We are ALL home! Except Austin of course....

Well we finished with orientation at Arkansas and Cam and I boarded a flight to Joberg, SA.  We were flying buddy passes and we were the last two to board an extremely full flight.  Though we weren't seated next to each other, a very nice lady gave up her window for Cameron's middle seat!  What a blessing!  I was also thankful that we weren't seated in the middle section because those folks had no movies the entire flight.  We arrived in Joberg to see Mark and Bailey waiting for us.  They took us out for dinner then we all sacked out in 2 twin beds (as that is all that was available in the whole hotel). 

We woke up the next day to do a little shopping at the local Joberg "Costco", called Makro.  But let me say, what would take us 20 minutes in the US, took us 2 hours.  It is just not that easy.  We don't know the brands, most things require a conversion for us (English vs. Metric), and things are just different.  We were all exhausted by the time we left with about 6 items (one of those was Pringles, the other Cadbury lunch bars that Austin loves!).  We stopped by Mickey D's on our way out of town (really? Bailey's request) and were finally on our way around 2:30 on Monday.  We drove what seemed like hours, oh yes it was hours, through South Africa until we reached the Swaziland border around 6:30pm.  It was pitch black dark and we were all praying for an easy crossing.  Prayers were answered and we got through both borders in about 15 minutes.  Record time.

Unfortunately all was dark as we were driving through Swaziland, but we finally arrived home to what Cam and I expected to be a house in boxes.  Only, the entire house was completely unpacked, set up, etc.... it was incredible!  Yes, I almost cried.  Mark and Bailey had been alluding to the mess of boxes all day, yet they worked incredible hours to get it set up for us!  I knew some of what Mark accomplished/worked on at Project Canaan ("the farm") and it was all consuming, I know he had to have come home at 8pm and worked until 2am several nights to get it all done!  Yet, let me say, I haven't been able to sleep in my own bed for 8 weeks, and I slept well that night!

Tuesday we got up (at 11am local time/our bodies are still not adjusted) and drove over to Canaan to see the babies.  As we pulled up, it so happens the Inkhosikati LaMbikiza (the third of the King's wives) was also at the babies home for a visit as she is the Patron of El Roi Babies Home.  It was so wonderful to finally hold the babies we had only known by name.  It was an incredible experience, so many emotions.  Most of them centered around the one thought, that if not for Heart for Africa, these babies likely wouldn't be here.  That is truly an incredible thought as you physically hold each of these precious little ones and wonder what they will be when "they grow up" and know that they have that chance!

Things are definitely different here.  We are adjusting to the "left" side of the street, lizards in our house, hand washing our dishes, strange sounds at night, the speed things get done, putting our clothes on a clothes line, and intermittent internet service, yet we are thankful we have the opportunity to be here. 

Goodnight from a cold Swazi winter night!
Blessings!
Jamie