South Africa...and North Africa...and Central Africa (I want to go to Africa!)

Sometimes God likes to tap me on the shoulder and remind me about things we've talked about during our Sunday meetings (and maybe sometimes I'm just hearing voices...I should get that checked out). But this particular time, I left our meeting thinking about how exciting it was that many of you expressed interest in going to Uganda, but knowing that I may forget all about it in a day or two. Instead I got a call from a High School friend who will be going to South Africa (Cape Town, to be specific) to work for Operation Smile. She wanted to know if I'd come to visit her this August, since she remembered that I had been dying to go ever since I read Cry, The Beloved Country as a kid. I've already been scouring the internet for information, and while I may not be able to make it out there (let's just say current flight prices are either completely out of the Ferkingbeal budget, or require 72 hours to get there and another 72 to get home again), it's given me a renewed sense that I WILL go there and I'll go soon. While I'm deeply committed to helping those in my own community, city, and country, it baffles me that we have an entire continent that the rest of civilization has pretty much kicked under the rug. I'd love to go and check it out. And if helping others doesn't inspire you (shame on you), google image "Cape Town beaches" and maybe you'll be hit with a sudden moment of inspiration. So what do you say, folks? Do we go? And if so, how do we raise the money?