South African wildlife

I arrived home yesterday from South Africa. I thought you'd enjoy these pictures Dave took (I have not yet uploaded my pictures to my computer).

We enjoyed the signs about wild animals that are dotted in various places. This sign was off a road we drove along to go to a beach. I am attempting the unconcerned look.

At the beach, the danger was even more frighteningly displayed . . .


The next day, we went for a cruise on a lake where we saw crocidiles, and came close to hippos.


After seeing their teeth, I was somewhat more frightened the next time I saw a sign of danger, this time at a State Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi.


This park is filled with bush land and lovely mountain views. Visitors drive about, scanning the bush in the hope of sighting various animals. I think this could become addictive if I lived in Africa, as it is exciting to think about what we might see down this road . . . or this one . . . or this one! We left later than we intended, because we kept hoping to see elephants. Providence did not bring any across our paths, however!

It was great to have Dave with me in many ways, and one of those was the fact that he could explain to me the animals we saw. Wild dog, for example, don't look particularly exciting to me but Dave let me know they were very rare. There were only 32 in the entire park, and we had three running along beside our car for quite a distance!

One of my favourite animals is the zebra, so it was a great bessing that we saw several groups of them during our day in the park.

I love giraffes too, and we were very close to this one.

We saw this rhinno in the distance, and Dave zoomed in with his camera.

These little animals were beautiful, and we saw many of them. I have trouble remembering the names of the various deer-like creatures, but I think this is an Impala.

Our day at the park, driving about with the windows down, the smell of African bush around us, and the prospect of facinating animals around every corner, was our most relaxing day during our trip. Six months ago I could not have imagined doing this, and it is a great blessing that God brought it about.

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Still having fun!

I am still enjoying South Africa. So much so that I won't be spending much time here. I'd rather be out in the African sun.

I have now met many more of Dave's friends, and like them all so far.

Today Dave and I visited a Zulu village. We have also been to a lovely beach (last night). The place where we are staying has beautiful birds and a fish.

Today I bought some lovely African art work on material, as well as some stone animal carvings (including an elephant).

For all those desiring pictures, I just want to let you know I have taken over 100 so far!

Tomorrow we are going to a National Park where we hope to see some very exciting animals!

I must go, as Dave is sitting here looking very resigned about my compulsive blogging habits! I just had to drop over to Susan's blog after she left a hint about exciting developments in her life. Check out "An Old Fashioned Girl" in my sidebar if you want to know more!

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Hi from South Africa

I am just logging in to say "Hi"!! So far I love South Africa. It is a beautiful place. Yesterday I had a swim in the Indian Ocean. The sand is much coarser than at home. The waves knocked me right over and I didn't stay in long.

We arrived here on Thursday night (South African time, Friday morning in Austrlaia) after a very long and tiring trip. We have spent two nights here so far, and this is our second full day.

We are at Dave's parents house right now. It has been great to meet Dave's family (Mum, Dad and brother). We had lunch together yesterday, as well as spending time together today. I have just been oohing and ahing over Dave's baby photos!

Other events on the trip so far have included staying with Dave's friend Mark who has only just moved into his house and is having plumbing trouble. He is a great person, a wonderful example of generosity and hospitality under difficult circumstances.

I have also visited a market and some stores here. The shopping possibilities look very positive, but so far I have been very self controlled!

I am grateful to God for what has happened so far on our trip. It is a wonderful opportunity, and I hope to make the most of it! My back pain has not been too bad most of the time, but I'd still appreciate your prayers in that regard.

This place is different to anywhere I have visited before, and it is a great blessing to see more of God's earth and meet his people here.

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Starting the New Year

I am on the Vison Forum email list. Recently Doug Phillips sent out an email titled "How to end 2006" which is available on his blog at this link. I found this email very helpful. I am not planning to follow all the advice it contains this year, but I do want to incorporate more of these practices into my life.

As Mr. Phillips notes: "If we don’t take the time to chronicle the providences of God, we forget them. If we don’t take the time to say thank you to those who have invested in our lives, we actually cultivate a spirit of ingratitude in our own hearts. If we don’t stop and make sure that we have a spirit of forgiveness towards others we grow bitter, we lose the capacity to move victoriously into the future, and our prayers are hindered."

I particularly enjoyed what Doug Phillips wrote about expressing gratitude to those who have invested in our lives. I want to grow in this practice. Last year I held a Christmas party, and one of my aims was to express gratitude to the various people in my life. This year I did not have time to organise an event like this. However, it was a blessing to somehow find the time to write a card thanking the people I have worked with this year. I am very glad I was able to do this.

What Doug Phillips wrote about bitterness was also very helpful.

"Here is my recommendation: Think through every grief, minor and major, caused by others to you in the year 2006. Now add to the list any other personal offenses that continue to linger from past years. Write these down as bullets on a sheet of paper.

The first thing you will likely realize is just how many offenses are polluting your thought life, and, probably, your spirit. This is a sign of latent bitterness. Bitterness will kill you. It renders you completely ineffective.

