briefly, in photos, Easter Weekend

this was the drive down the mountain. i dont even know why, but it enchanted me so.

i will never tire of seeing zebras. they scream "afrika!" to me. i love them.

the very first turtle i saw here in SA.

the weather was "rain" in the forecast all week. and it did seem to rain an awful lot. but it always seemed to rain when we were driving or at someone's house. when we were "out" we were blessed. blue blue skies.

this little one was so precious. ahhh just look at its delicate little legs.

i love lily ponds.

i loved this bird.

i spy with my little eye a hippo. and this was about all i spotted of him for the entire time we sat and watched him.

probably the biggest rack i have ever seen on a kudu.

o, you know...just an elephant, crossing the road.

this is where the lion was. see the big rock, just to the left is the lion, in front of that tree. amazing!! :)

hi lady lion

this series is what i like to call: "watch simba and nala make a baby." of course, its difficult to see. but it really happened. it was outrageous and unbelievable and awkward.

i told you i LOVE this little guy. SO SO SO stinkin cute. i want one! i love his little body. i love the way he just was spastic. he was freakin adorable.

one evening tannie magda came running to my room and said i must come and see this. she had a very large spider in the tub! it was gross. i can still barely look at it. *shudders*

i just love this shot. something about it is homey and simple and i want to paint it.

this was another massive kudu.

i. love. this. photo. it is like the elephant was hiding out in the trees and bushes. Peek-a-boo!

i couldn't decide if i wanted to shoot in black and white...

...or color.

i love this photo too. i love when the light shines through brightly and illuminates.

it is fall here in South Africa, however, the colors in the next few photos are not from the leaves changing. they are from a fire. but its still beautiful and i love the colors!!

this photo is amazing. i love the blurry elephant in the background and how i got my camera to focus on the leaves in the front. love it...

check out those fall colors?!?! *winks*

this is the beauty and problem of Kruger. its a wild park. the animals dont have signs saying "look here" or tags where you can chase them on your GPS. they are wild. free roaming. below you see the rhino. we were told by a car coming towards us there were rhino in the bushes, so naturally we looked for them. we had prayed ALL day for a rhino. it was the one animal i really wanted to see. so we pull up to the spot they are supposed to be and we are looking and looking. and then we spot it! i snapped this photo the very next moment. can you see it? now you understand how its possible to drive and see nothing or happen to see everything.

i have this exact photo that went out with my Christmas update letter. only it is from me just landing back home in the states and seeing snow. anyway. i guess i need to practice making some new faces that display shock and joy and awe.

look at that rhino!!! amazing!! (ps: there is NO zoom on that photo!)

deciding to cross the road

just behind our car!!!!!! *insert massive open face here* ps: isn't his little butt and legs cute?!?! i love rhinos!

told ya i liked his butt. so square and funny....

trying to make it out by 6 so we didn't get a fine! we lost track of time *smile*. that mountain in the distance, the pointy one, is where we stayed. literally. the place was on the top. it was amazing.

just another view of the college. friends of tannie's and oom's work there and so we stayed in the old hotel turned college/dorm for exceptionally cheap. it was beautiful and a blessing.

this is the only photo i have of collin. what a man! seriously! he was friends with oom and tannie and when he heard i started a school he gave me an entire years plus of Bible curriculum to use in teaching. it was well close to 20 pounds of teachers guides and children's book. i almost cried. i asked if i could pay or give a donation or something! anything! and he just said it was in honor, and his wife, elizabeth. she just recently passed away and he wanted to "pay forward" the life and legacy of her. i readily accepted and tears burned my eyes. he travels all over southern african nations in this truck, with a pop up camper! he travels like this so he doesn't have to be 'put up" by local churches and can sustain himself. he was a gem. it was an honor to spend time with someone that has spent well over 50 years sharing the Good News.

just the outside of my room, looking at the pool.

next door to the college is a very famous and large AIDS clinic. i should remember its name, and the founders name, but he's been asked to travel the world to replicate the system going on down there.

ashley and her mom drove with us to visit friends in the area. she and i would go for walks together and love all the flowers and greenery!

colors!

i. love. this. photo. man alive. sometimes i am completely surprised i capture images like this. but i know i did. thinking about blowing it up and hanging it above my bed...

i know thats a lot of photos. but....it was a very full and good weekend!! i'm waiting for some photos tannie M is gonna send me. so maybe i'll have some more soon, who knows?!?!