Carmel in Southern Africa

Good-bye Botswana!!

2007-08-27T09:16:00.000+02:00

I can not believe that it's been almost 2 months since i left Botswana, i miss it so much! Here are a few pictures of my last month in Bots. Although it was a tough time, knowing that i was spending my last days there, it really was a blessing too!! It was wonderful to be able to go back to the North and say my good-byes up there, and then to end back in the South to say good-bye to everyone there. Botswana really touched my life, and i know that if i every get to go back i have some real true friends there.

2007-08-27T09:15:00.000+02:00

This rhino came out of no where the last time i went camping down in South Africa!

Masunga!

2007-08-27T09:02:00.000+02:00

I could not leave Botswana without first going back to Masunga, my first home and where i also worked on the Operation: HIV (He Is Victorious) team. I knew saying good-bye was important, but i never knew how much till i went back to Masunga to say my final good-byes. I had such a wonderful peaceful visit. I was able to go and spend the night with Thandie, the wonderful lady that i did Home Based Care with in Masunga with our church. We had a real good time together, and we also went out to Gunwe, the village where we had 2 Bible studies, to visit my little grandmother as she like for me to call her. It was such a blessing to be able to go back there, and see everyone. I also got to go visit Tshesebe, another village beside Masunga, and say good-bye to some friends up there. It touched me so much to drive up there, and see the wide open spaces. At times i would pull over on the road and take pictures of all the little villages that i passed, just so i could remember them. It was a sad, but sweet time.

2007-08-27T08:58:00.000+02:00

Me and Thandie, or as she said "come take a picture with your African mother." I love her, she is such a strong woman with a loving, caring heart.

2007-08-27T08:52:00.000+02:00

My church family - Masunga Baptist Church

Thandie (R) and I went out to the village of Gunwe to visit my little grandmother(L - in blue), and give her a word of encouragement from the Bible and to say good-bye.

I stopped by the village of Tshesebe, to say good-bye to some of the ladies that i got to know while i lived in the North East.

It really did bring tears to my eyes when i realized that i was driving by some of these villages for the last time. I loved living in Masunga and the openness of the Northeast.

Francistown!!

2007-08-27T08:16:00.001+02:00

Of course i couldn't go all the way up North without stopping over in Francistown to see some of my friends before i left the country. I mean i pretty much have to drive through it to get to Masunga, so it just made sense to stop and have a "last supper" as Name said!

2007-08-27T08:14:00.000+02:00

I had to take a picture of the Nando's the "fast food" place that Brandy and i would go eat when ever we came into to town from Masunga!

One last good-bye to some of my friends in Francistown!

I could not leave without saying good-bye to Gorta, one of my first students that i taught in Francistown on the Operation:HIV team, and the first person i got to be with in Botswana as she came to know the Lord!!

Last Pictures of UB!!!

2007-08-27T07:57:00.000+02:00

Oh my goodness, this was so hard, the last few weeks of schools. I loved working at the student center in Gaborone. I had so much fun, and made really good friendships. These students made me see university minstry in a whole new light!! I don't want to say they where my students, because i feel like we became good friends and had a mentor like relationship, and really enjoyed hanging out with each other. I'm so excited to see what this next year brings, because i know that God is doing big things at UB and it's going to be great!!! My prayers are with you all!!

2007-08-27T07:47:00.000+02:00

This is where all the action takes place!! Oh yeah, it's the Baptist Student Ministries - student center, my home!!!

Come on, like life in the city doesn't get any better then this! At lest the cow was staying on the sidewalk, this is right across from the student center.

My wonderful co- queen, KG, who help me rule our little kingdom!

Just chillin' inside the center!!

2007-08-27T07:36:00.000+02:00

Kush all smiles after a game of b-ball!!

Viv, preaching to the choir!! hahahaha..i love seeing people hang out at the student center!!

Angella (L) and Pearl (R) are the sweetest and nicest girls around!! I love you two and miss you tons!!

I'm so excited because Lynx (L) and Noma (R) where part of my FYF group this year, and the torch has been passed to them and they are going to lead the next FYF group!! Way to go guys, i'm so proud of you both!!

Around town!

