Rendezvous with a Missionary

Candace is a teacher and dorm mom for missionary kids at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya.  She is also my first cousin.  She has been in Africa for a little more than a year.  Even though she lived in Washington State before she left, we were able to see one another fairly frequently when she would travel to Georgia to see family.  So when I found out she was coming stateside, I was excited about the prospect of spending time with her.  To my dismay, I discovered she was flying into Atlanta on the same day as Sarah's wedding in Virginia and would be leaving our area on the day I would travel home.  As the Lord knew to work it out, she would be traveling north on I-40 when I would be traveling south on the same highway! Perfect!  We would meet on the road for a good visit!  

We started our rendezvous at Red Lobster for a wonderfully delicious lunch.  But when we discovered there were no outlets to plug in a dying computer, we adjourned to Starbucks (oh, the travesty of having to order a caramel frappuccino!).  God bless Starbucks!  No matter how long one stays, they never make a fuss!  We talked and drank coffee and talked some more! Then we plugged in the computer and watched her fund-raising DVD's and viewed pictures of her adventures since her arrival in Africa.  I loved seeing where she works and plays and loves on MK's! Now I can picture in my mind her walking to classes each day.  I have seen some of the faces of students she ministers to. I know where she shops.  I see the view of the Rift Valley from the campus.  Her life is a part of me.

I began reading, back in the spring, a small book written by a fellow teacher at Rift Valley Academy--"All That You Can't Leave Behind: A Rookie Missionary's Life in Africa."  I was having a hard time connecting to the journal-style story line.  I had put the book aside, unfinished until today.  Something prompted me to pick it up and read it again.  Now that I have seen pictures and video of Candace's daily life, I am better able to relate to his narrative. What he has depicted as his first year at RVA three years ago, is exactly what Candace has just lived out and described to me in detail!  I am truly in awe of Candace's walk of faith--stepping out with only God as her safety net! And it is thrilling to see her thrive in a land and culture that is so foreign to us in the States.

Candace and me.

Candace and her friend, Caroline, from West Virginia, who was her ride that day.

The Full Theater Experience

Being the theater buff that I am and being involved in the theater world, Beth was able to get me a behind-the-scenes tour of the theater before I headed home on Thursday.  It is always fun and informative to peek behind the stage to see what other theaters do with costumes, props, sets, storage, etc.  They have a three story building for costumes--sewing and storage!  Lots of machines and sergers, bolts of fabric, shoes, shirts, everything!  Another building dedicated to set construction!  Even a wig-making shop!  One day!  :)

One interesting item on the tour was this entrance to a tunnel which connected to the hotel across the street where actors would stay for the duration of the productions.  It has in recent years been closed up due to a cave in.

Oh, wouldn't it be "loverly" for CFT to have its own dry cleaning machine for costumes!

Make up sketches.

One perk for Annalee was her own room at the Barter Inn (well, she shared the room with Toto from the play--they coordinated nights), where the professional actors stay while performing at the Barter.  We spent the night here (the window on the right was her room) after her performance since they live an hour and a half from the theater.

Here is an peek inside the room.  Thanks, Katie for sleeping on the air mattress!

Bartering My Way to Oz

No, I didn't follow the yellow brick road.  Mostly I went by way of I-75 and I-40.  Okay, I didn't even end up in Oz!  But I got a glimpse of Oz at the Barter Theatre where Annalee was performing as a tornado, a Munchkin baby, a crow, a Poppy, an Ozian, a Winkie, and a Jitterbug.  All in one show!  Whew, that keeps a body busy!  (Does that make her a busy body?)

I had extended my stay in Virginia just to see my budding actress in her first professional production!  What an exceptional singer, dancer, actress she is!  I have to brag on Annalee for just a minute: she has even performed with the Radio City Rockettes at Madison Square Gardens while attending a summer intensive course!  She has talent, good looks and the sweetest disposition (just don't ask her sisters about the disposition).  The show was wonderful!  (Ah, what you can do with fly capability.  Sigh.)  Loved the costumes!  One of my favorite scenes was Munchkinland, where Annalee was a baby in a stroller.  That was too cute!

The theater was founded during the Depression by out-of-work actors from New York City. The door admission was 35 cents or the equivalent in produce.  Thus the name--Barter Theatre.

My favorite costume!  Annalee should have been a redhead.  Nah, blonde is beautiful!

Annalee with her show's poster.

Beth (proud mommy), me (proud "aunt"), Annalee, Katie (proud sis).

Post-wedding Therapy

After Sarah and Scott's wedding, the rest of my family went back to Georgia, while I was able to stay several more days to visit with and console my best friend who had just seen her first-born leave the nest permanently.  

I moved from the hotel to Annalee's room (thanks, Annalee!).  The first couple of days some of Beth's Georgia family were still there.  We talked, laughed, partied (Victoria's birthday swim party at the hotel), and ate out--a lot!  By Tuesday, all guests were gone except for me and Shannon (well, we don't really qualify as guests--more like family too) and it was back to business as usual for Katie. She was interning with the Virginia House of Delegates Majority Leader and had to report to duty in Salem.  We all went along, of course.  Not to intern, but to poke around town and shop while she worked.  We decided to take the "scenic" route home!  It was really pretty, but it sometimes went through dense woods just at dusk, which got us talking about headless horsemen!  We were all relieved to make it out of the fog and dark back to the main highway!

We drove to Roanoke for dinner at a scrumptious Mexican restaurant.

Katie in front of the office where she interns.  I'm very impressed with Del. Griffith.  He never travels with his female interns.  And one as pretty as Katie could really stir up trouble!