Birds and Beasts

We took a small vacation from our Missionary duties and took a 3 day trip to Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park on the Botswana side.  We went with another couple, the Harveys, who also serve in our mission.  They are originally from Canada.  What a fun time we had!  These two little wire tailed swallows accompanied our boat as we started out to tour the Chobe River.

Crocodile sighting....the boat pulls up close....

 

Close enough to get a good shot of those teeth!

Hippo family at rest except for the baby who wasn't so sure he wanted his picture taken and tried to hide between the others.  Hippos are really big....even the babies.

Water monitor lizard over 2 feet long....he blends with the surroundings.

This guy doesn't blend.  There are over 50,000 elephants in Chobe National Park....they are everywhere!

In the afternoon we went in a jeep to see the animals from the land...more elephants were out to swim and cool off.  Such a beautiful day....nice breeze....beautiful sky and animals!

It was fun to watch them play in the water.  One got a little frisky and chased our jeep....enough excitement to last me awhile!

A mother and baby....so cute....we were close enough to see the eyelashes.

A red billed hornbill looks a little ornery about having me around...so I back off....nice sharp beak.

The Harveys, our fun traveling companions.

This monkey was happy to pose until Elder Harvey touched his tail.

There were baboons along the trail to the falls.  They didn't seem to mind being around the people there.

Dr. Livingston I presume!

This is some kind of bird...in the park near the falls.

I think this is a white egret.

This blacksmith plover doesn't seem too worried about the crocodile on the beach.

Not sure what this little colorful bird was named.  I need a bird book.

Another colorful bird....I love the birds of Africa!

A Pied Kingfisher.

Helmeted Guineafowl....I'm quite fond of these for some reason.

I love the colors of the birds!

Zebras and a giraffe blending into the background.

This was Sister Harvey's favorite spot...seeing Zebra and Giraffe up close!  A last minute stop on our way home.

The giraffe is really, really tall.

The zebra seems quite tame.

Goodbye to blacksmith plover.....maybe we will come and see you again!

Balloon Launch, Public Affairs Training

Here we are at the fountain in front of the "White House" near the Area Office in Johannesburg.  The "White House" is where the Area Presidency live.  They have a nice yard for our Balloon Launching Activity.

This training simulated a real Public Affairs event.  First we had to do tasks that would earn us some fake money that we could use to buy the materials to make the hot air balloon.   We found edible plants around the garden,  sang songs, danced and did word games all to earn the money to buy tissue paper, glue, etc. to build the balloon.  Here Edward Matale and Chris Chansa work to glue tissue paper together.

We had less than 3 hours to earn the money and glue together the tissue paper and plan, advertise with a news release, and hold the ceremony before the launch!  Here our directors from Malawi and Zambia work with a PA Senior Missionary from DR Congo and Sean Donnelly, our Area Director to fold the glued tissue before cutting and gluing the sides into a balloon shape.

"Our" country directors:  Pres. Goncalves from Mozambique, Sister Lasalette from Angola, Pres. Matale from Malawi, Bro Chansa from Zambia.  All are incredible people raised up to do a great work. 

Elder Hatch from Panguitch, Utah, Ken Sharpe from Zimbabwe and Elder Murdock from Monticello Utah.  Putting the strings on before the launch.....an amazingly nice balloon has been made!

Getting ready for the launch.  People with papers on their heads are labeled, imaginary, dignitaries attending the launch.

Lightning and Thunder and a few raindrops threaten to destroy our balloon.

After drying off the balloon with a blow dryer the launch is started for the second time.  Our elected leader of this whole process, Ken Sharpe, from Zimbabwe thanks all those who gave time and effort.  Note the white launch T-shirts, made by our team...they say "We Are 1".

"Nelson Mandela" and Elder Louthan attend the launch ceremony.

The balloon is filled with hot air and lifts off higher than anyone expected!

They expected it to fall quickly...but it was built well and sails off over the Area Office.

And away it goes!  A successful ceremony with dignitaries and a successful project.  What a fun way to learn the value of working with a team and counseling together!

Mozambique! A beautiful Place!

Along the beach there were various kinds of fabrics and clothing being sold always blowing in the breeze...so colorful!

Thursday afternoon after we arrived it began to be cloudy and rainy, but still the view of the Indian Ocean from our Hotel room was awesome!

Fishing boats were anchored along the shore as a storm was coming in.  The water got high with the waves splashing over the barrier by the road in some places.  The ocean is amazing to watch.

Here were some people fishing...the poles were somehow anchored out a little ways.

Inspiring meetings with the great Church Leaders in Maputo.

Looks like an English Garden in this Portuguese speaking country. Lots of trimmed hedges to make a pattern that you could walk into.  My brother Ben would like this.   My Dad would like the fountain in the middle.

Out to set up shop to sell their cooking.

A clothing store along the beach.

Handy cloth "capella" (chetanga in Zambia) can be used to carry bundles on the head or babies on the back or can be used as a skirt or as a jacket. 

Finally a sunny day and the tide is out so there is a large sandy beach.  Lots of people are out to just to enjoy, many others are fishing, trying to earn their living from the sea.

More people on the beach.

We traveled this road back and forth from the mission home to the town, notice the little 3 wheeled vehicle in front of us...handy to get around town.

Coconuts for sale everywhere.  I thought of my brother Garth and how he used to crack one for us each Sunday afternoon when we were kids.  He would love it here.

A peaceful and beautiful place.  We are learning to love Mozambique.