Our incredible journey...................................

Did it actually happen - that wonderful journey???  When we first heard about it, it was such a BIG and happy surprise. And now that it is over, so many memories invade our minds and conversations!  Again we say thank you to all of you who planned such a beautiful surprise for us!   All of our friends have rejoiced with us since we returned. The trip had so many highlights that it would be impossible to list them all, but I'll try a few........

.....traveling business class - wow!  Comfort personified, wonderful service, care taken for our every need, comfortable armchairs that made into actual lay-me-down beds.....a real linen mini-tablecloth spread on our trays at mealtime....champagne served.  One thing they forgot - to make the toilets bigger!  They are the same size as those in the cattle car in the back!  We wondered how some of those enormous people travelling on our flights could ever fit in there!!!

...... the business lounges in the various airports, complete with comfortable chairs, desks, all kinds of drinks and snacks, hot and cold, TV, even showers ) which we did not use)  but everything for the comfort of the business passenger - and we had several long waits in airports so appreciated those lounges.

.....arriving in Ouagadougou - back home again.... it was HOT and dry, a cacaphony of languages being spoken (not English)...FAMILY....old sights, familiar from the year we lived in Ouaga.....greetings, visits, HEAT, a comfortable home.....that wonderful house helper of Clousers who took care of everything....Sunday morning church in Ouaga2000, that beautiful Sunday afternoon reception planned by Debbi and Steve, with about sixty of our friends from yesteryear.....the fun family times, sitting under the fans with the air cooler going at the highest speed possible....everyone (but me) sitting with a laptop in his/her lap, commenting on all the news coming through the wire.

....there was a trip to the International School and the library there, also the pool and having lunch at the commissary.....the drives around town.... dinner at an old familiar restaurant one evening.......and breakfast at one of the most beautiful cafés in the world....dinner one evening in the cooling Ouaga air, sitting at tables on the open sidewalk.

.....then the trip down to Bobo with brave Debbi driving since Steve had to stay in Ouaga and work..... the welcome of the Schaeffers.....they had arranged such a great schedule for us working with the Santidougou church......lunch at Schaeffers when we arrived with a number of couples who were very close to us there in Bobo.....dinner also with Jetty and Peggy, just like old times, eating a delicious meal, sitting and talking, just enjoying each other.  

(to be continued!)