berg, about 70 degrees during the day; and, sadly, she did manage to get sunburned.
She also said that one of Talia's leaders in Cambodia had come to South Africa and was leading one of her group's smaller teams. Cool, eh?
P.P. S. I am posting one picture of the area where they're working that I borrowed from the Global Expeditions website. Yikes.
Monday, July 21, 2008
New Pix....
Still no new news. But a couple of pictures.
Can you find TJ in this picture:
How about here:
Doesn't she look good?
More later,
b
Can you find TJ in this picture:
How about here:Doesn't she look good?
More later,
b
Friday, July 18, 2008
Look...Look...Look
Although there's not much news about what the kids are doing in South Africa, the Global Ex website has published a couple of new pictures. Here it's easy to see Kate. (And doesn't that landscape look desolate?)Once you see her in the above picture, you'll find it easier to find her below.
See what I mean?
More later,
b
Thursday, July 10, 2008
New Day, New News
Last night, as Donna and I were sitting around visiting with Mom and Dad, the phone rang. It was Kate calling from Texas. It was about 10 (I think) and she was hanging around waiting to drive to Dallas to start her trip to Africa. They were leaving the GE site at 1:30 a.m., driving to Dallas, flying to New York, then some mystery city in Africa and finally onto Johannesburg. They expected to arrive in Jo-berg at about 5:30 this afternoon.
Kate was so excited. They've spent most of the last few days learning curriculum because they're going to be teaching school to teenagers who belong to the Zulu tribe for their first week in S. Africa. Then they'll be going back to the city to run VBS and do other kinds of ministry things.
Too exciting for words,
b
Just a quick update....I had a phone call from Kate Friday afternoon at 3:30. She had arrived in Johannesburg about an hour before and was finally making her call home. It was 11:30 at night and she was tired and looking forward to being horizontal for a while. More news when I know more :)
Kate was so excited. They've spent most of the last few days learning curriculum because they're going to be teaching school to teenagers who belong to the Zulu tribe for their first week in S. Africa. Then they'll be going back to the city to run VBS and do other kinds of ministry things.
Too exciting for words,
b
Just a quick update....I had a phone call from Kate Friday afternoon at 3:30. She had arrived in Johannesburg about an hour before and was finally making her call home. It was 11:30 at night and she was tired and looking forward to being horizontal for a while. More news when I know more :)
Monday, July 7, 2008
Kate's First Flight
Today's news? Kate's arrived safe and sound in Texas.
After spending a few days with her auntie and uncle in Iowa, she boarded her plane this morning and just landed in Dallas. Now she'll spend a few days getting to know her teammates and learning the songs and skits they'll do in South Africa. Then, on Thursday I think, they'll all get on another plane and fly to Johannesburg.
She was happy to tell me that she even met another GE missionary in the airport in Minneapolis. He was on his way to Argentina; I think he was meeting his team there since he wasn't going to Dallas first. By the time I talked to her in Dallas, she had already met up with three more GE travelers.
After days and days of being a little nervous, Kate sounded happy and excited on the phone. I let her go before I got all teary and made her sad too.
More later,
b
After spending a few days with her auntie and uncle in Iowa, she boarded her plane this morning and just landed in Dallas. Now she'll spend a few days getting to know her teammates and learning the songs and skits they'll do in South Africa. Then, on Thursday I think, they'll all get on another plane and fly to Johannesburg.
She was happy to tell me that she even met another GE missionary in the airport in Minneapolis. He was on his way to Argentina; I think he was meeting his team there since he wasn't going to Dallas first. By the time I talked to her in Dallas, she had already met up with three more GE travelers.
After days and days of being a little nervous, Kate sounded happy and excited on the phone. I let her go before I got all teary and made her sad too.
More later,
b
Sunday, July 6, 2008
TJ Phone Home #2
Another early morning phone call from Tal. Four a.m. here -- five p.m. there. She just called to let us know that, after spending a little time on the road, they've arrived in Thailand all in one piece. They have a couple of free days now while they wait for a few new recruits from Teen Mania in Texas. In the meantime, they're planning to travel to Burma and Laos. They're hoping to shop, ride elephants, and generally have a good time. We're hoping they'll have time to rest and recuperate before their second month.