2007-08-27T07:11:00.000+02:00

Well after my trip up North to Masunga, then after school was out for winter break, i only had a few days left in Botswana. So i tried to get around and see as many people as i could and take in every last moment i had left. God gave me great closure to my minstry in Botswana by letting me see the full circle of the work i had been a part of continue. I will never forget all that i learned in Botswana, and people that became my friends then my family - they will always be part of my home when i think of Botswana.

2007-08-27T07:10:00.000+02:00

This is Letgo, my friend, neighbor, guard, and generally all around great guy. I wouldn't have made it in Gabs without him, i'm very thankful for all his help.

2007-08-27T07:04:00.000+02:00

Riverwalk! One of the malls, with our movies, and of course Primi, best food in town!!

These gals, where awesome and totally keep me styling!!

Our young adult Bible study from Open Baptist Church, coming together to say good-bye!

Me and KG trying to get another picture together!

2007-08-27T06:57:00.000+02:00

(L-R) Refilwe, Tshepiso, me, Lynx, and Joe. I have known these guys since i first arrived. They worked on the Operation:HIV team with us, and then they where part of the FYF Bible study at UB!! I love these guys, and it gives me great joy to know that they are now going out on their winter break, to reach others with the abstinence message and the gospel of Christ! What a joy to know that they are going to contiune to work along side of the Lord in Botswana!!!

My last dinner at Primi, my favorite restaurant of all times, with the crew the night before i caught my jet plane

Saying good-bye to some of my best friends Jillian (L) and Shawna (R) at the airport. I totally miss you!!!

Nice smiles before the tears! Vivien (L) and KG (R) totally rock, and are like sisters to me, i miss you guys so much!!

Uganda!!

2007-08-27T06:23:00.000+02:00

On my way home, i traveled through Uganda to see my friend Grace and check out another awesome African country! I had so much fun! Uganda is so different then Botswana!! There are so many people, and it's so green!! While i was there, i got to see Grace's everyday life and meet some of her friends! We also went to a Babies home to volunteer, went to church, went to Jinja checked out the Nile, and really just had a blast!!! It was a good break between leaving my home in Botswana and going back home to the states.

2007-08-27T06:21:00.000+02:00

Grace, Bridger, and me (L-R) all smiles before we went to chruch!

Tons of banana's, i'm practicing my Vana pose

We weren't the only ones enjoying the botanical gardens!

Some pretty flowers!

Babies Home!!!

2007-08-27T06:01:00.000+02:00

One of my favorite things that i got to do while i was in Uganda was go to the Babies Home in Kampala. Grace goes once a week on the 2 hour round trip to volunteer at the Home. First we rode on a mato, which is like a 12-15 passagers bus, but we got way more people on there! Then we had to take a boda up the hill. Which is like a motorcycle, but a little smaller, that is used for a taxie. In the babies home there are about 45 babies from in newbies to 3 yrs. old. The children have been left for lots of different reasons, like either the parent has AIDS and they are afraid the babies does, or can't take care of the baby, or the baby isn't wanted. It really doesn't matter why they have been left, what matters is that these children have somewhere to call home and have people that love them and show them the love of Christ. After they reach age 3 they are often moved to larger orphanages for older children. Remember that Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, and we should extend our hearts and hands to do the same in some way.

2007-08-27T06:00:00.000+02:00

My first ever Boda ride or any kind of motorcycle ride for that matter!!!! ahhhh!!!!

The death defining adventure up the hill was totally worth it to play with these adorable babies!!

I fell in love in this little man sitting in my lap!! I totally wanted to take Trevor home with me, he is a great kid!!!

Look at those big brown eyes!!!!

Market Time!!

2007-08-27T05:47:00.001+02:00

This is something that i've only seen in Kenya, large outdoor markets. I'm sure there are other places also, but we don't really have such large ones in Botswana. So i thought i would take some pictures so you could see the differences that lay across this awesome continent of Africa!

2007-08-27T05:47:00.000+02:00

So many fruits and veggies to choose from!

Some times you just have to know what you want!!

Literacy Class!!

2007-08-27T05:39:00.000+02:00

I was very fortunate to go with Grace, to the Literacy Class that her group SIL and the church partnered together to teach. It was awesome watching Pocecy and the other ladies help these beautiful little children learn the basics of reading and writing in their own language. There are so many children in this community that are not able to attend school, for various reason, so this is a very important outreach that they are providing.

