Well, it's been fun hasn't it Dan?

Quoting the famous line from our Taigum newsreaders, sums up our epic voyage. "It sure has Mike."

This journey, "around the World in 80 days" has been the trip of a lifetime. Last night we had dinner with old friends in Singapore, Peter and Jeannie Smith and we were telling them that each place we've visited has been special for one reason or another.

Chile was wonderful... seeing old friends and colleagues and to see how well our church there is going. Then Bolivia,... it was so good to see the work Mik and kay have done there and we are so excited about the future of Casa Segura.

USA was great just to catch up with our good friends and missionary colleagues, Pat and Heather. What a joy it was to re-new our very good friendship. Paris was... well Paris is special all on its own. England was a wonderful time of rest and taking in the history and exploring our roots. We have fond memories. We also struck the only hot and fine week they experienced all summer.

Malta was a new experience - so ancient and full of history. Italy, was perhaps the holiday highlight for us. We loved our time in Italy. From the ferry ride to Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany is magical and Rome, like Paris has its own special-ness.

What a wonderful joy it was to finally meet our children in Uganda and to see the amazing job that David and Kathryn are doing there and the great work done by Phil, Quinton and Erica too.

Onto South Africa and our lovely break on a guest farm with Rod and Jan. How good it was also to re-unite ourselves with Noreen Hallam and to meet her Pastor. A connection and relationship for the future. The animal safaris were very special also.

Singapore... a time to prepare for home and re-adjust our body time clock. We have a good anticipation of home and our normal routine.

Thanks for joining us on our journey. The comments were appreciated too.

God bless

Gary and Judy

First airplane hiccup

After multitudes of airports and connections, we had our first major hiccup yesterday at Hong Kong Airport... we missed our connecting flight to Singapore by just a couple of minutes. After a 13 hour flight from South Africa, we landed and it seemed ages to taxi to the gate and disembark. We thought we'd make it ok until we encountered the queue at the security check. It was at least 50 metres long and then we dashed for our plane, but.... it was gate 62 and security is at gate 1!! Oh dear. The journey to gate 62 required that we walk several corridors, take two lifts and two escalators. Too much!

The plane was still there but the doors had closed and our bags were taken out of the hold (these security conscious days the refuse to allow your bags to travel without you). No great drama really. We convinced Cathay that it was all their fault and they put us on the next flight two and half hours later.

We arrived in Singapore after 24 hours of travel from Africa. We are staying at the apartment of our friends John and Mary Elliott who are in New Zealand. their son David is here (although rarely actually present). We'll take it easy here and enjoy the botanical gardens and one or two other things before flying home to Brisbane Friday night.

Thoughts of Home...

With just 8 days until we’re home, our thoughts are naturally beginning to turn there. Having taken the first six weeks of our trip to wind-down (I would awaken every morning with the thought, “what do I have to do today?), it will be difficult to get back into the way of routine and work.

It has been great to catch up with Rod and Jan Best, our friends and colleagues who now reside in Botswana. They have taken a week out from their busy lives to relax with us at a lovely Farm Guest House in a place called Bela Bela (formerly Warm Baths). It is about a couple hours north of Johannesburg and a very Afrikaans area. All the blokes are called Frikkie, Hansie, Bakkies or something like that. We are beginning to say “yeaaa” instead of yes or yeah.

On Weds we had a truly great day. We travelled about an hour away to a National Reserve and drove all around it for the afternoon. It was very exciting to see Giraffe, Zebra, etc all in their natural habitat. The reserve is in the Waterberg mountain range and so we reached some fairly high altitudes at times.

Yesterday, we drove to a nearby Farm which is a Cheetah and Wild Dog breeding sanctuary. While not out roaming free, it was wonderful to see the animals (all endangered). The Cheetahs are a very special creature and we got to touch and pat one. We also saw a White Rhino – a real big fella, at that sanctuary.

Unfortunately I got sick in the afternoon. First health problem for the journey. Must have eaten something questionable. Thankfully, I awoke this morning better.

