Saturday, January 21, 2017

It hardly seems like Saturday is.  The week of mission has seemed like we have been here for at least a month. I would wholeheartedly put a plug in to encourage a visit to Blessman International in South Africa.

While we were surely winding down, our mission immersion experience was not over with yet. Most of the team left for a service project at Sterkrier School.  The team was returning.  This is a school with broken windows and kids share two students to a desk.

At Sterkrier, students attend from the area and some attend from a distance and live in the dorms – male and female dorms.  You must step out of any pre-conceived American word of “dorm”.  These were run down dorms and schools.  Not showers, but a shower room with basins.  Grim conditions and for many of the students these were better conditions than where they came from.

The Saturday Team with the greatful kids!!

The team went to replace broken window panes (there were a lot) and other tasks: mowing the area used as a soccer field and pick up trash.

The boys that stayed over the weekend were so excited to have this team present.  For some team members, this was one of the highlights of this trip.

The team commented that it seemed the boys did not have anything to do or anything to play with – the only thing they could find was a soccer field.

On this day, these boys were lifted with the caring and love from the Team St. Francis.  The boys left pieces of their hearts with our team. And our team left pieces of love and hope.

Pat, who is a 3^rd year returnee for Team St. Francis says this about her time In South Africa with Blessman International:

“ I loved time in South Africa.  The children thrive on attention because many are orphans.  We had fun together doing crafts and playing games.  The most moving experience was arriving in an isolated community to find elderly people lined up the entire length of the building because they needed glasses.  The optical outreach provided eye glasses so they could see to sew, to read, and to go about their day.

One woman was so grateful, she hugged me twice when she left my area and once when she got her glasses, and once when she was going out the door.

Friday, January 30  (Pictures will be coming, hard to download on the plane)

5:30 a.m. came very early on Thursday, January 19.  We were headed for the Lion Walk and Mass afterwards at the Lion Adventures. Needless to say, some, if not all, of the new team members were  a bit nervous.  After all, who walks with Lions everyday!  And moreover, Iowa has cows, horses, pigs, etc – but not Lions!!

Needless to say, the Walk with Lions produced a lot of courage when on the other end of it. it.

For this blogger and her husband, we over slept and our chalet neighbor’s kind knock on our door whisked us up and out the door.  We almost did not go because we overslept.  We were so glad we did.

I had been on the Lion Walk before and new people had not.  The Lion Walk was a courage building experience.  And it was also a spiritual experience.  David was the name of the male lion, the female Lion’s name was Jane.  The trainers held walking sticks and instructed us as to how we were to walk and where.  It was as if the trainers represented our following Jesus.  If we veered away from their instructions for one moment, we could have been attacked.  They were kind yet firm in directing our path.  So wherever the guides went, we went.  In life I think that I try to go ahead of THE “Trainer” and do things on my own.

The Cheetah experience was very educational – some entertained the idea of bringing a cat like the Cheetah home.  I did not really remember Cheetah’s being so friendly.

Following  the Lion Walk and Cheetah experience,  we would have a chance to visit GEMCO for shopping and some of us went to a baby shelter where children were abandoned.

Needless to say the team all left GEMCO with more of our American dollars.

The team that visited the baby shelter got to hold beautiful abandoned babies. The shelter was operated so wonderfully.  They babies we held were receiving shots that morning so our appearance was welcome for holding the babies. The shelter works with children age 2 and under. (no pictures were allowed).

Sandra, the House Mother summed up the place by saying, “Love is where your story begins.” Isn’t that the truth?

Having seen a lot of crèches during the week this shelter was a relief and very well run. .  It was very well run and obviously the children were well cared for with the staff and volunteers giving the children lots of love (no pictures were allowed of the babies.)

So, my take away from the day, following Jesus is like following the guides of the Lion Walk and “Love is where your story begins.”

Team member (and my wonderful husband) Keith said about his time here:

“I have felt great about how we are impacting people.  In giving we receive. The biggest take away is that we have been IMPACTED.”

Team member Steve C. said this about his trip:

“This trip was yet another amazing example of the power of prayer.  The results of the mission group’s prayers were so impressive throughout the trip – especially in lifting back to health several team members who were ill during the trip.”