2007-08-27T05:37:00.000+02:00

Seeing what the teacher thinks!!

Working very hard!!

Oh yeah, look what hard work can do!!!

Lake Victoria!!

2007-08-27T05:29:00.000+02:00

I was so excited to see Lake Victoria, which by the way is all you can see as you fly into Uganda, it's every where!!! I don't know the acutal number, but Lake Vic is between 1- 5 being the largest body of fresh water in the WORLD!! Let me just tell you that's pretty big! Everywhere i went i saw the lake, it reminded of an Ocean, because it streached out so much. It was behind Grace's house, next to her church, and even in Jinja!! I took most of these pictures the day i went to the literacy class at Grace's church, then some in Jinja.

2007-08-27T05:26:00.000+02:00

One of the many trips of the day to catch some fish....

Waiting for the fish to come in...

Inspecting the goods!

2007-08-27T05:19:00.000+02:00

More boats at Lake Victoria in Jinja

I'm telling you, this lake is huge, everywhere you go there it is!! Like here in Jinja like 2 hours away from Entebbe!

The Nile!!

2007-08-27T05:09:00.000+02:00

My second weekend in Uganda, Grace and I traveled up to Jinja to go see the Nile. We stayed with some of my friends Evelyn and Jack. They where great hosts, and we got to see a lot. Grace and i thought about going rafting down the Nile, but the truth be told....i was a little afraid after my big adventure down the Zambezi in Zimbabwe a year ago. So we just looked at it, although if i ever get to go back, i think i will go rafting the Nile looked so cool that i know it would be awesome to go zipping down it!

2007-08-27T03:52:00.000+02:00

Back in TN!!!

2007-08-27T03:40:00.000+02:00

Wow, after my good-byes in Botswana and vacation time in Uganda i landed back in the states. So i've been back in the states for 2 months now, and as you can see from the pictures my two homes are worlds apart. I love both. Now that i'm back in the states i'm trying to get use to life on this side, it's hard at times, but i'm happy to see all my friends and family again. I'm very excited about this next chapter in my life. I'm staying with the IMB and i'm doing a new program called J3 - student mobilization!! I'm basically getting to go around and talk about my life for the past 2 1/2 years, and get more college students and young adults plugged into missions!!! My main focus is the BCM at UT, and other area colleges and churches!!! God has been great and has all ready blessed my life more then i could have imaged!! An awesome thing with this new job, i may be able to lead a group of students back to Botswana or somewhere else in Africa on a mission trip!!!! So this is not the end of my love affair with Africa or the rest of the world for that matter!!

2007-08-27T03:30:00.000+02:00

View from my front porch in Tennessee! I think my family has taken this same picture for the last 20+ years espeically in the fall when the leaves turn different colors, it's beautiful!

FYF Swim & Braai!!

2007-04-29T15:50:00.000+02:00

Oh, my gosh i can't believe that a year is already up with my FYF group!!! It just seems like things are going strong, but because they are strong now i have no reason to believe that they won't be strong next year!!! So to end up this year, we planned a day o' fun!! We first went swimming at the university pool...which just in case you ever want to take a dip there make sure you have a swimming cap....yep you can just image how that went with all my hair....Then afterwards we went back to the student center for a braai (cookout)!! It was a great way to end a great year!!! I will always remember the first FYF group!!!!

2007-04-29T15:40:00.000+02:00

The few but mighty ones that braved the pool!!!

After our swim, Tshepiso and Joe (L-R), started our braai!!! It was wonderful, way to go guys!!!

2007-04-29T15:11:00.000+02:00

you can always take time out to smile for the camara!! cheese!!

table tennis anyone??

2007-04-29T15:06:00.000+02:00

Football all the way baby!!

2007-04-29T14:44:00.000+02:00

As a going away present my FYF crew gave me a scarf!! How awesome is that? Who told them that i love scrafs? Anyway they said that i would need it because i've been in Bots to long with sun blazing down on me and when i return to the states i'll freeze!! I love it and you, thanks guys, i'll always remember you!!!

Our group shot as the party is ending up!

Costume Party!!

