What a contrast

Yesterday we went to Seal Island in very rough seas with lots of green faces. It was a great trip and the seals were wonderful. We sailed from a small town called Hout Bay that overlooks a beautiful bay beach just south of Cape Town. Overlooking this bay are wonderful villas with fantastic fews and a Shanty Town. This being accomplished through repatriation of land following arpartheid. Which brings us to today...

Today - we spent a few hours on Robbens Island - the home of the prison where Nelson Mandela spent most of his almost 30 years in prison. We spent time with a man who had served 18 years in this prison and had experienced unspeakable pain and suffering. A man who spoke from the broken places in our lives - yet spoke with dignity and resilence. He spoke of the stolen years and lost educations - hence the Shanty Town overlooking the Sea - and he spoke of forgiveness and hope. He was a testimony to the Human Spirit - which is a testimony to our Divine Nature. We were humbled by his story.

Tomorrow - we are off to Cape Point and then fly to Johannesburg for our last few days in Africa. Missing you all. Jeff

Jordan and friend

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Originally uploaded by j5brock

Didn't See that Coming!!

Goodbye Mozambique.. Hello Cape Town

It has been a couple of long days since we last posted.. We finally left Mozambique with heavy hearts and wonderful memories. Our flight to Cape Town was canceled.. so we ended up flying to Johannesburg then onto Cape Town - being rushed the whole way. Only missing one piece of luggage as of now and we think it is in JoBurg.. It was a huge relief for everyone to have a driver instead of me.. and roads with lanes and no pedestrians and signs and lights and cars that did not appear to come from an amusement park.. but by midnight we made it to our rooms and much needed sleep..

Today we spent sightseeing in Cape Town aboard a topless bus - with a trip to Africa's largest aviary and Haut Bay. Dinner atop our hotel in a restaraunt that revovles for great views of the city and an unbelievable sunset out our window over the ocean. Tomorrow we are off to see seals, table top mountain and maybe some shops in Cape Town. Missing everyone - but having a great time just being the five of us again.

Jeff

Starfish on the beach...

I've tried so hard to supress a cry while visiting these wonderful families that I have a knot in my throat.... Jarett has a permanent crick in his neck from looking up to keep the tears from running down his face.......

Yesterday, I looked at all these people like stranded starfish on the beach... I felt overwhelmed and hopeless... and then I began to meet the people that Jake has served and who love him and are stronger and trying each day to enjoy a better quality of life..... and I realized that even though we can only throw one starfish back into the sea at a time and many may die on the shore.... we are and can make a difference to that one! Judy

Sunday in Africa

I'm barely able to skate by with any sense of decorum... just when I think I'm loosing it... I look at Jake and pull it together..... he took us to places today that made refugee camps look like the Hamptons.
The malaria and Aids are too real. We visited a family whose daughter has malaria and a man today whose daughter died of Aids. He calls Jake his Grande Amigo. Jake spoke today in the church we visited. The people are incredible... they drawned out the organ with their song... I can't stop crying and I'm throwing out my mascara...... we are leaving now to visit more of the wonderful people... the orphanage we visit tomorrow! Judy

Getting ready for last drive

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Originally uploaded by j5brock

Us with our Guide/Tracker - Stranger.. Very nice guy - who found lions every drive we made.. as well as rhinos, elephants, giraffes, leopards, kudu, buffalo, baboon, zebra, hyena.. and a ton of other birds and animals.. we can't thank hom enough for a great time in Kruger National park

Jordan with the giraffes!

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Originally uploaded by j5brock

Actually there are about 3 giraffes in this picture with Jordi but her head is in the way! Blame it on the photographer!

The Brock Boys on Safari.

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Originally uploaded by j5brock

Jarett, Jeff and Jake sitting in the back of the jeep on one of our afternoon drives!!

2nd Day on Safari

Just got finished with another great dinner and game drive. Tonight we saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, baboons and a male lion wounded from a battle. What a great trip.. especially since we are all together. For dinner the last two nights we have eaten oryx and eland.. I'll let you google them to see what it is. Missing everyone.

The Brocks

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Originally uploaded by j5brock

Jarett was all excited we were about to rammed.. Wonder whose gene pool he came from.. However - it was all a bluff

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Originally uploaded by j5brock

About 8 feet from our vehicle - of course Judy could not see it because she was buried in my armpit

Our first Safari!

We spent our first day on Safari yesterday.. and I have finally had Judy surgically removed from my side. I don't think she understood that we would be literally 5-10 feet from the animals. Our driver took us into a pride of about 15 lions with cubs and I suddenly grew a tumor (Judy) on my right side. Anyway - our internet connection is unbelievably slow so we are having a hard time posting slideshows.. The latest pictures are at flickr - under j5brock.. feel free to take a look. Did I mention we have Jake back with us.. Life could not be better.. Looking forward to seeing all of you soon.

The Brocks

The Brock's are toast

So after a long flight to Paris - with pickled scallops, cold steak, mystery omelettes, lots of turbulence - we arrived with about 10 hours sleep between all of us. But as toasty as we are - we had a great day... saw Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, took a boat ride one the Seine and saw lots of great buildings. For those keeping score - Tour Guides driving - 1.... Judy - 0.. And next I get to drive on the wrong side of the road in Maputo... Our next poll will be whether the Brocks make it to their 25th anniversary.. Next up - we see Jake!!!

Flight Delay....Good Fortune!

Our Atlanta to Newark flight was delayed so long that Delta feared we would miss our flight to Paris...so they scheduled us on the non-stop to Paris leaving Atlanta at 6 tonight.... we'll still get into Paris by 8:30 AM to make our tour... a few anxious moments there! Note to self, never fly through Newark. :)

Waiting for our flight to Newark....

Well... my family has been poking fun of me all morning because of my lack of literary creativity... and because I use too many !!!!!!!!!!!. So I will only say, we are in the lounge waiting for our flight to Newark (and "I'm so excited" the Pointer Sisters have nothin on me.)

Jarett, already tired of waiting!!

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Originally uploaded by j5brock

In the Atlanta Airport!

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Originally uploaded by j5brock

Our Intinerary!

Well, we leave Sunday and head to Newark. We catch a flight to Paris, where we will spend the day touring the city during our 10 hour layover! Then we are on to Joburg and a quick (well, relatively quick when compared to the Joburg flight)hop to Maputo! By 11 AM on Tuesady...(Mozambique time) the four of us will be landing and then making a mad dash to be the first one to hug Jake!! I've got my running shoes on!!

In the MTC, where it all began! Now the 5 are coming home!

Packing!!

Packing, Packing Packing..... I'm so afraid I will forget something!! I just need to get on the plane! Just two days away!! I wonder if my son will recogonize us when we get off the plane? His brother has changed the most!! I'll have no problem spotting him!!! Back to packing!