Amazing African Animals

The African animals have a majesty all their own. We love dogs, cats and horses, etc., but are really fascinated with the fantastic animals we find here. The Creator had to be so meticulous in making each one so they could survive their circumstances and particular features. For instance, the giraffe has to have a big heart to be able to pump blood all the way up to the brain and when the giraffe leans over to drink water the blood vessels have valves stategically place to prevent the rush of blood to the brain causing stroke or death and they can see for 3 kilometers. Zebras are striped to confuse their predetors and have a keen sense of hearing, rhino's have a great sense of smell and the crocodile can shunt blood away from an injury. So many amazing details we have learn while here.

July 4th Celebration, Swazi style

These six American's joined more than a hundred more in Swaziland to enjoy a special 4th of July celebration. There were hot dogs, hamburgers, potatoe salad, volleyball and softball, live music and fireworks. It was so wonderful because the fun was right next to our hotel!

Lesotho NRT

We spent ten days in Lesotho preparing for and then conducting the Neonatal Resuscitation Training course with the visiting medical specialist and his wife. It was so cold there that we all had to wear our jackets inside each day. One hundred and seventy midwives and doctors were trained over the four days and they were all excited to go back and train their colleagues throughout the country. So many of them work where they have no electricity or any medical equipment. Each hospital and clinic was given bags and masks and other equipment that they can use to save babies' lives. It was a great experience and tomorrow we will be going to Swaziland to do the same training.

Boulders

Boulders (can you guess why it is so called?), South Africa is the home of the African Penguin or are also known as the Jackass Penguin. When we first visited with JMR the little creatures stood around moulting and did nothing else. Maybe it hurts to moult or they had to concentrate to do it properly, anyway it wasn't too exciting for the tourists.
We visited again in April and the place was alive with action, sounds and plenty to keep us interested. We saw little to big baby penguins and heard why they live up to their nickname. Play the movie and you'll understand as quickly as we did. Enjoy--we did.

A time to close...

We have been so busy lately with all of our projects and have recently closed six with six more to follow. Thought we would share a few pictures from a few of them. At Lefara High School- tables, chairs, shelves and books were donated for the library and a borehole was finished so they could actually use the water. Now they have three taps where the kids can drink or wash their hands and poor in the community will be able to grow gardens on school property. Elder R stood to speak to the student body and faculty at the hand-over ceremony and I stood up next to him and put my arm around his waist, so he put his arm around my shoulder and the whole crowd of kids hooted and hollered. The show of affection in public is very rare in their society and so the reaction was understandable.

The Katha Day Care Center received mattresses, tables and chairs and lots of Family Health Supplements. The children were so cute in posing for their pictures on the new mattresses, all saying, "Cheese".

The Onyose Trust is a day care center for mentally challenged young people. Books, tables and chairs, educational games and paint were donated. The missionaries in Windhoek, Namibia helped paint the rooms and also did an underwater mural for the dining room...they didn't feel comfortable about painting the mermaid so the worker that requested it ended up painting her. The missionaries are great and love to serve!!

Pink little blessing

See how well you do in taking the quiz of "Quess who is not Seaira Kristine". Hope you are good at detecting imposters!! We are so thrilled with our new baby granddaughter that it almost hurts not to be able to hold and love her in person. What a great blessing our family has been given in this pink little new person! Glad you are here Seaira.

Only a few days over four months to go and we are scrambling to get ten humanitarian projects closed, work on details in ten open projects and write up ten new ones. Some days our heads are spinning trying to keep up will everything. It's all very good for our aging brains to be used so much and we just can't imagine having more fun than we are right here in Africa. Everyday there is something that happens that makes us giggle and say, "Where else, than in Africa". The other day Elder R was taking pictures around the office and over at the mall across the street so they would help us to remember our experience. He walked into the grocery store, Pik and Pay, and took the picture of the bakery girl handing me some rolls. There were other workers that immediately came over and told him that it was against the rules to take pictures in their store. Upon which, the supervisor came over to see what was going on and Elder R said, "We are going home to the United States soon and we just wanted a few pictures to help us remember." So you know what's coming, don't you?? The supervisor and a bakery worker posed for another picture so we could remember them. Forget about the 'rules'!!