2007-03-31T23:28:00.000+02:00

After a long awaited time, due to technical difficulty a.k.a. no computer, i have finally posted some pictures of all the great things that have been going on from January to March!! So sit back, relax, drink a coke and enjoy!!! We'll start with the month of January, and of course with any new year you need to start out with parties....so I started the trend with celebrating my 26th birthday (Jan.6) by having a braai, then we moved on to having an ice cream welcome back party for the FYF group, then we had a big blow out with our Costume party for everyone!! The costume party was a big hit, and let me tell you i saw some pretty creative outfits!! I dressed in my normal attire as a Queen ;) We all had a great time!!!!

2007-03-31T23:26:00.000+02:00

Everyone had a blast!!

2007-03-31T23:24:00.001+02:00

Girls just wanna have fun, Girls just wanna have fun!!!....and we did!!!

2007-03-31T23:24:00.000+02:00

Don't let the costumes fool you those are my responisble supervisor's Kittie and Randy!

Mission Team!!!

2007-03-31T23:22:00.000+02:00

Back in January we had a team of 8 university students and 2 leaders come to Botswana from Union University in Jackson, TN. They had so much energy, well at lest after they slept the first day, but they where really great. Our students just loved them!! It could have been from the special guest visit of Napoleon Dynamite, but i don't know. Yes, we had just showed the movie the week before so the students where really into it when "Napoleion" started to dance!! See just another thing university students have in common across the world!!! Anyway the team did a good job while they where here. They help out in an AIDS daycare center in the morinings, then came over to UB in the afternoons, and also led our student retreat! It was really good to have them around!!

2007-03-31T23:20:00.000+02:00

Union University mission team!!

2007-03-31T23:18:00.000+02:00

All the way from TN.....it's Napoleon!!! The crowd went wild!!

Youth and Children's Day!!

2007-03-31T23:16:00.000+02:00

The mission team was also ask to help out one Saturday at Bosele Baptist Chruch. They where suppose to do a youth program at the regular time the youth group met, but i think more kids came then youth, which was fine since we had enough people to make two groups. We had to go out and inivite the youth/kids to come, which is always fun i think. One thing i love about kids everywhere they are so open, friendly and trusting. They would just walk up to us and grab our hands or wave at us. Some of them even followed us around just wanting to know what was going on. It was a great day!

2007-03-31T23:14:00.000+02:00

When we went out, the children where pretty easy to find since they where already having a good time playing football/soccar...so they just kick their ball along to follow us and see what was up....they ended up staying at the church and had a good time!

2007-03-31T23:12:00.000+02:00

Prince, the little guy on top, was such an active little fellow. I think he used all of us as his own personal jungle gym!!

2007-03-31T23:10:00.000+02:00

These little guys where so cute...the one in the middle was a big help with the little kids, but he was also very funny because he wouldn't come with us till he went home and changed his clothes, he said that what he had on wasn't nice, so he wanted to put something else on nice. Well he was the little man when he showed up.

2007-03-31T23:08:00.000+02:00

After we had went out and got the kids we all came back to the church for some songs, stories, and lots of fun!

2007-03-31T23:05:00.000+02:00

She wanted to show us how it was really done! How cute is she?!!

Student Retreat!!

2007-03-31T23:00:00.000+02:00

This was sooo much fun!!! Each semester we have a universtiy student retreat, and this was bigger then any before!! We had to move to a new location because of the size of our group!! How awesome was that?! It was a cramed packed retreat from early morning wake up calls to dancing the night away with a dance compation that really just turned into a big blow out after the "compation" was over. Yes, i even made an appreance on the dance floor!! We also had a snake come into the girls dorm... it was kind of funny all the girls where screaming outside the door and backing away and we had to hold the guys back from going in the investagate!! Besides all that we really did get down to our theme of the weekend "the cross-centered life." We talked about everything and how above all Christ should come first. The best part of the weekend came when one of the girls gave her life to Christ!!! It couldn't get much better then that?!!

2007-03-31T22:57:00.000+02:00

Group shot of everyone at the retreat!

2007-03-31T22:55:00.000+02:00

These are some of the guys at the retreat, all of them are great and added tons of laughs to our weekend!

2007-03-31T22:53:00.000+02:00

Metho (L) and Juby (R) take time out from talking to smile for the camara!

2007-03-31T22:52:00.000+02:00

Board games are one of the must haves at a retreat!