Thursday, January 19, 2017

ENVIROLOO

Yes, you read it correctly:  Enviroloo for Nobody.  St. Francis of Assisi Church and parishoners has sponsored a full Enviroloo and the project began with part of the team beginning the Enviroloo at Noboday, South Africa.  Nobody is sure how the town Nobody came to be yet many stories have come forth about it’s inception.

Dustin Blessman set out with part of the team to begin digging on this project.

Nobody, South Africa Enviroloo Team at the end of their day.

For those of you that do not know what an Enviroloo is, it is safe toileting for school children.

When pit toilets become too dangerous to use, students and teachers must climb into the South African bush, among snakes and insects, for relief. Many children, especially girls, stay home because of the embarrassment they would suffer with out access to private restroom facilities.

Students who use pit toilets are exposed to disease, injury and even death. Those who wander into the bush face humiliation and danger. Children must choose to either put themselves at risk or forgo an education, simply because this basic human need is not met at school. The problem has become so severe that the South African government is seeking assistance.

This team also served the needs of a crèche (pre-school) where Juliana, Sharon M., and Carolyn helped with the children.  The staff ratio was about 1 teacher to about 45 students.  Needless to say, the help our team provided was very welcome.

OPTICAL OUTREACH AT ST. OMAAR COMMUNITY

The other half of the team traveled to the community of St. Omaar to do an optical outreach that was at a “crèche”  or pre-school.  We stopped to pick up on the way two medical professionals from Folang Medical Center who took A1C blood sugar test for helping the community.

The team was surprised when they drove up to see the large amount of people waiting for optical outreach.  Many people needed glasses and NEVER had them before.  There were a couple of people with very needed correction.  Besides seeing people’s vision changed, the best part was connecting to some people that we had seen at St. Omaar church on Sunday previous.  Not all were from St. Omaar Church. 

This was just part of the people that were waiting when we arrived at the St. Omaar Optical Outreach.  It turned out that it was members from Team 2015 that were apart of this outreach.

The team fit 110 people for glasses and gave 136 pairs of glasses.  Many could not speak English so we had community interpreters.  Regardless, our team was able to spend time getting to know the people we helped and we prayed with them also.  Kind, thankful and respectful people is who we served.  It was an honor for the team to pray for each person – even if we did not always have a language in common. 

Team St. Omaar also spent time playing and doing a craft with children in the creche next to the room we did optical outreach in.

We returned to our crockpot meal that was prepared earlier in the day and to a great Team Debrief around a bonfire debriefing about the day.  This time is always so very special to hear the hearts of our team members.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Update:  We are now on the long flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.  We have settled in after our meals and have a bit under 14 hours left of our flight.  I thought this could be a great opportunity to catch up on blogging.

Previous Update: We are at the final stop of the Elephant adventure where I could not upload more pictures. I promise I have others to upload and more blogs. We will be waiting at the airport for home shortly.

(Note: we have been kept very busy so I will be catching up the blog as we wind down — more to come.)

Siloe School for the Blind and St. Francis Academy marked our Wednesday mission outreach. Team 1 had visited this special school in 2015. St. Francis Academy is where students go from pre-school through graduation.  Until grade 8, students are in the Siloe School for the Blind.  At grade 8 they go to the public school with sighted students. We experienced immense respect and dignity with these students.

To get to Siloe, our fearless leader, Rene Blessman lead the way and drove one of the two vans through a long route of African gravel roads with definite bumps.  We have come to call these affectionately “African massage” experiences. It is known that some of us have fallen asleep to the lull of the big bumps.

Polish nuns started this school.  Missionaries come to teach for 2 year periods.  We met Dominc and his wife Margaret had traveled from South Africa daughter Caroline, son Patrick.  They moved from California.  Dominic is  working on a farm and Margaret teaches  English.  We met Patrick at a music ministry with the students.  Patrick seemed to come to know the African colored skin as white.  He commented to me, “There are a lot of white students, I mean black students here.”

It is hard to read one of the signs entering Siloe School for the Blind:  St. Francis Academy

One group weeded the driveways in the hot sun, one group had three different sessions of music ministry: pre-school, 1^st grade, 2^nd & third graders.   Among the music activities we taught was a song we did not know – the Hokey-Pokey.  This was great joy and we got flooded with group hugs by each grade!  What joy and hope abounds in these little lives.

