Goodbye Zulu Friends - Until Next Year.

Sawubona!!

It is late. Very late. The sound of Zulu voices is ringing in all our ears. Our dear friends Sabelo, Mcopseni and Manzini joined us tonight for dinner and devotions after our Friday night Bible Study. Adding their voices, along with Mercy and Isaiah and Zomusa's to our singing was an incredible blessing for our last night here in Zulu land. Honestly, words cannot describe the awesome wonder of our experience here these past two weeks. Watching God move in and through these amazing people, hearing God speak to us each in a unique and special way, feeling God's presence around us in every beautiful smile we've seen, warm embrace we've shared and gorgeous day we've been here.

Today was nearly a perfect end - if there can be such a thing to an experience such as this. We awoke late and enjoyed a rather lazy morning. Katie and Cathy prepared another delicious breakfast for us as we prepared for our last day. The docs headed to one of the local government hospitals to visit with the doctors here who have supported our trips. The rest of us sorted the remaining meds to leave for Mercy and the people here - and for our next trip (April 2009!!!!). We all headed to the Indian Ocean around noon for one last chance to soak up some African sun. The water was perfect (no sharks!) and we all played some volleyball and soccer and strolled the shore. We headed home early afternoon to finish sorting the remaining meds and prepare for Bible study and dinner. Rev Rob led another great devotion for us all on the Beatitudes - a wonderful reminder of how God calls us to live and what blessings we receive if we live that way. We finished the night with a delicious dinner and very moving devotions. We laughed and sang and prayed. And even had a bit of a dance party in the living room!

There is no way to describe how this trip has touched each one of us. We will be hard pressed to put into words all that we have seen and learned and shared here. And while we have missed you all a great deal, we are saddened to be leaving this place and unsure of how to process all that God has shown us.

Thank you, all, for your prayers and your support. We know that God has been moving powerfully here, holding us in His hands, and we know that your prayers have been heard. Please continue to pray as we board our plane tomorrow for the long journey home. Pray for safety, pray for peace, pray for continued joy amidst the saddness of leaving. Pray for team unity and encouragement to each other. Pray for those we are leaving behind here.

And, a gentle reminder - we should be arriving in Detroit on Sunday. There should be no customs as we SHOULD do that at Dulles. We look forward to seeing you there to greet us :)

God bless you. We love you. And we will see you all soon!!

The Medical Outreach Team