Tuesday in town

Today we took a two mile hike at 6:30, but saw no animals. Our morning stop was to toddler/ preschool. There we played with them and watched them have their lunch. The kids are quite endearing. Don entertained with his iPad. We had our sack lunches outside the Fruit & Veg store. The afternoon visit was to an area north of Mokopane to a drop in feeding center. We helped serve their food. The three items were: pop-a rice type food made from corn, some pickled beets-called bitter root & a cooked cabbage dish called som.

It was the hottest day so far. We took a ride around the property game preserve before dinner. We were able to spot: impalas, wildebeest , kudu, eolas, sable, bless buck, wart hogs, zebra, and six giraffe. We were thrilled to see so many kinds .

Tomorrow comes early around here so better sign off. We are going on a safari about 4pm weather permitting.

Monday a vision outreach at an outpost

Today we traveled for an hour and a half to a remote village. We set up a vision clinic to serve one hundred citizens. It was pretty well organized. We worked with each client to determine their current vision needs. Before we sent them to receive their new glasses, we talked about their relationship with Jesus and asked their permission to pray with each one. We also encouraged them to be tested for HIV. We had two local med. students doing the testing. They left with new glasses and a better outlook--pun intended. It was an amazing experience.

I tried unsuccessfully to get a picture on the page yesterday. I did get a zebra pic on Facebook.

Tonight we had an extra special dinner because their was a birthday . The day concluded with sharing around a fire circle while eating b-day cake.

We are being greatly blessed as we strive to bless others. Jan

Sunday

Today was church. A wonderful service aimed at the children, but simple enuf for the adults to understand. We served lunch there and cleaned up. The afternoon was free. Part of our group took a safari and had great sightings . Don and I played a 10 hole replica kind of course. The course won. Tomorrow we are doing an optical mission day in a remote village. I need to be sleeping.

Reaching out to the Masses

We started early this morning. A neighboring ministry invited children for a day of activities to coincide with the Blessman celebration of the 20 millionth meal of Meals from the Heartland. I felt rather inadequate as over 1000 children came. We were understaffed times two, but all got fed and heard the good news. There were just two bounce houses for the thousand kids. The day was hot and sunny. We are exhausted, but it is a good feeling-- like after a day on Ragbrai.

We had a very pleasant and timely trip to Johannesburg arriving here Friday night about 5:30. The group was met by a driver and we are now tucked in at Blessman Ministries. Tomorrow is a big celebration in town.

Florida sunset

The night before...

Our bags are packed. Don's brother is drving us to the Orlando airport tomorrow. We have a 2 hour flight to Atlanta. There we will be meeting 5 other team members from Iowa. We will also be joined by Erik Hansen of KCCI and his photographer. In the evening we depart for Johannesburg, South AFrica. The flight is over 15 hours. I am not one to doze off easily, but I am going to give it my best effort to get some rest.
Psalm 4 last verse says, I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
I think I will not get to lie down--flying economy of course. Don says the cheap seats.
I have turned off my phone and Verizon has supplied us with a global phone. Somehow we figured out how to get it turned on and gave it a few trial calls. Charging the camera battery one more time.
No posts until we are at our destination. Blessman Ministries will be meeting us at the airport Friday evening.
Plans are for a celebration on Saturday. The local donkey cart drivers will be going out to pick up the children. Chiefs will be attending. They will be celebrating that Meals from the Heartland has packed 20 million meals and Andrea will be bringing the 20 millionth one with her. That is something to celebrate on both sides of the ocean.
THANKS for keeping us lifted up in PRAYER. Don & Jan

Preparing to roll for a few weeks in South Africa

We are parents of four and grandparents of 9. From our condo in Florida we are making final plans for our departure on Thursday to fly to Johannesburg, South Africa. Tomorrow we hope to receive the global phone to carry along. I think that means we can call--someone or somewhere sometime, if we can figure out those international calling codes.

I thought that I/we would blog so that I/we have a record of the trip and you can follow us along the way. It is like a journal.