Next few days we will just relax and take in a few local sights and enjoy each others company. We fly out Monday to Singapore for a few days before landing in Brisbane on Saturday 13.

T...I...A (this is Africa)

What an amazing continent is Africa. Full of beauty, diversity, pain, joy and nature’s splendour.

Saying farewell to the children at Akaniyuka was painful and emotional, both for us and for them. We had bonded so strongly with them and it is a hard to realise that by coming and leaving that we are adding to their sense of loss, some having only lost their parents in recent months. We prayed for each of the 38 individually (see pic) and it was a special time. We promised to return.

David and Kathryn are doing a wonderful job there and it is a joy for us to see how much they have grown and matured into effective ministries.

Our last two days in Uganda were spent visiting the Queen Elizabeth National Reserve, one of Africa’s largest and natural game reserves. We were blessed to be able to see so many birds and animals in their natural environment. It was a special moment when we came across a large lion with his mate. They were just relaxing about 50 metres from the road and they gave a us a great display. We saw an elephant in the distance and many other critters. On the boat, we ran over some hippos and got to see the African crocs which look quite different from our Aussie variety.

Saturday saw us fly off to South Africa and having to say farewell to Liz our daughter in Jo’Burg as she returns to her family in Brisbane. She had an experience in Uganda that she will never forget and the children loved her.

Our old friend Noreen Hallam, who is the SA director of the YWCA, picked us up and we are staying with her until Rod and Jan Best can get down from Botswana (Monday). We ministered at Petra, Noreen’s church on Sunday and had a great time over lunch with her pastor, Keith and Anna Coster……..kindred spirits.

It has turned very cold here in Jo’Burg and there is snow around on the mountains. We look forward to exploring some of South Africa and we will be especially looking out for some more animals to enjoy. The South Africans are revelling in their huge win over the Australian Wallabies on Saturday – the first rugby game we’ve been able to watch for ages.

Upon Lake Bunyonyi

8 Km from Kabale town and high above in an old volcanic crater sits serene and beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. Enormous and shaped like a star fish, the Lake has many islands and inlets and so affords the seeker of solace plenty of opportunity to “get away from it all.” It is a great blessing for our team to be able to go and do exactly that from time to time.

It was our second visit, having gone there in January last year and we never fail to be taken by the peace, quiet and stillness of the place. It is almost eerie. We took a long-boat ride out to an island that has a restaurant and together with our team here (David & Kathryn; Graeme, Lisa and Damon), we enjoyed a fine meal… all at the outrageous cost of around $5 per head.

After lunch and at David’s instigation and insistence, we walked around the the entire perimeter of the island. Phew! We were all happy to arrive at the jetty, although David was overheard to make a few snide remarks about “old geezers walking slowly.” His day will come!

Sunday was a shock to my system with having to preach at Edwards church in the morning and then again at one of the ever-happening conferences in the afternoon (at the very sleepy time of 3pm). Having been out of the way of ministry for several months, it was a bit of an effort to crank up the boilers again.

Monday saw us back to our busy social schedule – visiting various ministries, dining with the Wards, an English family out here working with street kids; and visiting a village where two of our children come from… a real eye opener. The villages are devastated by the effects of AIDS and there are children, old people and not much in between. It is estimated that there are still thousands of orphans out there. Our children know that and it makes them sad. They want them to have the same opportunity they have.

Today (Tuesday) will be our last in Kabale this trip before we head off to Queen Elizabeth Park and Game Reserve for two days. Then Saturday it’s off to South Africa where we will have a week together with Rod and Jan Best. Can’t wait.

Jesus loves the little Children.. all the children of the world...

It is a joy unspeakable for us to be in Uganda with the children we have helped rescue from awful situations. To hear them share of their gratitude and to witness their joy and laughter is so rewarding for us. Many have just recently lost their parents and endured such atrocities that it is amazing that they are even able to smile, let alone laugh.

One girl, Joyce, had just had a weekend back at her village for a visit during school holidays and she shared, amid tears, about how sad it is to see the circumstances of the other children there compared to her new life. These children speak in such a mature way, given they are only seven or less.

