Hey, everyone! Just a quick update to tell what I'm up to.... These couple of weeks are 'vacation' weeks for me (which is great!) until I head up to Tanzania on Sunday, August 8th (and I cannot wait to get there!!). I've been staying with my brother in Johannesburg since getting back from Zimbabwe last week, and my mom just flew out here on Saturday. The 3 of us went on safari on Sunday and came back yesterday (Tuesday)- we did 4 game drives and saw lots of animals, it was really cool! Hippos, Rhinos, Lions, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Impalas..... I'll tell a couple stories later but the coolest (and scariest!) was following a huge male lion for about 30 minutes within about 10 feet of it (and at times much closer) in our open-air vehicle. Supposedly it's totally safe and the lions don't care about the safari trucks but after several minutes it sure seemed like we were pushing our luck and that it might get annoyed by us! Luckily that never happened. :)
My mom and I are going to Capetown today for a week (Wed. to Wed.) and my brother's going to join us for the weekend. I'll try to update with more details and some pics soon. Johannesburg is cool- it's pretty much just a big city- has lots of good restaurants and shopping (and is very developed, doesn't feel very much like Africa!).... it's a great place to be but not really a tourist destination. I went to the Apartheid museum last week (which was good, very educational) and also on a tour of the township Soweto- townships are areas of town (with very, very intense poverty- like 'slums') where the black people were forcibly removed during apartheid (apartheid is segregation, to Americans who don't know the term). Soweto has the really bad slums but also some nicer parts and Nelson Mandela lived here (got to see his house), on the same block as Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who still lives there and got to see his house, too).
I'll try and post some pics soon and tell a little more about some of these things. Thanks again so much for your prayers!! I'm loving being in South Africa but am really anxious to get up to Tanzania, too! Can't wait to start my job and my life there.... :)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Pictures from Zimbabwe
Some pics that show some of our time in Zim (text describing the trip is in previous post).....
School kids that put on a performance for us
Some orphans at one of the feedings
Beautiful Zimbabwe
I got to go horseback riding one day... Those rock formations in the background are everywhere throughout the land...
Our daily drives through the land- felt like we were on a safari each time
Orphans happily leaving a feeding with balloons and blankets the Atlanta group brought for them
An orphan feeding
Orphans playing with balloons we brought (they LOVED them- had never seen balloons before)
Inside an elementary classroom
Beautiful school kidsZimbabwe!
Oh Africa.....! I am SO in love. With the people, the beauty of the land, the children, the pure and raw life that the people here live (a much needed break from Dallas I must say). I got back yesterday to my temporary "home base" in Johannesburg (my brother's house) after spending an amazing week in Zimbabwe with a youth group from Atlanta.... I'm going to try to put some of those experiences into words here.... it will be hard so wish me luck!
We spent the week in the Matopos Hills, on a farm/property called 'Morning Star' with Chris & Norma Ferguson, an amazing couple who live on the land and are doing amazing things to invest in and bring about lasting change in their community. (As is the amazing Young Life staff and volunteers!!) Where do I start.....
ZIMBABWE:
Going into this trip, the vision and expectation I had of Zimbabwe was of a land living in a subtle (if not overt) state of fear. The terror that the government has imposed on this people, the farm invasions that have caused such destruction and horror, the immense oppression that the people have lived under which has caused such incredible poverty..... I went into this time thinking that everything would be shrouded in a layer of fear and furtiveness. A sense of impending danger and of the unknown. Oh how wrong I was. The predominant word I have to describe Zimbabwe with is: PEACEFUL. The most explanatory and descriptive word of the land, the people, the lives, the time spent there is PEACEFUL.
Zimbabwe is a beautifully rural and peaceful land. Quiet.... Beautiful.... Gentle.... Joyous.... Full of life.... Full of potential.... Full of Hope. Bigger, greater, brighter, and more numerous stars in the sky than I've ever seen in my life. I went on daily runs and felt like I was literally running through a safari- usually without a person in sight, only expansive terrain of savannah as far as the eye can see (with no lions- they get their occasional leopards, but I luckily never came across any on my runs ;)). Incredible rock formations that almost come to life as they resemble animals, faces, objects (similar to seeing images in clouds). The local people who are now my dear friends are full of such life and joy- oh, the songs and dances of praise that we joyously sang to our God! The laughter we shared. The memories we made. Fear is the very last word I could use to describe my experiences there. No, not fear. Quiet. Rural. Joyful. PEACEFUL.
But the statistics of poverty in this country are staggering. And they are real. And they affect these beautiful people each and every day. Here are some of them:
*Zimbabwe has a population of 12 million people. There are 1 million orphans in the country.
*25% of the population has AIDS/HIV.
*The life expectancy in Zim is one of the lowest in the world: some figures say it's around 34-37.
*The unemployment rate is around 95%.
I could go on and on, and there are numerous reasons for these facts (yes, probably the greatest being the incredible oppression the corrupt government has imposed on the people), but those to me are the most staggering. And yes, I cried when I heard many of those numbers.... Feel free to also.
The majority of the time we spent in Zim was spent playing with school children and loving on orphans- we fed orphans during regular feedings (that the Atlanta group sponsors); we visited several schools where we did face painting, played games with the children, and simply invested in them to show them that they are LOVED, special, and important individuals. (Most schools in the area said that about 50% of their students are orphans.) We did other things, and I could go on and on, but for the most part that explains the time we spent. I will add some pictures in a little bit to give images that explain more.
Yes, there is very real poverty and very real hunger in this land. And an inordinate number of orphans who have a very real need for love. The people are peaceful and joyful, yet there is certainly great need at the same time. Don't let the numbers depress you; instead let them spur you on to consider the impact you can make for the world's poor.
A word of encouragement for you:
"Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. He protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health." -Psalm 41: 1-3 (thank you my friend Sharon for sharing this word with us!!)
We spent the week in the Matopos Hills, on a farm/property called 'Morning Star' with Chris & Norma Ferguson, an amazing couple who live on the land and are doing amazing things to invest in and bring about lasting change in their community. (As is the amazing Young Life staff and volunteers!!) Where do I start.....
ZIMBABWE:
Going into this trip, the vision and expectation I had of Zimbabwe was of a land living in a subtle (if not overt) state of fear. The terror that the government has imposed on this people, the farm invasions that have caused such destruction and horror, the immense oppression that the people have lived under which has caused such incredible poverty..... I went into this time thinking that everything would be shrouded in a layer of fear and furtiveness. A sense of impending danger and of the unknown. Oh how wrong I was. The predominant word I have to describe Zimbabwe with is: PEACEFUL. The most explanatory and descriptive word of the land, the people, the lives, the time spent there is PEACEFUL.
Zimbabwe is a beautifully rural and peaceful land. Quiet.... Beautiful.... Gentle.... Joyous.... Full of life.... Full of potential.... Full of Hope. Bigger, greater, brighter, and more numerous stars in the sky than I've ever seen in my life. I went on daily runs and felt like I was literally running through a safari- usually without a person in sight, only expansive terrain of savannah as far as the eye can see (with no lions- they get their occasional leopards, but I luckily never came across any on my runs ;)). Incredible rock formations that almost come to life as they resemble animals, faces, objects (similar to seeing images in clouds). The local people who are now my dear friends are full of such life and joy- oh, the songs and dances of praise that we joyously sang to our God! The laughter we shared. The memories we made. Fear is the very last word I could use to describe my experiences there. No, not fear. Quiet. Rural. Joyful. PEACEFUL.
But the statistics of poverty in this country are staggering. And they are real. And they affect these beautiful people each and every day. Here are some of them:
*Zimbabwe has a population of 12 million people. There are 1 million orphans in the country.
*25% of the population has AIDS/HIV.
*The life expectancy in Zim is one of the lowest in the world: some figures say it's around 34-37.
*The unemployment rate is around 95%.
I could go on and on, and there are numerous reasons for these facts (yes, probably the greatest being the incredible oppression the corrupt government has imposed on the people), but those to me are the most staggering. And yes, I cried when I heard many of those numbers.... Feel free to also.
The majority of the time we spent in Zim was spent playing with school children and loving on orphans- we fed orphans during regular feedings (that the Atlanta group sponsors); we visited several schools where we did face painting, played games with the children, and simply invested in them to show them that they are LOVED, special, and important individuals. (Most schools in the area said that about 50% of their students are orphans.) We did other things, and I could go on and on, but for the most part that explains the time we spent. I will add some pictures in a little bit to give images that explain more.
