Since we are traveling these days, this is going to be one last update, and hopefully there will be no travel delays and we'll be home in Columbus on Sunday!

Yesterday (Friday) was our first day "off", which started by leaving the mountain at 6am…nothing like getting to sleep-in on our day of relaxation! We picked up the Passion Center staff and headed to Mvuu, for a safari at one of the local national parks.

We didn't see much through the driving tour, but once we got on the boats, that was where all the action seemed to be. Hippos, hippos and more hippos! We caught sight of a herd of elephants at the mud hole, crocodiles, warthogs, impalas, baboons, and roughly a million hippos.

After lunch we headed back to the Center to drop off the staff and pick up our luggage, and then it was off to Blantyre. One of the local businessmen there has a unique ministry for traveling missionaries. All throughout the year, the McGrath's open their house and share meals, rooms, and encouragement. We had an amazing dinner, and then brownies and ice cream (it's the little things that excite us!!). After dinner we sat around while Erin and another guest—a German translator ministering in Northern Malawi—led us in worship songs. Pastor Mark even strummed a couple tunes for us. Wasn't long before we split up to head to bed, and I must say having a heated room was nice!

This morning we were at the airport, boarding Air Malawi, and on our way to Johannesburg. If everything goes according to schedule (and that's our prayer!), we'll be taking off at 8pm (2pm EST) tonight (Saturday) from Johannesburg, and 16.5 hours later, we'll be landing in Atlanta. A couple hours after that and we'll be boarding for Columbus, and should be touching down at 11am (EST) on Sunday.

The biggest discussion is now what all of us will be having for our first meal back in the states. Guaranteed it won't involve chicken or rice!!!

We're on the home stretch now. It's been an absolutely amazing two weeks. And as I've mentioned before, I hope we are forever changed because of it.

Sunday update
Our flight from South Africa was delayed by about an hour and a half, which made our connecting flight in Atlanta absolutely crazy! Half of us made it with our bags to the gate, and the other half of us didn't. They had closed the gate, so my dad, Pastor Mark, Chris, Joni, John, Liz, Travis, Drew, Tara & I were told we wouldn't be on stand-by for the next flight, and booked for the next two flights. It was rough news being that close to home.

Little did we know Jill was talking to the flight attendant, who in turn was talking to our captain, and he told us that if we could run, he'd hold the flight. So, the captain took the write up for us, but we all made it! It was like a scene straight out of the movies. The ten of us were running from the international concourse to Concourse B, and of course, our gate was one of the two farthest from the train. We dodged in and out of people, praying that the flight would be held still. They rushed us to the plane, and the plane was cheering as we boarded, and here we thought that only happened in the movies! Our smiles were pretty big as we seated. We'll have to make a trip back to get the luggage, but it'll be worth it to see our friends and family!!

Thank you for all your prayers! We'll see you at church on Sunday!
—Brooke