Yanji

We arrived in Yanji China today, to my surprise we were escorted to a lovely 5 star hotel that has only been operating 1 month. At dinner the lovely little waitress commented we were the first international guest for the "Yanbian International Hotel". They are trying hard to please us!

Seoul, South Korea with 11 million people is similar to New York City. Economically very advanced crowds of people rushing about, traffic jams, high rises, asphalt, huge apartment complexes, only difference was the Korean symbols on the bill boards. We met with many important leaders affiliated with our upcoming endeavor, in order to familiarize us with the project.


The Airport in Seoul South Korea

We were forced to improve our skill at using chopsticks. There were many awkward moments as we sat a round table with very important people eating Korean food and no silver ware.
We accompanied our host as he ministered at a huge Presbyterian church Sunday morning. Including their satellite churches this church has 100,000 members. (This I believe is a result of much prayer.) They hold 7 services on Sunday, each with at least 2,000 attending. For a minimal fee you can purchase a hot meal in the parking lot, each service. There are mega churches all over Korea but very few small churches. I believe the top 13 mega churches in the world are located in South Korea.

One afternoon our host drove us to a prayer retreat in the mountains. The fall foliage and mountain air looked and smelled just like October in PA. We walked around the mountain facility, stopped and enjoyed coffee at a cafe nestled in the pine trees, with squirrels scampering about. It was great, it felt just like home.

Bangkok

As our plane descended into Bangkok, the sprawling ultra-modern architecture of the recently opened Suvarnabhumi International Airport resembled a space station from a sci-fi movie. Listening to the strange language of my fellow passengers they seemed from another planet as well. Several aircraft had just disembarked and the airport was crawling with people from many nationalities. The lines for passport control were never ending. In front of us blinking in red were the words “foreign passports” (as if I needed reminded I was a foreigner)! I remembered a verse about how we are aliens and strangers in the earth, so this is what it feels like. To my left, a man unexpectedly sneezed with no time to cover his mouth. Behind me I heard a congested cough. My brain suddenly went on red alert, “AVIAN FLU”! I quickly looked around and saw to my horror the porters were wearing white masks over their nose and mouth. I thought to myself, “The flu thing is really happening…now!” and I ask Gene in an anxious voice, “Why did we come to Asia during the flu season?” It was just a very brief moment of panic. We are at rest and our trust is in the Lord. It is great to be on the internet, at least for one night while we’re in Bangkok. When I heard the familiar brrrrring signaling my pink razor phone had connection, I kissed it! It’s off to Seoul, South Korea early in the morning.

Yangon

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Mark Twain

As I reminisce of Myanmar I reflect on tall looming palm trees, bamboo groves, and the heavy scent of incense and jasmine. A soft spoken gentle people, beautiful Burmese women with thanaka (tree bark) painted faces, both men and women wearing colorful longyis (skirt) and sandals. Monks in saffron colored robes with shaven heads roaming the streets, carrying alms bowls for the morning offerings. Sidewalk tea shops with mini tables and chairs where the locals gather to chat and catch up on the latest gossip. Colonial and contemporary architecture, high rises and golden domed of pagodas punctuate the landscape. A diverse cuisine to choose from, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, you name, it’s in Yangon. On the streets, rickety vintage buses, tri-shaws (pedaled three-wheeled taxis), bicycles, pedestrians and foreign used cars all comfortably co-exist. The currency exchange is 1 dollar to 1,334 kyats, the smallest bill being 1,000 kyats - no coins. Myanmar would have to be the most unusual place I ever visited. Now I know why my niece loves this country so much!

Katrina’s driver, our tour guide, he is so sweet


My special niece Katrina in her classroom


Tri-shaw and monk

Visiting the Buddhists orphanage

The village school

The Lake People

Surrounded by mountains, we snake across the shallow, sky blue waters of Inle Lake in a long, sleek wooden canoe propelled by an outboard motor. We pick our way through water hyacinths and lotus, careful not to disturb the Intha as they gather lake weed or wait for the catch of the day. It is like going back in time, as we glide from village to village. Houses are built on stilts over the water, many with thatched roofs and an addition on the side for a few chickens and pigs. Long, narrow floating vegetable gardens constructed of reeds and mud provide the locals and surrounding area with fresh produce of tomatoes, peas and beans for the market. The lake people are true artisans: blacksmiths, silversmiths, cheroot (Burmese cigars) makers as well as weavers of silk and lotus fiber. The click of the wooden looms sound like a percussion band, as 15 to 20 young women weave the hand-spun thread into beautifully designed fabric. In the cheroot hut, rows of young girls sat cross-legged on the floor, fingers deftly rolling cheroot in lotus leaves. The Intha’s adaptation and ingenuity are truly amazing.

