Canada – 22/6/09 (Chrisna)

We saw stars! Last night when we looked up into the sky, there were stars, and many of them. It looked like I remember it looks on the farm back in Namibia, only without the Southern Cross. I know the stars are there every night, it's just that we do not see them often because of clouds and mist and city lights, but they are there. A lot like in life as well – the Light is there, the thank you's are there, the miracles are there, but we don't see them – because of many individual reasons.

But last night we could see the stars. It has been long, very long since we last saw them, and Tinus goes out every evening to look for them. We were grateful to see them up there, very grateful.

We are in a small cabin next to the Redstone Lake in the north eastern part of Ontario, Canada. We are the only people here, except for 2 others in a cabin further down the lake. Peace and quiet? This is it. This IS peace and quiet. God is here – like everywhere else, but it's easier to hear Him here, because noise and distractions are so little. This time here is confirmation that it is good to visit a very secluded place periodically, to have the ideal setting to hear God's whispers. If this is true even while we are on our world tour with a much slower pace than usual, how much more important to schedule such times when we are back home, on the run. Praise God that He is not restricted by speed or noise, He speaks even while we run. But we...or I am limited in my hearing when I am always on the run. This retreat is good, and necessary for me. This is special. It is hard too, because God is faithful and He really wants me to look more like Jesus. So when I allow Him, He lifts up a mirror for me to see myself, to see the "not so nice" spots, to repent and to be filled with His likeness in those areas. Less of Chrisna, more of Jesus...

This place, like so many other places before, allows us to soak in the diversity of God's Creation. Here it is also green with water, and I mean lots of water. This whole area is covered with lakes. It is not 1 big lake, it is many, many different lakes. One lake upon the next as far as you drive, with areas of treefilled land in between. I wonder if you will find a road to drive here where there is not water next to it! The green is overwhelming. It will be strange (and VERY special) to see the dry blond-brown country of Namibia again. But for now, we thoroughly enjoy the green and the water.

Speaking of water, we were at Niagra Falls a week ago and that's water for you!

We were IN the falls. Yes, we did stand at the top and watched the spectacular falls, but we were also literally IN the falls! We went on a boat right up to the falls, and we from Namibia stood right in the front of the boat. Most of the other people were either inside the boat or on deck, but safely to the back. Not us, we were there in the wind and the water of the falls and of course got soaking wet. Oh, what a joy! It was better than any rollercoaster or thrill ride can ever dream to be... The falls are beautiful – both the Horseshoe and the American vertical falls. We spent 6 hours there soaking in the view, the spray of the tumbling water and the sun. Yes, it was our first summer day with (as they call it) toasting temperatures of 23 degrees Celsius. (what on earth will they call our moderate average 35 degrees C?!)

We enjoyed a picnic on the grass. I'm pretty good at packing picnics nowadays, because we always take our own food, it is just SO much more affordable. Eating out - even at the franchise fast food places- are too expensive for us. This fight to stay within our budget has become an adventure and helped us to discover and treasure the fun of having picnics . It takes a little more effort and planning, but it's equally enjoyable, perhaps even more, than visiting a restaurant. Having fun, building memories, does not have to cost a lot of money. Go with what you can afford, an attitude of expectation and thankfulness and great company, and you have a feast! Any place...

We are having a feast! We are blessed! We are thankful!

And although this is wonderful and I often wish it can go on and on, we know THIS feast will end in 3 months time and we will return home. And then ...yet another feast will start! We will be ready...Thank you Lord

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A few days after finishing this blog (it wasn't posted yet because the lake is an internet free zone), I read this in the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster and I realized this is a good summary of this blog and confirmation of what I've experienced. That's why I've decided to quote it (my own free translation into Namlish) here, to remind me when we're back home of this truth.

"One of the disciplines through which we are to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ is meditation. A heart that is fragmented, harassed, swept away with frantic activity, is not prepared for meditation. I need Otium Sanctum, or Holy Leisure. This is a sense of balance in life, an ability to be at peace through the activities of the day, the ability to rest, the ability to take time to enjoy beauty, the ability to pace myself. This is what I must pursue!" This then is what this year , or 9 months, is called. It's not a sabbatical, or a long holiday, or a break, or even just a blessing. It's a Otium Sanctum, and this week here by the lake is an Intense Otium Sanctum (if you get something like that), and this is what I must continue to pursue, specifically back home – in the reality of life.

It sounds difficult, but that's why it is called "pursue", and not just "do" .

Thank you God, for being faithful, fot being real and alive. Thank you that you will be at my side in my pursuit...

