Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts

Friday, August 12, 2011

Uganda in Three Acts

Jesus feeds 5,000: God's Big Story
ACT ONE: This is where I got to do more OneHope work. The first few days in any new country are an adjustment period. Learning the terms and customs especially when it comes to interviewing. The first thing I need to learn is how the school system is set up and then how to phrase things to get the answers that I am seeking. I had the privilege of spending a week with the OneHope staff in Uganda where I did 95 interviews! I believe this was a personal record for one week. No matter what, I wanted to spend quality time with each interviewee. The majority were children and for those 15 minutes the one in front of me had my full attention. A handful of interviews were excellent and will be used by OneHope as tools to continue the work, but more than anything after recording the child's story I always want to encourage them or pray for them regardless of the results. After all, it is another point of contact where they can be strengthened in their faith.

Happy

And so I will not forget the story of Happy, a 14 year old confined to a wheelchair who converted from Islam at 9yrs. His real name is Saddiq but when he came to Christ they said to him "we will no longer call you Sad (the nickname for Saddiq) you are now Happy." I was able to observe him as he taught bible stories using OneHope's God's Big Story. It gave him great pleasure and encouragement to be used to teach others. I will never forget the teen boys who confessed pornography addictions that have now been broken thanks to reading the Teen edition of the Book of Hope. And then there was the one young man who attended a predominately Muslim school who was saved when someone gave him a Teen edition Book of Hope and in the couple of months since he has personally distributed and witnessed to 29 others in his school as well as the surrounding schools. One girl however wanted to become a Christian but she feared her parents and so she kept her book at her friends house to read whenever she wanted. I encouraged her that when she was ready that there was a very special page that would help her with that decision.

The Girls with their favorite card: God's Big Story

I spoke with children whose parents were incarcerated, orphans, those in public schools, Christian schools, and Muslim schools. I was also privileged to visit one of the Watoto campus's and interview a few of their kids and I believe that experience pretty much summed up many things I noticed throughout Uganda. I first talked to a few kids that were new to Watoto, they were quiet and shy. They still were uncomfortable with strangers and had a lot of hurts to be dealt with from past abuse and abandonment. They were learning and could tell me the stories from God's Big Story without problems but still needed something more. But then the others who have lived in a loving nurturing environment for a while spoke easily and confidently about their personal stories and their experiences of ministering to their peers. And it is in those kids I knew Uganda was in good hands. Both situation still exist in Uganda today, but what I noticed was where the Word went deeper, true healing and transformation took place and there are indeed pockets of that throughout. Photos: OneHope Uganda

ACT TWO: This is where I met up with a team of 14 from my church (Victory) and 26+ others from 8 different nations to do some amazing ministry with Adonai Partners literally to the "least of these". I was so happy to be in Africa with some of my own people. It just made me proud seeing people I knew step up and help others. I felt like my leadership skills were suddenly catapulted into another level as I was asked time and time again to speak on various topics to pastors, kids, women and the team. I have to say that the knowledge I acquired just the week prior in my interviews came in handy on several occasions.

Heading up to Gulu was very eye opening. While I had been confronted with extreme poverty before in places like Haiti and West Africa I was able to do ministry for a short time and leave. But this was different as we ministered to the same people all day for several days at a time. There was no quick escape. It was disheartening to have 200 kids for 8 hours who were literally starving, who are so lethargic that they just sat there. Those who craved attention so badly and anything you could give them. We gave them what we could...the Word and a meal, but it just didn't seem like enough. I can say that I am still trying to come to grips with it because it was an experience I was not prepared for. We used God's Big Story which they loved, lots of songs and games. And when our interpreter grew weary we did a lot of mimic games and taught English word to things we could point out.

The rest of the team was involved in Medical clinics and I am happy to say did a great job helping it to run smoothly. They saw patients all day long and at the end of the day we all came back to the hotel sufficiently worn out. We also did community cleanup, a technology workshop, medical & health training, a leadership conference, women's and children's meetings just to name a few things. It was so cool to see everyone speak, pray or do whatever was needed. And for that this leader was very satisfied. See http://www.422churchmissions.blogspot.com/ for more. Photos: Uganda 422 Church

ACT THREE: This is were I succumbed to exhaustion and the flu and were I learned to let go. One of my concerns going into this was letting go. Having led teams for a different organization I knew having to do things a different way would be a challenge. I was surprised at how easy it was. Okay, I caught myself saying a few times in the beginning..."this is how I would do it", but then I immediately stopped. The one thing that was hardest was the children's ministry, but then I got sick and had to let go. And you know what...things continued without me. We had a good core group that knew what they were doing.