Like most of Myanmar’s population, the lake people are primarily Buddhist. There are nearly 100 shrines and religious buildings around the lake where thousands come to make offerings and pray. We visited the Jumping Cat Monastery, inside the dimly lit teak building, kneeling Buddhists rhythmically bow and chant before dozens of golden, gleaming Buddhas. Here the monks have trained cats to leap through small hoops and are glad to show visitors.



Overall the people are very welcoming. In spite of the remoteness, we would occasionally see a satellite dish attached to the side of a hut or a sign advertising video and DVD rentals. It is like two worlds are colliding; technology is certainly making an inroad. As I looked at the many tourists, including myself, staring and taking pictures I felt like an intruder. Change is and will come to Lake Inle. I wonder how it will look five years from now.

Gene's Thoughts

There is a quote I saw in a small shop in Johannesburg S.A. which says: “I was not born in Africa but Africa was born in me”

Although I was born in America I believe the world has become my home. I have wondered how is it that someone so ordinary became so fortunate to traveling outside the borders of my country and experiencing the cultures of the world. The Asian culture here is alive, friendly and closely knit. In the Asian culture there is not a victim mentality as there is in most of Africa.
Despite natural disasters, economic downturns and sanctions from other countries, they keep rebounding.

There is so much uniqueness in their culture and so much ingenuity and creativity. I find that the things that are so important to me at home loose their importance in a global perspective.

The ordinary part of me is disintegrating as my life has take on an unusual course from the palace to the huts. The poor have found an inner peace that comes from family or close relationships as a support system, and from the joy of being alive. To them life is beautiful and full and NOT measured by possessions.

My exposure to the world has allowed be to be more objective about issues in the world without taking sides. What the global world is looking for is peace, stability and prosperity. In order for this to be achieved it will take long term vision and courage. It will certainly not be for the fainthearted or the weak and certainly will never be achieved by the greedy. Governments can be at odds yet people can coexist in peace and accept one another for their individuality and uniqueness.

Myanmar - “Airborne”

Once again soaring through the sky, this time, the side of the aircraft in yellow and purple letters scripted “Air Mandalay”. We are in flight from Inle Lake back to Yangon, Myanmar where my niece lives. I never seem to grow bored gazing out the window. This new vantage point lends order and logic to the landscape, roads curve to avoid hills, rivers trace paths to lakes, roads that from earth seem laid out without thought emerge as well-planned grids. The countryside resembles a patchwork quilt, brown patches of freshly tilled soil, green patches of fertile pastures interspersed with golden patches of sesame flowers. In a distance I have an aerial view of the lake and the villages on stilts with rows of floating vegetable gardens.

There is not much talk about the clouds that are visible up here. No one seems to think it remarkable that somewhere above the earth we are flying past a vast white cottony island that could very possibly be God’s chariot as he rides across the heavens exercising loving kindness, judgment and righteousness to those in need. I have never heard the Captain stop the activities in the bustling cabin to announce with emphasis that if we look out the window, we can see clouds that resemble giant, billowing, piles of unsteady shaving foam and God could very easily be sitting on one. The Lord appeared to Moses in a cloud. In Psalms 104:3 He makes the clouds His chariot and rides upon the wings of the wind, Deut 33: 26, He rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. There are also numerous references of Christ ascending and descending on a cloud. As I press my face against the cold plane window, I feel a sense of peace and tranquility. God seems so close…almost tangible “for Your mercy and loving-kindness are great, reaching to the heavens, and Your truth and faithfulness to the clouds, Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth. Psalms 57:10-11.

Getting ready for Myanmar

Gene and I are hanging out in Johanesburg South Africa for several days, preparing for the next phase of our journey. We're getting our laundry done, jounaling and e-mailing. Gene was consulting today for a precast stone company named "Stone Africa" near Pretoria. We also visited friends. We are refreshed and ready for our flight into Myanmar.