Game Drive!

2007-03-31T22:50:00.000+02:00

OK, so you know we're in Botswana which just happens to be the home of the Big 5...which is the big 5 must see animals in africa....so of course we went on a game drive one afternoon at the retreat.

2007-03-31T22:49:00.000+02:00

When the sun goes down, or in this case hides behind a cloud out come the blankets, but nothing could keep us away from the game drive!

2007-03-31T22:47:00.000+02:00

Did you know the older a giraffe is the darker his spots are?! Just a little fact thought you might want to know...

2007-03-31T22:45:00.000+02:00

Simon shows just how close and personal we got with the elephants!!

FYF Birthday Party!!

2007-03-31T22:42:00.000+02:00

So every month, we try to do something fun with our FYF group. Since we had just went on the student retreat last month we or i should say the girls decided to have a great big birthday party, with tons of food, lots of laughs, and loud music!! Let me tell you that i love my FYF group, they are always so much fun and no one else knows how to party like they do!!

2007-03-31T22:39:00.000+02:00

(L-R) Thelmah, Noma, and Kgomotso are waiting for the birthday cake to make their wishes!! Happy Birthday girls!!

Sun City!!

2007-03-31T22:36:00.000+02:00

While the students went home for the short break, i went down to Joburg, only for a day, but it was still fun. I went with my friend Jillian and her family, we had a good time. Acutally how could you not when you get to splash around in water?! We went to a place called Sun City which has a "water park" if you will, in the middle of it for the kiddies to play in. Of coures that's where i was. It was unlike anything i've ever seen. They really tried to make it look like a real beach, and they did a pretty good job of it too. The sand wasn't the softest i've ever felt, but it did provide for good free pedicure, by softening my feet :) They even had their own version of a "lazy river."

2007-03-31T22:33:00.000+02:00

This is just the begining, after you walk down the walkway and by the monkey fountain, and get your ticket....

2007-03-31T22:27:00.000+02:00

You get to walk out onto this beautiful "beach." Hum, i've come to love water so this was so amazing to me, it was great!!

Team Building!!

2007-03-31T22:24:00.000+02:00

So as the leadership team of our campus minstry, we held a team building day for all team leaders and memebers. We had a great time! KG, my friend and co-worker, led the group. Come on like you can't have fun with popsicle sticks!!! One of the task was to work together in steps of course to build a bridge that 1 little car could pass under and 1 big car could go over. Everything looks easy right? Well that's till you get to the part of drawing your steatch and building WITHOUT talking!!! Oh yeah, i think i may have pick up on some grunts, and groans to get a couple of points across! As you can see it all truned out great!! Plus we had pizza for lunch!

2007-03-31T22:20:00.000+02:00

If we all put our heads together something great will happen!!

2007-03-31T22:16:00.000+02:00

Ta-da, look what a little team work can do!!

Two Good-byes, and one Hello!

2007-03-31T22:12:00.000+02:00

Well, what can i say good-byes are somewhat a way of life over here. Although it was hard and strange to say good-bye to one of my really good j-friends this month. Reema, who lived and worked in Francistown finished her term and is making her way back into life in the states. It's just strange to think that she is not here. I mean when Brandy (my roommate & fellow j-girl) & i lived in Masunga we always hung out with Reema & Stacie. It was like we where the 4 j-girls of the North. We did everything together like going to Zim, rafting, almost drowing, to walking with the lions & swimming with the elephants. Everything, all the youth events, sharing ups and downs in minstry, you name we did it...we'll name it if it won't get us into trouble...but you get it. Although, i know i'll see her again in the states and maybe even at seminary...oh the fun...I also said good-bye to Will who was a fellow missionary in Gabs with King's Foundation, which is a sports minstry program based in the UK. I do believe that he left quit an impression that few will forget with his break dancing skills, and his love of sports. I wish both of them well, and great sucess in where ever they go. Good-bye...

2007-03-31T22:08:00.000+02:00

From L-R, me, Reema, and Shawna smiling for one more picture together in Africa before we have to say good-bye! Reema you are going to be missed so much!!!

2007-03-31T22:04:00.000+02:00

Saying good-bye to William

2007-03-31T22:00:00.000+02:00

This is our Young Adult Bible Study, we usually divide up into 2 groups but we all came together to give Will a good farewell.

