Skip to main content

A journey to Africa | Johannesburg airport in transit.

And so it has begun. After months of anticipation and preparation I am well on my way. I am typing this at the airport in Johannesburg as I sip a latte in a very tall glass, and enjoy some lovely french toast with Maple syrup and bacon. My view is of the runway and is a reminder of how airports connect the nations.

This is not my first time at this airport. 20 years ago when I was 20 I had a layover here travelling back from visiting friends in Zimbabwe. There was a strike with the company I was flying with and so instead of a direct flight from Harare to London, I had to fly via Johannesburg. I remember how nervous I was, wondering how I would figure out the whole changing planes thing, and remember finding it all quite an ordeal despite being upgraded to business class (which at that time meant sitting next to a chain-smoking gentleman and with the entertainment system not working for the whole very long flight). Looking back I see how much things have changed. How much I have changed. How much life adds to us wisdom and experience and the peace in knowing that things mostly work out somehow. Getting on a series of flights to reach a destination has become normality, and I have learnt to savour not just the arriving, but also the travelling, realizing that every journey really begins the moment an idea or thought or dream starts to become a concrete plan.

Expectations. They are there whether we have formulated them or not. Life has been busy and I've not found enough time in the past weeks to really sit down and think about this trip in a focused way. Not enough time to pray and ask God what He has for this mini-missions trip. And yet I feel such a surge of excitement as I sit here. A bit zombielike energy wise (flights are a cause of interrupted sleep, and it might just be my age, but the seats seemed even narrower than before even for me with short legs), but feeling light. Full of peace and like the weight of the every-day having been lifted, leaving capacity to see more and take in more. Ready for what these week will contain and hold, hoping that as I get to live life here for a tiny while, that I can be a blessing to those I meet along the way.

I just ordered a glass of mango juice, and the thick sweet flavour takes me back to Brazil where there was so much life. I hope this time can also bring renewed life to my heart as I again step out of what is comfortable and familiar, and get to see the faithfulness of God in the midst of it.

Popular posts from this blog

Packing...again.

I just folded the last load of laundry and I’m almost packed. Off to the airport at 5am tomorrow morning, heading off to Amsterdam. I’m excited, a bit nervous, and wondering what it’ll be like. It’s been a good week at home with lots of quality time with family, especially the little nieces and nephew. I’m glad I’ll see them in April again. Well, not much to write and packing to be done and a bit of sleep would probably be a good idea too. Next time I write it’ll be from Amsterdam....

Snapshots of life...

Life. What is life anyway? And what does it mean to live life to the full? A little reflection there. One thing I do know is that I am alive and that the days seem to pass by quicker then I would like them to. The month of July has literally flown by... I can’t believe this weekend it’ll already be August. Where did July go? It’s been an eventful month. Last week was my birthday and I felt very loved and valued. Going for a Brazilian BBQ with some friends in a week or so and I am very excited!! I really hope it’s authentic and good, or I think I will most certainly be a tad disappointed. I also got given a car, almost on the day of my birthday. A good friend of mine got given another car and so she gave me her old one. It took a week and a bit for the garage to fix it up and pass it in the inspection, and getting it licensed in my name and getting insurance wasn’t totally straightforward, but I now have it. And it feels so freeing and lovely when I’m driving my own car!!! It’s a golden...

Small moments that mean a lot

Walking home on the crunchy snow that lights up a December evening,  I felt so thankful. The revelation that fellowship and being together is the best gift you can give someone, and realising that although it might seem small, it can turn into something big when a person feels seen and valued.  Yesterday I helped out with a crafts workshop for a group of lovely women volunteering for Crux where I worked before (well, in all honesty: they were making angels while I ate Christmas cookies, Quality Street chocolate, and chatted). I love walking alongside people in conversation, and realise sharing life for 2 hours can last so much longer in value and experience.  This evening we had our Christmas dinner for volunteers and people who are part of my current job. It was a delightful evening with many nations gathered around the same table…. eating the same food… and for a few hours creating a small fellowship moment that will become a good memory for the future. Often in my job ...