Iain has decided to create a new language.  I’m not actually sure why, but it’s been really fun to hear his creativity.  His brother suggested the language be called UNA.  “A combination of UN and USA.”  I have no idea what this means or why you would call a language this??  This morning I was informed that he is now calling it IAINESE.

Here’s what he has written down so far:

Kangaroo is a “Jumping Horse”

Horse is a “Lucky Donkey”

Monkey is a “tree cat”

Tennager is “Teenagarian”

My favorite word, which he actually used in a sentence tonight without pausing or forcing it: Hugantic.  Feel free to drop that one into conversation and credit your friend Iain.

Now, if we can only channel his powers for good…

Comments(4)

Footwear

This is one I would love to hear from others on.  What do you wear on your feet when you fly?  This is especially important for those who take LONG international flights.  Do you take your shoes off?  Do you go bear-footed?  Do you wear socks?  Do you wear the free airplane socks?

I like to take off my shoes because it is more comfortable, easier to sleep, and your feet swell.  I do leave on my own socks, however.  My kids (and I’ve seen ohter passengers do this) take off their socks and put on the airplace socks.  Why?  I would understand if these were some sort of special socks designed to help your feel with the altitude, etc.  But they are not.  They are just cheap, thin socks.  I can understand if you don’t have your own socks on and you don’t want your feet to get cold….

I also like to wear my biggest, heaviest shoes that I am taking on a trip so that I don’t have to pack them   btw, these are generally quite comfortable and loose, so easy to put on after flying for the long walk and wait through customs.

Comments(0)

Drink Lots of Water

This one used to be a lot easier when you could bring your own water bottle on the plane.  I still see about a thousand bottles at the security checkpoints, so good job everyone for thinking about drinking lots of H20 on the flight.  Bad job in forgetting that you can’t bring this big ‘ole liquid through security.

Just remember that they have water on the plane.  Lots of it.  Free.  When they come around and offer drinks, I always ask for something + water.  When they come around later and ask if I want anything else to drink, I always ask for water.  When they come around in the middle of the night with a tray of water, I take one.  You literally can not drink too much water on the plane.  The air on these things sucks you dry – rehydrate!  The bathroom is never far away

Comments(2)

Most of you probably know that at the end of last year, we decided that 2009 would be our last year leading the NieuCommunities team in Pretoria, South Africa.  We have been part of this ministry for the past 6+ years and feel that God has something new for us.  A recent development in our preparation for what’s next (and the reason we are writing to you now) is that we are going to take a sabbatical from now until June.

This sabbatical will allow several important things to take place.  First, it will provide us a needed opportunity to step out of our normal environment to reflect on and capture what we have learned and experienced over the past several years of life and ministry.  We also need some time to recuperate and be restored from cross-cultural living and the various personal issues this surfaces and magnifies.  With that, we need room to clearly discern and thoroughly prepare for what God is leading us toward next.  We have a sense that this will be something new and big in Cape Town, and we want to prepare as best we can.  Finally, Melissa has been thinking for a while that it would be good to spend an extended period of time in America.  Because we are ending one season and preparing to head into another, we have a unique chance to do so now.

We are currently working with the leadership of CRM (our missions organization) on all the details, but a few things we know and want to let you know:

• Our sabbatical begins August 1
• We arrive in California on August 6 (yes, in 3 weeks!)
• We will be living in Fresno near most of our immediate family
• Our kids will be in school there for the year
• The goal of our time is restoration and development, as we will be diligently pursuing God to prepare us for the new things He is moving us toward.  This will include everything necessary to begin a new ministry.  We remain serving as staff with CRM during this time.
• We plan to return to Cape Town, South Africa, in June 2010

Surprising, you say?  For us too!  All of this has come together rather unexpectedly and quickly.  God is actually stirring a lot of changes in our team, which have allowed us to transition out quicker than we had anticipated.  We are now busy making all the preparations necessary to move our family.  Part of the rush is that we want to land and get our kids into school.  We are also anxious to hear more from God on what He has planned.  It seems that He has things in mind that we don’t know of yet, but we trust are amazing.

