Leaving Zambia - July 3 and 4

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Each day we begin our day with the staff of Christian Alliance for Children in Zambia (CACZ).  We always sing songs of praise – “He has Made Me Glad” has a catchy tune that you can’t get out of your head – a great song to sing every day!!

I will enter his gates with
thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter his courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the
Lord has made
I will rejoice for he has made me glad
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for he has made me glad!!!

Thomas Hughes led the devotion by reading Psalm 100 and thanking all you made our visit so heartwarming.

We spent the rest of the morning saying goodbye to the staff, babies, and our fellow travelers.  I was ready to see Steve and get back home but it was hard to leave knowing that I may never see these wonderful folks again.

Off to the airport to get hugs from Kevin VanRavenstein. Kevin was our chaperon and guide.  It’s a two hour flight from Lusaka to Johannesburg which included lunch.  As we were leaving we could see Air Force 2 or 3 on the runway – Jill Biden was in Lusaka “highlighting the importance of girls’ education and women’s participation in government, the economy and civil society”.  Good for her!!  I have noticed that there are many more boys than girls in the school classrooms we visited.

Our layover in Joburg was 4 hours which gave us plenty of time to buy last minute souvenirs at the “Out of Africa” Shop.  Overseas air flight is “hurry up and wait” to go through customs, security and another security finally boarding the plane.  The flight time from JNB to LHR is 11 hours and 20 minutes.  I don’t even think about the time – I just get on get settled and start playing with all those mindless devices they have - TV, Movies, Games… a little bit of sleep and pretty soon they are bringing breakfast.  So what if my legs are numb they’ll wake up soon J.

We have a 10 hour layover in London on July 4^th!!  We decide to spend US $$ in the UK to celebrate our independence.  I shared this with the customs officer and he thought it was a great idea – Cheerio!!  So off we (Debby, Meghan, Helen and their cousin Jake) go onto the tube into central London arriving at Piccadilly Circus station at 7:30am.  Our only plan was to get back on the tube no later than 12:00pm to make our flight back home!!  So we WALKED Leicester Square and the theater district, Covent Garden Market just opening, into Somerset House and down to the Thames past Cleopatra’s Needle, Big Ben, and then trying to get into Westminster Abbey – lines too long L.  It was a beautifully sunny day for a walk and sight-seeing.

Back on the tube at Westminster Station changing to the Piccadilly Line and each finding seats as the train got more crowded with people and their bags.  Arrived Heathrow at 1PM – yay!!! 

We were all very excited to learn that our group had been upgraded to World Traveler PLUS – which meant larger seats, and a foot rest – lovely!!  So back into airplane mode playing games and watching movies and TV shows.  The flight was a mere 8 hours and 40 minutes even though the pilot had to dodge Hurricane Arthur.  We were picked up by Lisa and Connor Hughes – Lisa had just run the Peachtree Road Race – way to go LISA!!  Driving to Dunwoody we were welcomed by fireworks!!  Wonderful hot showers were taken and a good night’s sleep was enjoyed by all.  We all enjoyed breakfast at the Old Hickory House – Yum grits and biscuits.  Easy drive to Greenville where I was dropped off and then on to Asheville for Debby, Meghan and Helen.

Wonderful memories and experiences BUT THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.