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I find myself back here in New Orleans, safe and sound, just 2 weeks and a few hours after Butch left me at the airport. Today, he was there to fetch me as well; this time he brought his girlfriend, Gerrie, along and she played chauffer for the final leg of my trek. Now, after recovering from the hangover, all I can do is wait -- again.

Since my bags are much heavier than when I left, I was grateful for the kind assistant who guided me from the gate, through baggage claim and to meet Butch and Gerrie. Beyond the call of duty, this man then pushed the luggage cart while Butch guided me out to the curb where Gerrie met us with the car; I tipped him well, but confess that I forgot his name. I got good service on the very long trip home, but it made clear how much I took for granted the excellent service that I received on the trip to Johannesburg. The service on the return trip was adequate and courteous, but in contrast, I got the royal treatment on my maiden voyage to South Africa. The trip itself is, however overshadowed by my life changing experiences in sub-Saharan Africa. The most obvious change, of course, is symbolized by the ring that I now wear; but the change goes much deeper than that. For the first time in my life, I received an unmistakably direct and immediate answer to a prayer.

On a sleepless Friday night, near the end of a very eventful week, I was feeling a bit frustrated and decided to pray as my wife snored softly beside me. I gave thanks for my blessings and asked for guidance. Lee never asked or even hinted that I go to church with her but I knew that she had been attending services, so after my prayer I decided I wanted to go to her church with her Sunday morning. For the first time ever, I actually wanted to go to church -- without being asked or cajoled (in answer to Lee's prayers).

"What time is church?" I asked Lee when I woke up just before 8 O'clock Sunday morning.

"8:15," she answered and when I expressed disappointment at missing it she informed me that there was another service at 10:30. Not wanting to pressure me, she never mentioned church again since I brought it up the previous morning; and I, typical male, wanted to keep my options open so didn't ask. I am so glad that there was that late service. Pastor Wendy Treat, a guest speaker at this Rhema Ministries church, from Seattle, Washington, delivered a rambling sermon about God's plan for us and I felt that she was speaking directly to me and Lee. Suddenly it was clear to me that I was meant to go to Lee's home to get married and meet all of her friends and her family; to meet her cat and see where she's lived for most of her life was the very best gift the good Lord could have given us, and I was asking why we were being tested so. After Church we went for a barbecue at Lee's friend Clansie's house, Tuesday evening we had dinner with her friend Bronwyn and family, and on Wednesday it was dinner with my mother and father in law, Jo and Dave; all of them, amung others, told us in turn that they felt so much better about Lee moving away after having met me. For all of the obstacles, setbacks and plot twists, no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, everything worked out just as scripted. This experience has been nothing short of amazing for me, and it will take some time to fully digest what it means for our future, but now I know that there are some things that we're just not meant to know ahead of time.

After meeting at the airport, I explained to Butch and Gerrie that I needed to make a couple of stops on the way home; the lawyers needed my boarding passes and copies of my stamped passport pages and I was parched. We went straight to Kinko's to make copies, then to the Fed Ex office to send them off (Dianne had the bill all ready for me ahead of time). I wanted beer and Butch suggested Daiquiris, so we compromised and got both. At last I am home again, but it seems as though I had been gone for much longer than only 2 weeks.

After a couple of Beck's, I began to pull a few things out of our suitcases. I showed them the photos of our wedding and honeymoon, and gave them the souvenirs that Lee and I got at a flea market in Bruma. I called Lee and we included her in our little party but I long for the day, once again, when we don't have to hang up.

I've done my part and it's now in the hands of God, our lawyers, and the U.S. government. But keep checking back here for updates and, God willing, I'll let you know how it all turns out.