toukok. – kesäk. 2023

Africa visit with Eric & Susan

With the $2,000.00 voucher we received from United Airlines last year for being bumped off of our flight to Panama, I decided to use it for a big trip to see Eric and Susan. Eric was in the same youth group as me at Northwest Bible Church in HS Lue lisää

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27. toukokuuta 2023
Africa visit with Eric & Susan Matkaaja
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Päivä 2
sunnuntai 28. toukokuuta 2023 klo 11.11
⛅ 82 °F
Korkeus: 482 ft
Yhdysvallat Smith Field 32.741883, -96.4455832°44’31” N 96°26’44” W
Mom and Dads 74th wedding anniversary
28. toukokuuta 2023, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Our trip begins with last minute errands. We stopped at Walmart to buy some “Crackin Oat Bran” cereal for Eric and then to Becky’s house to pick pick up a book “Grit to Stay - Grace to Go” by Sue E. that Susan had ordered. I started reading to Glenn as we drive to grandDaddy’s place. I think we’ll have the book read before we get to Africa.

I did a 30 min video of interviewing mom and recounting her wedding day and also just basic life adventures with dad these past 74 years. In closing, mom said “I love him so much, I would do it again.”

When we got to the hotel for our overnight stay and park the car for 10 days, the front desk clerk that we wouldn’t have to pay for parking. Wow.Lue lisää
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Africa visit with Eric & Susan Matkaaja
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Päivä 3
maanantai 29. toukokuuta 2023 klo 5.39
☁️ 68 °F
Korkeus: 607 ft
Yhdysvallat Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 32.893242, -97.0368832°53’36” N 97°2’13” W
On our way to Newark, NJ then to Africa
29. toukokuuta 2023, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
We ran into an old friend that lived in our neighborhood in Guatemala City- he lives in Duncanville now with his family. He works in real estate and works closely with Steve VanRooy and Gary Beekman - bought Betty Snell’s house…Small World …Big Family!

And we got upgraded to row 12. Not first class but more leg room.

So because UNITED Airlines bumped us and gave us $2,000 travel voucher each on a trip we made last June, I decided that we needed to go see Eric and Susan in South Africa. A dream come true.

Follow us for the next 8 days as we’ll be on a safari and a 5 day visit with the Binions at Union Bible Institute.

For the 15 hour flight to Johannesburg, I got upgraded to United Premium Plus which is just like Stateside business class - and this was a complimentary upgrade. And then the agent moved Glenn up towards the front of the economy class. Sure, I’ll take an upgrade on an already “free ticket”!Lue lisää
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Päivä 4
tiistai 30. toukokuuta 2023 klo 0.44
🌙 59 °F
Korkeus: 59 ft
Yhdysvallat Newark Liberty International Airport 40.698296, -74.17889440°41’54” N 74°10’44” W
Long Layover in Newark
30. toukokuuta 2023, Yhdysvallat ⋅ 🌙 59 °F
We intentionally scheduled a long layover in Newark, NJ so we could take FULL advantage of the United Club - we have a “free” 1 day pass.

First of all, we enjoyed the shower suite, especially since I didn’t get my morning shower. We got up at 2:45, shuttle service to DFW was at 3:30am. So this shower felt good.

We had a relaxing day in the United Club. We visited with several folks. One particular couple were heading to Milan, they were from Peru and NB, Canada. We talked about everything from travel, cruise, Covid, work and kids. It was fun.

Dad and I played Phase 10, sent a few emails and basically looked at the New York City skyline from the New Jersey side.

Now for the 14 hours and 40 minutes non-stop flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. I got upgraded to United Priority Plus, which is basically domestic First Class seats. I’ll be sitting right behind the Business class which has the pods that lay down flat.

We watched the ground handlers load up planes and push them back and then we finally saw our 787 being tugged up. Cool. It’s getting real.Lue lisää
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Africa visit with Eric & Susan Matkaaja
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Päivä 4
tiistai 30. toukokuuta 2023 klo 20.10
🌙 57 °F
Korkeus: 5 384 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Bruma -26.179377, 28.11966526°10’46” S 28°7’11” E
Made it to South Africa
30. toukokuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ 🌙 57 °F
Yes, the flight was long.

Before boarding, we were in line next to group 1 and started talking to a family of 23+ folks where they were celebrating the 80th birthday of the grandfather. They’re from Columbia South Carolina and had heard of Ben Lippen where Glenn went to high school. They were going on a 2 week safari.