It's been a long non-stop year without much rest. Unfortunately, I had to come to Uganda to realize I needed a break and need to slow down once in awhile. But it was a point well taken. It was a blessing not to have to travel home alone and to know people were looking out for me...but not an experience I want to repeat (the flying while sick part). For the first time in a long time I do not have another trip lined up. That probably won't last for long but I am okay with that for now. I think it's finally time to process life after full/part-time missions.





Saturday, December 4, 2010

Unplanned Ministry



Shot in South Africa a couple of years ago. A not so fun situation made good. Just now put it together with imovie.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Lessons from Africa

Niamey, Niger--I've traveled a lot the last three years but nothing prepared me for the W. African bush. It truly was a blessing and a gift from God. The end of September I flew to Burkina Faso and Niger on assignment from OneHope to photograph and interview churches who had been formed by using OneHope materials. The faces and the stories will be forever etched in my heart. I visited places with names like Ouagadougou and Ufuamou. I thought, "I've been to Haiti, this will be easy..." I was wrong, conditions are different. There are places in this world where people think they are entitled to have what they have or to be given their fair share but then there is this part of Africa where they keep living with nothing and do not expect a handout, they do what they can to just to survive. They do not get any media attention even though there is drought and starvation in one area and flooding and clean water issues in another. Where wild animals attack and travel is difficult. The heat and dust are a way of life that most outside cannot fathom. There were times on this trip that I felt like I had stepped into the pages of National Geographic but after talking with the people and praying with them I realized it came down to one thing...the love of God sets all people free regardless of possessions or entitlement or lack thereof.


Our travel team in Niger, consisted of two pastors, a young bible student and myself. We would travel from Niamey to the small towns in our 4-wheel drive vehicle and pick-up the local pastor or someone from the village that we were about to visit. After leaving town a typical trip would start down roads between the mud brick homes of town, into “the bush”, down the red dirt roads through river beds and sand patches, and finally narrow paths through corn fields. Sometimes we had to leave the vehicle and walk short distances through the corn to another area that usually contained a structure made of sticks, although a few of them did have metal roof canopies but no walls. It wouldn’t take long for villagers to begin walking out to greet us and assemble in the church. They would heat up the box drums by a fire to make them good and tight and soon began singing to the beat of their drums. They sang songs of gratefulness and of God’s goodness, some to a very African beat and others were the hymns of old in their own language. After a short meeting where our team spoke and prayed, the congregation would gather outside under the tree or they stayed under their roofs in the shade where we would interview several of the people.


We went to village after village in the middle of the bush where people were hungry for the Word. Person after person would tell us how they used to sacrifice to idols, how they were very sick and angry but then they saw a film that showed them something better. They now worship the One who heals all their diseases and takes away their nightmares and brings peace to their souls. Other were bound by the rituals of Islam, a stronghold in the area and a bondage that has entrapped them, leaving them without knowing true hope. A couple of ladies opened my eyes when I asked them what the difference was between their old way of life and now and they said, "fellowship". They were now free to meet and talk with others, to encourage one another and love each other. They said before they were bound into a world that was controlled and isolated and subject to criticism. Many receive persecution for their faith which is why I cannot mention them by name but they are resolute and would not think of turning back.


The last two villages will stand out as being in one of the "uttermost" places. We were on the Niger/Nigeria border speaking with a tribe that did not have a formal church yet but were in the beginning stages. When several teens responded to the message. Then they began to ask questions such as if they didn’t read how will they learn more about the Lord? And if they accepted Jesus do they need to pray like the Muslims? And how can they grow? They received wise council but it was also agreed upon to send several of them to a four month training to learn how to read so that they could bring the scripture to others. There also were three Christian young men working in the area at a medical clinic and EHFC who will work with these new believers until a pastor can be found. Then as we were finishing up at this village another chief sent a guy to ask if we would come speak to his village. So we went, and presented the gospel to them for the very first time. Our team spoke directly to this chief while the entire tribe gathered around to listen. Several responded and I am pretty sure they will be getting the opportunity to view the GodMan film in the very near future.

