Earlier tonite we arrived in Zimbabwe. We're now all checked into the Holiday Inn here in Harare. I've had a nice warm shower and am looking to a good nite's sleep.
A nice surprise... unlike my last stay here 2 years ago, there is wireless internet in the hotel rooms!
Well, it's nearly midnite here. Good night, all (assuming anyone's reading! ;)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Beautiful skies
The flight was uneventful.. which is great. My seat was in the middle of a tour group from Canada who are beginning a 3 wk holiday. Had a nice chat with my seat mate, Margaret, from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
My favorite part of the flight was looking out the window (I always prefer a window seat) to watch the full moon shining on the floor of clouds below us. Incredible. It seemed as if you could reach out and collect the cottony clouds below. I also thought about the moon bounce at my nephew, Rudi's, birthday party and wondered if walking on the clouds would be the same. Only when another plane passed below us did I have an idea how far up we really were!? That truly puts 35K feet into perspective especially at night. Wow! what an experience.
What a wonderful world.
I hope to be able to write again either at the hotel tonite or if not, at some point after reaching Mutare.
Love & prayers.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Next Leg Begins
Traveling mercies. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android |
The long journey
I'm writing from gate B37 of Washington Dulles Airport in DC. My journey by leaving the house at 6AM (-ish) to drive to O'Hare for my 8:50AM CDT flight this morning (thanks for getting me to the airport, Levon!) I arrived here before noon EDT and took the shuttle to my current gate. Got some lunch. And now I wait... until my next flight at 5:40pm.
When I booked this flight, I wasn't thrilled about the long layover here but the next flight out of O'Hare wouldn't get me here until an hour before my connecting flight. Knowing the awful on-time rate at O'Hare, I couldn't chance it.
But as the day got closer, I began to look forward to this layover. It's funny, I know. But I know Jill understands. When she last flew, she said her favorite part of flying is waiting in the airport with a cup of coffee and the newspaper.
At the time I thought, "Ok..." But now I get it. There's nothing I HAVE to do here. The terminal is surprisingly quiet and I have all this free time with no responsibilities. No one needs anything from me. So I can just sit, relax, and read whatever I want to.
It's a sad commentary of our busy, scheduled lives isn't? There must be a way to have this time at home, right? Hmm...
For those who have been asking about itinerary:
Our flight out of DC is at 5:40pm this evening with an hour layover in Dakar, Senegal where we don't have to exit the plane. We then travel on to Johannesburg, South Africa and arrive at 5:20pm local time (which is 7 hours a head of Chicago time.) The next flight is approximately two hours later so we'll arrive in Harare, Zimbabwe at about 9:40pm on Wednesday. We'll stay over night at the Holiday Inn before beginning our drive to Mutare on Thursday morning.
So there's the schedule for the next couple of days. Now back to waiting with anticipation (and my book!)
When I booked this flight, I wasn't thrilled about the long layover here but the next flight out of O'Hare wouldn't get me here until an hour before my connecting flight. Knowing the awful on-time rate at O'Hare, I couldn't chance it.
But as the day got closer, I began to look forward to this layover. It's funny, I know. But I know Jill understands. When she last flew, she said her favorite part of flying is waiting in the airport with a cup of coffee and the newspaper.
At the time I thought, "Ok..." But now I get it. There's nothing I HAVE to do here. The terminal is surprisingly quiet and I have all this free time with no responsibilities. No one needs anything from me. So I can just sit, relax, and read whatever I want to.
It's a sad commentary of our busy, scheduled lives isn't? There must be a way to have this time at home, right? Hmm...
For those who have been asking about itinerary:
Our flight out of DC is at 5:40pm this evening with an hour layover in Dakar, Senegal where we don't have to exit the plane. We then travel on to Johannesburg, South Africa and arrive at 5:20pm local time (which is 7 hours a head of Chicago time.) The next flight is approximately two hours later so we'll arrive in Harare, Zimbabwe at about 9:40pm on Wednesday. We'll stay over night at the Holiday Inn before beginning our drive to Mutare on Thursday morning.
So there's the schedule for the next couple of days. Now back to waiting with anticipation (and my book!)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Donations for Project Tariro
Thank you to everyone who made this suitcase full of supplies for Project Tariro possible!
The staff of the HIV Testing & Prevention Program at Center on Halsted
Jorge Gonzalez
Jill Dispenza
Gino Poliziani
Melvin Laureano
Luca Sandoval
What you can see are the 10 pairs of shoes beneath all these medical supplies.
Thank you, all!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Thank you!
We're now just a little over 24 hours before I begin my journey to Zimbabwe. Wow. My first trip just two years ago was the trip of a lifetime. I can't believe that I'm now preparing to go back. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity again.
I'm amazed to share that I have raised the full amount to make this return trip. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made this trip possible by sponsoring me in this endeavor:
Nancy & Mark Hallenbeck
Orpha Laurie
Jerry Miller
Donna Techau
Sherrie Lowly
Gregory Potts
Jen Landis-Santos
Karen Teigiser
Rick Box
Margaret Ann Crain
Rudi Gross (Jeremy, Jenelle & TJ Gross)
Michael Valdez
Randy Wensil
Ellen Feliciano
Tyler, Eleanor, Greta & Wes Christiansen
David Braden
Janet Ferrone
Holly Gomez
Naomi Guzman
Britta Larson
John & Carol Gross
Ethel Doyle
Ceil Zabielski
Rosa & Gordon Good
First UMC of Arlington Heights
Levon Guzman
Mark & Deb Gross
Anita Wood & the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry of the UMC
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am sincerely in awe of your generosity for without your support I would not be able to make this journey to be in ministry with the staff & clients of Project Tariro.
You've also allowed me to make a financial contribution to the work of Project Tariro. And for anyone else who would be able to support the mission & ministry of Project Tariro, you may give through this link and all further donations will be given in your name to the project.
with gratitude & hope,
Gregory
I'm amazed to share that I have raised the full amount to make this return trip. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made this trip possible by sponsoring me in this endeavor:
Nancy & Mark Hallenbeck
Orpha Laurie
Jerry Miller
Donna Techau
Sherrie Lowly
Gregory Potts
Jen Landis-Santos
Karen Teigiser
Rick Box
Margaret Ann Crain
Rudi Gross (Jeremy, Jenelle & TJ Gross)
Michael Valdez
Randy Wensil
Ellen Feliciano
Tyler, Eleanor, Greta & Wes Christiansen
David Braden
Janet Ferrone
Holly Gomez
Naomi Guzman
Britta Larson
John & Carol Gross
Ethel Doyle
Ceil Zabielski
Rosa & Gordon Good
First UMC of Arlington Heights
Levon Guzman
Mark & Deb Gross
Anita Wood & the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry of the UMC
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am sincerely in awe of your generosity for without your support I would not be able to make this journey to be in ministry with the staff & clients of Project Tariro.
You've also allowed me to make a financial contribution to the work of Project Tariro. And for anyone else who would be able to support the mission & ministry of Project Tariro, you may give through this link and all further donations will be given in your name to the project.
with gratitude & hope,
Gregory
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