I had been seated in premium plus section of the plane, which is behind the sleeping pods snd very much like a US domestic first class seat. Glenn was 4 rows behind me.

No one was next to me. So Glenn identified himself to the flight attendant that he had ordered children food menu since he had just had oral surgery.

The flight attendant upgraded him next to me!

We slept pretty good. I slept from midnight to 4am where we were served s snack. Then I slept off and on for the next several hours. I did finished watching “The Notebook”.

We walked through security with no problems since we only had carry ons. And there was a guy holding a sign with my name. That’s never happened before.

We are checked into the Mercur. We’ll fly our on Wednesday morning.

We are 7 hours ahead of Dallas.Lue lisää
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Päivä 5
keskiviikko 31. toukokuuta 2023 klo 15.09
⛅ 79 °F
Korkeus: 650 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Kwa-Zuluvuka -28.28458, 31.98244328°17’4” S 31°58’57” E
Hulhulwe Wildlife Reserve Day 1
31. toukokuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
Nice 2 hour drive from Durban. We were picked by Paul at the airport. He’ll be our safari tour guide for the next 3 days.

We’re off to see the Big 5.

We saw a warthog (Pumpa-Lion King)

I need to watch Lion King again.

We saw elephants, giraffes 🦒 in the distance and zebras!

We’re staying at Hilltop Camp. It started raining as we pulled into the camp. Accommodations are nice. We’re staying in a thatch roof 2 bed hut. Think Africa.

Glenn is figuring out all the electrical attachments (different than Europe, South America and Australia). So he can plug his sleep machine in and we can charge up our phones.Lue lisää
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Africa visit with Eric & Susan Matkaaja
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Päivä 6
torstai 1. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 6.05
☁️ 59 °F
Korkeus: 1 178 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Sivivaneni -28.09307, 32.04185628°5’35” S 32°2’31” E
Day 2 of my Safari Part 1
1. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
We got up by 5:30am for a 6:00am departure.

We saw Lion tracks. But no lion. I spotted the giraffes

Breakfast back at the Camp.
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Päivä 6
torstai 1. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 11.17
☀️ 72 °F
Korkeus: 269 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Vergelee -28.102364, 32.27757228°6’9” S 32°16’39” E
Day 2 Cheetah reserve Part 2
1. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
We spent 1 hour at a cheetah rehabilitation. We went inside where the wildcats live. Very interesting!
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Päivä 6
torstai 1. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 16.18
☀️ 70 °F
Korkeus: 522 ft
Etelä-Afrikka KwaNompondo -28.07736, 32.12243328°4’38” S 32°7’21” E
Day 2 part 3
1. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
After a good 1.5 hour nap, we journeyed back into the Hiace van to spot more animals.

Glenn and Paul ate lunch while I slept. We were driving for another 2 hours before it got dark. We saw a beautiful sunset.

The day was perfect!Lue lisää
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Päivä 7
perjantai 2. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 7.57
☀️ 55 °F
Korkeus: 1 453 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Godeni -28.085394, 32.04358328°5’7” S 32°2’37” E
Day 3 Safari heading to Hippo
2. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
On our way to see the Hippopotamus, we saw Lion, Giraffes, Zebras and Elephants!

As we drove along the national park road, we came across some droppings and then the buffalo (that looked like water buffalo) were asking skittish and nervously looking around. Then Paul heard the Babboons screeching/yelling through the jungle, sending out warning signals to the rest of the animals that the lions were near by.

Our tour guide, Paul looked over his shoulder back and forth then turned into the day-time picnic area and there were 3 lions, about 3-4 years old. They were casually strolling through the picnic area sniffing the bar-b-que pits. We understand that these 3 lions are brothers.

There is another pride of lions over several tolling hills away. Again I need to watch the Lion King movie again.

We took a 2 hour boat ride thru the estuary and spotted H.u.g.e. hippopotamus several times. We saw crocodiles and several South African bald eagles.

Now we are headed to the “largest mall in the Southern hemisphere in 1982” to meet up with Eric and Susan.

We’ve had some cell phone chip problems but we got all sorted out at the rest stop/potty stop and to purchase a “wimpy hamburger”

We’ve had Paul as our tour guide for the past 3 days. And now for a 4 day visit with Eric and Susan. We’ve know them for 45 years as Eric was in Northwest Bible Church with me back in the 1970’s. Glenn and I took mom and dad down to Austin along with baby Ellen for their wedding.Lue lisää
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Päivä 8
lauantai 3. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 8.56
☁️ 61 °F
Korkeus: 2 228 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Claredon -29.608238, 30.34740829°36’30” S 30°20’51” E
With Eric and Susan
3. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
We met Friday night at the huge Pavilion Mall in Durban. We had a delicious meal getting caught up on what’s happened. We told stories about our being brought up in the Methodist church and the switch over to Northwest. And the old high school youth group trips, old friends and old times.

