Other trips this user has taken
AFRICA
June 22 - July 9
June 22 - July 9
June 22, 2008 - July 9, 2008
Day 1 -
June 22, 2008
 email #1 to family
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| Hello my wonderful family!! Well, it is 1am here and the boys are snoring away! hehe! We asked for a room with two beds and we got a room with two twin beds pushed together! Luckily the beds have separate sheets or else there would be alot of bodies under those covers! The funny thing is Bob and I sleeping on a TWIN BED! He always says we could fit on a twin bed because we are so smooshed together at night there is no point in our big CalKing bed! Well, now we have the opportunity to see what that is like! HAHAHA I emailed mom and gave her some details about the trip, but I'll give ya some more. The plane ride here was the part I was dreading the most. I didn't know how the circulation in my legs would do (Bob actually got me special travel socks because my feet and ankles swell when I fly.) or if we would get any sleep. The frustrating part is that we were supposed to be flying business class (which is even better than domestic first class) but at the last minute there was a mix up and we were unable to do that... without spending an extra $5,000 per person! Anyways, on the way from SFO to JFK we were in the VERY back row of a smaller plane. It was not bad because it was 'economy plus' which is basically an extra 5 inches of leg room. Anyways, when we got to JFK.... Well, let me go back.... the funny part of the story is while we were still at SFO... Jessica dropped us off at the airport at 3:30 or so. When we arrived there was little to no one there. Our plane began boarding at 5:30 and so we felt we had plenty of time. Well, we go up to the electronic check in (because you no longer check in with a person, but with a computer) & it has you scan either your passport, DL or any credit card with your name on it. After each of us had tried ALL THREE, and even multiple credit cards... we tried talking to one of the people behind the counter.... HA, they kindly showed us the phone sitting next to the electronic computer. I picked it up and it told me my call would be answered in 3-5 minutes. After a few times of loudly saying, "SERIOUSLY?!" someone came and helped us check in. THEN we had to get in ANOTHER line to get our boarding passes! What happened to the good ole days of one person checking in your bags & getting your passes? Now it is a computer who doesn't do either! Anyways, we get into the other line with 8 or so people in front of us (mind you, it is now 4:15am and the lines are PACKED!). There are two people behind the counter and we wait for 30 minutes before the first of the 8 in front of us gets to go. There are now 100 or so people in line & they are moving so slow they are almost going backwards! Then, one of them decides to go for a coffee break! They were the most RUDE people I have ever encountered in my life! They guys and I are just laughing at this point... it is now 5 and we still have to go through security. Anyways.... UNITED SUCKS! So then we get to JFK and we have a few hours before our next flight. 2 sandwiches, 2 yogurts, 2 oranges and a juice later.... $40.00!!!!!!! Is that ridiculous?! Anyways, after eating I went to ask the woman (who works for South African Airways, NOT United) if there were any bulkhead seats available. I told her there were 3 of us & even if there were 2 and then 1 that would be great. So she changes our seats and after doing mine and Bob's tells us that there is no more bulk head, just a seat in the asile one row back and across the asile from us. I felt HORRIBLE!!!!! I told Mark we could all take turns sitting in bulkhead. Well, come to find out we get on the plane and the seat Mark was in was actually even better than bulkhead because there was a row in front of him, but not a seat in front of him!! So, he had TONS of leg room & no one sitting next to him so I felt SO much better!!! The flight was long, but not as bad as I thought it would be. We all had our own private TV's that came up from under the armrest with a GREAT selection of movies and games to play. Everyone who worked for the airlines was really wonderful and sweet. Russell Simmons was on our flight. We were the first row behind business class and he was in business directly cadi-corner from us. (He is a music producer and the designer of Phat Farm & Baby Phat clothes. I thought it was cool he was going to Africa. So, we FINALLY landed in South Africa. We were all EXHAUSTED!!!!!!! We got in a 5 or so and just wanted food and a place to sleep. The airport here is HUGE!!!!!!! You can smell chemicals in the air, but it is not a terribly bad smell. There are people here from all walks of life. Wealthy business men to poor taxi drivers. There were no beggars, even when we went outside. We were told the hotels here are anywhere from 300-500 / night. As much as I didn't want to spend that on a room... We decided it would be worth it to get a good night's rest and a nice shower. So, we walk out of the airport and there is the Intercontinental. It is a BEAUTIFUL 4 star hotel room with friendly people and amazing food! It's funny, I expected mosquito nets! We decided to get a room for the night. The shower is literally one of THE BEST showers I have ever been in (mom, you would LOVE it!). We ordered steaks for dinner, because, unlike the expensive room, the food is cheaper than in the states. This is what you call suffering for Jesus! :-) Tomorrow we get up at 6 and our flight leaves at 9 to head to Pemba. It is just a 2 hour flight, but it is on South African Airways so I know the plane will be nice and comfortable!! We got our itinerary and found out that Bob is preaching like 10 times while we are there (literally)! Heidi's daughter is getting married on saturday so we get to go to that as well! I am really excited about all we are going to do. I emailed Ania (Heidi's PA) and told her we just really want to hold sick babies & anything else they want to do with us is great! Well, that's about all folks! We feel truly blessed to be here & we all just wish Jessica could be with us! I keep telling Mark, this is AWESOME, but it would be PERFECT if Jess were here! However, this is just the first of many trips out here & I know she will be with us on the next one! Prayer Requests: Divine Appointments for Mannatech and ministry. Protection, not just over us, but over all of our valuables (camera, computer ect...). We would get broken and driven to do great things when we return home. NO BUG BITES AT ALL IN JESUS NAME!!!! We all stay healthy with the food and everything. Pray that Bob can be the BEST of himself throughout the entire trip. (Preaching that much is EXHAUSTING!!) Pray safety and comfort on Jessica, Cole, Brock, Nash & Rilie. Pray that we see signs and wonders that are mind blowing, that we taste Jesus in such a way that he is physically tangible to us, that we can touch him. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! I AM WHO I AM TODAY BECAUSE OF YOUR CONSTANT LOVE AND SUPPORT!!!!!!!!!!!! I WILL EMAIL AS MUCH AS I CAN SO KEEP CHECKING BACK!!!!!!!!!!! BLESSINGS AND FAVOR CHASE YOU DOWN! KIMBERLY PS - I LOVE YOU! PS2- Would you send this to JanJan too... I don't have her email! PS3 - Thank yall for believing in me! As Aunt Kay said, I am seeing my dreams come true! |
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