Whenever I have thought of an African Safari, I pictured scorching heat, loads of sunscreen, sweat, and khakis.  This wasn't quite that.  It was FREEZING!  But wow, what an adventure.  I traveled to a private game reserve with a missions team from George Fox University who invited me to join their overnight safari!  This was an answer to prayer for me because I wasn't going to be able to afford a safari of any kind, and they literally called me invited me, and said they wanted to TREAT ME!  It was so amazing and I am still in shock (these things aren't cheap)!  At 2pm we went on our first game drive with our wonderful guide, Julian.  There were about four trucks that set out and the seats are similar to the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland!  The roads are uneven, rocky, muddy, wet, and windy, so the ride alone is adventure enough!  The first crazy thing that happened was that a good ol' elephant walked near our truck and we were all like, "Oh.....!" Then he kept coming, and coming and eventually I had a trunk right in my face!!! He smelled something he wanted!! It was hilarious because he just kept walking and all of a sudden there was his trunk!  We had driven about 10 minutes and we stopped to look at some buffalo...when....our truck wouldn't start...SO...the guys got out to push start the truck, meanwhile, the buffalo kept coming closer and closer...Finally the truck started and we were off!! The next morning we got up early for another game drive.  During the first one we saw elephants, zebra, rhino, buffalo, wildebeest, springbok, and then we saw giraffe and lions the second day.  The lion came chasing after our truck!  It was quite an adventure and I can now never go to  a zoo because it just won't compare!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the past weekend I joined up with two ministries who have been reaching out to an area of a township in Paarl, South Africa that had a devastating fire burn down a lot of the homes.  I use the word home very loosely, because while it is a home to many times 5-9 people, it is simply a shack, made of various materials for walls and roof.  There is a bare floor, maybe a bed, maybe a small table with some dishes, and a few buckets for dish washing, laundry, and water.  Rarely is there electricity, few shacks have tvs and radios...

We broke into groups of four and interviewed those who had been affected by the fire, asking them about needs, wants, how many they support, where they want to be in 5 years, and more.  There is definitely a community feel during the day when we were there, but the stories about night are saddening.  Alcohol. Rape. Incest. Molestation. Starvation.

The children still smile, still play, still laugh.  This is their life, it is what they know.  How badly I wish I could grab them all, bathe them, dress them, feed them, love them. The maze of rocky pathways lead to endless shacks, extending as far as the eye can see.  It was amazing to be in the heart of the township, to see the "behind the scenes."  It was powerful.  The people are beautiful and thier spirits touch you so quickly because they have been through who knows what and they are sharing it with you...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was in jr. high I did a huge report on elephants.  They have always been a majestic animal to me and seeing them up close...in Africa, was very meaningful.  They are so massive, so rough, so coarse, and yet emotional, gentle and graceful.  I always love this poem about them!

Blind Men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe

It was six men of Indostan

To learning much inclined,

(Though all of them were blind),

Might satisfy his mind

The First approached the Elephant,

And happening to fall

At once began to bawl:

Is very like a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,

Cried, "Ho! what have we here

So very round and smooth and sharp?

To me 'tis mighty clear

This wonder of an Elephant

Is very like a spear!"

The Third approached the animal,

And happening to take

The squirming trunk within his hands,

Thus boldly up and spake:

"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant

Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out an eager hand,

And felt about the knee.

"What most this wondrous beast is like

Is mighty plain," quoth he;

" 'Tis clear enough the Elephant

Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,

Said: "E'en the blindest man

Can tell what this resembles most;

Deny the fact who can

This marvel of an Elephant

Is very like a fan!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun

About the beast to grope,

Than, seizing on the swinging tail

That fell within his scope,

"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant

Is very like a rope!"

And so these men of Indostan

Disputed loud and long,

Each in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong,

Though each was partly in the right,

And all were in the wrong!

 

 

 

 

Friday morning my friends Simon, Emily, Jules and I drove to Cape Agulhas where we climbed to the top of the lighthouse located on Cape Agulhas.  The lighthouse was gorgeous and I specifically took these photos in honor of my Grandma Joan who loves lighthouses!  Next we drove down a dirt road to the actual place where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean meet!  We stopped to see a half of a wrecked ship along the way and I felt like I was going back in time!  The waters off the cape have wrecked many, many ships!  We went to dinner and then stayed in a backpackers and played some board games.  The next morning we went to a ranch and met Rugby, a friendly ostrich!  All my ostrich photos are taken in honor of my OTHER grandma, Grandma Priscilla!! She loves birds and all animals, except for that one time when she shot a woodpecker from her front porch!  Anyway, we rode horses on the longest beach in the southern hemisphere and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my LIFE!  The clouds, the ocean, the sand, the horse, the thrill, everything...it was magical! 

Check out the photos! http://connectashland.com/photo/albums/cape-agulhas