November 30,2009

Once again this blog entry was started almost two weeks ago, but with internet difficulties among other things it is now really mid December. As in most months, we have had a variety of visitors. We usually do not mention everyone that we are able to extend hospitality to each month, but we are finding it to be a large part of a ministry of encouragement that we feel called to do here. Pictured below is one of the short term missionaries from Flying Mission in Gaborone that was in Maun for a few days helping with a youth activity for handicapped children. He was able to go on a flight with Colin to see a bit of the Okavango Delta while here.
In addition, there were two people staying in the flat for over two weeks while doing a job here on a house Flying Mission has in Maun. Jack and Jacob did an incredible job repairing the house and property in that short time.
Colin has continued to stay busy flying and building relationships with people from not only Botswana, but all over the world.

This year for Thanksgiving, we were once again invited to a gathering with the American missionaries servicing through the Love Botswana Outreach Mission. There were 20 of us that had dinner together, complete with turkey and all the trimmings. Even though most of us had put in a day at work, we gathered together that evening to give thanks and observe our American tradition together.

Julie's last day of teaching was December 4. The last few weeks were extremely busy with final assessments, report cards, and end of the year activities. She was able to arrange a field trip to a local game farm and lodge with her students as it blended perfectly into the natural resources and tourism units the class had just completed in Social Studies. Below are just a few photos from the outing.

The last week of November was when the school ended afternoon enrichment activities. Julie had a final Bible club with games, a video, and birthday cake for Jesus. On that Friday, it was "Prize Giving" at the school. There were all kinds of special events and music along with every student getting an award (prize) for some achievement in the school year. The photo to follow is of Julie's class holding their awards. With mixed emotion, Julie turned in her resignation after feeling that the Lord had other ministry needs for her to participate in while living in Maun. Trusting that the Lord will provide financially in other ways, she will still stay connected with the children at school next term when she continues the Bible club there.
The evening after "Prize Giving", we participated in a children's outreach with friends from our church and our Flying Mission team mates, Keith and Cheryl Kowalski. It was quite a wonderful evening that began with face painting, group games, and food for the children.




The guys did all the cooking outside the hall we were using, and at the same time visited with parents that were dropping their children off for the evening. Many parents ended up staying the whole evening.

Keith's parents were visiting from Canada, and dove in to help where ever needed.

Above is our friend Brit (left) and Keith's parents, Louise and Tim.

Beside fun games and great food, there were skits, singing, and a Veggie Tales video. In addition Cheryl returned as the wacky Professor Praise from our last day camp outreach in August. Of course she had a scientific object lesson to do with a meaningful spiritual message.

There were 72 kids that attended the event that night and we hope to do more of these types of activities in addition to Bible clubs in the schools during the coming months.

Knowing that we had a young pilot friend, Jake, from Alaska was coming to Southern Africa for a month and working his way to see us, we decides to do a day trip into the Moremi Game Reserve on a scouting trip. The Moremi Game Reserve is only a few hours from Maun and people from Maun often go there on a day trip. We had traveled there in August of 2008 for one night, but went to the northern portion of the reserve. We left early one Saturday morning and found we can travel the southern region of the park and back again in a 12 hour day.

The highlight of the day was an encounter with a Cape Buffalo herd of bulls.

It is spring/summer time here and not only did we see lots of wildlife, but also many young animals too.

Impala mothers and babies

Zebras are black with white stripes....if you were wondering

A few new animals spotted on the drive were the Red Lechwe pictured first below and a few Tsessebe pictured next.

As always, there was a tremendous variety of birds everywhere and we identified a few more to add to our list. We also got some clear pictures of ones that we have seen before, but never could get a good snapshot to show.

Lilac Breasted Roller

Hooded Guinea Fowl

This is a Black Stork above. They use their wings to cover their whole body blocking out the sun light to be able to see the little fish in the water.

A White Stork above. I would have called it a "Half and Half".

Below are the meat eating Marabou Storks.

Above is the Spur winged Goose
Below a Black Smith Lapwing Plover

By 1 o'clock that day we reached the camp ground known as Third Bridge. We drove across the hand made bridge, ate a picnic lunch, relaxed a bit and then headed on back home.

On December 3rd, our friend from Alaska Jake arrived from his his travels originating in Capetown, South Africa, and through Namibia. He then went to Livingston and Victoria Falls in Zambia before coming to see us in Maun. Unfortunately he had a return ticket already purchased, and by the time he got to us he could only stay three nights. Jake is pictured below by the C210 on the Thursday he arrived in Maun.

That Friday was Julie's last day of work and we had a Christmas fundraising event for orphans we had already planned on attending that night, so first thing Saturday morning we headed back to Third Bridge in the Moremi Game Reserve.
It was a great day for game viewing, and we saw lots of the same animals mentioned in previous blogs. Some new ones we had not seen before or as closely were a couple predators.

Above is a black Back Jackal
Below are two Cheetah

Below is a Spotted Hyena with a radio tracking collar, a female with pups to feed obviously.

There was a family of warthogs close to the road, but the little babies moved so fast and would not stand still that all our pictures were rather blurry. We did get a good picture of the father boar though.
At mid morning we stopped at a lagoon to have a tea break. The pool was full of hippo and we counted at least 15 grunting and bobbing while we enjoyed the morning sun.

When we reached Third Bridge, we ate our picnic lunch and as we were relaxing before the drive back home a herd of elephants wandered on through the camp.
When surrounded by elephants it is good to hide quietly under the trees. Though when hiding from elephants, it is not wise to hide under a sausage tree (Jake with a sausage tree seed below), as the seeds are a favorite food with the elephants. The seeds also weigh about 10 pounds and frequently fall from the tree. This is Africa, danger all around!
Some follow up items from previous blogs.... More airplane tail registrations.

Debra, Misheck, and baby Briane are all doing well.

Briane is now one month old and is as big as a 3 month old baby.

In thinking of the blessing of Misheck, Debra and their little son, we want to thank God for the gift of His son. Also the blessing of our family, and so many friends here and abroad that have enriched our lives over the years. Though for most of you we are far away this Christmas season, please know we are thinking of you and feel truly thankful for you all. We also wish you the best of everything in the New Year.