Hello Clipper!!

2007-03-31T21:56:00.000+02:00

Clipper has been around the mission for about 4 years now being a friend and protector to all journeyman (or should i say jounerygirls?!). He was 1st bought by 3 j-girls in Francistown, then he went to Reema and Stacie, and now that they are gone he was left without a home!! How sad! So being the awesome nice person that i am ;) & because i love dogs, i decided to let him come live with me down here in the big city. I will say that his rep proceeded him down here...let's just say that he can be a little aggressive at times toward those he doesn't know....Although not all are afraid of him. Since he is a well traveled dog, now having lived both in the North and South of the country, he is making friends and a name for himself. I am not kidding...my dog is more famous then me!! Yes when word got out that he was in town two of the guys that lived in Francistown & where involved in the Chruch there & now live here and go to UB and my FYF group totally came over to visit him!!! Clipper is great to have around...especially when you see how he protects me from the mad wondering around cows in the streets!!!

2007-03-31T21:52:00.000+02:00

Clipper, what a cutie don't you think?!
What do you think is wrong with this picture....could it be the cows in the middle of a city street outside of my house??? i don't know, i was just thinking...

Youth Retreat!!

2007-03-31T21:48:00.000+02:00

I was ask to help out with a youth retreat in March. I think everyone had a great time! The youth group is mostly made up of ex-pats, mk's, and friends of friends. It is a really cool group of youth. We went to Mokolodi Game Reserve, the same place we had our university student retreat back in January. Anyway, this weekend was focused on abstinence and following Christ. At the end of the weekend 3 youth made a decision to follow Christ!!!

2007-03-31T21:44:00.000+02:00

This is the gang at the youth retreat....well i'm taking the picture...but just the same...we all had a great time!!

Student Varity Show!!

2007-03-31T21:42:00.000+02:00

There are only a few Friday Night Outreaches left, and this one we had the annunal student tallent / varity show. Although it was my first time to attend, and i was so impressed. It was great, you name it and we had it there....poems, dancing, singing, and drama... Everyone had a great time!!

2007-03-31T21:40:00.000+02:00

All of our wonderfully tallented students!!

2007-03-31T21:36:00.000+02:00

Edward (L) and Kush (R) where our MC's that led us through the show. They where so much fun. Get a load of Edward's pink tie, oh yeah that's what i'm talking about guys take note!

2007-03-31T21:32:00.000+02:00

We had so many people come to the show, it was great!!

2007-03-31T21:28:00.000+02:00

Don't you wish you could dance like that?! I know i do!! They where awesome!!!!

2007-03-31T21:24:00.000+02:00

These girls, Lesedi (L) and Glow (R), can really bring the house down!!

Prayer Walk

2007-03-31T21:20:00.000+02:00

To start off our Saturday morning there was a prayer walk in one of the neighborhoods here in Gaborone. The vision is that one day all of Gaborone will be covered in prayer and that God will revive this land. Believe me it's already happening! Everyone everywhere was invited to come, all of the Baptist churches and our student minstry. For the first prayer walk it turned out to be acutally pretty good. We had a good turn out, about 30 in all with a pastor, and a couple of elders from one of the local churches and of course students from campus minstry. Oh yeah, it all starts with a step of faith in both walking and praying!!! Amen??!!!!

2007-03-31T21:16:00.000+02:00

If you look really closely you'll see Wabo, a girl from campus minstry, in the background talking to two women about the reason we where walking along the street and praying for their neighborhood.

ET leadership Team Braai!!

2007-03-31T21:12:00.000+02:00

This weekend we held a braai, or cookout, at my supervisor's house for the Executive Team of our campus minstry. It was so much fun!! This group can make me laugh out of no where!!We had at lest 15 of our student leaders there, and then me, KG, and the Trails (supervisor's). I am so excited about this group, i can really sense that God is getting ready to take Botswana by storm and i think these are going to be some of the key players.

2007-03-31T21:08:00.000+02:00

Most of the old team leaders and the new team leaders and assistants, plus KG (co-partner in crime) on right between me and the Trails. I just love this group, they are so great, and i've learned so much from them!

2007-03-31T21:04:00.000+02:00

Some very pretty faces!
Everyone likes to play foz ball Then again we all know when to get down to business...a.k.a. eating!