All of these people live off the land by farming and raising animals. Most do not read. They do not live by the clock just the light of day and night. They do not live in fancy houses, just a small shelter for protection. Most walk to town on market days but if they are fortunate they may own a donkey or a bicycle or a motorcycle. They are very family oriented and when one member accepts Christ they all do and when one village comes to Christ the next one is interested which is why one young pastor we met was pastoring 10 churches. He was exhausted and my heart went out to him, but it made me realize that we have something that everyone needs because God is love, and that makes all the difference.














Photos can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch or on Facebook

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Culture Shift


I said to this little guy, "Que es?" (What is it) and in the cutest little voice responds, "Libro de Vida" (Book of Life)

What do you call it when you are sitting in a very Latin Church service in Honduras but your mind is thousands of miles away thinking about the very African service you were in just a few weeks before? Or you are ordering food for the group in Spanish but a few words of French keep popping out of your mouth because your next French speaking destination is already in your thoughts. Then you come back to America and wonder, “What side of the road should I be driving on?”, “Where is my plug converter?” or you have a moment of panic because you can’t find your passport only to realize you no longer need these things and you’d better be on the right or else. It’s not really culture shock because all these places are familiar but the more I think about it I realize it’s more of a culture shift. Traveling from one place to another can be exciting but it also carries with it constant change, adjustments, language and protocols.

I returned from a three-month stay in South Africa the end of May, and you know, some places just make such an indelible mark on your life that take a while to readjust. I can’t complain since I chose this life, but there are days that make one wonder, where I am I today? I recently spent 10-days in Honduras with a large team and ministry was great but the whole time I could not shake Africa from my very being. Which leads me to wonder what is it that has captured me so? It’s true; nine of the last 18-months have been spent in Southern African countries. Is it the relationships? The beauty in the landscape and wildlife? The freedom and ease in bringing the gospel? I don’t know. But what I do know is that I am thankful for these opportunities and while it isn’t always easy especially in the transition times between culture shifts it is a road that I’ve been called to travel. I’m also thankful that I have supporters like you that travel with me in your prayers, giving and words of encouragement…keep them coming.


This image from a primary school in CapeTown South Africa gets me everytime. The school only went up to 3rd grade but as the principal told us the young ones knew first-hand about violence and rape and drugs already. This is why I continue...to break the cycle, to make a differance.

Next: Onto Pignon, Haiti July 21-Aug 6th

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

April Days in South Africa

For my friends not on Facebook: here is a running commentary on the kinds of things I comment on which pretty much sums up my days since I last wrote. A couple of things to note: Betty Lou is a beat up VW van that should have been retired a long time ago, the Grannies are a OneHope 10-day team that is an annual event to South Africa made-up of Grandmothers, the Nomads are OneHope’s three-month ministry internship team and if you can’t tell, I live on a game farm and my current assignment has me taking lots of photos and doing quite a bit of writing—but I manage to get in a little bit of ministry now and again.



Lizzy praying with the kids that live on the farm after a teaching on the true meaning of Easter.

April 8, 2009 ...hanging out with the Nomads.
April 11, 2009 ...woke up to the sound of monkeys on the roof. (tin roof, 6 am, Sat. morning)
April 12, 2009 ...Happy Easter ...a service and dinner on the farm and then drove to the Jo'berg airport to pick-up some friends. There where monkey prints on the car!
April 13, 2009 ...praying for the situation in Thailand and friends who are there.
April 14, 2009 ...finishing up my photo project. OneHope teams media internship project is next...
April 16, 2009 ...said goodbye to the Nomads today. The grannies come tomorrow. But for me its writing, writing, writing...and watching the horses, kids, dogs and monkeys out the window.
April 18, 2009...Betty Lou, you make me blue...broke down at a toll booth...thank God for His protection and 24 hour mechanics.
April 19, 2009 ...tin shack church in the middle of a corn field. God showed up and so did a lot of people.
April 19, 2009 ...the sound of children praying never gets old...in any language.
April 23. 2009 ...South African elections today...pray all goes peaceably...
April 23, 2009 ...last night was quite cool (winters coming) and dark but I sure could hear the wildebeest snorting in the back field...I finally got to see the baby giraffe...still writing, writing, writing, we have our first media interns...
April 25, 2009 ...is extending my stay in South Africa another month...and driving the Grannies around this weekend.
April 27, 2009 ...learned two new things yesterday...where to park an oversized vehicle with a trailer at the Johannesburg airport and where to check the oil in a Toyota Quantum (under the passenger seat).
April 28, 2009 ...being stocked by a Gemsbock (pronounced Hemsbuck as known as an Oryx) & a family of Warthogs every time I go for a walk...



