Atlanta (28 June - 12 July 2009) Chrisna

Atlanta has been a blessing! It has been a blessing in so many different ways, from the first moment, even before we arrived there until now, after we have left.

Our 4 weeks home exchange in Chicago, our destination after Atlanta, was canceled and we had to find other accommodation. Our host in Atlanta, Peter, was so kind as to allow us an extra week in his mountain cabin north of Atlanta, which helped us a lot, since we now only need 3 weeks of accommodation in Chicago.The special house and car in Atlanta was a blessing. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay there. Our meeting with Bruce Wilkinson and Charlie's baptism on Tuesday 30 June: - what can I say but:"What a blessed day!" (I did write one whole blog on that day.) I might add that the reason we included Atlanta in our tour program, was to see Bruce. We definitely heard God right on that one...

And yes, as you can expect, we found a mountain to climb! We visited Stone Mountain and climbed all the way to the top and down. We also celebrated Independence Day on 4th July with the Americans there at Stone Mountain with a firework and laser show that kept us staring upwards for more than an hour. It was spectacular and exciting.

Many Americans may live by the belief that they are bigger and better, but you have to give them credit for their patriotism!

Atlanta was also the place where my mother came to visit us for the 2nd time during our tour. Oh, what a joy to have her with us. We are having a feast: not only because she takes us out for lunch and buys ice cream, not only because of all the chocolates she brought along, but also for the lots of laugh and love and fellowship we share. A true blessing!

We also spent a few hours at the house of Phil Tuttle and his precious family. We had a wonderful lunch and shared many stories. Phil is the president of Walk Thru the Bible, so he is actually my boss! We were fortunate enough to hear him teach and learn from him during his sermon at The Bridge Church on Sunday. It was all about being real - about taking off your mask! This is one thing we have experienced firsthand on this trip : there is no place to hide, no time to put on a mask. Being honest and humble, saying you're sorry if you were wrong and forgiving immediately are vitally important factors if you wnat to live in harmony and grow even closer together. This surely is an all important life lesson. Yet another blessing of our time with them was the bags full of real American cookies that we received - melt in the mouth delicious; extremely difficult to stop after one cookie!

Being in a family where "leadership", "life purpose" and "put dreams into action" are part of who we are and how we live, where the father left his big money profession to train leaders in Africa without earning a cent , you can imagine and understand what a special few hours we had at the Martin Luther King Jr. Museum. Boy oh boy, it was inspiring, painful and victorious all at the same time. What an example he was and still is, one worthy to study and follow, one who's life gives Glory to God and who's plans and strategies came straight from the Lord. This again was confirmation that the only solid foundation the African Leadership Institute can be built upon, is the truth of God's Word and the example of Jesus Christ.

I hear the question that Martin Luther King asked: "What are you doing for others?" and towards that challenge we must work as a team. "The self cannot be self without other selves." It is a question and truth that I will have to repeat to myself often and find the honest answer for.

Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, and I realized there in that memorial centre, that I too have the same dream. "I have a dream that one day my 4 (3 in my dream) children will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character".

Yes, we may dream, but we must also do. I must be the transformation that I hope for, it must always begin with "me".

To be able to learn, to be able to grow, to be challenged and to be humbled - all are blessings out of God's Heart. What I do with them however, is my choice and my responsibility.

Mat 7:12 (KJV)Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Mat 7:12 (Msg) "Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get.