Found this draft I never posted. I wrote it May 2, 2011, but it still seems worth posting so here it is:
A while ago the Pastor at my church did a sermon series on relationships. I just happened to hear something today that reminded me of something he said that has stuck with me, “God designed men & women to complement each other, not complete each other.”
I really like that statement. It reminds me that our identity, value, self-worth, etc. must come first from knowing that we are a child created in the image of God. This is the only way we can feel complete. If we don’t start there, then we set ourselves up for hardship.
Inevitably, the people we love will let us down, disappoint us, and even hurt us. If we are honest, we will do the same to those we love. I know I have. I have hurt those closest to me, because of my own selfishness. Getting past this is not easy, because it’s unnatural for us to think of others first. It’s hard for us to rely only on God, and it’s hard not to seek fulfillment from people and things in our world.
I know cognitively what am I supposed to do to fix this in my life. I have been a pastor, I have taught about this, and talked with people about it a lot. Even with all that knowledge, practically I fail at this, but I don’t know why. So I’m praying. I’m asking God to change me, to help me know and feel that He is enough for me, to help me think of others before myself, and to forgive and forget when someone wrongs me. I’m praying that God makes me more like Jesus everyday.
I know I’m not saying anything new or profound, but maybe you can relate, maybe you can say, “me too.” If that’s the case, I ask that you would pray for me, and I would love to pray for you as well.
Our world would be so much different if we would all learn this simple principle that Jesus taught us; to Love God with all that we are, and Love others the same way. I can’t wait for Heaven when that is a reality!
Thanks for reading my blog. May God richly bless you as you seek to follow Him and do His will.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Youth Pastor Down...
Found this draft of a blog I wrote back last summer, but I never posted. From July 2011:
I just need to get this off my mind and what better way than on my blog that very few people read. Anyways, I love youth ministry and I love to network, encourage, and help other youth pastors. Lately many of my friends in youth ministry seem to be getting beat up. By who? The leadership of their churches (i.e. Senior Pastors, Executive Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Parents, etc.).
I hate it that many of my friends in youth ministry are treated so badly by the leadership of the churches they work for. Honestly, it breaks my heart. I believe this poor treatment of youth pastors is the reason for the high turnover rate of youth pastors at most churches. This is an epidemic in churches today.
Many youth pastors are treated like second rate, junior varsity pastors. They are often overworked, underpaid, under resourced, and under appreciated. Yet they persevere, because they love letting God use them to change the lives of middle and high school kids forever.
I know several youth pastors who have quit from a church, are very close to that point, or have been let go. The sad part is that most of the time this has nothing do with their youth ministry itself. Most of them are doing a great job, they are seeing numerical and spiritual growth. However, they have quit or are close to quitting, because they are being treated poorly by the leadership of the church. Too often there are unwritten and unspoken expectations of youth pastors that they get hassled about. Many times people in leadership don't have their youth pastor's back.
I can tell you from experience, that their job is stressful enough with out that kind of crap. It's truly heart breaking how many of my friends in youth ministry have struggles with their church leadership.
If you are reading this and have a youth pastor at your church (especially if you are a parent with kids in the youth ministry) please treat them well. If you can help them please do, they need it! Support them, care for them, and pray for them, encourage your church leadership to do the same.
If you are a pastor/ elder/ church leader and happen to read this, remember that your youth pastor also needs to be pastored, mentored, loved, and cared for, just like anyone else in your church. Remember that God calls us to be faithful to Him first, our families second, and everything else (including our job/ ministry/ role on church staff) after that.
We really need to treat youth pastors better in the church, and then more of them would stick around long term which is better for them, your church, and the Kingdom! Think about it...
Thanks for reading. May God bless you as you seek to do His will!
I just need to get this off my mind and what better way than on my blog that very few people read. Anyways, I love youth ministry and I love to network, encourage, and help other youth pastors. Lately many of my friends in youth ministry seem to be getting beat up. By who? The leadership of their churches (i.e. Senior Pastors, Executive Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Parents, etc.).
I hate it that many of my friends in youth ministry are treated so badly by the leadership of the churches they work for. Honestly, it breaks my heart. I believe this poor treatment of youth pastors is the reason for the high turnover rate of youth pastors at most churches. This is an epidemic in churches today.
Many youth pastors are treated like second rate, junior varsity pastors. They are often overworked, underpaid, under resourced, and under appreciated. Yet they persevere, because they love letting God use them to change the lives of middle and high school kids forever.
I know several youth pastors who have quit from a church, are very close to that point, or have been let go. The sad part is that most of the time this has nothing do with their youth ministry itself. Most of them are doing a great job, they are seeing numerical and spiritual growth. However, they have quit or are close to quitting, because they are being treated poorly by the leadership of the church. Too often there are unwritten and unspoken expectations of youth pastors that they get hassled about. Many times people in leadership don't have their youth pastor's back.
I can tell you from experience, that their job is stressful enough with out that kind of crap. It's truly heart breaking how many of my friends in youth ministry have struggles with their church leadership.
If you are reading this and have a youth pastor at your church (especially if you are a parent with kids in the youth ministry) please treat them well. If you can help them please do, they need it! Support them, care for them, and pray for them, encourage your church leadership to do the same.
If you are a pastor/ elder/ church leader and happen to read this, remember that your youth pastor also needs to be pastored, mentored, loved, and cared for, just like anyone else in your church. Remember that God calls us to be faithful to Him first, our families second, and everything else (including our job/ ministry/ role on church staff) after that.