Here is us pictures by the source of the Nile River

The source of the Nile is one of the great geogrpahical mysteries. The worlds longest river is thought by many to begin flowing northward from Lake Victoria near Jinja, Uganda. It was a moving and wonderous experience viewing this awsome river. The same river that flows by the ancient Egytian temples, a river that gives life to many.

Uganda 10/14/2006

The President



We were to fill out an application and apply for a bank charter with the Bank of Uganda. Because of the strong opposition and the tough requirements, we felt there was a good possibility we would still be declined. We insisted on a meeting with President Museveni to present our plan. The General is the younger brother of President Museveni, (these two men led the revolt against Idi Amin) so we knew he could make it happen. We had been promised a meeting with the president everyday since our arrival but it was continually postponed. Finally Saturday, our last day there, we were scheduled to meet with the President at 5:00PM. As we drove past the security check point at the Presidents Headquarters, we all fell silent. How were we to act? What were we going to say? We felt extremely inadequate for the occasion. Once there we had to wait for two more hours - drinking coffee and eating sandwiches we became more at ease. A soldier appeared at the door, gave a salute and motioned us to follow him. He led us to a building, three sides were completely glass. Upon seeing the President I bowed and tried to say “Your Excellency”, it came out somewhat garbled. Gene introduced the team and expressed our desire for a charter to open an Investment Bank and explained how this would help the economy of Uganda. The General described the opposition we had received from the Federal Reserve of Uganda the day before. President Museveni expressed his favor of us to opening the Bank and assured us he would personally override any opposition. Before leaving, Gene handed President Museveni printed copies of prophetic words God had given Vish for both him and the First Lady. Walking out to our vehicles we all felt a sense of relief, “Mission Acomplished!”

Uganda 10/11/2006 - 10/13/2006

Our route from Rwanda to Uganda was beautiful as we flew over Lake Victoria. Once off the plane we were met by government officials who took our passports and quickly whisked us by long immigration line to the VIP lounge. It was good to see the familiar faces of David Kandole, Dave Yarnes and Matt Swanson. In Ugandan tradition, we had a photo session with our government escort, Col. Charles Angina, Seiko (a high military official) and Mrs. Toni Bamwesigye the Director of The association for Widows and Orphans. Two government vehicles waited to drive us to our hotel situated just below the President’s mansion.



Here is the team pictured with our government escorts.


That evening we had an informal dinner with General Caleb Akandwanaho- Salim Saleh (Rtd) who is also the Minister of Finance of Uganda. Tall and lanky, considered a rebel by bureaucrats, we later realized this man is our key contact to do business in Uganda. The following day we met formally with the General and the Minister of Micro Financing to present our plan to open two charter banks, one for investment banking and the other for micro financing. Yarnes showed a very informative power point. The General was extremely receptive and indicated our arrival was an answer to one of his five requests to “god” therefore we needed to present to the next level, the Bank of Uganda.

The following day we had lunch on the top floor of the Federal Reserve Office. We were all fighting intimidation; the building was surrounded by tight security, the very atmosphere seemed threatening and unbending. Our official meeting was with the “Governor” who is the head of the Federal Reserve (the “Alan Greenspan” of Uganda). We presented our request for the two charters, explaining how Uganda’s biggest need is affordable capital to empower economic growth and our desire to help. Immediately we were met with severe opposition, this was followed by a heated debate between the Governor and General with Yarnes and Gene adding periodically. The General, with his witty sense of humor, occasionally broke the tension. It seemed we were against the wall. Then the General suggested Yarnes show his power point to the Governor in the adjoining room.

Yarnes was extremely reluctant, he felt this was suicide. Several of us joined together and discreetly prayed. We felt Yarnes should give it his best and let the rest up to God. We were lead down a long hall, double doors swung open; they ushered us into an imposing board room where 40 members of the Federal Reserve Board sat at a round table, a microphone at each seat. They had quickly shut the offices down for this impromptu meeting! Yarnes did a great job presenting in an extremely hostile environment the rest of the team were interceding. There was more discussion; suddenly we felt the majority of the board swing to our side. Apart from some legalities, the meeting triumphantly ended with a promise of a charter! Praise God!