Alaskan Cruise (Thursday 25 June, Redstone Lake) Tinus

Gazing over a lake – coffee at hand – I sit and ponder our fortune. My dad and brothers are off to play golf, my mother is outside writing. Music fills the room behind me. Oh, how grateful I am! We have truly been abundantly blessed by the King and to the flow of blessings there seems to be no end!

Thousands of thoughts, which I am desperately trying to catch and pen, are flying about my head. Mostly thoughts of all that has happened in my life thus far. Stories I wish to share but can't seem to find an appropriate introduction for. Thoughts of praise to our Precious Lord. Thoughts of things and times so beautiful that I can't help but feel it can only be put to paper if the perfect words are found. Yet even as I sit and ponder them, words, even the very best ones available in my arsenal, fall woefully short!

But my mind can contain no more and be it that I fail horribly at portraying the wonders I have seen and experienced, it is still better than not voicing them at all, I suppose.

I therefore mean to undertake that which I have – for reasons I have just tried to explain – postponed until now. Though there are a great many things I would love to share, somewhere I must start and a recall of our cruise aboard the Norwegian Star seems to be a proper place to do so.

This account to follow is, however, mostly for my own gain and you will do nor yourself, nor me any injustice in not reading any further. Besides, I am perfectly aware that you have already heard (or read) plenty of our week on the waters.

When I shall publish this post (hopefully soon) and how many hours I shall sit sifting through all the fragments of stories and memories overcrowding my head (oh, how lovely is such an overcrowding!) I know not, but about that you need not worry for if you are reading this, I must already have posted it. J

Allow me to start with the ship upon which we sailed. She goes by the name of Star, Norwegian Star.

Her 92 000 ton bulk elegantly absorbs the 1100 crew members from 56 different countries and more that 2000 guests. The mass of people is so effectively dispersed between her 14 decks, more than 10 restaurants and 12 elevators, that it never feels crowded aboard. And therein lies possibly one of the main reasons I enjoyed the cruise so much. For you see, I am but an introvert in a family of passionate people. A tentative C among D's and I's. I have long ago been teasingly dealt the name of "Spoedvark" (for those that have no understanding of Afrikaans, it sort of translates to "Speedy.") I'll have you know, that the name has been very liberating to me, for now I have a license to be slow! Oh, how often do the member of my family dread (not really) the day I became Spoedvark…

See, what I mean, my head is a mess of thoughts! Please forgive me if I lose tread of my story and be warned that it might happen again.

Anyway, though I have learned to love the fast paced life I was born into, I need time of silence and solitude every now and again in which to recover, to recharge if you will. And that this cruise was for me, but more on that later. I was still telling you about the Star.

Deck 6 is home to the Casino and Cigar bar (and no, I did not hang out in either), as well as the lower portion of the Stardust Theatre. The rest of the Theatre resides on deck 7, forward. Deck 7 and 12 are the main public areas of the ship. A host of restaurants (amongst them the Blue Lagoon) the Galleria duty free shop (yes, they even cater for shopaholics aboard), the photographers' headquarters, the Carousel night club and Pearl martini bar, as well as the reception, housed on the lowest floor of the main atrium at the centre of the ship, are located on deck 7.

Set on deck 6 mid-ship and astern, respectively, but accessed only by stairs from deck 7, are the Aqua and Versailles Main dining rooms.

Five floors above the Stardust, forward on deck 12, the Spinnaker lounge enjoys panoramic views. When nothing is happening in it (which seldom occurs, since it is used for "game shows," staff quizzes, bingo and other entertainment), it is a wonderful place to sit, gaze and read.

Behind it the chapel, with blue chairs looks out massive windows on the port side. The lifestyle and card rooms, which look exactly the same: green tables and comfortable chairs, occupy the starboard side. Between them and the chapel (I'm still on deck 12, forward) are the library and Cinema.

Venturing further backward on deck 12, you walk out onto the pool deck with 2 slides, a pool, 4 hot tubs and the Grill. Behind it is the Market, the ships main cafeteria which serves breakfast (7:00 – 11:00), lunch (12:00-15:00) and dinner (16:00-22:00). As if they knew you would feel guilty at merely looking at or thinking about all that food, the spa and gym are next in our journey from bow to stern on deck 12. At the very back of the ship, two ping pong tables, 2 hot tubs and the kiddies pool occupies the open deck.

Walking up a flight of stairs from there, the helipad (sit-and-soak-up-the-sun-in-icy-Alaska-since-no-helicopters-ever-come-to-the-ship-space, in other words, are at the very rear of deck 13, which is open deck all the way to the bow.)