2007-03-31T21:00:00.000+02:00

Angella (L) and Tapiwa (R) getting ready to make their birthday wishes! Happy birthday ladies!! love you lots :)

Back to Masunga!

2006-12-31T18:58:00.000+02:00

My first trip home, was to Masunga! The village that i had lived in for about 1 yr. and half! I hadn't been there since i moved down to Gabs about 6 months ago, so i was very excited to get the chance to go! Although i had a few car problems....hey it wouldn't be one of my stories if something cool didn't happen.....I had a great time getting to go and visit my friends and church. The best part of the visit was acutally seeing Masunga Baptist Church funcation on it's own! I mean the church has exprienced a lot of growth in more ways then one. It was awesome to see Banabasi teaching the little kids in Sunday School, and Mercy with the youth, and then there was an elders class and a class for new believers! It was amazing! The most amazing thing was that i was able to be there (a complete surprise to me) on a Sunday when they where baptizing 6 New Believers!!! Praise God!!!! After church i was invited over to the pastor's house for lunch with him and his family. It was good to be able to talk with him, and see the hope that he now has for the church. It was an unbelievable visit!!

2006-12-31T18:50:00.000+02:00

Some of my friends from Masunga, (L-R) Mercy, me, Banabasi, and Tom.

Road Trip...to the airport!!!

2006-12-31T18:43:00.000+02:00

To begin my trip home, i was able to travel down to Joburg with two of my closest friends, Jillian and KG, in Botswana. There where also going places for the holidays. We had a blast, singing, laughing, and the occasional tid bits of talk about boys. Come on like you can get three girls together and NOT talk about guys?! We even found strange and scary things to scream at on the side of the road. All of those years of going to UT football games sure did pay off when i totally over took Jillian and KG in the screaming department!! It was a good way to start my long (20 hour) jounery home to the states!!

2006-12-31T18:35:00.000+02:00

Myself, Jillian, and KG (L-R) the coolest chicks ever!!

Home for the Holidays!!!

2006-12-31T18:25:00.000+02:00

Oh my goodness, i still can't believe it, but i was acutally home for Christmas!!! I knew i was home when i looked outside the airplane window and saw a big power T on the side of a building! Gotta love those VOLS!!! For the first time in over 2 years i was home with my mom and dad, and tons of family and friends! I had a wonderful time, it was really amazing. I was very bless to get to go to my home church and see my family there, and I even got a surprise when i went over to Central in k-town. I ran into some very specially little kids that i use to work with, that was the most awesome thing ever! Although mom's cooking was pretty awesome, also! I'll be back in about 6 or so months, so this will give everyone the chance to get the welcome party in effect when i walk off the plane......being in the gift shop is not an option! I love you guys and look forward to seeing you this summer!!!

2006-12-31T18:15:00.000+02:00

As you can see i'm back in TN with my parents, Carole and Edmund, and my sister Leslie, posing for our fist family picture in two years!!!!

Real Trees and water!!!

2006-12-31T18:09:00.000+02:00

One of my favorite things that i got to do while i was home was go to the mountains! You don't really think to much about them when you have them all the time, but when you move away and especially when you move to a flat land, it does make you appreciate them when you come back. I was able to go to up to Cave Cove, and see what pretty much looked to me like a different world. The coolest part was seeing all the water! Yes, once again you just have to trust me to appreciate it! Botswana is a semi-desert country. When I lived in my village of Masunga i would drive over bridges that would have nothing and i mean NOTHING in the riverbeds!! Expect dirt of course!! So it was just amazing, and you can ask my driver (no offense) how shocked and amazed i was to really see water where it was suppose to be! It was awesome to see God's beauty in His creation. I had a fabulous time, thanks for taking me Craig!! Hope you all appreciate this picture as much as i do!

FRIENDS and more FRIENDS!!!

