Trip Around the World: Days 6-7

Day 6:

Lets see, I started out by leaving the house where I am staying and walking around the area for a couple of hours. It was great to be out just walking...granted, I didn't see anything that exciting...residential homes, schools, and parks. 

Eventually, towards the end of my walk I came across a little mall. Yes, I did go in and walk around. It felt so strange to me. I've been to a mall countless times. I think what was so different this time, is that I was seeing it after coming out of Congo-Brazaville, seeing the poverty and corruption first hand. I feel safe walking around by myself, I see stores that are familiar, it feels like home, and yet somehow I feel guilty for being able to enjoy these things. 

In the afternoon I was able to get a ride, from the mother of the person I'm staying with, to the Union Buildings and see a very large statue of Nelson Mandela. The Union Building is on a hill, with Mandela overlooking the city of Pretoria. It was absolutely beautiful. 

Nelson Mandela Statue

This statue is huge...an adult standing next to him doesn't even reach the knee of the statue!

My foot next to his foot...and I thought I had big feet.

A view of the city from the hill top.

The gardens had some amazing flowers.

Some more flowers

 I think the best part of the day, was the conversation I had. After walking down to see the statue, we went back to the top of the hill, got ice cream and then sat and talked. We talked about many things. Most of it was about life and faith, good times and bad, and how God uses all of those times. It was really encouraging.

Day 7:

This is the crazy part...so I'm here in Pretoria and I know someone who lives around here that also grew up in the same small town in Northern Michigan that I did. We figured out a time that worked and I was able to meet up with him, his wife, and there small daughter for a meal. It was amazing to meet up with someone from home and fellowship together. God has been working in all our lives and it's great to be able to share that with each other. I won't lie...it was also nice to be able to talk about some things from home, and some of the challenges of being abroad and away from family.

The crazy part of all of this, is that when I had to decided if I wanted to travel the world or travel Africa, I felt like it was a choice between friendships and adventure. Adventure is great, and I'm sure I'll have plenty of that, but I felt like I needed to take time and see my friends around the world. To invest into those relationships, and so that has been my focus and after the last couple of days, I think it was the right choice.