Before you think you are at the top of the ship just yet, ascend with me to the 14^th deck that bulges from the centre of the ship at both the stern and bow. On Deck 14, aft, are located the 2 garden villas and the basketball court. The Bier Garten and another hot tub is upon deck 14 forward.

Just to clarify, the open part of deck 13 thus wraps around the "bulges" on which deck 14 is. Furthermore, the pool deck on deck 12, has clear skies above it, as deck 13 has a gap in that area.

Open decks can be found all around deck 7 (upon which a few shuffleboard courts are located) , the pool deck and stern deck on deck 12, the helipad and outside edges of deck 13 (housing the 400m jogging track) and the forward observation deck on deck 14.

The remainder of the ship is mostly filled with staterooms. Ours was located on deck 4 forward. Rooms 4557 and 4559

There, that is the ship.

If I have lost you, which I probably have (not because of an error on your part, but my over detailed and unimaginative description,) I beg you pardon. I once again extend the offer to stop reading at once.

If anyone still chooses to proceed, I must explain a few more things.

Norwegian Cruise Lines pioneered a policy they call freestyle cruising. Basically, it means that you can almost do whatever you want, whenever you want, wearing whatever you want wherever you want. Between the Market Café, Grill, Aqua and Versailles you are almost always sure to find something to eat, all included in the price of the cruise. If you still find yourself hungry at a time that none of these are open, you can order room service or visit the Blue Lagoon 24/7, also at no charge. The rest of the restaurants (on decks 6, 7, 12, 13) charge extra.

Now, on to what we actually did…

But before I start, I must go refill my cup of coffee for it has become cold. (I can’t remember the last time I allowed that to happen…comes to show you how hard this recording business is.) The problem is, I know not if I shall return to my post soon. But as I have said, about that you need not worry. For now, share my joy and contentment if you can. The lake lies like glass before me, Laurika Rauch is singing behind (the second album to fill the room since I started typing), my mother is still writing and the other men have yet to return. The sky is palish blue and the trees on the far shore vivid green. Truly, we serve a great God!

« « « « « « «

Well, that is how far I got beside the lake in Canada. After the break above, which was intended as but a brief pause (but did after all lengthen considerably), my mother and I went for a stroll down the road and I dared go kayaking once more (a funny story can here be recalled…maybe I shall tell it later).

Now I sit in Atlanta, in my "office" (and off course my coffee is not far) and finally post Volume 1 on our Alaskan Cruise.

Though it is off topic, alow me to end with by quoting the words of Himlin Galant.

I can't wait for the day that God's glory shines forth in our government, education, law, economy, arts (magazines, music, movies incl.), churches and international partnerships.

It's what burns in my heart, I cannot rest and nor can I give God rest until this vision materializes... for His glory and humanity's sake... We are the salt, we are the light... no longer can the world decay, no longer can darkness reign... yet we have to allow Him to prepare us...

Spectacular Canada - 14-28 June 2009 (Dawie J)

Once again an amazing experience! This time it was a 2 in 1 holiday (but I did do 9 full schooldays).

Landing in Toronto, we already saw the CN Tower high up in the sky!

We had a great home in Toronto with a swimming pool, sauna, ice hockey table, and video games. The house was like a 5 star hotel. The home exchange family, Judy, Brian, Francis and Oliver are VERY special people and generous! They took us to a steakhouse!!

When we sauna-ed, I told Tinus that I feel like a cookie, because I am being baked. We enjoyed the house a lot, swimming and regular BBQs.

We went to Niagra falls. It was roaring water and clouds of spray in the air. We went on a boat, The Maid of the Mist, right into the falls. It was wet and wonderful!

Our second week, we've spent at Red Stone Lake, in the Haliburton Highlands. There we also baked in the sauna, but swam in the lake (not a swimming pool). I went rowing on the kayak a lot. I can even stand and row.

We visited the ice cream kiosk 3 times. Each time we bought 2 "small" ice creams (which were actually gigantic) and shared it amongst the 5 of us. We never saw how big the "large" ones were!

We did not initially choose to go to Canada, the Canadians chose to come to Namibia. I'm so glad they did. This was surely a highlight!

DJ is signing off now, as we descend into Atlanta. Yet another adventure is waiting!!

Blessed 2009

We are happy, healthy, content, overjoyed, blessed.

Eph 3:20 -21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (KJV)

Or in the Message in "easier" English:
Eph 3:20 God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Eph 3:21 Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

Hiking madness – 12 June 2009 (Dawie J)

Whitefish, Montana was wonderful! I will remember it as the place where we hiked ourselves almost to death, but even with that, it was still very nice.

