Our eSibonisweni Guests Are Finally Here!

It's been a very, very long journey for our eSibonisweni friends!  It all started this past summer during our Saint Mark's School delegation visit.  Several of us meet with the five lucky eSibonisweni teachers under a beautiful tree at their school.  We sat and planned out their upcoming visit, including all the exciting plans for Passport Day.  The five teachers were elated about coming to America and Saint Mark's School.  After patiently waiting six months, the day finally arrived for the five teachers and six learners to board the plane for their long journey.  With our stomach churning with excitement, several of the Saint Mark's community members waited with welcome signs at the security gate to finally see our South African friends.  Their flight was suppose to arrive at 11:00 am, and as we waited and waited, our eSibonisweni friends did not come (only most of their luggage).  We eventually were able to get some information, and found out they were now on standby for eleven people.  We waited for a couple more hours, not knowing if anyone would be on the next flight.  Finally around 1:30, five of our visitors arrived excited, but very tired from their travel ordeal.  The other six guests were still stuck in Atlanta.  Fernanda and Zach (the couple who spent three months working at eSibonisweni) and I stayed at the airport, and waited for the next flight to arrive around 5:30 pm.  We still did not know if any of them made it on the flight, and the next flight in was not arriving until around 9:30 pm.  At 5:15 Fernanda, Zach and I again waited at the security gate anxiously anticipating six smiling faces.  We were in luck, we saw our friends walking towards us (all six together)!  After greetings and hugs, we were finally all together!  What a journey for everyone!-Lisa Becker