Here we are in the board room.


This is the General


David Yarnes giving the presentation.

Rwanda 10/11/2006:

As our plane prepared for landing at the Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, our hearts were heavy remembering the genocide of 1.2 million people who were murdered by their fellow countrymen. We could see lush vegetation, mountains, rivers, lakes, and fertile valleys – a country rich in natural resources. As we flew nearer, poverty was evident, low dilapidated buildings with rusty tin roofs and gravel roads. A group of school children in uniform waved as they watched the arrival and departure of aircraft, all around was a strong military presence – armed soldiers and military aircraft.

Goodbye South Africa...

We felt some sadness today knowing this was our last day in South Africa. We finalized some business, said goodbye to friends and boarded our flight to Johannesburg. Early tomorrow morning we leave for Uganda with an hour lay over in Rwanda. The team consist of David Kandole, David Yarnes and Matt Swanson and ourselves.

As Gene was praying for Uganda the Lord gave him Isaiah 32:15-18. This passage describes the Lord pouring out his spirit…the wilderness becoming a fruitful land…justice and righteousness and peace being restored. The word Gene continually received was the “garden”. At one time Uganda was called the Garden Spot of Africa, but during the dictatorial regime of Idi Amin it became a desolate place, with much persecution and is considered one of the poorest countries in the world. Life expectancy at birth remains low at around 49 years. The rule of Yoweri Museveni since 1986 has brought some stability and economic growth. Uganda has become a model to the rest of the world for reducing the spreading of HIV. The national prevalence rate for HIV dropped from 12 percent in the early 1990’s to 4.1 percent in 2003. This is largely a result from teaching abstinence and faithfulness in marriage. We will be meeting with the president and other political leaders to discuss micro financing and ways to empower the people. This is a result of Gene meeting with the Ugandan Minister of Finances and the Ugandan Ambassador.

Pray that God will give us wisdom and strategies to share for Uganda’s future. Thursday morning’s meeting will be with, General Caleb Akandwanaho, the Minister of State for Micro Finance, in the afternoon we will be meeting with the Minister of Planning & Economic Development. We will be meeting with President Museveni on Frida. Most likely, I won’t be able to have internet access, out of the 28 million people who live in Uganda only 200 thousand have internet service. I will write updateds daily but I may not be able to post them until we come back from Uganda.

The Storm

It is a 15 minute drive by gravel road to Steytlerville, a quaint little village, with a colorful main street wide enough for ox wagons to turn around. Lined on both sides by well kept Victorian cottages and interesting little shops, you can see any mode of transportation from mule drawn carts, bicycles, pick ups and luxury cars. We stopped at Weavers B&B for a friendly visit and to return a drill we had borrowed. A relentless wind was sweeping through the village. “That would be the burg wind,” David said, “There will be a change in the weather”. Gravel and dirt stung our faces, bits of tumble weed and debris blew across the flats. Red dust filtered into the house as the intense winds continued through out the afternoon. By evening we experienced a fierce thunder storm that resulted in a power outage. I regretfully thought of my decision not to purchase candles while in Steytlerville. Dinner consisted of tuna salad on a bed a lettuce with onion and tomato. We went to bed early; our sleep was interrupted by several more storms during the night. In the morning there was still no electrical power, now our telephone reception was gone as well. We had planned on preparing for our departure to Port Elizabeth tomorrow - then onto Uganda and I had a mountain of laundry to wash. So Gene filled the bath tub with water, we washed our clothes by hand and hung them out to dry. Such is life in the Karoo! The first phase of our itinerary is almost over.






Hardware Store - Gene's favorite hangout


Karen loves this little Curio shop


The Weaver bird for all our bird loving friends!

Hidden Valley

After two gloomy days of cold and rain Gene and I woke to the warm sun pouring in our windows. Armed with our camera, binoculars, books and journals we eagerly jumped into the rhino. Our destination was the secret valley we had discovered the night before. We tuned off the engine just before we reached the crest of the hill. The morning was silent except for the gentle cooing of the turtle doves and the occasional cat call of a bird. Suddenly we heard a series of shrill barks off to our right. We peered up at the towering mountains, part of the Baviaanskloof. Up on the ridge were several baboons giving a warning call to all the other creatures, announcing our presence. Baviaanskloof literally means “baboon gorge” but this was the first we really knew there were baboons on our farm.



