Africa

Well I have been back from Africa for a few weeks now. So everyone pretty much knows about the trip but just for the sake of it I'm gonna post a few pics of the fun we had. I wanna be back there right now... I miss it! Even the annoying guy I had to work with, Rob. He could maybe just stay home. haha

  The first day we were there, Kody and I went to the orphanage with Sharon to help her get things started. The kids were so cute and it was a lot of fun. But there were people who were better suited for the orphanage than the job site so we were happy to trade.

 There were about 5 groups that went around putting up the frames and then a group came behind us and put on the roof. We got pretty quick and could get about 3 frames up a day. 

After working we headed to Hwange Safari Lodge. It was awesome! It's the off season so we were there basically by ourselves so it was really nice.

After the safari we went to Victoria Falls! The hotel we stayed at was super fancy but of course Bill got it for about a fourth the price. haha

 It's the rainy season so we couldn't actually see the main falls there was so much mist. The mist was so much that it felt like it was pouring. We got soaked but it was still a lot of fun!

 Don't know what I would have done without her on the trip. :)

 We went on a sunset cruise Saturday evening. It was so nice and relaxing!

 We rode the elephants and saw around 9 giraffes up really close.

 Kody did some really crazy stuff from the top of this gorge. Like a huge swing and zipline... Not my forte!

We also went on a walk with the lions. It's a program that is breeding lions to release into the wild. 

The trip was so much fun and it wouldn't have been the same without Ernie and Sharon and Kody. I got to know so many other fun people too and got to know people I already knew even better. Even through roommate troubles, men with a problem with us girls working, and everything the devil threw my way, I gained such a blessing and grew so much closer to God. Mission trips always remind me of how much I have and remind me to be thankful for every little thing. Don't take things for granted! These people who have nothing are so much happier and never complain. It is so encouraging! :) 

List

I am definitely a list maker. I make lists for everything! We leave for Africa and will be in there for over 2 weeks so I need to start getting things together for the trip. I am not on duty today, except for opening the dorm at 6 this morning, so I am determined to get a few productive things done today! So I made a list of things to do today and am writing it here so maybe I will actually get them accomplished.

1. Make a list of things I need for Africa.
2. Mail thank you cards (they are all written and addressed but I need stamps)
3. Take some girls on a wal-mart trip.
4. Finishing hanging pictures on my wall so my apartment isn't so cluttered looking.
5. Laundry

Not many things but I really just want to take a nap. Getting up at 5:45 just isn't my cup of tea.

Initiation

My first official night on duty by myself was exciting. We started out with worship and I told the girls a little about myself and had a worship thought. Everything was going well and the girls were settling down for study hall. About 5 minutes before strict study hall 4 girls came down the stairs screaming(and laughing). Two of the girls are from Tulsa so I knew them. They came running up and proceeded to tell me that Ashley (the 3rd girl) had stepped on a toothpick and they couldn't get it out. Natalie handed me tweezers and told me to try. All I could think was, I'm gonna pass out or something... haha I sucked it up and was okay because there was no blood I guess. I tried twice to pull out the toothpick with no luck. It was in the very edge of her heel and was VERY stuck. I couldn't get a good grip with the tweezers so we found some pliers. I called my mom for any ideas of what to do and she just said, get her to calm down and you can get it out...  By the time we found pliers she had decided that I was not going to try to pull it out again so we called Gina Webb, the school nurse. We waited for about 30 minutes. This allowed for some bonding time! We talked about everything trying to distract her. Gina arrived and tried to pull it out with no success. She eventually had to numb it (she is a nurse practitioner, so she can do that) and really dig at it to get it out. I felt really bad for the girl but how in the world do you get a toothpick stuck in your foot! We had a good laugh about it at least. :)

Christmas Break

Things have finally settled down a bit and I have some free time to update. Christmas break was so much fun! We did a lot of shopping the first few days and my parents and Macy and I went out to eat and to see the lights at Rhema one night. 

Emma and Brett stayed with us for a week after Christmas day and we had a blast. They got all kinds of fun (and some annoying) toys for Christmas. I mainly got books, and clothes but my favorite gift of all is my new camera lens. I had so much fun playing with it and I think it is going to be perfect for Africa. Here are a few pics we took with it. 

 

As the week went on we did all kinds of stuff. My mom bought a cardboard house that you build and color. I think Macy, Lexy, and I were more entertained by the coloring than the kids but Brett and Emma had fun playing inside of it. We played with balloons and visited the horses a lot. I got Emma pink rubber boots with horses on them and she loves them. I made the mistake of not getting a pair of boots for Brett though so he insisted on wearing Macy's Muck boots that are about 10 sizes to big. Some how he managed to walk out to the barn with them on though. I wish I would have taken a picture.

Since New Year's Eve was on Friday night this year we all were in bed by 11:00 pm. I talked to Kody on the phone 'til midnight and then went to sleep. We had a party for all the birthdays and to celebrate the New Year on Saturday night. It was great fun! We played games, watched fireworks, and I got to spend some time with family that I miss a lot!

 Happy New Year's Day Birthday to my mom! :)

 I almost forgot! I went and took a few pictures for my Aunt Sharon of her showing her horse. It was fun! I played around with my new lens so not all turned out great but I got some good ones.

I have some exciting stories already from the dorm so hopefully I can write about those soon!