When it came to the 2^nd and 3^rd grade mixed class we also sang “Old McDonald”.  We asked for farm animals and got some like: Lions, cheetahs, tigers, chickens, dogs, cats, elephants – not the farm animals we consider in Iowa.

The third group composed of some of the women of our group gave 2 sessions of Days for Girls giving out over 90 kits.  Some of the young women were sighted and some were note. The team members said how rewarding it was to work with these sighted, partially sites, and blind young women.

More empowered and happy young women at St. Francis Catholic Academy

Team member Pat showing some of the Days for Girls kits that St. Francis of Assisi Women  sewed. 

We then celebrated Mass at the small Chapel at the Siloe School for the Blind .  It was a sad day for the school as earlier in the week one of the teachers died from cancer and the school was sponsoring the memorial service.  It was a very special Mass to be with the nuns and couple from our new friends from California that we met.

Father Ray Celebrating Mass at Siloe School small chapel that the nuns and staff have mass. 

We then went to the place where baskets are weaved by blind or partially sighted individuals.  I know I speak for our team where I say we were all very humbled when we saw these individuals weaving the baskets.  Our suitcases will hold purchases for the blind workshop.

The day ended with a safari ride in two large jeeps. We saw large game animals:  zebra, giraffe, hippo, impala, wildebeest, and rare birds amongst others.  We heard the roar of a lion and spent time driving to find the lion but settled for hearing the roar.

We then had a traditional bush dinner in the middle of the safari area – with guides keeping away prey.

Above is a sunset from the Game Drive Safari we went on and pictures of our bush dinner in the middle of the game area

At the days end, I recounted the rides in the jeeps and two ministry vehicles and being with team mates and serving together.  We are better together indeed –with all of our diversity indeed!

Here is what Juliana, 3 year alum of the St. Francis trip has to say about this trip:

“This is the third year in a row I’ve joined the St. Francis South Africa Mission team and the main reason is because of the people.  Everyone here is so happy and joyful.  People often come up to me to say they remember me which surprises me since we usually only visit a location once in the tie that we’re here.  I just love coming back to see my friends and playing with the children. J”

Juliana leads the Days for Girls sewing chapter at St. Francis Church, West Des Moines, IA – this chapter sewed the kits for these young women.

It is really hard to put into words traveling with 18 other members of our St. Francis Parish.  I am actually quite humbled being piled together in two bus/van vehicles. Immersion in a new culture can be special.  It really is a prescription for community and well, that we are better together. Also, this is the way that many people travel here in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.  Cars are piled out of survival and culture to get from one place to another.

We will all go back to America and drive our own cars that are not full and carry this experience etched in our hearts. We will remember the dear people of South Africa that stole our hearts. We continue to be grateful and in awe of the work of Blessman International.

I sit in the vehicles reflecting on how God brought our diverse backgrounds, personalities, etc together in the name of Christ to serve together.  We are learning that it is so true it is better to give than to receive.  But the news flash –it is our cups that are  overflowing from giving –in ways we never knew possible.

Below: A picture taken at Del Kramer Campus where children are fed with Meals from the Heartland as well as self-sustaining farming on Del Kramer Campus.

Tuesday, we visited a school called Blinkwater where a very caring teacher in a very rural area was the most amazing. She is fighting very hard for her school to stay alive.  A school of about 30 students – they even have a bus.  She had such a heart for these children being in school that she allowed the younger toddler sibling to attend with a school age sibling.  The reason is:  if the parent(s) went to work, the school age child would have to stay home to take care of the toddler.

Some team members got to work with the children while others painted a room in the school.  Please pray for this school, the leader of the school and the children.

A little girl with her toddler sister at school. 

Only part of Del Kramer – amazing growth since it’s inception!!

We have also witnessed again the amazing program of Del Kramer Campus. The approach that Del Kramer Campus takes is the prescription I would give for all orphaned and vulnerable children.

To know that volunteers from Meals from the Heartland in Des Moines, Iowa package and send meals that feed 7500 children a day here in South Africa is nothing short of amazing.

These two little boys are two of the blessed 7500 children Blessman International feeds in South Africa.