We walked at Glacier National park. I was stretched to my limits – I did not think I could go any further, but still kept on going. If you think I can't walk far, how does 20 km sounds?(and half of it uphill!) We lost our path because we walked a long distance over snow. We found fresh bear footprints in the snow! I know now what real fear is.

Two days later we rode on the Go-to-the-sun road with our bicycles. I rode on a SMALL bicycle (the small size children learn to ride on). Mom and Dad walked 40 minutes and Charlie and Tinus went on ahead with the 2 big bikes. Then they switched places and I remained on my bike. It was uphill all the way. Again I was stretched beyond what I thought my limits were. This exercise took us 2 hours 40 minutes non stop! It was high and beautiful. There were high mountains and rivers.

Whitefish, the town where we stayed, is a small town. We barbequed at the lake. We also rowed in the canoe. One day we went down the river which flow out of the lake. I enjoyed that a lot!

We often played cricket on the street in front of our house. My dad made the bat. One evening we played a game that lasted 2,5 hours. it was an anybody's game. We had to play a knock out game to find the winner. I was in the lead with only Tinus to bat. With 2 balls left and 2 runs needed to win (for Tinus), I was the one with the ball in my hand. Tinus hit a full shot. I stretched out and caught it with my one (left) hand! He was out and I won the game with 1 run. If I would have dropped the ball, he would have gotten the 2 runs and won. I was so overwhelmed, I started crying !

Whitefish reminded me of Switserland with the quietness. I liked it very much. I would like to go back one day.

Whitefish, Montana - 24 May - 12 June 2009 (Chrisna)

For the first time on this trip, I was quite sad to leave. Every time we clean, pack and go, I do feel somewhat sad, but also satisfied, content and ready to leave, because it is time to move on. This time however it was different: I experienced an unsuspected sadness and slowness in my packing, a feeling of "I'm not so ready to leave yet." I was most definitely satisfied and content, but it was such a special time and place, that I almost wished it could go on and on and on... I at one stage told Dawie that I can stay in Whitefish - like permanently, and he wisely pointed out that I won't make it , it's way too cold. That of course is true, because we were there when summer started already, schools closed for the summer holidays (for 3 whole months!) and our temperatures in the middle of the day every day were colder than the temperatures in early evening in Windhoek, Namibia - and it is winter there (and a cold one they say!) So yes, Dawie was right, I will not survive there (unless I pad myself to look like a Michellen tyre Man daily and stay inside the centrally heated house). But still, I was sad to leave. Why?

Because it was so "nice" being there. Oh that word says so little, but it seems the right word. For now it is a summary of the natural beauty of the place, the relaxed atmosphere of the town, the quietness, the peace, the town being so small- you can walk anywhere, the special church we've attended, the friends we made, the beautiful sunsets at 21h30 over the lake, the slow life, even going there along the scenic train ride... I can go on, but I will stick to it was very nice.

With Some input of Wisdom in the beginning of our stay, we all had to give in goals/commitments as to what must be finished/done in our time in Whitefish. That was good, because the danger exists that one can think there is plenty of time and not so much to do, that at the end you do nothing! So, we all had goals and we had (as in all other places) our list of "things to see/visit" . I am glad to report that (almost) everything was accomplished. This prove that unfinished lists was not my reason for not being ready to leave. The reason was purely because it was so nice, and I wanted to have more of it! (I have snapped out of it by now, but it was still very special)

So, what did we do? Mostly walked slowly through the days- soaking in each other's company , God's Presense and the beauty of nature surrounding us, (and of course working on our "to do lists") AND then we also walked -literally I mean! Or in American dialect, we hiked. We hiked a lot...

I've decided that if any one will ask me in future how we travel around the world, I will tell them "we walked". I do think that we (almost) have covered the distance that a circle around the earth will be. If I look at our shoes and feel my legs at times, I'm pretty sure that we are close to completing that circle. Long distances have been covered in Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and especially in America (mostly because in other places we could still afford other tourist excursions as well, but here we do the only thing that is free: we hike) And I must add: we enjoy it!

We thoroughly enjoyed and feasted our eyes in National Glacier Park. It is in the same category of the Grand Canyon, but completely the opposite. Very high mountains, snow covered mountain tops, water everywhere: streams, rivers, waterfalls, lakes and green, all shades of it: trees, plants and wildflowers. We did not only see this from a comfortable car seat, but from ground level, as we hiked. We went up mountains to heights of 3000 ft(right to the Continental Divide) and down valleys. We walked over rocky roads and through ice cold water, we even hiked on snow covered footpaths(or let me rater say, where we thought the path to be) and in pinetree forests, but where ever we went, it was always upwards, higher and higher. I absolutely agree with the wall plague we saw in a shop: "When you see a man on the top of a mountain, remember, he did not fall there." That is true both literally and symbolically. Only persistent, hard work gets you to the top!