Giraffe family at the farm....look at the baby!

Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch/






Tuesday, March 31, 2009

"The Learners are All Right"

South Africa--It was a full school assembly and the teacher chants to the crowd, "What's wrong with the learners", the students chant back, "The learners are all right". He then chants, "What's wrong with the teachers?", they answer, "The teachers are all right". Then he says, "What's wrong with the guests", they answer, "The guests are all right". (It's a good thing because I was one of them).

The morning started off by attending staff prayer and then we proceed to a full presentation about how the Book of Hope has effected their lives. Learners read from the book, sing, dance and recite original poems. My favorite was entitled, "I am a book of hope". This was truly a school that had embraced the message of hope!

But were these learners all right? It was a black township school with a village of shacks where the illegals lived on the outskirts; joblessness greatly effecting the community. There were six confirmed cases of HIV in this primary school of 783 as well as several orphans and rape victims. Kids trudging to school through thick mud, a constant fear of fire because when one house goes so does the whole block. Life is not easy in a township, but at this school they knew who brought hope. At this school the learners are all right, at this school the teachers are all right, at this school the principal is all right...but what about the rest of the schools? Not everyone is all right...

I've just returned from a whirlwind photo tour of South Africa in effort to see where transformation is taking place through the ministry of OneHope (our new name). I've attended Life Orientation classes in Rustenburg and Welkom in the middle of the country, interviewed students on the southern coastal towns of George and Mossel Bay, and followed an evangelist around some rough schools in Cape Town. It was a joy to see students using the Book of Hope as well as a companion book created for Southern Africa called I-Matter. These scripture based books are being integrated into the classrooms to help teach good moral values as well as addressing some of the issues that face South Africans today. I got to speak to many classes as well as address whole schools. I spoke with small groups of kids even leading a few to the Lord and praying with several for various needs. All of them seemed pretty hopeful about their future.

I learned much about the educational system in South Africa and while I do not want to bring criticism or judgement there is a great disparity. Some of these learners are all right but not all of them. Which is why we work so hard to bring transformation everywhere we go, through every open door possible.

Pray for South Africa. Elections are April 22nd and much could be determined for the future of this country and even continent. The world economic situation effects the poor more that you could imagine.


Photos posted at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch/
Check often as many more will be posted in the coming weeks.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Greater Things are Still to Come

Madagascar was one of those places I never even dreamed of going. It was so far off the radar that I had to look it up online to even know where it was. I think all of you were intrigued by it from your comments although most of them had to do with the animated movie.

I'll be honest with you. It is a very poor country and it's one thing to visit for ten days, another thing to live in the culture for an extended period of time. It was a learning experience to see people living on a daily basis in ways so foreign to my own way of life. We took public transportation, negotiated cab fare, and walked. Illiteracy, sexual promiscuity, poverty, and family problems are all very big issues there. We were there to help form new ministry partners and so we did a lot of relationship building and I have to say that was by far the most rewarding. My newsletter talks about some of the precious people we have forever embraced. It was also a joy to leave knowing many kids will be reached by a wonderful dynamic person that we helped to train.

I decided the best way to tell you about our work is to show you so click the link below to see a short bit about our work the last several months.



More Madagascar stories from my co-worker Andrea can be found at http://andrearmoore.blogspot.com/

Photos can also be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch/sets/72157607176696373/

Have a wonderful Christmas! And a great 2009!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Heart of Madagascar


I am convinced that the heart of Madagascar lies deep within its people. I have never experienced a more warm, fun-loving and friendly group of people. Contrary to the animated movie, Madagascar is inhabited by over 16 million people and most lemurs live in national parks. 65% of the people are under the age of 24. And the average life expectancy is around 49 years. To say that this is a very young population is to put it mildly. Whenever we go out people are always saying Bonjour Vaza (hello foreigner); of course four blond white girls kind of stand out here. Despite that, we have had tea or dinner with several Malagasy families. Relationships are very important and we have learned much during these times.

