Malibongwe

Day Fifteen

(Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.)

     Sleep came and went as we flew over the continent of Africa. The soft vibrating hum of the engine sounded through the cabin and many of the passengers clung to sleep. Here I sit, wide eyed and awake, flipping through the movie selections on my seat screen. My mind continuously buzzing with all the things I encountered in the past week. The wonderful people I met, the amazing sights I got to see, the tasty food I was able to try, and how I was able to see my God at work this entire week.

     After a few hours slugged by while watching a few shows, I rose out of my seat and made my way to the nearest bathroom. I slid the door closed and began washing my face. I looked at myself in the mirror and I look as if I had aged within the last week. Sleep rings have taken up permanent residence around my eyes due to the many sleepless nights, I looked very haggard. Stubble clung to my chin and cheeks and as I touched my face, I let out a solemn sigh. After I've experienced all of these wonderful and amazing things how can I just return to a "normal life"?

     We touched down in Amsterdam once again and began to leg it off of our flight. The bright Amsterdam morning greeted our faces as we continued our stroll down the Jet way. We began meeting other passengers as the security terminals came into view. Once by one we opened our carry-on bags and they began to search us. A large black gentleman motioned me to step into a nearby body scanner. That's when I remembered that I had ear plugs and my ID in my pockets. My fatigued brain began instructing my hands to move into my pockets half way through the scan, which was a bad idea. The large security agent grabbed my wrist forcibly and pulled me out of the scanner, and said,

     "Hands up sir!"

     At that moment I thought to myself,

     "Nathan, have you ever wonder what a European jail looks like? Because now you're going to get the chance to find out."

     The large man began to pat me down forcibly checking me over intently. He looked me square in the eyes and with a sense of ferocity in his voice said,

     "Sir, never do that again when going through security, it won't be well with you if you do that again."

     I nodded and apologized and quickly scooped up my bags, put my shoes back on and made my way over to our group.

     Our departing gate was the same gate we exited when leaving Schiphol for Johannesburg. We selected seats and plopped ourselves and our belongings down. I looked around and my brain was crying out for coffee. I left the group along with Taylor and Callie to go find the nearest coffee shop. We found one and I ordered what I thought was a cappuccino. When I pressed the drinking slit to my mouth, a dry and bitter liquid began flowing into my mouth, this is not the kind of coffee I was used to, and I felt a rush of energy course through my veins. My eyes widened with renewed vigor! I looked at the barista and I asked,

     "What kind of coffee is this?"

     "It's European koffie sir, none of that overly sweet American junk. We make real coffee here."

     I continued draining the invigorating liquid with such ferocity and tasted subtle hints of hazelnut goodness. I set at the coffee bar looking out upon the tarmac of the airport watching planes take off and land. Africa was still fresh in my mind and I miss it. Why do I have to go home?