Right after breakfast we are heading right back to Mago... It should take us about 5 hours over the bumpiest roads ever and some of the mountains we will go over reach over 8000 feet. We have to get going this morning, because the rest of the group started the VBS yesterday and they need our kids today. Apprarently the headmaster really enjoyed the program and did all the activities and made the craft and everything.
Yesterday we enjoyed a beautiful day at a lake about 30 minutes from Jason and Antionette's on a tea plantation. You have to have a membership to go there and take your friends. It is such a nice place. There is a beach house and boats, a nice dock, etc.... hard to imagine we really were in Africa. Dave drove a landcruiser full of kids - 10 I think, and Steve drove Jason's pick-up with the rest of us. We had such a fun time. Dave spent the majority of his time learning to wind-surf. He really struggled with it at first and landed in the weeds. He couldn't get out of the weed because he wouldn't get off the board there. He fell off once, but it only took him two seconds to get back on the board. He was squeamish, LOL. I ended up swimming across the little bay and trying to pull him out while he held up the sail, but it would not budge. Finally I remembered the rudder and sure enough it was tangled up in weeds. Inch by inch we got the thing out, but I was completely covered in weeds and it was gross!!!! I said if there was billharsia (however you spell that parasite) in that water I had it!!! The water was great, though and we all were burned to a crisp.
Both coming and going to the lake we saw monkeys. The second troup of vervet monkeys was quite large. They were everywhere and even had little babies on their backs. On the way to the lake we came across this funny bird that looked like a miniture ostrich. It was running in front of our car and looking back at us everyonce in a while and running like mad. It was so funny!!! Finally it flew and what an amazing wingspan. We figured out it is called a bustard.... there 9 varieties of bustards but we don't know which one, it could possibly have been a female.
Blessings to all! We miss you guys at home, but we are happy to be here.
Untitled Comment
Posted by gabbie427 on Monday, November 3, 2008 at 07:52 - Link
I haven't left a comment on each of your pages, but I wanted to say thank you so much for sharing your mission trip with the rest of us. I have enjoyed hearing about it!
God's Blessings,
Amy Jo
Hi Bethany
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 07:22 - Link
Dear Bethany,
Well we are on our road trip to Arizona now. We drove for 12 hrs on Sunday and got all the way to SaltLake City.
Monday we spent the morning visiting down town. We saw the Mormon temple and got to hear an organ recital in the tabernacle next door.
After lunch, we drove south to a nice little town called Cedar City about 80 miles from Bryce Canyon.
Yesterday we drove up and over a 10,000 ft pass on our way to Bryce. It was trying to snow! When we got to the Canyon, it went from overcast to sunshine by the end of the afternoon, and then a storm blew in very quickly and it started snowing too. The views there are incredible! I have never been anywhere so enchanting...the colors there are so amazing.
We are going to Zion National Park today and will try to see the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
Mommy and Daddy love you and pray for you each and every day.
Emily and Hannah send their love to you and to their friends. Hope you got your card from Emily in the care package.?
Love you much,
Dad, Mom, Emily,and Hannah
You are amazing!!!
Posted by Sylvia - So. California on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 09:21 - Link
This is my first ever comment on any blog. I think you are an amazing person, I don't quite understand how you handle all that you do and how you keep all of us informed of the things you do, but it is inspiring!!!! I am from the AHE group and I am so happy I joined just this year in Sep. 08. Keep doing what you do!!!
Hello from Home
Posted by Delores on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 10:28 - Link
I'm glad Tom and Dale got over the mountains on Sunday. Tuesday Bluette Pass was terrible (slushy snow, sliding semi trucks) they were actually asking people to delay their trip about an hour. There is snow on Nahahum ridge and Nancy said it was snowing at her house today, Kahlers ... I guess you have snow at home. We all half expected to wake up this morning to snow, but none in Cashmere yet.
Tom and Diane Bolyard's daughter Cindy has lost her husband to a blood clot that took his life while on their trip in California. I know they'd appreciate your prayers this isn't an easy time for the family. We had the memorial service today for him and a dinner afterwards. The Fowler girls sang "I Want to Go To Heaven" for everyone before they started eating.
Your long haired cat was up in the rafters above the hay when we found her today. As she was coming down on the shelves she'd let me scratch her chin they act as if she was going to bit me, then about a minute later is all repeated. She must have been really glad to see us, when the kids walked up to the house she followed. (Angela, I don't see any sign of the neighbors you were a bit concerned about, well that is between 2 & 5 no one has been home. Everything regarding your house is as you left it. Except a few outside plants have less life in them due to frost.)
We all miss each one of you and look forward to your return. The nine children here will be counting the days until everyone is back before that day comes (I'm quite sure). Jared says "It's too long."
You may have heard by now that Obama has won for president. It is amazing the news... Obama is president but we don't know him. That's the scary part. Our lives are affected by the president but our lives are in God's hands.
We really enjoy hearing from you, and about your adventures along the way. I can't imagine going for a ride and seeing monkeys with their families in the trees. Or enduring a 6 hour bumpy car ride, that must be really hard, but sounds like the rewards are worth it.
You continue to be in our prayers. Has the container arrived yet? Take care and God bless.