Our team member Pat, is a rock star in planning activities  for the children on this trip, Juliana gave out bracelets she handmade with great love and care, and Chris has a special skill of juggling that the children loved and had great fun with!

Blessman International chooses to give great care to the Del Kramer community also.  Such was the optical outreach where 108 people  received better sight, team love, and new glasses.

The team all commented how meaningful it was to sit with the people of the Del Kramer Community and speak with them (often with an interpreter), hear their joys and concerns in life, pray with them and see them experience immense joy with their new eyesight correction. Blessman International does not just give a pair of glasses, it builds relationship through the love of Christ.

The Team praying with the Community of Del Kramer before the optical outreach. The community sang an African Sepete song for our team and we sang “Holy Ground” for them.

While team St. Francis helped people receive new glasses and better eyesight it is really our team members that gained new (in)sight.  New sight and new relationships with the wonderful people of South Africa!!

A happy man that received glasses! The team member listened to the difficult 2016 he had.  He said that receiving  glasses was the best thing that happened to him in 2017. 

This is three Enviroloo that we saw at Lekoa Secondary School.  These are like the ones that St. Francis is sponsoring to save children’s lives. Children often fall in the old outhouse type that are terribly unstable causing children to fall into the toilet pit and some dying.  The team witnessed and used these Enviroloo first hand.  They will be beginning the creation of one in a city called Nobody, South Africa on Jan 19, 2017.

 

This Monday, January 16 blog comes two days late due to internet connection .  We returned to the Lodge of Dreams after our day of short-term mission work to an African thunderstorm that knocked the power out off and on.  We had the team dinner by way of kerosene lamps.  The rain was very strong and the thunder very loud.  The blessing is that South Africa really, really needed the rain.  Last year was a very dry year for South African farmers. We got initiated by South African thunderstorm you could say. And we are thankful for our stable electricity.

Our first visit was to Gwenani High School. We first learned that there was actually prayer in public schools unlike in America. Pastor Jonathan, the pastor at Lighthouse Church on Del Kramer campus, comes and speaks to the children about God at least once a month.  There were nearly 450 students.  All dressed in neat, clean school uniforms. They stood in a well-mannered and interested way when Dr. Blessman and Jonathan talked during this assembly.

Pastor Jonathan speaking and praying with the Gwenani High School Students.

 

Two of our high school team members, Sydney and Sarah were asked to speak a few words to the students at this morning assembly.  They greeted the Gwenani students and told them what grade each were in.  The kids were shocked to learn Sydney and Sarah’s ages.  The students at Gwenani gasped when they learned they were 17 and 18.  We came to learn that the students thought they were 24 or 25.  Students can go to school at Gwenani until age 24 or 25.

A Days for Girls outreach and Shoe Minstry was next and shoe outreach at Lekoa Secondary School.  The Days for Girls program is stronger than ever with Rene Blessman providing amazing leadership – she EMPOWERS girls and gives them hope!!  Young women are given resources for their monthly cycle and spoken to with education, love and encouraged to have big dreams for their lives and respect for themselves.  Rene had the other team members assist her in her strong mission of empowering and educating strong Christian girls. It was a delight to see St. Francis sewing of the Days for Girls kits being distributed along with a picture of the women that made them from St. Francis.

We also met with chief of the village of the school we did the shoe ministry for and of Del Kramer Campus.  We found out that he is chief over 20 villages with about 10,000 people in a village. This was an honor.  The school gave us soda and biscuits (cookies) as refreshment afterwards which we know was a great sacrifice for them.

The team also washed feet and fitted and gave new shoes to students. We took the time to speak and lift them in prayer.   The students were very moved by the washing of feet and many of them had very worn shoes and were delighted to receive new shoes.

The group then went to Del Kramer Campus where some stayed and played with the children and half of the team went to a Medical Center – team members were given opportunity to sit with a nurse, a physical therapist, and also nurse that specializes in diabetes.

Del Kramer is a remarkable center for children.  The center serves 105 orphaned and vulnerable children.  And is as well a farm and is the location of Lighthouse Church.  Empowerment of children starting with food for the brain and body.  Each child is given a hot meal after school and washes their hands before the meal and washes their plates after the meal.  The center works to give these children skills, education, and much love.  The team went to Del Kramer on Monday and Tuesday.  No sense of “wanted handouts” lives here.  Empowerment of children does!!

