A few weeks ago, team Explore Africa went on our first journey together. A road trip to Cape Town from Jeffrey's, to get our Schengen visas. Looking back, what a beautiful tale it turned into - the trial, and more profoundly, the triumph. Our plan was simple and easy and we seemed pretty prepared for it all.
- Make a team video along the way and get it out there. ( YouTube: Explore Africa 2016 - Global Challenge)
- Spontaneously stop at Map of Africa (Wilderness), which would prove symbolic of this and future adventures - unpredictable
- Braai at Wily's (Willem - team member) in Stellenbosch, stocking up on a good quantity of quality food!
- Sleepover at JanJan's (Janet - team member) flat in Cape Town, making sure to get the most out of the rent that was already covered for the month.
- And of course, get our Schengen visas early the next morning, hoping to get back to Jeffrey's in time for the evening program.
We managed to tick all boxes except for the visa. It would seem that our Father had in store for us something better, a treasure far more valuable than just an easy Schengen visa. Camaraderie. We didn't see it coming, not for a moment. A curveball of note that would test the team, giving us a taste of what our pilgrimage might look like - a true map of Africa.
Trusting our documents for the visa were in order we arrived at VFS without even a flight out of South Africa. What amateurs, 10 people and no one picked it up. To add to the blow, it appeared that we needed our Moroccan visa before we could get our Schengen. So there you have it, the twist in the tale.
Taken aback, we sat on the stairs on the 5th floor outside the VFS office, where we were to get our Schengen's. Where to now? A friend of Zella (Anzel - team member) who came to say hi, gave much ease to the situation when she prayed for us. After more prayer, some phone calls and members boldly rising to explore further options, it became pretty clear that something supernatural was looming. As to how it would happen was far beyond any negotiable talk or appropriate document - no experience or wisdom of our own would ever suffice. From the Moroccan to the the Spanish embassy, it seemed our path was not ours to decide as we were being re-routed to more favorable outcomes.
At the time, I didn't consider the story a big deal at all, much to my lack of exposure. Clueless as to what was really going on, we admired the beauty of Cape Town, making videos, roaming through the street markets, innocently entrusted to the direction our Father was leading us.
Being able to apply and receive Schengen visas, 10 of them on the spot with no appointment or fore notice of our coming, is pretty rare. Literally, we were at the Spanish embassy for less than 2 hours, also for R300 less than what VFS were going to charge us. And to have the privilege of such preparation in South Africa, depositing in us growth and unity for what may lie ahead.
No, we didn't make it to Jeffreys for the evening program that day. Instead, we made it to Sedgefield where we celebrated at Marie's (#kappie - leader), as brothers and sisters. What a privilege!