Nyanga

This weekend we took a sudden trip with two families up to Nyanga national park, its north east about three hours from the capital.
The family we attached ourselves to is Kawenda's they own a house\lodge up there. We highly recommend visiting here when or if you travel here.. Amazing hiking and sights to be had. We only spent two days but I can tell ya, it feels like five.. With all the hiking over mountains we did.
We headed out early Sunday morning, 1st to visit the Damafalls congregation which has 47 publishers and 19 pioneers!!! When we work in the rural area its their territory we go to, about 45 minutes out of town, a town called Gardener. Wonderful little congregation. The Kawenda's moved there to help where there was a need of publishers, they are a family of four. They have a very interesting story of endurance.
The father Felix and wife Primrose got the truth in 2004, were baptized in 2006 and are now regular pioneers. They have three children one son age 17 Karuza and two daughters one would be 15 and the Khule (said like Coolie) is 12.  Sadly when the middle daughter was 12 almost 13 she came down with a liver disease and passed away quickly. There was much persecution  which only brought more stress and depression to the whole family from the worldy family. They have lots of cultural ruituals in the Shona  culture which they left behind.
Today the parents both commute to bethel at least one day a week, Karuza is a regular pioneer and Khule is a regular auxiliary pioneer. When I asked for their story I had no idea that their spiritual heritage was so new..you'd never know it when you're in service with them.
It shows us that no matter what curve ball Satan throws if we push on towards the truth we can conquer any obstacle.
They send their Christian love to all and hope they get to meet some of you.
Nyanga is amazing! It reminds me of Ecuador a lot, we went for a morning hours ride where our guide took us to a high mountain so we could see miles around us.. Sha.. I can never get tried of the view here..

A bit late

Sorry this is a bit late I've been a bit distracted from emails of late.
We are approaching the last month of our stay here, which brings a huge pain to my ever growing heart. While we have been her the Avondale congregation and friends from many others have made us feel at home, so much so that its like we are leaving our home congregations all over again.
We have been able to start many bible studies conveniently at the actual flea market...hee hee I will be sad to say goodbye to Mercy who is in The God's Love book and attending meetings. The international servants started most of the interest there and as we walk through all the booths they greets and ask how our preaching has been that week. The photo of me isn't my best but its me helping her through a point so decided to let you all see it.. Lol
I will be happy to come home see all of you for a little while then start back saving so I can come right back..

I've lost my heart in Africa.

Lion Walk

This was amazing. If you ever have the chance to do it you can not pass on it! The place we went to is a conservation place for the lions born in captivity. They take the cubs and try to get them back into the wild, they don't live in cages or in a fenced in area. We were not allowed to touch their faces (even though I don't think the lions would be opposed themselves) and we had to only approach from the back. The two siblings we got to almost cuddle with are 10 months old and in two years they will be released. Then the last photo is one a bit older about 14 months..by the time they go back into the national park they will be three times the size they are now.
There are only around 80,000 left in Africa and that's down 80% from 20 years ago. So the meat is donated and the money spent to do this is used to help keep them coming in and raising them.
It felt like what it may be like in the new world, walking down a path with your pet lion..stopping every ten feet so they can nap (they really are quite lazy little guys..haha) I'm beyond happy we chose that to do this time around.. We passed on riding the elephants this time..money wise we wanted to keep it down.

Botswana

Today we headed over the border to Botswana to check out the national park called Chobe. It borders Namibia so when we were in the river (not swimming, boat cruise) we more or less skipped into another country. They are fighting for an island in the middle of the river at the moment. Each day a group of army guys from either side put their countries flag up in replacement of the other..today it was Botswana's. There isn't any actual fighting involved just in the court system one wants to use it for tourism and the other for farming.
On the river part we saw hippo, crocodiles, elephants, and buffalos they all come down to the river in the morning to drink. In the afternoon we took a 4 X 4 out to the land and saw them all over again just in massive herds. We also were the only ones to see the lions before they ducked into a group of bushes.

There are over 60,000 elephants on this piece of land alone..and I'm pretty sure not only did we see them but smell them. A few were at the river getting a bath and cooling off. There was a baby born just 9 days ago so he's still a bit scared of the Jeeps..poor thing. Also a baby hippo was born and he was sunning himself by the herd.. Too cute. They have cur down on the poaching in this area, normally men are looking for rhino horn which goes for over $200,000 and the ivory..the new rules are that the army guys shoot to kill not just arrest so to discourage any more animal killing. 

We had lunch at a hotel on the river before our game drive and by 4:30 we headed back to the border to head home. Long day but wonderful and a once an a life time event, on this side of things.  Now we eat our African meal of fast food.. Chicken inn..surprisingly delicious.. Night all I hope these emails are still worth reading and encourahing.