We drove in 2 cars through the curvey roads up towards Pietermaritzburg And eventually the Union Bible Institute campus in Hilton.

We are staying in a guest house.Friday night we slept under 2 blankets. No heat.

Saturday morning, we left at 8 to go to outdoor market and then we walked thru the botanical gardens. We’re south of the Ecuador, so it’s winter here, the trees are turning. Susan stayed back to fight her cold.

Then a tour of the town. We stopped at the old train station that has a history story of Gahdi. Then we ran several errands with Eric and also drove up to a resort near-by.

I took a 3 hour nap and we joined Eric, Susan and adult daughter Stephanie, David and 2 grandchildren Brad and Ira for dinner. We celebrated Eric’s 66thLue lisää
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Päivä 9
sunnuntai 4. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 10.41
☁️ 63 °F
Korkeus: 2 100 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Pietermaritzburg -29.627842, 30.3893829°37’40” S 30°23’22” E
2 Churches, Old Friends, and Picnic
4. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
We attended the English speaking church in town as the choir from UBI was singing 3 songs. Susan was the choir director. They did a great job.

While visiting afterwards, I ran into Dan Genheimer. He was a classmate of mine from Moody.

The story goes, Dan’s mother and Ramona Schroeder were classmates at Wheaton and when Dan started attending Moody, he would frequently go and visit the Schroeder’s at Foster Ave Baptist Church and that’s where I attended while going to MBI.

Another story is that we ran into him like during Gary’s 3rd year at Moody when Dan brought their son to attend John Brown University.

Small World … Big Family

Then we drove over to the Binion’s Sulu church. I didn’t understand a thing except when they interjected a few English words here and there.

We drove to a park and joined Stephanie and David and kids for a pizza picnic. There was a miniature train we all rode.

We finished the evening with a FaceTime call to dad and then to Mark Hopper (our old youth director) from way back in the 70’s.

Eric and Susan had a Skype call with their kids. Then we taught them the game “Left, Center, Right”, a game we played on the cruise ship during Sea Days.

While playing the game, we shared some hard times, good times and funny times while being a missionary. We enjoyed sharing.Lue lisää
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Africa visit with Eric & Susan Matkaaja
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Päivä 10
maanantai 5. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 11.44
☀️ 61 °F
Korkeus: 3 704 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Spitzkop -29.36407, 30.22493529°21’51” S 30°13’30” E
Howick and Karkloof Falls
5. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
After breakfast Glenn and I ventured out Howick to see the falls. Beautiful.

Then on to Karkloof Falls.

Think LEFT as we (Glenn) drive the Binion’s borrowed Toyota.
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Päivä 10
maanantai 5. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 13.54
☀️ 61 °F
Korkeus: 4 528 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Curry’s Post -29.358112, 30.13973229°21’29” S 30°8’23” E
Lunch at Terbodore Coffee Roaster
5. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
We had a lovely drive through the rolling hills and stopped here at Terbodore coffee roasters. Nice gardens.

There’s a lot of English influence-tea houses, etc

I ate chicken pot pie. Glenn enjoyed chicken pasta.

The cheese cake and carrots cake was delicious. We bought an extra one to bring to Eric and Susan!Lue lisää
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Päivä 11
tiistai 6. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 20.38
🌙 55 °F
Korkeus: 3 632 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Sweet Waters -29.600138, 30.28695529°36’0” S 30°17’13” E
Last day in South Africa
6. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ 🌙 55 °F
I must have been tired as I slept in til 8:45. Glenn was up and about.

We drove to the shopping center about 3km away for breakfast. We ate at a restaurant much like Panera bread. I had waffles and Glenn had scrambled eggs. Then we went to Spur, the local grocery store, as I wanted to see if they had any more TimmTamm cookies that we liked in Australia. Nope. But I got some other cookies.

We made it back to UBI just in time for Glenn to grill the chicken for the cookout.

The past 2 days Eric and Susan participated in a strategic planning meetings with the leadership and board members of Union Bible Institute. And so at the end, they had a cook out. Everyone (20) came over to the guest house where we were staying and we enjoyed the late lunch in the dinning room.