It was also a great joy to see our daughter Liz at the Kampala airport. She joined us for the long journey south to Kabale and is being impacted by what she sees here.

Yesterday we went to another ministry, the Drop-in Centre, where street kids of about 5-16 years gather each day for a meal and a bath. An English couple runs the ministry on a shoe-string budget.

Not many pics this blog, as the connection (dial up) is very slow. David and Kathryn are well and flourishing and Graeme, Lisa and Damon are all doing well and busy.

Off to see the children again, then a board meeting this afternoon for the children's home.

Friends, Romans, Citizens.... lend me your "eyes"

This blog post is a bit rushed as we sit in the Bristish Airways Lounge at Rome Airport. The Italian holidays are ending as we head off to London and onto Uganda - a long flight. We are looking forward to seeing our daughter Liz at Entebbe airport and of course, our team in Kabale.

Italy has been wonderful and we're already scheming about how we can come back here again sometime. We left Florence a day early and had an unscheduled afternoon in Rome. we got a great hotel at Lastminute.com - right in the centre of Rome and within easy walking distance of many great sites (see pics). Although we only arrived by train at 4pm Saturday, by 7pm we had visited the Spanish steps, Fountain Trevi, the Piazza Venezzia and the Colesseum. All VERY impressive places.

There is a camera opportunity on EVERY corner in Rome. Ruins, ancient buildings, art, amazing designer shops. At the Spanish steps we stumbled into the street that houses every designer brand (see pics) and they've been there a while.

There are three pics included from Florence - my favorites. They are Gary next to the Michelangelo Sculpture La Pieta, the Ponte Veccio and the close-up of the cathedral door frieze that Mikey boy dubbed the Paradise doors - amazing work and artistry.

Getting our rental car back to downtown Florence was an adventure! we had it all figured on the map and then had our plans dashed by roadworks and one way streets. Just when we were about to give up in dispair, we looked up and lo we were outside the rental car place!! Pays to pray!

So, to Uganda where the internet connections are dubious at best. Hope to be able to blog something at sometime... but, who knows?????? A big ciao from both of us.

Leaning, leaning....

Yesterday saw us successfully negotiate the Italian Autostrade system and travel some 450kms in our little Nissan Micra (we have done over 600km on just over half a tank of gas). Interestingly, despite their reputation for outrageous driving, we’re finding that driving here is easier than at home and the signage and signals etc are the best we’ve come across anywhere.

First stop was Pisa, which without the leaning tower would not be otherwise worthy of visiting. However, the tower IS worth a bo-peep. Coming down to the overcast and humid coast from the elevated cool of our hotel, the first lady realised she had applied too many clothing layers! Interestingly, it is just near Pisa where the story of the wooden toy Pinoccio was inspired and so there are various references to wee chap with the long nose.

After Pisa it was off up the coast toward Genova for a stop at the little coastal villages of Cinque Terre or five lands – more actually, five villages. Chris Richards at Northside College encouraged us to go there and we’re glad that he did. The 5 villages are quaint little clusters built on the steep sides of coastal cliffs, tucked into the “V” between the ridges. They pull their fishing boats up into the streets and then climb the steep steps and paths that lead to their houses. The photos fail to capture just how steep the streets and steps are. As you can see we tucked into a very nice late lunch (4pm) of fresh Bass. Yum.

The climb back up the car was tough going for Judy and our clothing was drenched by the time we got there, especially for those of us who wore too much!! To get to Cinque Terre we had to pass through the port city of La Spezia. From the hills it reminded us so much of our native Wellington that we included a photo here.

Near our hotel and in the middle of no-where, we stumbled upon a large Designer Clothing Outlet mall – all the famous brands from this part of the world… Ralph Lauren, Benetton, etc. However, the thing that most fascinated the chocoholic in our team was the big Lindt Choc Shoppe. The pic shows her drooling in front of the huge bins of the world’s best. After a moment of worrying about the extra weight in our luggage, I quickly realised that even with the best intentions of gifts for folk back home, it wasn’t even going to make it out of Italy!! CIAO, CIAO.