Madagascar is where Africa meets Asia infused with a little French. This is a place like none other. Technically Madagascar is part of Africa but it is very Asian. Many of the people look like they’ve come from the other side of the Indian Ocean (above Australia). Rice is a staple. There are animals and plants here that are found nowhere else on earth. The official language is Malagasy, but a lot of French is also spoken, especially for business.

The challenge: To reach over 8 million kids with the gospel. Many of those children do not go to school or read very well. Many of those children do not live in areas that are easy to get to. Book of Hope has been in Madagascar for several years and distributed a lot of books but the task is huge. Madagascar is the fourth largest island; the length of California and Oregon. The roads are winding and few. Many places require 4 wheel drive, planes or boats to get to.

Andrea, Kate, Mindy and I are here to help train a new national coordinator and help expand the partnerships with groups already doing ministry in some of the remote places. This first month was spent getting to know some of our new partners and learning about the culture. The next two months we have many trainings scheduled where we will also be doing a little bit of traveling. We are excited about our coordinator; she has the vision and the connections to get the job done. And while our time is relatively short here, we hope to train many leaders who can carry out this task so that the future of Madagascar will be bright. These people are absolute gems, they definitely have captured my heart.

Photos:
www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

A Child Shall Lead Them

Our month in Namibia has come to a close and one thing I have learned is that the hope of Africa really does lie in its young people. At one school we learned that the average life expectancy for Namibians is 43 years!

We traveled all over this country talking to learners and asking a lot of questions about family, relationships, sex, lifestyle, religion and beliefs. We have given 4,000 surveys, in classrooms and halls. We have entered the information into spreadsheets and even through someone else will be interpreting the data; we can see the results ourselves in the numbers. The number of parents that are dead is staggering, the religious beliefs vs. lifestyle practices do not add up; the number of kids that have had sex and read or view pornography points to some real problems. The final report will go to the ministry of education as well as to pastors and youth workers around this country so that future ministry can target the real needs of todays children.

It wasn’t a glamorous task…it is hot and sandy here. Some of the schools were hard to get to. However, my off-road driving skills have improved. There was heavy flooding on one area and lots of mosquitoes. But the teens have all been precious and eager to talk to us afterwards. Most classes were well behaved, with a few challenges here and there. I actually had a boy arrested during the middle of one of my sessions! But we know that the results of this survey will in the end help to raise-up a new generation that will hopefully live past 43 years and lead not just with knowledge of God but with deep revelation.
I know that this experience has changed the way I will approach future ministry in any country.

Every Sunday is a new experience. We find ourselves in all types of churches with all different kinds of rituals and languages and often times we are the ones speaking. However, several of our church experiences have given us hope for Namibia. At Ombili Assembly it was encouraging to spend Easter with a Missionary friend, Melissa McSurdy, but also see the young people rising up to help in ministry. At a Four-Square church in Ongwediva the worship time was so powerfully led by a nine year old boy. And at a service in Swakopmund, there was a six year old, very capably, playing the keyboard. And so we have seen with our own eyes the destruction of the enemy but also hope for Namibia’s future.


Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Road to Hope

Travel with us as bump along on a dusty gravel road out to the rural townships of South Africa. See the multitude of children streaming down the roads towards their school among the goats and cows. Watch the lines of children all wearing the colors of their school uniform in various conditions. See the ones with beautiful weaves and others with their head shorn close and sores upon their bodies. See their smiling faces and hear the laughter when we introduce ourselves in a humorous manner. Look into their eyes edged with pain as we talk about our lives and how they relate it to theirs. Listen to their questions as they come up to us after a presentation asking for answers to some of life’s tough questions. See the look of gratitude when we give them God’s word, an encouraging word and our prayers. Travel back down those bumpy roads to the next school and the next and the next. Chug on some water in the hot sun, wipe the sweat from your brow, pray for the children you’ve touched that day and know that God’s word does not return void.

