Village of Tshesebe!

For the first week of May i went out to the village of Tshesebe in my old area in the Northeast of Botswana. I had a lot of fun i stayed with another missionary couple who have worked out in that village for about 5 years now. There is a new church plant there and it is really taken off! I was able to go with them to a Sunday service and had a great time. Although it pretty much lasted the entire day, well maybe not the service but by the time you walk to church, greet people before and after it does add up. Anyway i just wanted to share some pictures with you, so enjoy!

Thesebe Baptist Church!
My friends George and Faye! 

The Sunday i was out there, i went to the children's Sunday School class and it was wonderful! We had 52 children outside sitting in thier little sits listening to the word of God, from their awesome teachers! It was great to see the women of the village take over like that.
These two where just to cute not to take a picture of, don't you agree?!
Hello look at that smile!
Here are some cuties taht sit beside me in worship.

After we had our Sunday School lesson and went back in to listen to the annouanments and whatnot, we went over to the other field and played some games and did the lesson again.
Who can pass up the chance to play a game of pass the ball?!
Now she is a real beauty!
Ok, this is the woman! I'm telling you she told the story, played games, and even lead the song of Father Abraham with a baby on her back! Let's give it up!!!

Zambia!!

So in the mist of not really knowing what's going to be happening with me in Botswana i decided to go with Stacie to Zambia to a monthly local craft market. You know shopping always makes you feel better!!! Well, our little shopping trip ended up taking a total of 31 hours ...we left on Friday and came back on Sunday...hey we're j-men! It was a great trip, we saw some animals like a rare sighting of wild dogs, and tons of elephants that i had to watch out for on the way back. All animals where on the Bots side though. Anyway, the trip took longer then expecited, we had to wait 3 hours at the boarder to cross over on the ferry! On the way back we stoped off at the falls and even stopped to visit a friend and it took an hour less then when we went!!! Gotta watch out for that ferry, it'll get ya every time! It was long, but totally sweet though.

A pack of wild dogs out for a stroll, till we came along!

I think he decided that the road is not the best place to play.

Hello this silly elephant is IN the road, i'm used to driving by elephants beside of the road...well i mean if you ever really do get used to it. But this dude was totally in the road! And it's getting late so from a little bit back he looked like just another large dark tree, but then he shook he's head and walked out on the road. So i was nice enough to stop and let him walk by ;-)

A day at the Market!

So this is what we traveled 16 hours for.
Here is Anna eating what is called cotton floss!! Hum looks like cotton candy to me ;)
This is the result of us making our time driving count! Cindy was nice enough to watch our stuff. Once we where satisfied we had dinner, then woke up for the next 16 hours back!! 

Traveling tips for Zambia!

These are just some of the things that you may want to look out for if you ever think about driving in Zambia. First there are tons of people either walking or riding bikes with huge bags on them. When i say on them i mean either their heads or the bikes. Then you have people selling things at little stands made out of straw. That's not so usual, it's just that in Botswana there not made out of straw but metal.
Then there are always those really determine people who really want your business. So if you want some take away, another word for take out or to go, then you are in luck. Fish is a very popluar thing to sell, and as i found out it works well as a reflector in the dark. Now if there was a way to put them on the bikes when it gets night, we would be in business.
Lest of all are the crazy sized pot holes in the road! It was for sure a great trip, so you should try it!! 

Victoria Falls!!

Hello, we past right by so like we're not going to stop?! I have seen the falls from the Zimbabwe side last September, but the water was low so it was nothing like this! I mean oh my gosh it was crazy, and wouldn't you know it my camera batteries died on me! So again i had get pics from Stacie.

Victoria Falls from the Zambia side.

A closer view...

This is me and Stacie working the wet look. What do you think?!

Just because i had to get up before daylight to head back to Bots doesn't mean i didn't take my daily shower!!

Saying Good-bye!

Saying good-byes are really important in here, so when i found out for sure that i would be leaving the Northeast i made sure to go out to Gungwe and say good-bye to Simame, or my "grandmother" as she likes to say. I really am going to miss the wide open space of the village and the people and how they really want to know how you are when they ask. I also know that living in the village will help me, as one of my supervisors said, in delevoping new relationships here in the city. Now matter where you go the village is the backbone of this society. Anyway when i went out for the last time we shared a scripture and then i gave her a Bible that i hope some of her family members will read to her. She really is a sweet lady!

This is my "grandmother" on the left with her new Bible and Thandie on the right.

These are some of Simame's, real grandchildern.