2006-12-31T18:00:00.000+02:00

Another GREAT part of my visit home, was getting to see some of my best friends in the world!! I had a blast getting to see and hear all about what's been going on in their lives for the past two years. While i've been on the "far side" of the earth tying to firgue out the best way NOT to eat animal intestine! Back home Jill is working on becoming Dr. Jill and trying to correct our use of the English language one college freshman at a time. Nikki is as much a go getter as ever, by both working at and going to seminary all at the same time. Then we have bubbly Mindy who is as sweet and great as ever making her way in Atlanta, GA!! You go girl, your city is twice the size of my country!!! I have grown up with these girls, and it is amazing to see the wonderful women they have become!!
I was thrilled to see even more of my nearest and dearest friends while i was in good ol' k-town!! I don't know what i would have done without you guys, while trying to make sense of undergrad!! I had a blast driving around the cove with mountain man Craig, while i was there. I think he may acutally be the most grown up of us all. He bought a house while i was gone! Hum, kind of makes me wanting to decorate an apartment when i get back, as a sign of me putting down roots, a little out of wack! Oh well, even though he has a house and a "grown up" job, i think it's awesome that He sees his work place as his mission field and always goes on short term vol mission trips. Keep it up!

I had a great time getting together with my friend and awesome roommate while i was home! It was just like old times, but better! You'll not find a more lively and fun person to be around then Lisa. I don't just say that because we once shared J7 together, but it's true. Her friendship and always encouraging if not the funnest e-mails ever has really been great over the past two years! She is a true sister, in that we are both "sex workers"....abstinence teachers if you will! Lisa is pretty much doing the same thing that i was doing back in Masunga, but over in the states. By going into the classrooms of local high schools and giving them all the dirt on sex before marriage, and encouraging them to follow God's plan for thier lives.Then we have Miss Sonya who is working with my favorite people group in the whole world!! Her's is a "grown up" job also....is an elementary school counselor. I think that is way cool. Making a difference in the way a child grows up will totally effect who he is as an adult!! See what did i tell you, i have some pretty amazing friends. Although i didn't get to see all of my amazing friends, it sure was such a blessing and awesome Christmas gift to see the few that i was able to see!!! Hope to see the rest of you when i get back.

Prayer Retreat!

2006-12-31T17:52:00.000+02:00

So, right when i landed in South Africa i was wisk away on the shuttle to our regional/cluster prayer retreat! Let me tell you foks that after about 20 hours of travel and flying through lots of different time zones, i was going on borrowed energy, but i still had a blast at prayer retreat. The mission team that came in from the states was great, and i really got a lot out of the messages. I also had a great time hanging out with some friends that i only get to see once or twice a year. It was a good way to end a very good year!

2006-12-31T17:48:00.000+02:00

Sometimes you just have to let your inner cheerleader out!! On top is Stacie, i'm on the bottom left, and our newest jounery-girl, Kristy, is on the bottom right!

It's always great to see people you first started with, Carol and i went through training together. Although she is a career missy and will be out a lot longer after i leave, but i know she can hold the fort down!!!

2006-12-31T16:46:00.000+02:00

This is sad, because it's the last picture of me and Stacie together in Africa...sniff, sniff, sniff...although i'm sure we'll cause some trouble once we're all back in the states! You will be missed girl!!!

FYF Braai!

2006-11-29T00:36:00.000+02:00

Wow, i can't believe that we are all ready through with one semester of school!!! That's just crazy, as one of my little pre-schooler's use to say. So as with everything, there is always a closing to an event or group. So for the first semester of FYF - First Year Friends - we decided to have a braai (pretty much like a cookout) at my house!!! It was great, we had lots of good food, good friends, and lots of laughs!!! Can't wait till next semester to start!!

2006-11-29T00:33:00.000+02:00

This is our FYF group!!!

You always have time to play some games...

and shots some hoops!!

Christmas in November!!

2006-11-29T00:21:00.000+02:00

Every Friday night we have Campus Outreach! So for our last one of this semester we had Christmas Carols by candle light! I know it's a month early, but come on you have to get into the Christmas spirit somehow in this heat! We had so much fun, and i'm not even kidding!!! After singing 12 days of Christmas twice and the electriy being off for the first part, we broke it down by kicking up of heels and dancing our hearts out!!! Merry Christmas!

2006-11-29T00:20:00.000+02:00

Bontsi working hard lighting all the candles.

2006-11-29T00:16:00.000+02:00

Everyone singing to our fav carols

Norma, lifting her candle high as we are all encourage to go out into the world and shine for Christ.

Of course we can't get together and not dance, and no one can brake it down better then Terry! Go girl!!!