Chris provided his juggling skills to the children; and Pat organized, with her gifted skills, crafts and games for the children and the team played with the children.  They observed Meals from the Heartland meals being fed to the children.

We arrived home to crockpot dinners that various team member put together;  we have been having a salad bar each day.  This day we came home to stillwarm crockpots of lasagna (even with the power outage) that Larry, team member had watched over during the day.  It was cozy eating warm lasagna with 19 team members and our host in a kerosene light, thunderstorm night.

We could say that by the end of Monday, with all that we had experienced, that the day felt like Thursday.  That is the way with intensive short-term mission work.

In the Lodge of Dreams where we eat meals and cook together, is the below sign that seems to embody our experience today, Sunday, January 15:

“ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.”

We traveled to St. Omaar, a small rural Catholic Church.  Team 2 had been lead to it by a chance encounter that Beth Blessman had with a parishioner last year.  So Team 3 returned today.  We loaded into vehicles at  6:30 a.m. for a one hour drive to this most special church.  Father Ray celebrated with the South African priest. (St. Omaar parishioners greeted and remembered Team 2 and looked for others that did not return.)

The church was built in 1979 and they received recognition from the government for serving the spiritual and medical needs of a cholera epidemic.

We were told by the priest that he and another priest come to celebrate Mass once every two months  and these two priests serve 30 parishes.

We witnessed two babies baptized in full baptism. We entered to hear the most beautiful rosary in Sepete, native language.  Many of us knelt on the very basic wooden kneelers to join the rosary in spirit and the quiet internal attempted translation to our English words.

We were treated like royal guests when they moved from the center front pews and asked us to sit there.  And after a 2 hour mass, we sat outside with a special reception for Americans.  Coral, the Blessman’s dear friend and neighbor made some delicious muffins for the occasion and we brought peanut butter cookies or “peanut butter biscuits” as they are known here. We sat with members of St. Omaar on benches and chairs under the tree sharing food and conversation. What was lacking was anyone checking their cellphone – except for the beloved selfies taken between St. Francis Team and St. Omaar members.

Todd’s mother made way over 100 rosaries that he presented to the priest and the priest had his leaders give them to the children first and then adults. Juliana made special bracelets the kids loved!!(and they remembered her from last year.)  And Jess Streit, Team 1 member from St. Francis lead an initiative to donate shoes which they were overjoyed to get.  Rachel, a church leader, said they would distribute them to the poorest of the poor – she said there were lots of orphans in the area. (below is Sydney presenting Juliana’s bracelets to children that are wearing her grandmother’s gifted rosaries and right, Rachel with the shoes donated from St. Francis).

The sermon was about Identity.  There was youth in special outfits that represented a 6 month religious study they were doing.  There were women that were dressed in the St. Anne Guild of which they had studied for a year to be a part of.  There were many church leaders from other parishes that received training after Mass.

Here is what team member Steve Craig had to say about Mass at St. Omaar’s Mass: 

” On Sunday, January 15 we experienced what will surely be a highlight of our trip to South Africa.  We experienced celebration of the Mass with the parishioners of St. Omaar’s Parish.  This is one of many parishes that currently two priests try to serve.  As such, St. Omaar’s only has Mass about every two months as these priests rotate between the many parishes they service.  On other Sundays, the parishioners meet with a Deacon who leads a prayer service with the Eucharist.

We arrived for 8:00am Mass at 7:30am and many of the parishioners and the priest were already reciting the rosary – complete with singing a verse of the Ave Maria after each decade. 

When the Mass started, it was a joyous celebration with lots of singing and dancing.  We were amazed at the parishioners beautiful acapella singing in multipart harmony. They were accompanied by drums, tambourines, and one of the oldest ladies regularly blew on a whistle. 

The dancing was joyous and did not seem at all exaggerated or inappropriate.  Even the priest was a wonderful singer and dancer.

The service lasted nearly 2 hours.  As we gathered after Mass we embraced and many pictures were taken of the parishioners of St. Omaar celebrating with their brothers and sisters from St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines, IA. 

