We’re back in the USA!
The 15-hr flight home went much smoother than our flight there — mostly because we went in with a better game plan this time around now that we knew more what to expect!
Kathrynne (who had been very nervous about such a long flight the first time around!) told me as we got off the plane and back on US soil, “That flight just felt like it was a few minutes!!”
I told her, “Well, if you can survive a 15-hour flight and feel like it was easy, you can pretty much survive any flight!”
Other than a very messy bloody nose from one child, it was highly uneventful and all of us got good sleep. I finished two books, watched two movies, AND got in a good rest! 15 hours is a long time! 🙂
I looked over during children’s church on Sunday at Maubane and saw Kathrynne standing with two girls next to her like this.
Our kids were so nervous about going on this trip, but after a few days, they didn’t want to leave! Everything we hoped this trip would be it was… and so much more.
Our kids now want to save more so we can give more. They have new appreciation for other cultures and have seen firsthand that there is so much we Americans can learn from people on the other side of the world.
They have seen new animals they’ve never seen before. They’ve experienced a completely new climate. They’ve eaten and drank many new foods and drinks. And they have realized that you don’t need to speak the same language if you know how to speak love.
One of the things we talked to our kids about before we left was about how this was not a mission trip, but a relationship trip. We have so much to learn from the South Africans and they don’t need quick fixes or Amercanized solutions, they need our friendship and love most of all.
Yes, we want to give in very practical and tangible ways, but the most important thing we can give is ourselves — to be WITH them, to listen to them, to let them know that they are not alone.
There were hard moments and awkward moments for each of our kids, but there were many, many moments when I saw them — all on their own — pushing past language barriers and cultural differences and just reaching out their hands and hearts in love. It was beautiful beyond words.
Coming home, our bodies are tired, but our hearts are so full and happy (and our kids are begging us to plan a return trip to South Africa ASAP!)
We took many other photos on this trip that were much more posed, but this photo above… THIS accurately captures the joy we experienced in South Africa as a family.
My family now understands why I’m so smitten with this country and they have all fallen fast in love, too! Silas, the child I expected would struggle the most on this trip with all the newness, said a few days before we left: “Do we HAVE to leave in a few days?? It feels like we’ve only been here for a day!!”
It was good to be away. We learned so much, we experienced so much, and we are coming home with renewed passion for giving and refreshed perspective on what really matters.
These are our forever friends in South Africa. We love these people more than words can express and we miss them so much already.
(These are the beautiful people who make up the Take Action Ministry team — two local South African families and the Fey’s who moved to South Africa from the U.S.)
{It’s a shame that none of us have any personality. As you can imagine, when we’re together, it’s just all stoic and quiet and boring. ;)}
What Would You Like Me to Blog About Our Trip?
Because I wanted to soak up the moments and be 100% present while we were in South Africa, I was offline most of the trip. It was good, but there is so much I want to share about our time there!
I have so many different post ideas, but I’ve love to know what YOU would most like for me to blog about our trip. Leave a comment with questions you’d love for me to answer in a post or a suggestion of a post idea. I’ll read through your questions and suggestions and use them as a basis for the posts I write about our South Africa trip over the next few weeks.
For now, I’m headed to bed… But I do plan to hop back onto Periscope for my regular Morning Show at the usual 7:30 am CT time tomorrow morning! See you then!
Diane says
Crystal,
I missed you while you were gone! I am so thankful that you took the time to fully engage with your family and the folks in South Africa. I can’t wait to see what you share with us. Please share some of it here on the website. Not all of us are into Periscope just yet. I think whatever is on your heart is what you should share. I already see tons of great ideas in the comments.
Thanks for all you do!
Crystal Paine says
Look for the first of a week-long series of posts on South Africa starting today… I had to take a little time to process, get over jet lag, and organized my thoughts and now I’m ready to jump in here and write!
Tamboliya says
This post brought tears to my eyes (choked me up). Thanks for sharing.
Could you share video/audio of their songs/music/worship (vocal and instrumental) and also of them speaking so we can hear their language and accents and hear the joy in their voices? 🙂
Also, would you show the food you ate that was unique compared to American food? Thanks! 🙂
Ebene says
I would love to hear about all the planning and logistics of your trip. This is something that I would love to do with my own family. So all the details that went into planning for this trip would be really helpful.
Where did you stay?
How did you get around?
How did the animal visit go?
Do you plan on going back as a family?