While they're in Thailand, they're set to do more Vacation Bible School with the little kids and to work with the older kids and young adults helping them with their English. It also looks like they'll be working with the local church, which should be an eye-opening experience.
I guess that's all I know for now. It was another of those lovely overseas phone connections where we had difficulty with the delay and kept talking at the same time. About the time I figure that out, it will be time for the girls to come home. I'll let you all know more when I know more.
Later,
b
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Sad Day #2
Oh man, I've hit a new low in blogging. I just deleted today's entire entry. Rats. I'll do my best to recreate it, but it was good. Sigh.
Ummm....it was another sad day in the Randall car today. After hugging Kate and holding her close, I had to let her go, get in the car, and drive home. We were at Donna's house (surprise) where we spent the last couple of days. And I had promised Phil I would drive home today so we could spend the 4th together.
It was a sad, lonely trip. My only company? A mystery novel on CD. There was no giggling. No cow poker or license plate bingo. No long strings of silly jokes or goofy songs from my childhood. Just me. Tired and teary. I don't know if you all know, but Donna and Ren just moved to a new town. They're in Ida Grove, IA. It's a nice little town, but the drive is a little longer. By the time I hit Jamestown, I was so tired I thought I might drive off the road. So I parked in the shade at a rest stop, cracked the window a bit for fresh air, leaned my seat back, and closed my eyes. But there was no way sleep was going to work. I laid there, eyes squinched shut, vibrating. After a few minutes I gave up, bought another Coke, set my cruise control, and hit the road again. I did make it home -- obviously -- but I think it'll be an early night tonight.
Kate's spending this week playing with her little cousins and helping Donna and Ren get settled into their new house. Then next Monday, Donna will drive her to the Minneapolis airport and see her onto her plane. From there, Kate will head for Texas for a few days of getting to know her fellow missionaries and then they'll fly away to Africa. How cool is that???
There was a nice surprise waiting for me when I got home. Tal had called and left a message on the answering machine. She's just finishing up in Cambodia and will soon be heading for Thailand. In between, she's going to be spending a few days in Burma. She promised to try and phone again this weekend. If it works, you'll all hear more from me. Otherwise, we'll all wait together for our next update.
Promise,
b
Ummm....it was another sad day in the Randall car today. After hugging Kate and holding her close, I had to let her go, get in the car, and drive home. We were at Donna's house (surprise) where we spent the last couple of days. And I had promised Phil I would drive home today so we could spend the 4th together.
It was a sad, lonely trip. My only company? A mystery novel on CD. There was no giggling. No cow poker or license plate bingo. No long strings of silly jokes or goofy songs from my childhood. Just me. Tired and teary. I don't know if you all know, but Donna and Ren just moved to a new town. They're in Ida Grove, IA. It's a nice little town, but the drive is a little longer. By the time I hit Jamestown, I was so tired I thought I might drive off the road. So I parked in the shade at a rest stop, cracked the window a bit for fresh air, leaned my seat back, and closed my eyes. But there was no way sleep was going to work. I laid there, eyes squinched shut, vibrating. After a few minutes I gave up, bought another Coke, set my cruise control, and hit the road again. I did make it home -- obviously -- but I think it'll be an early night tonight.
Kate's spending this week playing with her little cousins and helping Donna and Ren get settled into their new house. Then next Monday, Donna will drive her to the Minneapolis airport and see her onto her plane. From there, Kate will head for Texas for a few days of getting to know her fellow missionaries and then they'll fly away to Africa. How cool is that???
There was a nice surprise waiting for me when I got home. Tal had called and left a message on the answering machine. She's just finishing up in Cambodia and will soon be heading for Thailand. In between, she's going to be spending a few days in Burma. She promised to try and phone again this weekend. If it works, you'll all hear more from me. Otherwise, we'll all wait together for our next update.
Promise,
b
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