On Friday I threw one of the toodle children Shepero a Birthday party she turns four August 1 since we were going to be in CapeTown I wanted to celebrate on the last day at the Tlemelo. It was really exciting I cooked her and her guest dinner after wards we went to the playground once the kids were through playing it was time for ice cream and cake yummy! Everyone gathered around to sing happy birthday! Today we said our last good byes to the kids and the people at Tlemelo it was one of the most emotional days little Shepero didn't want me to leave she wanted to go to America with me. She had a melt down and started to cry she wouldn't let me get on the combi to go to UB so I could pack. Her mom was crying because she didn't know what to do i was crying because I care so much for this kid and I can't bring her back with me. I didn't think saying good bye would be this hard. I'm diffidently going to see about coming back to Botswana in the future. I'm grateful to get the opportunity to experience this journey thank you everyone who has supported me I would be back in the States August 5 I'm excited to share my amazing journey with everyone!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A sad Goodbye : (
On Friday I threw one of the toodle children Shepero a Birthday party she turns four August 1 since we were going to be in CapeTown I wanted to celebrate on the last day at the Tlemelo. It was really exciting I cooked her and her guest dinner after wards we went to the playground once the kids were through playing it was time for ice cream and cake yummy! Everyone gathered around to sing happy birthday! Today we said our last good byes to the kids and the people at Tlemelo it was one of the most emotional days little Shepero didn't want me to leave she wanted to go to America with me. She had a melt down and started to cry she wouldn't let me get on the combi to go to UB so I could pack. Her mom was crying because she didn't know what to do i was crying because I care so much for this kid and I can't bring her back with me. I didn't think saying good bye would be this hard. I'm diffidently going to see about coming back to Botswana in the future. I'm grateful to get the opportunity to experience this journey thank you everyone who has supported me I would be back in the States August 5 I'm excited to share my amazing journey with everyone!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Presidents Day!!!!!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Zimbabwe/ Chobe National Park!!!!!!!!
Hello Family and friends I would like to thank each of you for keeping me in your thoughts and keeping me in your prayer daily. I would like to give a special thanks to my donors, Michelle, Aunt Ann and Uncle Al. Your support has helped me tremendously through out my journey! I have a lot to tell you about my adventure Matt, Jack, Danielle and myself went to Zimbabwe to view the Victoria Falls its one of the seven natural wonders of the world. I never thought in my life I would see such beauty . I love nature, trees and wildlife looking at so many waterfalls was breath taking. It was one of those moments where I had to pinch myself I thought I was dreaming! We spent the whole day walking through the Victoria Falls park appreciating mother nature,maditating and listening to all the different sounds of animals. Later on Matt Bungi jumped of the bridge I was so excited for him I would of bungi jumped but I'm afraid of heightes. The next day we went to Chobe national park on a safari ! The final day in Zimbabwe Danielle, Matt and myself went whitewater rafting I had so much fun. Me and Danielle never been rafting before Matt have been several times rafting he was really excited to raft in Africa. Danielle was such the sport she paddled the whole time I was scared to paddle because I didn't know how to swim instead of paddling I held on to the raft! While the three of us went rafting Jack was jamming out at the backpackers where we were staying he is a very good musician and he makes friends very easy I enjoyed listening to him play music. Once the rafting was over we were all wet and muddy we decided to walk to the craft market and exchange our clothes and shoes we didn't want for crafts! As we were walking to and from the market there were people asking for money and food there were people also selling things on the street. As I was walking I got a chance to talk to some of the locals they were very interested to know about my life and whats its like being an African American woman living in America and I was interested to know about their lives and their living conditions. I felt like I was able to make a connection through talking to the people I had came in contact with. Zimbabwe economy is hurting people are facing extreme poverty and so many are suffering greatly. My heart goes out to those people I met this little boy coming from the market he seemed to appear from some bushes along the way. He couldn't of been no older then 7yrs his voice was so weakend from hunger. He said " please Madame do you have any food to eat I'm living on the streets and I'm taking care of my little brother." I asked about his parents he told me his parents died. I couln't believe this little boy had to support his younger brother. The little boy remined me of my little nephew William and little cousins thats around the same age as the little boy. I kept picturing in my head what it would be like if my nephew and cousins were in his shoes. As I went into the place I was staying I told the little boy to wait I went inside I gave the boy a lot of muffins, chips and a couple of dollars to get some meat. I knelled down to give the boy a hug he was so grateful I forgot he was very week I rapped my arms around him so tight I had to remind myself he was very fragile. The little boy image is in my head daily It makes me more grateful for everything I have.
The beautiful Falls!!!!!!!!!
Here is a huge tree me and Jack was trying to climb
When I saw this tree it reminded me of the story Jack and the
Bean stock!
This is a huge tree you could sit on the branch it looks like a swing!!!!
I had to take a picture of the waterlilly and the Bee!
I had a lot of fun in Zimbabwe I couldn't wait to get back to the kids at Tlemeleo!
I'm happy to get back to beautiful little faces at the feeding project I named this little girl drama shes always singing, dancing, and sometimes crying inthe future she is going to be a star!!!!!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Gamadubu and the Okavango Delta!!!!
I'm still having an awesome time in Botswana I would like to thank everyone for their prayers I am so grateful that me out of all people is getting a chance to expeience so many things I have never experienced before I miss all of you dearly. Let me catch you up on whats been going on in my life in Botswana since the last blog. on June 24th I went to Gamadubu a rural village with teacher Shirley for the feeding project that she does every Saturday she picked me and the gang up at 7:30am the drive out to the rural village took about 50minutes . The ride out there was very relaxing for me I had a nice conversation with teacher Shirly she had shared with me how grateful she was to have us helping she he told me that she had a goat for us once we had arrived she had announced to the others that we were getting a goat! not to keep as a pet to eat the look on our faces was priceless. Me and the girls named him Billy. I was very grateful and happy I felt it was a privallage to recieve a goat. Now I told you about our friend Billy here comes my favorite to talk about cooking we started to chop Cabbage,Carrots and Onions. While the food was being cooked the kids played games and they had devotion where a Social Worker read a couple of Bible scriptures and afterwards he talked to the kids about children Welfare laws and spoke to them about certain right they have. I though this was interesting knowing some of the kids living situations I'm pretty sure the kids found it comforting to know that they are loved and that there are laws to protect them. Once the food was prepared the children said Grace and ate the meal that we helped prepare. Once the kids finished eating it was time to slaughter our friend Billy I was scared for the goat. I had mix feelings about killing the goat but I stopped and gave it thought and realized thats how they have to eat or else they wouldn't have any food to eat I was sad for the goat but still grateful for the gift. Once I got back to the UB me and Matt decided to cook some of the goat for dinner and we did just that.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Kgale Hill/ Mountain!
Look how Huge this rock is!!!!!!!!! Just think thats only a small part of our awesome journey to the top! The issue at hand was how in the heck were we supposed to climb it?
What an adventure I finally made it to the top looking down I could see all of Botswana!!!!!! This is a view off the back of the hill looking south towards the South African border and Mokolodi Game Reserve.
How beautiful I can't believe I got a chance to experience something this cool and amazing!!!!!! Matt and I stood way to close to the edge for this pic!
My fears of heights didn't get the best of me this adventure was to exciting to pass up! I rolled up my sleeves and started the journey up the mountain!!!!!!!!!! (Eventually I had to come back down too :S)
Well thats all for now folks have a good day!