Also I would have love to know if there are ways we could get involved with this charity in Africa. Both from here and if we could go there and do a mission trip.
andrea says
Welcome home! My family will be moving to Mozambique soon (3 hours from South Africa) and I would like to know how SA is similar and how it is different than the US…..foods, culture, sanitation, etc. Also, the details on how the flight home went smoothly. 🙂 I’m not looking forward to doing that 17+ hour flight with 3 kids multiple times for 2 1/2 years! Help please! 🙂
Tina says
I agree with everyone who said your kids should post! For a few weeks, I turned my blog over to my daughter for “Mini Monday” posts (we plan on starting up again really soon!). She loved being able to share things from her POV. She thought she was such a hotshot when those posts went live. It was adorable and an awesome way for me to share my love of writing with my girl.
Dawn F. says
I’d be interested to hear what surprised you about the trip, whether it be different things about the culture, how you responded to certain things, etc.? I’d also be interested to hear the reality of what the hardest things overall about the trip were. So glad you had a safe trip and such an amazing time there! Congrats on conquering your set of international flights with your kids! 🙂
Kariane says
It sounds like it was an amazing trip for all of you. I love that you took your kids with you. World schooling is a fantastic opportunity!
Mridu Parikh says
I teared up reading this. What a beautiful trip. Love that you called it a “relationship” trip. I would love to hear experiences from your children’s point of view. What a gift you gave them!!
Melissa says
Glad to hear you made it home safely!
I’ve heard that sometimes kids (and adults) who witness extreme poverty while traveling internationally come home feeling guilty. They might feel badly about having a warm, safe bed and nutritious, abundant meals when so many other people around the world are barely getting by.
Was this something your children experienced? If so, how did you help them through that?
Kate says
Hi Crystal,
Along the same lines as the earlier comments about how the organization seeks to avoid “westernization”, I also wonder about mission work in general and how it might infringe upon existing religions and culture. It seems that a portion of your work is introducing Christianity and God’s Word to these South Africans, and I wonder if you’ve given thought to how mixing aid with the proselytizing will serve them (or not). I’m certainly not trying to criticize this needed aid, or your service as a Christian, but I question whether it infringes upon their own religious or spiritual traditions that may be different from Christianity.
As you are very thoughtful about your decisions and encourage women to be intentional with their living and finances, I just wonder if this is something that you thought about before engaging in mission work. Thanks for your willingness to be open to our questions, and I hope that this is an issue you decide to address.
Ronni @ The Screenwriter's Wife says
Welcome home! I don’t if this is something that you know necessarily, but it relates to your trip, but the thing I’d most like to know is: How can someone get involved in family trips like this? I know of places that offer “adult” mission trips, and “teen” mission trips, or “16+” mission trips, but I love the idea of taking a whole family on something like this, younger kids included.
Do you happen to know of other organization that allow trips like this? Or do you just have to know he right people in order to make a trip like this happen?
Lori says
setting goals as a family, and teaching kids the importance of reaching beyond their comfort zone.
Joy says
I want to hear about EVERYTHING!
My husband and I are headed overseas in January to Cambodia. This is his first mission trip (he put his faith in Jesus about 18 months), my first one overseas, and our first one together. We’re going with a team for our church through an organization that has much the same philosophy as Take Action – employing and staffing the orphan homes with locals.
Did you and Jesse have any conflicts on the trip?
How have/are you all processing into coming back to normal life?
Will you go back? Will you go somewhere new?
What did you miss while you were there? (I’m loathe to give up my routine of coffee in the morning!)
If you could have done anything differently, what would you change (aside from the lost contacts & allergy meds)?
Thanks for giving us a peek into your life! I look forward to hearing more about this trip.
Diane says
Welcome back! Prayed for you this morning.
Crystal Paine says
Aw, thank you SO much!
ElizabethClare says
I really like others idea of interviewing your children. I’d like to know more about exactly what you do there as well. Hope you recover quickly!
Andrea says
I know several people already suggested it, but I would love to hear all the different perspectives from your family. It would be great to hear everyone’s favorite part, what they thought was the hardest part, and something unexpected that they learned!
Glad your trip went great!
Megan says
I second wanting to hear from your children’s perspectives, and Jesse’s perspective, too. I think it would be especially interesting to hear about how South Africa was similar or different from what you all were expecting. Many people are surprised when they go to South Africa to see how developed it is, how much like the US or Europe, though of course that exists in contrast to about 25% of the population living in (official) extreme poverty.
Christine says
Oh yes, would love to hear from Jesse. Or even better, a scope with the two of you together!… the story of how you won his heart over to support your idea to take the whole family to South Africa?
Would also love to hear more specifics about:
— the new foods you were able to try (what were they, what did they taste like, your impressions),
— what it’s like in South Africa — the weather, the stores, homes, landscape, etc.,
— How you spent your time with the South African children — what did you get to do with them?, how did you speak the universal language of love?
— Can you “introduce us” to any specific children/families and share their story? Can Kathryn tell us more about what the home of her new friend looked like, what DID they have?, how it made her heart feel when she saw their living conditions?