I wish you could hear the singing and witness the dancing and you would know why this was such a highlight of our trip.  “

We arrived back at Blessman International and had some respite and after dinner received training for Day’s for Girls and also for Optical Outreach.  It was clear that the Blessman’s are shaking and moving for the Lord.  Dr. Blessman explained that some of the children we would see this week would be older that we would think.  He said this is “stunting” – not getting good nutrition.  Thus with great purpose and passion the ministry feeds 7,500 children a day with the help of the four – 40 foot containers of rice meals made by Iowa volunteers of Meals from the Heartland.  These meals come in shipping containers each year from Meals from the Heartland.  And to the subject of this, Dr. Blessman said, “Many hands make light work.”

He explained that Del Kramer is a pilot project that serves 105 children – they have seen the power that their vision, time, talent and treasure and that of volunteers has.  Rene Blessman is an amazing leader at Del Kramer!!

We closed the evening with a bonfire lead by Dr. Blessman facilitating discussion about the experiences of the team.

Tomorrow we will be up and out very early – our team is READY and EXCITED!!  We are changed by today no doubt and our hearts are ready to serve in the name of Jesus Christ!!!

^1 [a] Cast your bread upon the face of the waters;
after a long time you may find it again.
² Make seven, or even eight portions;
you know not what misfortune may come upon the earth.

Ecclesiastes 11: 1-2

My late mother-in-law Marie Denner wholeheartedly lived “casting bread upon the water.” In the final chapter of her life lines to Blessman International intersected by her sewing over 400 quilts and 100 little girl pillow case dresses for Blessman International.  She was a proud volunteer that traveled over 3 hours every two weeks to our home for severe wound care on her leg. She proudly wore a Blessman Volunteer T-shirt it seemed all the time!! Little did we know, she was threading us to Blessman International with the many trips Keith and I made with her to drop the quilts off in person to the BI, Urbandale, IA office.

She died at 82 in July 2013 and her threads have continued “sewing” in our lives.  Within a year of her death, Keith and I answered the kindly persistent invitation of Dr. Blessman to visit Beth and him in South Africa. We said YES!!

We very carefully put Marie’s final quilts and little girls dresses in our suitcases and we carried her bread – actually in the form of thread – across the water. Little did we know how her thread, God’s thread would weave so deeply within us on this trip in March 2014.

We returned and approached Father Ray (after Doc had been preparing the way by his kind persistent invitations – you get the idea of Doc’s love for inviting people as guests).  Father Ray agreed to go on Team 1 St. Francis and now Team 3 is here.  No doubt we are “Casting bread upon the water”.

The Team is being sent forth at our final mass before travel to “Cast our Bread upon the water.” (Jan 9, photo by Randy Jensen, Team 2)

Today I was reminded of  “thread across the water” when all of those many suitcases we traveled with got unloaded. The team cannot wait to see how all of this will be used to help and build relationship with the people of South Africa:

Taking a moment in unpacking from let to right: Pat, Sharon M., Juliana and her mom, Sharon D., Beth Blessman and her daughter-in-law, Rene Blessman.

St. Francis crosses that the team members are wearing – gifts from Father Ray blessed by Pope Francis on his recent 25th St. Francis Parish trip to Italy.

Below: our team sharing lunch together. And  two beautiful father-daughter duos of high school seniors:  Todd and Sydney & Sarah and Dan (the girls are rock star busy babysitters at home and are great biscuit makers as we tasted at our dinner tonight) – I cannot wait to see how the kids love them and vice-versa!!

Well, tomorrow we arise very early to drive an hour  where we will continue to “cast bread upon the water” to a small and special Catholic church that does not have a priest.  Team 2 happened upon the church last year and Team 3 is returning. Father Ray celebrates the Mass. Stay tuned….

With the help of others and a great God guiding us, our luggage made it to South Africa and so did we!! We became a team of 19 with a surprise and very welcome addition in Des Moines, Larry Vanderpool!

It is the wee hours of the morning and 6:15pm in Iowa and I feel compelled to get this posted.  Thank you for all of your support in getting us launched and here! We were met warmly by Blessman Staff and Dr. Blessman and Beth.

                               2017 St. Francis South Africa Team

Now let me back into the luggage process and a lesson about lifting luggage.