We as Book of Hope Missionaries travel the road to hope every day. God’s Word, Every Child is a reality. I wish I could take you with me. It is quite the sight to behold. I love it when the children get it. When a young girl can relate to our stories and can find hope in our message. When a young person finds the courage to make a change in their life, to stand up to what they know is right and make the difficult choices. When a rowdy crowd of teenagers silence their shouts and strain to listen to our words. I love it when a team member completely surrenders themselves to the Lord and the words that come out of their mouths speak more than they ever would on their own. We are tired at the end of the day, but it the happy kind of tired, one of thanks to God for the privilege of carrying his word to the nations.

Pray for us as we travel around Namibia the next several weeks. We will be working on a research project that will help serve several ministries in the future. This survey will help target the real needs of that country.

Don't forget to visit our team site @ http://www.nomadsouthafrica08.blogspot.com/



Speaking with the Learners

One of my favorite parts of this experience has been speaking with the learners (the South African term for students) one-on-one or in small groups. We started our ministry on the West Coast in the town of Vredenburg (A fishing town on the Atlantic side). Among our regular schools we were able to visit and then follow-up at a boarding school for troubled kids. We got to listen to, speak the word over and pray with several of the young girls and boys. The first night only four of us went to meet with the boys. We thought we were going to just video tape a few testimonies, what followed was a God-sized encounter. The next thing we knew the four of us were speaking to a group of 150 boys. The things that were coming out of our mouths amazed even us. 120 of those boys made commitments to change their lives. The next night we all went to minister to the girls. After 80 of the 90 or so girls prayed the sinner’s prayer with us, we had a time of one-on-one prayer. We prayed for at least a dozen girls each. Their stories were devastating, but it was a blessing to leave them with the one thing that could help them….Jesus. We returned again just to hang out with the girls and love them and pray with them some more. Soon some of the regular schools were inviting us back to talk to the students in small groups. We were able to speak specifically to their questions about life and the God we serve. It was great to encourage them.

We then drove back to the East-side of the country to a town called Phalaborwa. It is on the outskirts of Kruger National Park (Mozambique is on the other side of the park and the Indian Ocean). We have seen a lot of wild animals…hippos, crocs, warthogs, monkeys and elephants from a distance. But the most precious thing in this area is its children. We got to spend some extended time in one such school, where an unfortunate but common harassment incident happened, speaking with the seventh graders in small groups. We spoke about our presentation, the Book of Hope, issues they face, their lives, and of course they are always interested in our travels, America, and how many famous people we have met.

Pray for these children, they are the future of South Africa and this world.

More photos can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch


Wednesday, February 13, 2008

South Africa_The Farm

What a beautiful country! We arrived after a very long flight and have been spending the last few weeks at Shikwaru, a game farm near Mokopane (in the Limpopo province, NorthEast corner of SA). We are a team of ten: Jeremy, Ashley, Kate, Andrea, Jen, Jade, Jessica, Drew, JP and myself. Half of us are Response Team leaders (a few of us in training) and the other half are Nomads or Interns.

The last few weeks, we have been training at the “farm” for our ministry as well as doing a lot of spiritual discipleship, but all that will come to an end as we head out to the Eastern Cape for a few weeks. We will be in schools in an area two hours north of Cape Town. It will be a two day drive to get there with two vehicles, one pulling a trailer. Later we will be going to the NorthEast Cape and then over to Namibia for ministry. (Yes, that is a lot of driving, pray for safe travels! However, we do have six drivers.)

Living on a game farm has been an incredible experience. The night skies are amazing! Daily seeing herds of Impala, Wildbeast, Blessbuck, Zebras, Giraffes, Warthogs and more. The rains have made everything very green. The grasses are high making it hard to see a lot of game, but not impossible.

We had a once in a lifetime experience our first weekend here when we got to help move their two Cape Buffalo (one of the big 5) from one area to another. A helicopter herded them to the fence where they darted them. Once they dropped we got to see and touch them up close. A vet checked them over (the female is with calf) and then they partially woke them up and literally pulled them across to the other fenced area. Later in the day they wanted to try and herd some Blessbuck and Impala over to a different area. We all hid in the tall grass as the helicopter herded them to a channel area between fences, then we were to close in the area like a human net, but they would not pass the fence line. However, the helicopter pilot blessed us all with rides over the farm, two at a time.

We have an official web site that will contain some video:
www.nomadsouthafrica08.blogspot.com

And now the ministry begins, we are ready…