What? You’re going to South Africa?
Yes, Ma’am- we fly out tonight (Monday, June 27th) at 5.20pm.
Why on earth?
Well, I’m South African. And while my husband is a home grown Michigander, for me home means South Africa. Specifically, Pretoria, South Africa. It’s located here:
And no, it’s not a short trip up to Egypt. It’s far. It’s like traveling from Mexico to Canada, maybe further. I mention it because I get asked a lot. And while I am bad at math and thus also bad at measuring distances I know it is definitely far.
My family of two parents, 4 brothers, 1 sister, 1 sister-in-law, 1 nearly sister-in-law, two foster kids, several fish, and an array of dogs all live there. In other words, we just spent a small fortune on Amazon this week buying presents. And cookie dough. Everyone wanted cookie dough.
When were you last home?
The last time were were home Micah was this size (meeting his aunt and uncle for the first time):
Now he is this size:
So, we’ve been away from home for a good 30 pounds or so. Three years, 4 months and 30 pounds give or take since this picture was taken:
My baby brother, my dad, my oldest son, me, my youngest son, my amazing, wonderful step-mom.
How long does that flight take?
It’s a 16 hour marathon with three kids and two desperate adults – say a prayer for us y’all. You may remember how our last trip went.
So, are your parents missionaries?
Nope, they’re just plain old South Africans. My dad is of British descent, my mom (who died when I was 18) was of Dutch descent and my step-mom is too. However, their church is knee deep into missions throughout the African continent and the whole family has done trips all over the place.
How do your kids handle the culture changes?
We find kids take to other cultures like ducks to water – they just dive right in and get along swimmingly. Jackson was born in South Africa and has gone back and forth so often he’s now on his second passport at the ripe old age of five and a half. This year away has been the hardest for him. He has discovered the gift of homesickness I unwittingly gave him. It has hurt.
Since Micah was only three months the last time we were back, his memory of South Africa is entirely story based.
We tell them the story of South Africa often. We tell them about the people, the places, the animals, the moments that are South Africa to us. We write the story of this cultural heritage for them in a hundred different bed time versions. And we tell it over and over until they’ve metabolized it and the Southern Cross shines in their eyes.
Also, we dance. We dance up a storm to South African music. This is one of our favorites – South Africa’s homegrown band Freshly Ground joined Shakira for the World Cup soccer national anthem. South Africa hosted FIFA last year. And my boys dance themselves silly to this one.
Watch and feel your heart explode with the happy.
Why are you going?
Because relationships need attention to thrive. We’re going back to nurture the precious family relationships we’ve missed so hard for so long now.
What airline do you fly?
For as long as I’ve commuted back and forth between continents, we’ve been South African Airways fans. It’s a one-stop flight, Dulles to Johannesburg with all the great South African food and drinks {I’m looking at you Appletizer} you could wish for en route. So, you can imagine how I nearly passed out from the happy when they offered to help sponsor this trip.
Greatest airline ever. Literally, they just won the award for best airline in Africa. For the second time.
Can we come with you?
Oh yes please, I’d love that! I’ll be blogging this reunion that’s been three years in the making – the longest we’ve ever been away. I’ll also be sharing photos and updates on Facebook as well as on twitter. So, it’ll be easy for you to sneak into my suitcase –
- Get free email updates here
- Follow me on twitter here
- Or just like The Gypsy Mama Facebook page here
It’s gonna be crack-a-lackin! {Name that movie}
I am just so excited for you and yours LJ! I know this will be a special time of memory making and then Zoe will know SA through stories. SO EXCITING.
Praying for traveling safety and grace for y’all! Yay for family!!! :)
You’re cracking me up with your maps. :) I’m so, so happy for you right now. Praying rich, rich blessings for you all. And Zoe’s first time in South Africa, what a happy miracle. Lots of love, and I’ll be dancing here to South African music in solidarity. :)
I’m so excited for you too…I can only imagine your joy!!!
Also, wanted to let you know that I’m at our overseas training en route to Hungary and one of my friends at training and her husband and son are moving to Pretoria!!! to work with GAIN (Global Aid Network!)…they tried first for Zimbabwe and long story short were re-routed to your home! I didn’t tell her about your blog, yet, BUT I WILL!!! It will help her get so excited to move there far away from her home and make it a new one for them!:)
Can’t wait for the journey and the joy!!!!:)
Madagascar!!!
Love yoU! Love that city, love that country! Drink and eat and be merry! SO happy for you!!
Madagascar! Have a WONDERFUL trip. What a blessing to be able to travel with your family, to SEE your family :-)
:)
Those are my kinda maps…
“Far”
You’re too funny.
Have a great trip! Glad you get to reconnect…forwarding to several of my S.A. friends and family…will look forward to joining you in the journey.
Love,
K
laughing! praying! waiting for more!
Beautiful post. Have a fantastic trip – how blessed your children are to have such a rich heritage and parents who are committed to making sure they experience it.