I met Ben Barthelemy who graduated from Moody in 2008 along with Thomas. I also found out that he’s related to Tammy’s husband. Small world…Big Family.

I had my 3:00pm zoom call with the Azmera group that meets weekly at 8:00amTyler time. It was a very good zoom call about gratitude.

Glenn and I played Phase10, then we played with Susan as Eric read my Coast to Coast bicycle book.

We had to cancel our monthly zoom call with the Guatemala field because of roaming blackout.

Early morning pick up for our ride to Durban airport.Lue lisää
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Päivä 12
keskiviikko 7. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 18.49
🌙 59 °F
Korkeus: 5 597 ft
Etelä-Afrikka Oliver Reginald Tambo International -26.132484, 28.23286126°7’57” S 28°13’58” E
Long Travel Day
7. kesäkuuta 2023, Etelä-Afrikka ⋅ 🌙 59 °F
Woke up at 4:30am with Eric and Susan walked us down to get our ”Uber” to the UBI gate.

Travis drove us to Tambo Airport. It was dark, however the 1:15 drive to the airport, was the deepest orange and yellow colors of the sunrise. Travis did drive kinda fast, but 120km is only 74mph. There were lots of semi trucks on the road.

Once we got to the airport, we ate bfast at Mug and Bean. Glenn had an omelet and I had a corn fritter. Pretty good.

When we arrived at the gate fir the 11am departure, we learned it was delayed til 2pm. We found a plug-in for our iPhones at the Wimpy” hamburger place and we ordered French fries.

As we were boarding the flight we struck up a conversation with a fellow heading to Joburg and then on to NJ and Dallas. He’s on the Premium plus cabin.

Once arriving in Joburg, we ate at Hondo’s (a restaurant recommended by our safari guide). It was good, but the flavor was pretty hot.

We did walk to the airport observation desk just as the sun was setting.

We enjoyed our mandatory Magnum ice real and I did some last minute souvenir shopping.

Our United flight is operating 2 hours late, now departing at 9:30pm

Boarding!Lue lisää
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Päivä 13
torstai 8. kesäkuuta 2023 klo 13.14
⛅ 72 °F
Korkeus: 59 ft
Yhdysvallat Newark Liberty International Airport 40.698269, -74.17887940°41’54” N 74°10’44” W
Nearly Home
8. kesäkuuta 2023, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
We had a 16 hour flight on UA. We sat at the back of the plane.
Man, was it a long flight.

It took us an hour to get out of customs and immigration and then an hour to go through security check.

We enjoyed the “free” yearly United Club pass. We took a shower to refresh then we enjoyed late breakfast and lunch in the Club.

You can really tell how NYC is suffering from the blowing wild fires from Canada.

We’ll see mom and dad tomorrow after our 2 zoom calls, then we’ll drive back to Tyler.Lue lisää
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Päivä 14
perjantai 9. kesäkuuta 2023
☀️ 90 °F
Korkeus: 623 ft
Yhdysvallat West Mud Creek Lake 32.286091, -95.28323432°17’10” N 95°16’60” W
Back Home
9. kesäkuuta 2023, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F
Before we checked out of the hotel, we had 2 Zoom calls. I had my weekly call with my Bolivia friends - Virginia and Linda. Beverly showed up late. Then our Member Care Zoom call with folks from Spain, Canada and US. We said goodbye to Bill and Jenn as they have a new job at their church. They were great with the missionary kids!

Today, we visited M/D. We got there at 11am and dad was waiting for us. The volunteers from Deloitte were doing the gardening stuff. And dad had already met up with Sally Sanford earlier in the morning and showed her his apartment but also wanted her to see mom.

Glenn and I walked across to Peak to find Sally. She in turn walked back with us and greeted mom as she ate lunch. Mom asked the normal questions ie where do you live, do you have a boyfriend and are you looking for a boyfriend? Laugh.

Dad showed Sally her room and said “you can tell that Beverly and Sherrie have been here” regarding decorating.

Dad had no complaints about the ice cream we brought to him. Blue Bell Dr Pepper float!

We also met the home health nurse…she said wounds look good.

She said “your dad is a social butterfly. Or like the mayor here.😅

We drove on home. We were pleased to see the new flooring looked so good. Nice job. Most of the furniture was put back correctly.

I left to run some errands so Glenn could put the bed together. We met at Panda Express for dinner. Then we both fell asleep while watching Jeopardy.Lue lisää
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10. kesäkuuta 2023