We really need to treat youth pastors better in the church, and then more of them would stick around long term which is better for them, your church, and the Kingdom! Think about it...
Thanks for reading. May God bless you as you seek to do His will!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Stange Experience
So I had a pretty strange experience yesterday (9/16/2011), I went to see an Orthopedic Surgeon for the first time in my life. Let me back up...
I have played baseball ever since I can remember. After High School I started playing men's competitive slow pitch softball. I had a minor right shoulder injury my sophomore year of High School, but recovered with physical therapy. Since then my shoulder has been fine.
In April 2011, I played in a softball tournament in Aurora, CO. We played about 5 games that day and after my right shoulder was sore. It slowly got worse, but I still had good range of motion, and strength, so like any guy does I figured it would just get better and there was no reason to go see the doctor.
A month later (May 2011), it was still hurting so I went to my doctor. He thought it was just swelling and gave me some anti-inflmatory pills. They didn't help. But life got busy, I took a season off softball, went to South Africa, and my shoulder never really stopped hurting.
I went back to my doctor in August 2011. He took some X-Rays, couldn't see anything there, so he referred me to the Orthopedic Surgeon. Now we are all caught up. Recap, hurt my arm on April 16, and I'm finally on the road to recovery on September 16, five months later. I know typical guy.
The Orthopedic Surgeon said, "The good news is there is no arthritis or bone spurs, but the bad news is that I have Tendinitis (swelling/ inflammation) in my shoulder and a Slap Tear."
So to help with the tendinitis I got a Cortisone Shot in my right shoulder, that was the afore mentioned strange experience. Most of my issues are in the front of my shoulder, but they administer the shot from the back of your shoulder. The needle was bigger than any other shot I have ever had. Thankfully, they spray you with a numbing medication to help with pain and the shot itself had some numbing medication with it. However, feeling a large needle moving around in your shoulder and the pressure that comes with it was, well, a strange feeling.
I also have to do 6-8 weeks of physical therapy which I start on September 20. I have a 50/ 50 chance of that healing my shoulder, or I will need surgery to repair the SLAP Tear. I have never had or needed a surgery before, so that was also a strange thing to hear.
Thought it would be fun to share this experience with those who care about me. Here's to hoping and praying that the physical therapy will heal my right shoulder. And as always thanks for reading my blog.
Love God & Live Free!
PS: Not looking for sympathy, but prayers are appreciated!
I have played baseball ever since I can remember. After High School I started playing men's competitive slow pitch softball. I had a minor right shoulder injury my sophomore year of High School, but recovered with physical therapy. Since then my shoulder has been fine.
In April 2011, I played in a softball tournament in Aurora, CO. We played about 5 games that day and after my right shoulder was sore. It slowly got worse, but I still had good range of motion, and strength, so like any guy does I figured it would just get better and there was no reason to go see the doctor.
A month later (May 2011), it was still hurting so I went to my doctor. He thought it was just swelling and gave me some anti-inflmatory pills. They didn't help. But life got busy, I took a season off softball, went to South Africa, and my shoulder never really stopped hurting.
I went back to my doctor in August 2011. He took some X-Rays, couldn't see anything there, so he referred me to the Orthopedic Surgeon. Now we are all caught up. Recap, hurt my arm on April 16, and I'm finally on the road to recovery on September 16, five months later. I know typical guy.
The Orthopedic Surgeon said, "The good news is there is no arthritis or bone spurs, but the bad news is that I have Tendinitis (swelling/ inflammation) in my shoulder and a Slap Tear."
So to help with the tendinitis I got a Cortisone Shot in my right shoulder, that was the afore mentioned strange experience. Most of my issues are in the front of my shoulder, but they administer the shot from the back of your shoulder. The needle was bigger than any other shot I have ever had. Thankfully, they spray you with a numbing medication to help with pain and the shot itself had some numbing medication with it. However, feeling a large needle moving around in your shoulder and the pressure that comes with it was, well, a strange feeling.
I also have to do 6-8 weeks of physical therapy which I start on September 20. I have a 50/ 50 chance of that healing my shoulder, or I will need surgery to repair the SLAP Tear. I have never had or needed a surgery before, so that was also a strange thing to hear.
Thought it would be fun to share this experience with those who care about me. Here's to hoping and praying that the physical therapy will heal my right shoulder. And as always thanks for reading my blog.
Love God & Live Free!
PS: Not looking for sympathy, but prayers are appreciated!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Pictures From South Africa.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Leaving & Traveling: SA Trip Days 12 & 13
Thursday was our last day in South Africa and it turned out to be a busy adventuresome day. We started with breakfast, then headed to the church to meet some people who missed us on Sunday and wanted to meet us (mostly Josh).
After that we checked out a mall in Pretoria, then went back to the house to pack all of our stuff and load the cars. Before heading to the airport we hit one last market to get some souvenirs and gifts for people. After surviving the market and pushy sales people, we were off to the airport until the rental car got a flat tire. It would not have been that big of a deal, except that there was no owners manual, and the tools were missing from the kit to change the tire. After some ingenuity from Ryan and Dad, we got the spare tire on and got back on our way.
The delay caused us to hit rush hour traffic in Johannesburg, which got us to get to the airport with about an hour to spare for making our flight. