More of Africa

Without really being intentional, we've more or less put Africa aside since we got home.  There has been a lot to organize, and digestion is best one bite at a time.  Since the new year, we have started to examine it again, to mull over what God taught us, how He might use us, and where we should go from here. 

While going through pictures for the blog makeover (thank you Tara!), I came across tons more that I haven't shared with you.  In fact, I realized I haven't had pictures on here in a long time.  I guess that comes with the territory of having a photography blog.  However, I know that God didn't give me the privilege of capturing these images just so I can keep them to myself.  Although there are too many for me to narrate every one, I am hoping He might use the images themselves to speak to someone or many someones...maybe even you.

For today, I'll start with those from the header, plus a few extra:

Some of the kids I taught at Kwakwas:

Rundu, Namibia:

Me holding one of our little ones at the preschool, Josh with one of our youngest from the youth program:

Malawi:

Dune 7, Walvis Bay, Namibia

Kids from Hope's Promise and the Youth Program:

Aren't they precious?

Some of our preschool girls.  This picture always reminds me of little old ladies at a salon : )

Kwakwas

Snapshots

Quick peaks at our daily life:

I can’t show you all our pictures (at least not until we get back), and I can’t blog about everything, but here are some picture of our daily life.

This is one of the little girls from the pre-school, and she was teaching me how to say “I love you” in Nama. She is so precious and, just like the others, loves to be held. It’s a tough job…

A few weeks ago, Steve’s aunt Edith came to visit us, and we took her to the dam (it was the first time going for Josh and I as well). Oanab Dam is Rehoboth’s main water source, and the only body of water for miles around (or kilometers, as they say here). This was the view at sunset.


After the clown ministry at the pre-school, we painted the kids faces- they loved it, and kept trying to go through the line again!

Standing in line for follow the leader.

Britt, Kristen, Steve, Josh, me, and the kids.

Clowns walking in Block E

When we did clown worship, we also acted out “The Good Samaritan.” Josh was the victim, and I was the bandit, so I had to “beat and rob” him.

Silly shot of Reho team.

Colorado

I have blogged much for quite a while, so I must catch up.

First, in early December, we were blessed to take a road trip with two of our best friends to visit another close friend who has recently moved out to Colorado. It was wonderful to see him (and his teensy-weensy apartment), and it was a great reason to go skiing and hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. However, 2 days (of 4) into it, my SD card died. I almost cried. It had ALL of our skiing pictures, and some great pictures of reindeer in RMNP. I LOVE to take pictures, so there were between 4oo and 500 pictures on it. When we got back, I took it to the computer shop, and they said it was trashed. It was only three months old. (It kind of sounds like I am writing an obituary for my SD card. Or maybe for my $25 : P ). When bad technology happens to good people...

Anyway, we still have the memories...and these other pictures.

So, the first picture is RMNP. Not bad, huh? It was beautiful, and not too cold that day, at least in comparison to Minnesota. Well, I should say it wasn't too cold when we started. When we hiked into the semi-dense forest and gained altitude, the temperature dropped. A lot.

Picture 2 (taken by Liz) is of Amanda and I taking pictures of Josh and David. You'll notice that they are wearing an unlined jacket and a fleece, respectively. We three girls wore long underwear, pants, two pairs of socks, snow boots, thermal shirts, t-shirts, fleece or sweatshirt, ski coats with hoods, scarves, and gloves. And we were cold. They were, too- but they can't say we didn't warn them.

So, long story short: we were supposed to take a trail that the guide said was easy and relatively flat and approximately 1.5 miles long (I think. This was supposed to be a leisurely half-day hike where we just took pictures and hung out and enjoyed God's creation). The boys decided to take another trail that shared the trailhead, a minor detour. It turned out to be more that 6 miles long and rated moderate (to challenging in some parts). They even thought it was a little long. In addition, I had an allergic reaction to something about halfway up, with no cell phone reception. It was grand.

But, in the end, it was beautiful. Had we been more prepared (we brought only one bottle of water each), it would have been highly enjoyable. As it was, we still ended up having some great bonding time, and taking some really cool pictures. Oh, half of which we lost. C'est la vie.

Skiing was incredible. We went on one run that took 15 minutes - just to get up the ski lift. Let's just say our elevation changed dramatically. I would show you pictures but... well, you know.

So, to sooth my wounds over the SD card, the group agreed we should go take pictures somewhere else the day before we left. There is this amazing river that winds along the road into RMNP, so we parked and started snapping away. Typically speaking, I love taking candid shots rather than being in them, but I once took a 3- week trip in which I made it into only one picture (of thousands) and it is now my policy I must have proof each of us was there : ).

Picture 3 is of Josh and David. It seemed like every time I tried to take a picture of the 2 of them, they were standing 4 feet apart, so I told them to do something interactive. Apparently, in man-speak that means "beat on each other."

Picture 4 is the girls showing our massive muscles to rub in the fact that we climbed to the ice-covered rock in the center of a freezing river when the boys wouldn't. "I am woman, hear me roar" : )

Picture 5: Two of my best friends and me.

Picture 6: All of us.

Picture 7: Just the two of us.

Picture 8: In the hot tub we took refuge in every night

They fill me with Joy

A peak into how we spent the first weekend of 2009. We had a pirate-color party with the Lovewell kids (check out some former posts here and here). It's complicated kid stuff- you wouldn't understand : )