Team Members that met over a week prior to our leaving to pack

Deb Barry provided us a place to pack and store the luggage

In the last two trips that Saint Francis Teams have made to South Africa, they each had one personal checked bag and one checked bag.  This year Delta Airlines was so gracious to give Blessman International new allowances:  one 50 lb  personal bag  and two  50 lb mission bags.  This allows more items to come from the United States to benefit those Blessman International serves.

St. Francis Mass Attendees on January 12 helping carry the load

Now let’s do some luggage math…..for personal bags that is: 18 x 50 = 900 lb….you probably see where I am going with this.  900lb personal + 1800 mission – 2700 lbs checked baggage.  And for the average carry on we will average 20lb (but let’s face it, many travelers all over the world carry the kitchen sink in their carry on.  Anyway, 20lb x 18lb = 260 lbs.   Then there is that personal item.  I am averaging 10lb per person.  10 x 18 = 180 lb.

And then there is our newest member at the airport, Larry Vanderpoool who works in accounting at Blessman International and turns out Father Ray married he and his wife in Indianola where Father Ray was a pastor.  Larry’s wife could not join  so Larry is flying solo but is in good company.  Sorry to return to the task of weight, Larry had three bags x 50 lb – 150.   So let’s add these up:

• 2700 lbs of team of 18
• 260 lbs of team carry-on luggage
• 180 lbs of personal items
• 150 lbs from our lovely Surprise team guest, Larry

May I have a drum roll…….that’s 3290 pounds (approximately) that we are flying with us.  And I would be surprised if you are asking yourself “HOW DID THEY GET ALL THAT LUGGAGE PACKED AND MOVED???

The Mod Squad of Luggage:  the team after arrival at the Johannesburg, South Africa airport after a 17 hour flight – well organized and no luggage lost!

Keith, my hubby and myself; Angela and Kerry from BI-overflowing joy after we delivered and organized luggage before team members arrived at the Des Moiens airport. 

One word: teamwork and very kind people helping throughout.  Blessman providing mission bags with some things packed and some things needing to be packed; Deb Barry and Father Ray who volunteered the Youth Resource Room at St. Francis; a morning of packing with many volunteers from our team and from Blessman International; after Thursday, January 12 Mass,  Father Ray asked attendees to help move the many suitcases into the truck and trailer that my wonderful hubby Keith volunteered while Kerry Brown, the new BI office manager drove.

We created a very slick system of how to assign the suitcases and Keith, Kerry, Angela and I had all mission luggage to go when team members got to the airport.   And we had exceptional team and staff at DELTA.  It went smoothly.   Now we wait a day for the luggage to arrive  in South Africa…….and we will see if this system and labeling helps us have solid organization on the luggage off the belt.

All I can say is that when given the increased luggage amounts I was glad and a bit overwhelmed.  And I know, a lesson well learned: one person cannot move 3290 lbs of luggage.  We needed to work together.  Many hands made the successful movement of 3290 lbs of luggage.  I want to put a shout out to all those who helped: Deb Barry, Father Ray, Team Des Moines BI, Team members from team 2017 St. Francis, Keith for the truck and well, I will just say, together we created a pretty slick system.

Meet Mayo (said My-oh) our ride from the airport with Destiny Wild.  He will be our driver for the week. We told him there was a large Medical Center after his name: Mayo Clinic.

 

I found a life lesson whispering in the execution of this luggage.

I pondered how many times I simply, all by myself, try to move and carry heavy “internal luggage packed with concerns, anxiety..you get the idea”?   And I wonder how many times do you try to lift something all by yourselves….Like trying to lift and carry all by yourself that 3290 pounds of luggage?  I sure try and without success I might add.

I for one am pretty independent and was humbled to see help pour in all over to make this a lighter load.  I do believe in casting my burdens on Him so the load is lighter yet I forget and try to carry the load by myself.  The action isn’t carrying by myself, instead the action is “casting” on Him.  It requires also that I ask for help and moreover accept help.

I am reminded in Psalm 55:22: Cast ^[a]your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to ^[b]be shaken.

 How about you? Is there some piece of luggage you need to let go of and let Jesus carry it for you?  He will bring others and he promises to lighten your load. He won’t let you down!!!

 Thank you for your support of our team and of Blessman International!!!