We went twice to the Four Square Gospel Church and had very special meetings there. We were also blessed by being invited for dinner at the pastor's (Paul and Angelita Ogle's) house the 1st Wednesday evening and again for breakfast the next Wednesday. It was a BIG spoil and times of blessed fellowship. It is so precious to experience true friendship in such a short period of time, and the reason because of the Unity we have in Christ.

Montana calls themselves "Big sky country" and "The best kept secret in USA", and both are true. May it remain that way, so that so many more brave and adventurous individuals can enjoy the overwhelming beauty.

This was truely a gift out of the Hand of our Loving Father (like all the other places before...)
Thank you for being blessed in abundance.

Cruising the Inside Passage of Alaska 16May-23May 2009 (Chrisna)

Tinus keeps on mentioning the Alaska cruise, but I don't see anything being written. As this cruise was for me a lifelong dream not only coming true, but exceeding all expectations, I also feel to write a few lines about it. I must admit, I'm glad that I write before Tinus can, because after his good English and nicely composed and describing sentences, I would have felt totally inadequate to write anything! Yes, comparing my writing to his, makes me feel completely inferior, but out of this comes 2 important lessons: 1.Never compare yourself to anyone. Be the best that you can be. 2.No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

So, this is my summary of Alaska, not comparing, not feeling inferior, but comforting myself with the fact that as a parent I am suppose to have my children standing on my shoulders, exceeding myself(not that I have anything to do with his English!!)

Boarding the ship in Seattle, was so exciting, a dream come true. I was the one to suggest cruising to Alaska. I've never seen pictures or read any thing, but I've heard about this cruise some 2 years before, and it somehow stuck in my mind. After much prayer, budgeting and discussions, we booked this cruise in September 2008, choosing the cheapest option of an inside cabin on the lowest deck.

Everything on the boat was wonderful, (including the cabin) - the 24hr availability of food (especially for my men who've been on rations for the past 4,5 months), the different restaurants to choose from (never planning a meal or washing the dishes), the shows in the evenings (eg.Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical), the many different lounges to sit and read or just sit or play games, the games on deck and even winning in table tennis! Yes all of that was beyond expectation. BUT that was not the ultimate...

The ultimate was going on outside - the ever changing spectacular views of the shoreline that was less than 500m away on both sides the whole time.

This cruise goes up the inside passage of Alaska, meaning the ship is surrounded by the mainland of Canada or Alaska and the islands. This obviously makes the cruising stable on the calm waters. We were always surrounded by snow capped mountains and pine tree forests, sometimes not surrounded, but hugged by them.

We stopped at 4 ports, 3 in Alaska and 1 in Canada. It's like stepping back in history.

The towns were founded in the days of the gold rushes and developed into salmon fishing towns. No development has taken place for many decades, but they were kept in their former quaint state. When going ashore we did not take any excursion(they were all VERY expensive). No, we did that which was free, and I'm sure also the most enjoyable: we walked for kilometres, or in good American: we hiked for miles!

Up mountains and down valleys. Past waterfalls and through rainforests. Just before boarding, we strolled through the small shops for a short while and looked what they had on offer to the 1000's of tourists coming to them with the big ships.

Then on the Tuesday, I had another experience like at the Grand Canyon. An awesome, breathtaking, overwhelming experience where my thoughts the whole time was:"How Great is God, God the Creator of all things". We went down the Tracy arm of a fjord to the Sawyer Glacier. That massive boat went slowly, almost as if honouring and respecting the "hugeness" of the surroundings, through the very thin canal. We sailed for 4 hours, massive mountains hugging us on both sides, 1000feet granite walls going perpendicular from the water, snow on the mountain tops and waterfalls everywhere, as the snow is melting in the higher spring temperatures. In the water we passed several small icebergs, as the ice of 10 000's of years old break off the glacier. Then we stopped, dead - with the front of the ship in the ice water and a glacier right in front of us, nestled in the mountain.

Ice formed over thousands and thousands of years, (now melting because of global warming). Then the boat turned around and went back the way we entered...

Oh,God ,how majestic is the work of your hands! I praise you. You are God almighty! One day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that you are God. Creation is glorifying your name. Please help me to do the same.

What a awesome, spectacular, beautiful, holy experience. We were blessed.

That is how the cruise was - full of surprises, breathtaking views, spoils, family fun times (and many miles of hiking). It was oh so wonderful!

It surely is a "grand" memory...

But , praise God, we are now in yet another special place. Your mercy and blessings are so abundantly exceeding our expectations. Thank you , my Lord!