Yes, there is very real poverty and very real hunger in this land. And an inordinate number of orphans who have a very real need for love. The people are peaceful and joyful, yet there is certainly great need at the same time. Don't let the numbers depress you; instead let them spur you on to consider the impact you can make for the world's poor.
A word of encouragement for you:
"Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. He protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health." -Psalm 41: 1-3 (thank you my friend Sharon for sharing this word with us!!)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
In Africa!
I'm here!! And wide awake with 4am jet lag :) But I made it safely to Johannesburg and am now with my brother at his (beautiful!) house. I'm SO happy to finally be on this continent!!
Some cool God things/ways He's taken care of me.... He gave me I think the only row with an open middle seat on it on the *16 hour* plane ride over from Atlanta.... so my seat-mate (I was window, she was aisle) and I took turns lying down to sleep.... across all 3 seats and also on the floor below us, ha. :) I probably got 8-9 hours of real & deep sleep on the flight which was WONDERFUL after probably a combined 5 hours of sleep from the 72 hours before (but it isn't helping my jet lag now, ha).
Also- the first man I met off the plane - he started conversation with me as we were de-boarding- was a South African pastor who had just been in TEXAS doing church plants! Love it. God's sending him there and me here. :)
Tomorrow I'll be in Jo-burg for the day (which happens to be the World Cup final game day, pretty cool to be here for the World Cup spirit! :)) and then Monday morning I fly to Zimbabwe for the mission trip with Young Life.... and I can't WAIT to get out there!!!
And more perfect timing of God's-- I purposely left a few days later/into this Zim trip (which already started) so that I would be sure to be home when Sarah had her baby- and although her due date was July 1st she didn't have her until the afternoon of the 7th- so I made a *super* quick trip to Austin to meet her on Thursday morning the 8th before leaving Dallas on Friday morning (and got to see Ashley's **adorable** new baby boy Logan, too! I was waiting on Sarah's to meet Ashley's :)). She literally could not have had her one day later! So I got to meet my *beautiful & perfect* new "niece" Olivia before taking off for a year....! And I love her!! And Logan! God's timing is *perfect*. (and yes, that also puts me here for the World Cup final game! couldn't be more perfect :)) (fyi, Sarah and Ashley are 2 of my best friends in the world)
Thank you all for your prayers!!!! I REALLY appreciate them.... They are being answered and God is certainly watching over me!
"If you make the Most High your dwelling- even the Lord, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.... A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." -Psalm 91:9-10, 7 (thank you Stef and Rachel for that!!)
Some cool God things/ways He's taken care of me.... He gave me I think the only row with an open middle seat on it on the *16 hour* plane ride over from Atlanta.... so my seat-mate (I was window, she was aisle) and I took turns lying down to sleep.... across all 3 seats and also on the floor below us, ha. :) I probably got 8-9 hours of real & deep sleep on the flight which was WONDERFUL after probably a combined 5 hours of sleep from the 72 hours before (but it isn't helping my jet lag now, ha).
Also- the first man I met off the plane - he started conversation with me as we were de-boarding- was a South African pastor who had just been in TEXAS doing church plants! Love it. God's sending him there and me here. :)
Tomorrow I'll be in Jo-burg for the day (which happens to be the World Cup final game day, pretty cool to be here for the World Cup spirit! :)) and then Monday morning I fly to Zimbabwe for the mission trip with Young Life.... and I can't WAIT to get out there!!!
And more perfect timing of God's-- I purposely left a few days later/into this Zim trip (which already started) so that I would be sure to be home when Sarah had her baby- and although her due date was July 1st she didn't have her until the afternoon of the 7th- so I made a *super* quick trip to Austin to meet her on Thursday morning the 8th before leaving Dallas on Friday morning (and got to see Ashley's **adorable** new baby boy Logan, too! I was waiting on Sarah's to meet Ashley's :)). She literally could not have had her one day later! So I got to meet my *beautiful & perfect* new "niece" Olivia before taking off for a year....! And I love her!! And Logan! God's timing is *perfect*. (and yes, that also puts me here for the World Cup final game! couldn't be more perfect :)) (fyi, Sarah and Ashley are 2 of my best friends in the world)
Thank you all for your prayers!!!! I REALLY appreciate them.... They are being answered and God is certainly watching over me!
"If you make the Most High your dwelling- even the Lord, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.... A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." -Psalm 91:9-10, 7 (thank you Stef and Rachel for that!!)
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