Safe arrival - trash everywhere

We have safely arrived in South Africa after a short 14 hr, 40 min flight with no issues....other than a very minor lighting problem that didn't allow the lights to go out in our section. Eventually, after quite a few flickers, the lights went out and the cabin fell asleep.

Tonight, we'll spend time with Steve and Michelle Lockwood, missionaries with SIM and friends of ours. They'll take us back to the airport early in the morning on Friday, so I can hopefully make a couple changes to our flight schedule. Please be praying for that conversation with the airline.

The note about trash... apparently, the municipal workers went on strike, so trash is littered everywhere. The workers went through the communities and knocked over trash cans. The irony is, of course, that they'll have to eventually go back through the streets and pick up the trash...although at a higher rate and perhaps even overtime.

The gap between the rich and the poor is strikingly more real here in South Africa. I've noticed that in all my previous trips. When poverty is seen in Zimbabwe, somehow it is able to masked by the understanding that nearly everyone is in the same boat. Here, malls border tin homes, which border homeless communities.

A lot to learn, for sure. Will try to write briefly before bed. Dinner time is here (5:32pm local time). Bye for now,

-Ryan