Wonderful! I join your family is welcoming you back to our sunny and wonderful land. I should warn you though – it’s been cold cold cold. Well, by African standards :)
I know how those long – haul flights can be with 3 kids! Praying you there!!!
How exciting! I soooo looove reading your blog every time you post, and now I am eagerly awaiting all the wonderful details of your family reunion. Your little ones are so fortunate that you and hubby make the effort to show them what life is like in the place where you grew up. Praying for you safety (and even your sanity!) while traveling.
Waka Waka is my ringtone :) Have a great time! Wish I was going with you :)
Madagascar! My son LOVES that movie!
Have a wonderful trip!
I’m envious!
My heart is exploding with the happy for you today, my Friend!
Two of my kiddos watched the video with me. We all loved it! And I totally think you should teach us those dance moves at Relevant! ;)
Praying for safe travels with happy, sleepy kids! I’ll be following!
I am so thrilled that yall are finally getting to go “home” for a visit! (and what a great blessing about sponsorship!)
Cannot wait to experience S.A. from your eyes!
We’re heading to the airport today too, Lisa-Jo, to send our baby girl on her way to Paris to join her new husband. Sending up prayers for all of you. Safe travels sweet girl.
I went to South Africa on a mission trip in 1990.
If you see the big chunk of my heart that I left there, will you tell it hello for me?
I pray God lets me go back there some day. I miss it more than it seems you should miss a place that isn’t even your home.
Oh, and will you do me a favor and eat a Peppermint Crisp and some boerwors for me? But not necessarily together!
1. Love waka-waka. It helps that it’s Shakira :) one of Colombia’s great contributions to the world (along with delicious coffee and beautiful flowers).
2. I grew up a missionary kid, so we did the looooooong trips every three or four years. They were FUN! I remember my sister telling everyone how many times she had thrown up on the way over, and what it had felt like… we usually did the hop, skip and a jump flight, stopping all over the place before we finally arrived. (I’m actually writing about my childhood this week over on my blog… hmmmm… may have to include some info about those trips!)
3. I’m half dutch, half brit too :) Great combo.
4. It is awesome that you have a good airline. Treasure it. Scarce commodity these days.
I will be praying for your trip – the flight, the time with family, the soaking in home. Bless you.
Yay for you!!! I wish we weren’t a gabillion miles away in Cape Town and I could welcome you, too! I hope you have a wonderful time — and I love the Q&A. The maps are awesome! And, why does everybody think white people from South Africa must be missionaries? I had to giggle. Enjoy the appletiser, biltong…wors…Rooibos…family!!!
I’m excited to read about your trip to S.Africa. My daughter is S. African. Her dad emigrated to Canada about 17 years ago when he was twelve. His family will be going back for a visit in 2012, taking my daughter with them. Reading your blog is helping to prepare my heart for her journey.
May you have a safe journey!
Yippee! The DAY has arrived…..so glad you are taking us for a joy ride with ya.
This is JUST the kind of map I need! I think you’ve missed your calling as a cartographer!
Years ago, when they were building a bypass around the town my in-laws live in, the state put up huge signs beginning several miles from their old exit that read “[Town name] Exit Right Lane in Five Miles” with a large arrow demonstrating exactly which lane to get in. Few miles later… “To [Town name], Get in Right Lane Here”. Few miles later… “[Town name] Exit Here Now” and, again, a giant arrow. I really regretted it when the bypass was finished and they removed that signage (and I promptly missed the exit next time I went.) I need clues like that!
Praying for safe (and sane) travels for your family. We (hub, 3 kids – 7, 5 & 2 and I) just returned from a month in Australia – my husband is Australian and his entire family lives there. You are absolutely right that “relationships need attention to thrive. We’re going back to nurture the precious family relationships we’ve missed so hard for so long now.”
We always have such an amazing time when we visit. It’s a hard trip with young children, but the memories our family makes are leaving a legacy of “family” with our children and that is totally worth it for us!
Have a blast and hope your flight doesn’t test your sanity too much.
Now I’m going to have to watch Madagascar, thank you.
Oh my…I pray for safe, sleepy travels for you all!
I can’t exactly relate, but every 2 years we’ve done a long road trip for conventions. Texas to North Carolina (with 4 kids), Texas to Wisconsin (with 4 kids), and in 2 years, God willing, Texas to Colorado (with 5 kids!). Last summer on our Wisconsin trip, the DVD player broke on the second day, but our kids made it until the 2nd to last day on the road. We started at 5 AM, and didn’t stop until 7 PM (minus a couple of bathroom breaks). Very. Long. Day. But we survived. Oh, and I was 9 weeks preggo with baby #5, and I get car-sick very easily…so that was really tough. But we all made it!
Yeah!!! You are here!!!! Enjoy every moment!! aren’t winters here absolutely stunning!!
I was listening to that song you used to play in our office in Kyiv.. I’m searching for the spirit of the braveheart.. especially the part ‘under African skies..’ although I have been asked not to sing along anymore. But I just had to for you and your family ‘under African skies’! Enjoy your trip!!