Not sure what would ensue, on what would become a 3,000+ kilometer road-trip, we revved our engines for adventure. And what an adventure we had...
Fourteen hours from our home in Johannesburg lies a little desert town in Northern Botswana called, Maun. Rich and I spent 4 months based in Maun leading mission trips with Teen Mania Ministry and the local ministry of Love Botswana Outreach in '95 & '96. We maneuvered close to 150 teens through these parts during those months. Guess in hindsight now doing it with 3 kids (and a little added wear and tear on the body) this was a breeze.
SOOO wonderful to see all that has been accomplished in Maun over the course of those years by Jerry and Jana Lackey and their LBM team. Wonderful to sip coffee once again under the star lit skies of the African bush with these 2 phenomenal missionaries and hear stories of God's love and faithfulness! Their "southern" hospitality was appreciated as well.
One of our family highlights here was a horseback safari...
I've never been so close to giraffe...the perks of Africa and friends that have a game farm. :)After 4 nights in Maun, we headed to Chobe National Park, an hour from the Zim border.
When in Africa...safari. However before ever entering the Park gates we saw plenty of game just on the roads of Northern Bots. We saw elephants, jackal, giraffe, monkeys, and a million donkey. Right outside Chobe Park was a large presentation of elephant....
In the park, hippo sightings were abundant....
and of course lots of these started and ended our days....
After the beauty of Botswana we headed for one more border. Zim welcomed us...
...with more game viewing
wonderful ways to beat the heat....
a special "African" dinner experience where we were robed in national garb...
and "enjoyed" African cuisine...like mopani worms, a first for these two
But the cherry on the top of this African experience is truly a 'wonder'...Victoria Falls.
The water is high this time of year creating such massive spray at some points you can't even see the falls and "rainfall" at other points.
Blake enduring the spray of the falls to capture a pic.
The Mighty Zambezi River
And a moment with a true hero...one that paved "the African way" for so many of us...the founder of Vic Falls and leader of missons as a whole, David Livingstone...
After Zim, an 18 hour journey and the cross of 2 borders would ensue to return us back to Jozi. Refreshed, inspired, encouraged and glad to be out of the car I can confidently say, "We have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!"And....
"Ahh, I love living in Africa!!!!!!!!!"
5 comments:
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Jesse Noe Mendez
Neat pictures; sounds like it was a wonderful family trip for making memories.
Mom
LOVE this!
Wow, great photos! Who knew Africa was so beautiful. Of course as a kid we were taught that it was a dry land filled with devils and no one would ever want to be a missionary there. Praise God that the message I heard was wrong and that you have been placed in a land perfect for you.
Oh, forgot to add, Skyler is really growing up into a beautiful young lady. It's fun to watch your kids grow and change.
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