Now prayerfully walk through the list — bullet, by bullet. With each offense remind yourself that the most despicable action taken against you by another, utterly (and infinitely) pales in comparison to the least of your offenses against the Lord Jesus Christ."

I will probably not have time to do this before I head off to South Africa, or while I am there. However, it sounds like a useful thing to do. I know my own tendancy to become hurt and to find it hard to let go. I am very aware of the dangers of bitterness and I pray that God will spare me this.

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Small things remind us of God’s character

After I wrote my post on the desires of our hearts, I began to think about the fact that it is often through small things that God reminds us of large and important truths. It is as though in our finiteness we need some context in which to grasp and realise anew truths that are otherwise abstract. My friend Felicity shared experiences from her trip to New Zealand in an email to me. This was another reminder that small events in life can help us to focus on God’s character.

“ I have really found it comforting it understand how God is in control of every moment of our lives and to rest on the truth that what he has determined before time to happen no man can change. It has been a real comfort to me these last few days. I went for a 6 hour bushwalk last Thursday on a track that promised to have wonderful views and was disappointed that on our way up the mountain to start the walk it started to rain, and throughout the day the weather only got colder and reduced visibility except for a few moments when the clouds lifted and a spectacular view was revealed. But as I started the walk it struck me that while I hadn't wanted it to be cold or cloudy God had known long before I got there what conditions I would face and he had prepared me for the trip and knew what I would face. While God held off the rain until the last 2 hours of the walk, and I know that he could of provided a fine clear sky, sunny day. It was a tremendous comfort to know that whatever happened he was in control and that his plans can't be thwarted.”

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Always poor?

The man who covets is always poor.
Claudian.

Our rich societies abound with people who imagine themselves to be poor. Many people who belong to the middle class complain about being poor when in reality they are richer than most people on earth. Even the poorest in Australia are often richer than most people who have ever lived.

Their perception that they are poor is a result of comparing themselves to those who are richer. Yet having food, clothing, shelter, and even a small amount of disposable income with which to buy consumer goods that are not essential for life is an indication of wealth in world and historical terms. Until last century the money to buy nonessential goods was out of the reach of most people. Now nearly everyone in Australia, even single mothers, can afford to buy many toys for their children. Most people have at least some furniture, and even the “poor” often own a car.

When people look at all the products available in the enormous number of stores, or think about the house they would like to have, they realise they cannot have everything they want and conclude that they are poor. No matter how much their situation improves, they always note the things they do not have. This perception is a result of covetousness, and it is an exercise in ingratitude for what God has given. With this mindset, people are always poor.

I pray that God will spare me this mindset, which I often catch myself displaying. Every time I say I am poor, I am expressing ingratitude for the abundance God has given.

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Excitement and more excitement

Happy New Year! The past couple of weeks seem to have been a whirl of excitement for me, and the whirl will not be ending any time soon!

As if Mike and Christine's engagement BBQ was not enough excitement, the next day our friends from Texas came to visit Tasmania for the first time in ten years . . .

Dianne, Mum, Bethany, me.

The Bewshers used to live here, but moved to the USA ten years ago. I visited them in Texas three and a half years ago. It was good to meet with them and have them come around for dinner.

A couple of days after that I had to go up to Launceston (two and a half hours drive) to the school where I worked all year. We had a Presentation Night where the children performed and certificates were presented . . . a chance to say last goodbyes!

Later that week John Dekker and some other friends came for dinner and games. I invited John months ago via his blog after he posted about some of the unusual games he enjoys. We played a card game called Citadels and it was fun . . .


The next day it was my friend Christina's concert as part of the trio Eden. They played a beautiful variety of music.


Mike and Christine were there, and their adoration of the baby was obvious . . .


Afterwards we enjoyed going out for dessert.

Before we knew it, Christmas arrived. I spent a lot of time preparing for Christmas, as I decided to make Dave a scrapbook as a present and it took me longer than I expected! I kept having to put it away and get it out as well, because he kept coming to visit :). I couldn't wait to give it to him until Christmas day, Christmas eve afternoon had to do! Dave gave me a lovely necklace, which I am looking forward to wearing a lot.

We spent Christmas eve with our friends the Downes family.

Christmas day was made much more joyous by the presence of three small children . . .


and Dave . . .


One of my presents was a picnic hamper, and we recently took if for a picnic beside a river . . .

On New Year's Eve it was fun to go to church. We had an unusual service outside and we brought our dinner . . . another chance to use the hamper! It was a blessing to think about the New Year from God's perspective and pray together. Dave and I stayed up to see in the New Year, overlooking the waterfront near my home with the moon shimmering brightly.

I am now trying to have a couple of day's rest before we set out on our South African adventure. The last week has been full of lots of travel considerations! On Thursday we will be there. I do not expect to be able to post any more pictures until after we return on January 19.

Soon after arriving back I will be leaving again, this time for Sydney. This year I am commencing a Diploma of Education by correspondance, which requires an orientation session in Sydney in late January and early February. I expect the Diploma to take up much of my time this year.

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