a nice welcome home

IMG_4781
Originally uploaded by duprasville4

And we're back

It's interesting that it takes so long to do very normal things. For example, calling my parents. That's easily something I should have done Saturday morning. Writing this post, took me 3 days.

Today, Brian goes back to work. Today is my first full day back at home with the two boys (wonder what we'll do?).

It's nice being home. It's REALLY nice having clean clothes.
What's interesting to me is that at no time on our trip did I feel like "ugh, when do we go home?" Even the day that we left, I felt like I was just rolling along with the schedule. No feelings of exhaustion. Amazing.

The other thing that has been brewing inside of me is this feeling that I didn't do enough. I fear the parable of the servants and the talents -- did I bury my coin? I've felt that God has responded with "oh, is it all about you then?" The truth is, what I think I've done is on a totally different economy than what God sees that I've done. I've struggled with wanting to have something to show for my work when what the Lord wants is my heart, not my hands. He wants my availablity, my willingness, my surrender, not my task list.

One of the things Erika, Beam's director, said is that we may never understand how much the work Brian did means to them, and how valuable it is to the center (Brian worked on setting up their computer lab, installed software, ran virus scanners, etc). My mom reminded me that it was my initiative to even go to South Africa and that alone is obedience to God's calling.

I'm also excited to see how this trip will change my boys' lives. It may be in small ways that only show up here and again, or it may change their lives in big ways -- establishing a heart for overseas missions. Seeing their own lives differently. An understanding that the world is a big place and that there is more than what we can see from our zip code.

We fly home today

Can you believe it?

Our flight is at 3:45pm and we arrive in Denver at... 6:25pm. If only it really was a 2 1/2 hour flight!

We're ready to be home, but not in a "I'm ready to be home!" sort of a way. Or at least, I'm not. I'm ready to have clean clothes (I dream about it) and a room seperate from my kids, but I don't feel like I'm exhausted from travel.

It'll be great to be home. Really.

anne

Correspondence from our trip

While we were in Africa, internet access was spotty and cumbersome. I did, however, manage to get out some emails to friends and coworkers. In reflecting on the trip, I thought these excerpts would make a good blog entry. -Brian

Greetings from S Africa

I'm writing to you from a computer lab at the Education center where I'm updating about 10 computers with Adult Education and literacy software. Outside my wife and kids and the rest of our group are talking with about 150 local children about life skills and the gospel.

It's amazing the idiotic policies that the gov't has to deal with the poverty. They're building brand-new slums and concentrating all the poor into high density living areas outside the cities. No jobs, no transportation. It's like they're building hopelessness intentionally. Frustrating to see firsthand.

Gotta go - good to hear from you.

And an email from just before we left Africa:

Final update

Our work at the township has concluded. Another group of young missionaries has arrived at the education center, and we've driven down to the Indian Ocean coast to a town called St. Lucia for a couple days R&R.

Serving at the education center was a privilege - the children and adults served by the center are so grateful for our visit. During our time there we played a lot of soccer with the children, upgraded a lab full of computers with adult literacy training software, and even started a business. A group of disabled adults served by the center have banded together to start a car wash business, and will expand to create an internet cafe in time. Kevin, a businessman that traveled with us, has been consulting on the business plan and has started a micro-finance program to assist with startup funding. This program will persist and is targeted at helping the people of Nellmapius rise out of their poverty by thier own hands. The enthusiasm of the people served by this program is a joy to witness.

For the Dupras family, we have two more nights in South Africa and then we travel back with a layover in London for a few nights. Pray for safety health in travel - we have a long way to go.

London R&R, then home again

We're in London now, laying over for three days R&R and sightseeing on the way back home. We took the boys on a surprise trip to Legoland as a reward for their spectacular travel behavior. We've also seen the London Eye - a ginormous ferriswheel-like attraction along the south bank of the Thames, directly across from Big Ben and Parliament.

London is a beautiful city. We're staying in Camden in what appears to be the birthplace of punk. Interesting hair and body art abound. Is it wrong to have your 7 year old tattooed?

We have one more full day here and then it's on home again. Pray for safe travel.

Brian

Things I've learned

The number one thing I've learned is how incredibly stinkin' rich we are. I learned what aspects of my everyday life are luxurious, what things I take for granted (no guilt here, just observation), and how amazing my kids are.

I've always known that my kids are amazing, but watching them with the kids at BEAM, seeing how well they "roll with the punches" of travel, their attitudes (for the most part), and their sweet spirits. I'm so in awe of who they are. I'm excited to see who they are in 5 years, 10 years and into adulthood.

I had no idea that hot water was such a luxury. I mean, I suppose I did, but in reality, not having hot water sometimes was a huge inconvenience for me. I can get used to the whole don't-drink-the-water way of life, but not having ::hot:: water was difficult.It's hard to wash hands and keep dirt from getting trapped under your fingernails. I was able to have a cup of tea each day because of an electric kettle. Even as I write this, I feel like I'm whining.

We are in Paradise!

We're in St. Lucia, on the Indian Ocean coast. Today, Brian and I took the 5 boys to the beach and it was absolutely beautiful! The boys loved feeling the sand beneath their feet and the pull of the current (which made me crazy thinking they'd be carried off to sea!).

We weren't exactly sure how long it would take to drive here from Jo'berg and we got different answers from everyone we asked. We heard 3 1/2 hours to 7 and it took us... 10. There was construction that closed one of the two lanes of traffic. We'd have to stop for the oncoming cars for sometimes a half an hour. It was miserable. Everyone was cranky in the car. Poor Andy.

We are staying at the most beautiful place. It's called the Avalone Guest House and it's prettier than the pictures make it look. We went exploring behind the property and I felt like I was at a theme park -- we saw banana trees, thorn trees and those African trees that you see when you think of, well, African trees.

We went for a boat tour this morning and saw hippos and crocodiles.

The rest of the group left for home last Wednesday (they should be back by now). Now it's just us.

And that's about all I have to say today.

(oh, and I'm on a shared computer so I still can't upload pictures.)