— what kind of prayer needs Take Action has
Addy says
Agree with others that hearing about the trip from your kid’s perspectives would be interesting. I personally want to hear about each day and what you did and see LOTS of pics! Such a great opportunity for your family!
Avenlea says
Welcome home! I’m glad it went so well. Praise God!!
Questions: How did you survive the jet lag, and what did your family do to stay entertained on the flight?
Christine says
I would like your kids to post their thoughts and I am curious the cost of the trip and any immunizations needed.
The Capable Student says
You are so clearly doing a great job with your children. The love of Christ shines in their faces.
I would also love to know how you prepared them for international travel.
Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama says
I would love to hear some practical thoughts on how to prepare your children for an international trip. So glad you’re back safely!
Kelly Cox says
I’d love to hear a short interview of your children’s thoughts! Oh to see a child’s heart for the Lord is so beautiful. Maybe they’d share some of their impressions with question or two that you ask them? Just an idea – the trip through a child’s point of view.
I can’t wait to hear more of your trip. I always feel on my trips (Esp to Kenya) that I go to be a blessing but am the one in fact blessed. 🙂
Melanie @ Gather for Bread says
Crystal, this makes my heart smile. So happy for you. And I love that…it’s about relationship. Beautiful family.
My biggest question is: how did you get the family ‘onboard’ to go to South Africa?
BRENDA DISHONG says
My Aunt & Uncle lived in Johannesburg for ~ 30 years so luckily I got to take my daughter twice for a couple weeks each time. She always had to do a school project and one of the things she loved was the words that we use and the words they use for items. Such as …..car truck=boot, trash can = bin, a phone = a ticky box. Loved traveling there and wish I could go back again. Only one cousin is over there now. All my cousins have moved back.
Trixie says
So happy you got to do this! I would love to hear more about your intention of not making it a trip for quick fixes and Americanized solutions, and how Take Action avoids that philosophy. This idea really resonates with me and removes my hesitation to participate.
Thank you.
Antonella says
I second Trixie here. How can we offer help in a way that’s not “colonialistic”?
Crystal Paine says
I think the biggest reason Take Action has been able to avoid “Americanized solutions” is that it is run mostly entirely by South Africans who are working with local leaders in the poor communities. They were actually very, very leery of having American support (something that only transpired in the last two years as a result of Lisa-Jo Baker reaching out to her parents who are one of the main South African couples involved with running Take Action Ministry).
They are extremely committed to supporting the local economy, so for instance, with the two-classroom building you all helped to fund (I’ll be sharing more on that soon), they spent a lot of time researching what would work best for that specific community and then hired a local architect, a local builder and team, and local carpenters to build and furnish the building. This way, not only did our money go to the building supplies, but it also helped to support the local economy and provide jobs.
The goal of Take Action Ministry is to inspire and motivate the local people in each community to take ownership and lead out in that community. They come alongside providing support, training, and financial assistance but all with the long-term goal of it being a self-sustainable community down the road.
Antonella says
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing this info.
🙂
Jamie says
Agreed, thanks for sharing their philosophy. Welcome back!
Chris Muller says
Incredible! First off, glad you made it home safely. Second, I think it’s amazing that you were able to take your family on such a trip. Getting children exposed to other lifestyles and cultures is so important for their development. That’s great that the trip went so well! In terms of what to blog about, I’d love to hear about some of the more specific differences, culturally, that you saw in S. Africa vs. the US. My wife and I were talking the other night about things we complain about and how there is just so much we take for granted. For example, we might complain that the dishes are dirty and we have to load the dishwasher when we’re tired. When you really think about this – it means we have food to eat. We were able to put food on those plates, causing them to get dirty. Some people don’t even have that luxury. Totally puts things into perspective for you. So I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on some of the cultural differences and what we might be taking for granted here that we don’t know about. Looking forward to reading your upcoming posts!
Robin Lynch says
Thank you for already sharing what you have. I would love to hear more about the school and the changes for the children there. How did your kids react to the setup of the school. How did you prepare your family for the vast difference between areas of wealth and poverty?
I must say I am so inspired to show my kids (3 &1) how they can help others.
Martha Sturm says
I would like to hear about the specific needs there.
Mary says
I think that is awesome, for your kids to experience this kind of trip and I also would love to hear their experiences from the trip.
Lisa-Jo says
Agree- I’d love to hear an interview with your kiddos similar to what I did with Jackson 🙂 WELCOME BACK friend!!!
Darlene W says
I would love to hear from all 3 of your kids about the trip from their point of view (new things they learned or tried, things they found similar to back home, etc). I truly think this was one of the coolest things you guys could do for your kids. I am sure they learned so much (whether they realize it all now or not). If we all had the opportunity to learn about others I think everyone would be a bit more tolerable towards those that are different from themselves.