As we set out to do all to which God has called us in South Africa, we recall intrepid missionaries like Dr. Livingstone, who faced peril at every turn and months of travel just to reach South Africa. While more than 20 hours of travel may seem daunting, we relish the opportunity to see Africa for the first time.
The flight from Dulles to Johannesburg features one stop in Senegal. I read John Piper's new book "Think," and the much lighter, but raucous read on the history of dueling by Virginian Barbara Holland. We both watch the film "Social Networking," and appreciate that it is sanitized of its offensive language so as to be enjoyed by all viewers about the flight – including 29 Minnesotan college kids about to spend a 'semester abroad' here.
Before long we touch down briefly in Senegal, and I look out into the blackness to make out the last stop of the tortuous, though infamous race from Paris here in Dakar. Between 40 winks and a few more chapters, we see Johannesburg peeking through some ominous clouds. The terrain is green rolling hills, with some rocky outcroppings in a few spots.
We disembark and are greeted by the ever-affable Dr. Corné Bekker, who has toiled for weeks to arrange the many meetings, conferences, and events that will fill our next two weeks. He drives us the 45 minutes to our hotel in Pretoria, and fills us in on our itinerary, family life, and some nuggets of this region he knows so well. We look out onto the soggy landscape, and my prayers go out to this nation. Was it not for more than a decade that every headline for South Africa featured the word "strife?” Healing has come to this place, yet the Lord wants to do more: bringing reconciliation, hope, equality and more. We say 'Amen Lord'; give us the privilege to be used by You for Your purposes in this place.
The flight from Dulles to Johannesburg features one stop in Senegal. I read John Piper's new book "Think," and the much lighter, but raucous read on the history of dueling by Virginian Barbara Holland. We both watch the film "Social Networking," and appreciate that it is sanitized of its offensive language so as to be enjoyed by all viewers about the flight – including 29 Minnesotan college kids about to spend a 'semester abroad' here.
Before long we touch down briefly in Senegal, and I look out into the blackness to make out the last stop of the tortuous, though infamous race from Paris here in Dakar. Between 40 winks and a few more chapters, we see Johannesburg peeking through some ominous clouds. The terrain is green rolling hills, with some rocky outcroppings in a few spots.
We disembark and are greeted by the ever-affable Dr. Corné Bekker, who has toiled for weeks to arrange the many meetings, conferences, and events that will fill our next two weeks. He drives us the 45 minutes to our hotel in Pretoria, and fills us in on our itinerary, family life, and some nuggets of this region he knows so well. We look out onto the soggy landscape, and my prayers go out to this nation. Was it not for more than a decade that every headline for South Africa featured the word "strife?” Healing has come to this place, yet the Lord wants to do more: bringing reconciliation, hope, equality and more. We say 'Amen Lord'; give us the privilege to be used by You for Your purposes in this place.
2 comments:
Amen! Izihambo ezilondekileyo (safe travels) to Dr. Campo and his wife.
Godspeed Dr. Campo, and stay safe. Tell everyone we said, "Sawabona." :) -S. Raptis
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