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. 

Holiday week

This week we've taken off so as to see the sights in Victoria Falls we took the bus, pathfinder it was 15 hours of easy traveling. The first leg was on a new double decker with leather seats and AC..which is super hard to come by here in Zim. Only $35..what a bargain.
We met up with a brother here who is a travel agent, he had a few hotels we could pick from..we didn't brother with viewing them we told him to take us to the one he'd stay at... Livingston Lodge.  We get breakfast and soda for free...and the interwebs..yay!!!
Today we went to the falls for a better part of the day. Wow.. I knew it was amazingly large but because of all the rain you always are getting wet. Of course there was a thunder storm as well.. We were soaked completely. At one point all we saw was mist no falls... We figure that if we are in a rain forest it might as well be raining too, it just fit. After we went as far as we could and headed back to the gift shop to drip off.. Then the sun came out...so we ran back to the spot were you could sit on rocks and get some beautiful photos.
Jah did a great job creating this place..breath taking. The animals roam freely (this whole area is a national park) so at night once its dark we have to be in. There no crime jut lions and elephants they are everywhere.
Tomorrow we go over to Botswanan for the game drive in Chobe national park. They take you down the river early in the morning so you can see all the hundred of animals getting a drink. Then Wednesday we are walking with the lions..so I'll post as each event takes place.
We would love to come again with a large group its amazing...I can't say that enough.

Rurals

Every Monday our congregation travels more then 45 minutes outside the city of Harare to preach where it is seldom worked. The areas are high density and very poor, but white for the truth.
This is were our Shona really comes in handy.   I went with Primrose, she had three studies I'm both English & Shona. It been wonderful to learn so many different ways to conduct a study while I've been here.
There was a group of kids walking by so I grabbed the tablet and turned the Becoming Jehovah's  friend app on...they became glued. We also got the Bible lessons out and I'd ask.."chii eee chii.." Which means..what is it? They then would respond in Shona, they knew no English. They had been playing with rusty pipes so once I discarded those, we got to work.
We start studies in the Listen to God and Good news from God brochure its the easiest thing. I love it..
Lunch was under a huge tree with our group of 20 next to the tobacco field. Its so wired that in the shade its at least 15 degrees lower then in the hot winter sun. The rains are gone just a dry heat now. The last few days we've been hitting service hard, walking over 10 miles a day and handing invites and mags out like candy.. Actually our hall has run put of them... So we are now looking at old ones.
Alright I feel that's all I've got to say this week. Mainly our lives are service so there are only some many stories that comes from that...
This week on the service meeting we did get to do the demo, we are having many doorstep studies hopefully we can get a few to the hall soonish. We will keep you updated.

Odds & Ends

Holiday over its now time to really get to work here. We have the goal set for 100 hours... Plus we have Vic falls still to do at the end of the month..so these next few weeks we will be out and about preaching our little hearts out. Tony and Tracy left for the US today (Saturday) so we need to step up our walking and study game. We will miss them greatly but know that its a necessary trip so we sent our love with them with the hopes that everything is cared for in a timely manner so we can meet again before we both head home.
In our congregation we have 24 regular pioneers and last night we had another 6 or 7 announced for the auxiliary pioneer hours so we should have plenty of support this next month. We have a rep for preaching already which makes walking down the streets way easier, less people asking for money cause they know we will just hand them the newest mags.

We don't have a washer or dryer..besides our hands, at our place. Any giving day you walk into our bathroom and its full of women's clothing drying.. Ha. We don't take them outside because of the Bot flies. They lay eggs on wet clothing that hatch when warm skin rubs on them. They then burrow into the skin and sooner or later re-hatch out of your skin.. You then give birth to flies.. Of course there is no real issues after..it's just gross.. Everyone irons their clothes here but if you were to ask why they couldn't give you an answer. Its just what has been done the last 100 years. No worries we take care so as not to have that happen..so far.  Its good for us to have these little things to worry about it helps us appreciate the things in the states later.  Same goes for the water we boil everything before we eat or drink..minus soda. :)
Last note. Today I finally started a bible study. Its on our route for the cafe and Friday afternoons I will have a real student that we can grab for meetings. I'm super geeked to see how she grows. She's in her last year of school here so chances are good that for a while she may come with us. Pray it goes well!!! ;) alright we re off to do a few more homes and street calls... Loving you all!

BTW..did I mention last email we helped take lit to a rural kingdom hall? Included the wine for the memorial.  It was amazing to be a part of that.