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In the beginning God created. . . we are God’s creation! ‘From the very beginning, Lord you created us to worship you.’ And we worshiped God yesterday in our flying. Dawn, Katrice, Laurianne, Sharon and I soared with the eagles and flew with the angels. What an amazing experience! I would do it again and again. With tears of joy Dawn said, “we actually jumped out of an airplane. . . if we can do that, we can do anything.” She continued to speak about the jump helping to break the chains of fear; fear of rejection, failure and the unknown. Laurianne said that she felt like she was “in God’s arms.” Katrice said that in the beginning of the year she told God that she wanted to fly, and it came to pass. Sharon was the most fearful of the group. She actually was on the bus to go to Cape Point and asked the driver to pull over at the next safe area where she could get a taxi. She said, “I could not miss this. I had to live.” When I opened my arms in the air, it was as if my whole body opened up, and I felt like my spirit had been waiting my whole life for that moment! We were all very thankful and very appreciative for the opportunity.
I wrote yesterday’s blog at 3am after I finished packing, so there was one additional experience that I wanted to share. Katrice and I were in the ‘Green Market’ looking for a stand that sold shirts. She saw the stand some days before, and wanted to return to purchase a souvenir shirt. We looked for the stand, but it appeared that the owner had already packed up and left for the day. So we asked a lady standing in front of us about the stand. She looked at me and said, “I know you. You look so familiar.” Since I had never been to South Africa before, I was thinking, is this my distant cousin who recognized me in the Spirit? Now that would have been a story to tell. She then asked me, “Did you preach at New Faith Church on Sunday?” I smiled and responded, “Yes, I did.” She said, “that is my church, Pastor Jerome is my pastor. . . you were such a blessing to me. God put a word in your mouth that blessed me!” She went on to say, “Please pick something from my shop that I can give to bless you.” I was overwhelmed. She gave me a beautiful bag. As we continued to talk, she said to Katrice, “I cannot just give one blessing. How could I do that? Please pick something for yourself as well.” Utterly amazing! We both were blessed by our sister, Bibich. When we asked her what her name meant, she couldn’t think of an English word to describe it, but she described it as, “like a fish in water before it is caught. . . like fresh.” What a beautiful name for a beautiful spirit. What a wonderful ending to a wonderful day!
We have experienced the joy of returning home; a journey that our ancestors could only dream of, but never experience. Thank you God for our ancestors: those that paved the way for us. Thank you God for our ancestors: those that sacrificed their lives so that we could one day return home! I believe that they are smiling down upon us at this moment. What a day of rejoicing that will be, when we worship God together in Glory!
Well, we are now sitting at the Cape Town airport, waiting to board our flight to return to New York. Please pray for traveling mercies for us all!
Blessings~
Rhonda Parker
/ February 26, 2010Hello pastor. Amazing, amazing! Thanks for sharing your experience with us thru your daily blog. That was something at the market place with sister Bibich. Wonderful lesson on generosity. Once again, thank you pastor. I pray you all have a safe trip & return home safe as well. God bless you all.
Tohma
/ February 26, 2010Yeah Sharon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy that you guys returned home safely. May His Peace be with you until we meet again.
Karen Gadson
/ February 26, 2010I am crying tears of joy.I am so happy that you all have taken the journey to South Africa.
I know you all had a wonderful time and will bring a NEW attitude of gratitude with you.
Gregory Spence
/ February 26, 2010Thank you Lord, thank you.
Greateful and thankful.
Amen.
Ruth E. Lowe-Tuitt
/ February 27, 2010Hi Reverend LaKeesha & all: been out of loop. Phone acted up on me. It’s been an absolute joy to read your daily posts. I realized how much they meant to me, when I couldn’t read them. Felt like a child that couldn’t have a toy or piece of candy. I also love how you titled each post according to your most touching moment. Your posts have taught me to be more humble, loving, forgiven, compassionate & thankful. Each of your writings had profound lessons in them, as well as adventurous ordeals. They have been very instrumental in sparking my interest and desire to visit the Mother land in the near future. I am claiming that the Lord will enable me to go. Then I’ll be able to see Nelson Mandela’s house & jail cell, ride in the roller coaster 80 miles a hour cabs, see the animals, feed the less fortunate, worship w\the saints, fly…just as you all did. Looking forward to the verbal stories. Praying for traveling mercies for you all. Love you much! God bless you Sis. Thanks again for sharing your life transforming experience.
Zandra J
/ February 27, 2010My dear siblings in Christ,
I continue to be blessed by your experiences. I am overwhelmed just by reading of your adventures, I can only imagine the wonderment everyone feels. You have proven it is truly a small world and we shall be forever connected to our beautiful African sisters and brothers.
With all you have experienced, I must admit I cannot stop imagining what it was like jumping out of that plane and watching as the earth rapidly got closer and closer! (My stomach is queasy just thinking about it.) Ah, but also how glorious it must have been to allow your trust in God loom bigger than your fears, then literally soar as an eagle as old baggage was gently released.
From the first reading, I was inspired more than any of you could ever know. I anxiously await everyone’s safe return and hear more of your wondrous, life changing experience. I also hope to get the opportunity to admire some of your African gifts and purchases.
I pray God will continue to give you traveling mercies, and hope you are prepared for the New York weather.
Zan
Sandra Meyers
/ February 27, 2010“Glory to God”! What an amazing adventure to breath-in the experiences of Africia, I patiently, await the exhale. God’s mercy and His grace is with you and we will see you all soon.
God Rocks!
William F. Cooper
/ February 27, 2010As I sit here at this computer working on my new book, so much joy fills my soul to see people I actually know living their lives WIDE AWAKE. From experiencing the love from our home, to sharing God’s most precious gift to us all (LOVE) with our brothers and sisters, to the adventurous expeiences and profound posts, I feel so blessed to be living your travels with you.
WOW! WOW! WOW!
Cheryl Faye
/ February 27, 2010This has been an exciting trip for me. While I have only journeyed to South Africa vicariously through your posts, Rev. LaKeesha, I have been with you the entire way. Thank you for your generosity in so beautifully recounting the most memorable moments of your trip. I am in complete awe of your unswerving trust, bravery and openness to GOD. God is and always will be with each us, but to actually live as though you believe that with all of your heart has been evidenced by the experiences you’ve shared with us. I am grateful to God that you all have arrived back in the states safely and eagerly long to hear more about your adventure. I can’t wait to see each of you and have a big hug of gratitude waiting for you. With love always,
Cheryl Faye
Sandra Meyers
/ February 27, 2010Sister Lakeesha,
At first glance, I just start laughing. Once wasn’t enough. I hear that.
We miss you all. God bess!
D. Wiggins
/ February 27, 2010Keesh,
Thank God for traveling grace, and thank God for a real blessing!!! You are truly a blessing to those in Africa and to those back home…..You’ll have so much to share and the Spirit will be in the midst of it all. Please take your time and feel the beauty of every moment. I Love You, Mother…