Please pray for us.  A few specific needs are to find a place to live in Fresno, transportation, and to get our children enrolled in school.  Would you also keep your eyes, ears, and hearts open for these on our behalf and let us know of anything that might help?  We would also appreciate your prayers for our family to have supernatural peace through this transition.  We know it is good, but change can be difficult.

God has given us an unexpected gift.  We don’t have it all figured out yet, but are excited for what is to come.  Please feel welcome to send us your thoughts, questions, and suggestions.  We are looking forward to sharing this next leg of the journey with all of you.

Arthur for the Stewart5

(Apologies if you are reading this more than once.  In an effort to get this out quickly to as many people as possible, we are using email, our blog, and facebook).

Comments(1)

Shower

Everyone likes a fresh smelling neighbor on the airplane.  Do them – and you – a favor and shower as late as possible before flying.  If you are flying later in the day, either wait to shower until about an hour before you have to go to the airport OR take a second shower to freshen up.  Not only will you feel better during your flight, but if you are traveling internationally, it may be a while before you can bathe again.

Men, I think the same is true about shaving.  When we fly from South Africa to California, we are in transit for about 24 hours.  If I don’t shave last thing before we head out, I pretty much have a beard by the time we land.  Depending on where you are going and for what, this might not be the look you are going for when you are picked up at the airport.

Comments(0)

Exercise

I find it very helpful to exercise the day I am flying.

1. It tires you out, which then increases the chance of rest on the place
2. Depending on the length of your flight/layovers, you may be sitting for quite a while.  Exercise while you can!  Don’t sit all day before flying if you can help it.
3. After landing (depending on the purpose of your visit), you may not be able to exercise for a while.  Better to get it in before you start
4. Stress relief.  Nothing like exercise to calm nerves and get the endorphins going

Admittedly, this one only works if your flight departs later in the day (as do all the international flights our of South Africa).

If you do exercise, you will also want to shower before you fly.  More on that next time…

Comments(1)

Packing

A long time ago, I used to roll all my clothes when I packed them.  Does anyone else do that?  I think I had read that you can fit more in that way.  Generally, I just find that it only makes all my clothes wrinkled.  I don’t do that anymore…

Pack early.  If you are in a rush to pack, you will forget something.  And, it is likely that in packing you will realize that some shirt you want to take is in the laundry or you don’t have enough underwear.  You don’t want to find this out when it is already too late.  Why not pack early and get one thing off your to do list and lower your stress level?

Take less than you need.  Yeah, people always say this – because it is true!  I like to lay everything I am packing on the bed, then cut about 30%.  Everyone over-packs.  Two specific questions to ask yourself: will you be able to do laundry while you are gone, can you wear thing more than once?  If you answer yes to either or both, TAKE LESS than you think you need.

Finally, when flying international, I like to take anything valuable (generally electronics) in my carry-on.  I don’t take much else on the plane but a journal, maybe a book, and light toiletries.  I prefer to watch movies and sleep.  I used to bring work and several books.  But I never got to them, so why add the weight to my carry-on?

Would love to hear your packing tips – both for checked and carry-on luggage.

Comments(2)

I started jotting down some thoughts on air travel when I went to Andrew & Mariah’s wedding over a month ago.  Now seems as good a time as ever to start these posts, which I think will make a fine littler series.  Would love your thoughts and comments along the way…

Air Travel Tip #1 – Be Quiet

Maybe you are really excited to be traveling to/from another country.  Maybe you are nervous.  Maybe you are just American.  Whatever the case, you don’t have to be so loud.  Everyone else in line or on the plane doesn’t need to hear your life story or travel plans.  If they do, they can ask you.  So, no need to broadcast to everyone where you flew from, that this is your first time to Africa, or what you ate for lunch.  Further, there are probably some people who are a little anxious about flying, have just left loved ones, or are on their way to business responsibilities.  Do you need to make them more nervous by making such a racket?  Flying should be a pleasant experience.  So, keep your voice down, sit back, and relax.

Oh yeah, when you have your headphones on because you are watching a movie, don’t talk to someone… you are yelling.  Take the headphones off first so you realize what a normal speaking volume sounds like.

Comments(1)

other than the obvious, we live on the planet, so need it to actually function….

thanks to Melanie for sharing this with our community yesterday.  simple, direct, not too long

Comments(0)