Ruth Graham - June 14

Ruth Graham – June 14

After a mostly quiet day back at the house, we tuned on the news at night. The leading story was the death of Ruth Graham (wife of evangelist Billy Graham). They lived not far away.

Grandfather Mountain - Asheville, NC

Grandfather Mountain – Asheville, NC

June 12 & 13 (Tues.- Wed.)

I had thought I would stay back at our room to catch up on some quiet reading while John drove off to Grandfather Mountain (about 2 hours away) for each of two days of woodcarving instruction by accomplished character carver Tom Wolfe.

However, why not combine them? The shop/studio was above the gift shop on top of Grandfather Mountain. I had climbed the mountain several years ago, and beside the spectacular views, my most vivid memory is later realizing that the fog next to my feet at certain places along the ascent was actually cloud at the open edge of the mountain. There had been nothing next to my feet. Grandfather Mountain was also the scene of Tom Hanks running up the mountain and running down the mountain in the movie, Forrest Gump. Driving those hairpin turns would be no less an adventure than on foot. And, it is beautiful!

Mountaintop Reading

I read three rather short books on loan:

- Cape Town

- District Six and

- Voices from Robben Island.

I also began Desmond Tutu’s No Future Without Forgiveness.

Mountaintop experiences

First, picture a parking lot on the top of a mountain. Then, consider that the mountain is big enough to handle it. It is not ruined.

Sights ranged from immense to immediate. I could see a magnificent view, even from the car, of the valley and of higher rocks and of Mile-High Bridge (above sea level). But when I stepped out, a slate-colored junco flew over practically at my feet. Not far away were flowers I had wanted to see since viewing North Carolina tourist material about 20 years ago, rhododendrons in bloom on the mountainside (thanks to being there in June!). The more delicate mountain laurel and the (orange) flame azalea were also in bloom.

I walked across the Bridge a couple times and down some trails, but did not wander too far off. Conscious of available time, I easily offered to take tourists’ photos so their whole group could be together. Once, they offered, since I was alone, to return the favor and take my picture. I declined, starting to explain that my husband was actually inside… But I changed my mind, and there is now a very nice photo of me sitting on a rock (on our site Photo page), which was taken by some very nice tourists from….I think some faraway place.

Both days were beautiful and sunny and clear, but also had moments of clouds rolling across the mountain and down into the valley, bringing some badly needed rain, though “not enough”. Once, in a quiet reading moment, I thought stones were falling on the car. (We were parked by a rock-overhang, so it could be….) But no, that was the sound of hail.

I practiced using the new camera (finally, James), both of mountain views (most of the Grandfather Mountain shots on the Photo page are mine) and of the carving lesson in the studio. Tom Wolfe, the carver, had some great stories and one-liners and I so wanted to capture a moment of his quick laughter. Oh, I loved his laughter! But not being a “real” photographer, aiming and clicking the camera were not even second nature for me. There is a shadow of a smile in one of my pictures, if you look close.

Maybe I will have to go back to see him.

Note to self:

1) Reapply sunscreen.

2) Wear hat.

(My face hurt for three days….took me a while to realize it was burned.)

Ashville, NC

Monday.
Came here Sunday night. Staying at "our Italian family's place. Have been exploring, and am at Panera Bread to use internet.

June 10, 2007 Sunday - Trevor Hudson

We attended Thrasher United Methodist Church in Vinton, VA. I don’t have a story for the name, but it seemed like an active, welcoming place. The summer‘s message theme is the Lord’s prayer.

Then we drove to nearby Roanoke to meet Trevor Hudson, just in town from Johannesburg, South Africa to be the “Conference Preacher” at the annual gathering of Virginia United Methodists. What an honor and a pleasure to have lunch with the author whose book we had so recently studied! We spent the afternoon listening to stories from each other’s countries, so wishing we could see more of this person who was becoming our new friend. He also showed us photos of his wife Debbie (who teaches high school biology) and his children Joni and Mark (who are similar ages to our children).

Trevor gave us some perspective and advice and names of people we “must” contact in his country. It is always remarkable to me when people see more than they need to, beyond themselves. Trevor, for instance, spoke of “living in a bubble”. But what does it take to recognize a bubble? He also spoke of being very nice individuals “allowing our institutions to sin for us”. I hadn’t thought in those words before. “ Allowing our institutions to sin for us…"

Not long ago, in reading one of the South Africa guidebooks in preparation for the trip, I just stared at a picture of a baobab tree. I wanted to use one in my website, but I wondered if I should just find a photo on the web, or if I should wait until I could take a photo of one myself? I decided it would be too long before I saw one myself, and to just use one from the web. But as I stared at that picture, the space between imagining a baobab and actually seeing a baobab became smaller in my mind.

There seemed like a children’s fairy tale lesson (which must be how I think). Here will always be “here”, and there will always be “there”, but maybe there is a way they are not so far apart. And I will always be me, and you will always be “you”, but maybe the space between us does not have to be so far.

And now that we have met Trevor, a faraway place has become as close as a friend’s heart.

Roanoke, VA

Saturday
Arrived in Roanoke tonight.
Practicing with tiny computer & keyboard.
Will have lunch with Trevor Hudson Sunday. (It's still night to me.)

June 4, 2007

Today is the first day of John's leave! We picked up the documents (including tickets) from Holly, our travel agent, and asked still more questions.

Packing Preparation
People have been asking if I am packed. I have a collection of items together, from which I will need to sort what can actually fit into my suitcase.

Medical Preparation
Over a period of months, we have had immunizations for Hepatitis A and B, flu, polio, and typhus. We had our prescriptions filled for malaria preventive pills (take every day for a month) and antibiotic pills (just in case of any traveler's needs).

Communication Preparation
This past semester, I took a Novi Community Education HTML class with the idea of putting a web site together to share something about this journey. I put the site together with Notepad. I am experimenting with Google's free beta program for now (rather than paying for host space and a domain name). (This space is made to be "easy", but it is somewhat restrictive.) Of course, the site is a long way from "finalized", but it is a beginning place and does contain some answers. Much of it is repeated in different forms, whether you prefer a simple running list, a calendar (with click-able details), or an interactive map (you can zoom in and also chose a satellite view). I will probably still tweak those parts some, but the journals (blogs) should have most of the new content. We expect to have internet access most of the trip, but cannot tell for sure. We may not write daily, but do plan to record experiences when we can.


Explanation of title:
Why "Beyond the Wilderness" for my journal title?

I was fascinated by the image several years ago during a Bible study of the third chapter of Exodus. Moses had run into trouble in the land of his birth, so escaped to a new place. He made a new life for himself, finding a wife and a new job. He joined his father-in-law's business and became a shepherd. And one day, while caring for his father-in-law's flock of sheep, he led them "beyond the wilderness".

I thought he was in the wilderness. What is beyond the wilderness?

"Beyond the wilderness" is the "burning bush" story, where God chose to make Himself known to Moses. He had noticed Moses' actions in pursuit of justice: when Moses killed the Egyptian for beating one of his kinsfolk; and later when Moses defended his future-but-as-yet-unknown bride and her sisters against shepherds who tried to prevent them from watering their flock. Apparently God chose to redirect Moses' energies to a larger, impossible-sounding task, leading his people out of slavery.

So I love this whole idea of wilderness and what that means for each person, including new and unexpected experiences, and the possibilities that may be found along the journey.

I'm Going to Africa

I am excited about going to Africa!