From there we decided to go on foot. We turned left, to a less intimidating mountain, where Danny thought the hartebeest were hanging out. Walking no more than 100 yards, we heard thundering hoofs. A massive three curl kudu suddenly broke out of the brush. We smiled at one another, sensing that this was going to be a fruitful day. We were not disappointed! It was a struggle to get to the top of the mountain; but once there it leveled off and was a fairly easy walk. The view was magnificent; we could see mountains spread out in seeming infinity across the horizon. We spotted a lone young male Hartebeest who ambled off in the distance. Following him, we walked into a group of 30-35 more kudu. They just stood there for several minutes eyeing us with interest. As we continued along the top of the plateau, we were rewarded by a herd of ten magnificent red hartebeest. It was a day of wonder!



Exhausted from the hike, we found a sunny spot sheltered from the wind and pulled out our books and journals. There God showed me Matt. 18:3 “unless you become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Children see the world on a different level than adults. Far more trusting, children are open to mystery; they live life to its fullness, wide-eyed with astonishment, enthusiastic about everyday things. God wants us to recapture a child-like approach to the Father so we can experience a kingdom life. He wants us to have that sense of wonder. There are dozens of verses in the bible that portray a people who are amazed, astonished and who marveled at the awesome ways of God. David was one of them. Every thing about God was marvelous, to high wondrous, phenomenal and sensational. God wants to restore that sense of wonder to each one of us.

Rain rain, go away...

It rained heavily off and on all day. The carefully raked red dirt in our “yard” turned to sticky red mud and deep puddles. Gene and I were both feeling cabin fever so decided to focus our energies on laying the remainder of tile that Barrett and Tony had started. We felt a sense of relief as we placed the last piece in its assigned place. We need to finish the joints and that job will be done. Around 4:30 in the afternoon the skies cleared a bit, so we decided get some fresh air and ride out to look for the 18 red hartebeest we had bought some time ago but never saw. They are a beautiful deep red color about the size of an elk with unusual horns, they resemble a unicorn. Our caretaker said he knew where there had been hiding out and would take us there. We have 4,500 acres of land on our farm and thought we had seen it all. But Danny directed us to a road we had never been on, up over a huge, rocky knoll and down into a beautiful fertile valley we had never laid eyes on. It was alive with all kinds of birds I couldn’t name but there were no red hartebeest that we could see. I guess they are out there for another time and another place but we will find them. On the way home we could see the rain coming in the horizon, the race was on to get to our home before it did. The rain won.

Things We Find Unusual

• Wakening to the rhythmic sound of a creaking windmill
• Washing our dishes by hand in cold water
• Our water comes from a cistern
• Our shower is not much more than a trickle
• Totally enclosed with 7 miles of 12 ft. high fence with a locked gate (To keep the wild game from escaping)
• Viewing springbok out our kitchen window
• A palm tree beside our front door, flowering aloe and cactus in our garden
• Five foot tall geraniums that form a hedge
• Our “yard” is carefully raked red dirt
• The “chairs” in my garden are really roadside kilometer markers (the prior owners work)
• The smoky aroma of our caretakers cooking dinner
• Slow internet service – may take 30 minutes to bring in a days e-mails
• I feel no need to wear make-up or shave – very liberating!
• It is a 2 hour drive to a major super market or department store
• No TV, radio, or stereo
• Hearing folks speak Afrikaans
• Drinking “Ceres” for breakfast (a wonderful natural fruit blend)
• Enjoying leg of lamb and the luscious, sweet taste of paw paw (a fruit)
• Our breakfast yogurt container reads - parmalat, vanielja, gegeurde laevet jogut
• Grocery bags cost 17 cents a piece
• Instead of “you guys” it’s “you chaps”
• Silence – no sound of traffic, no phones ringing (no cell phone service!)
• No planes flying overhead
• No appointments, schedules, or demands
• Isolation from the outside world
• Stars appear so close you think you can touch them
• The hypnotic sound of rain on the tin roof
• Every sunset demands a moment of silence

The list is endless!!!

Some more pictures...

Chilling in the garden




This is the "Rhino" that we take on game drives


Can you spot the Kudu?


Our caretaker Danny with a Linx that he caught in a trap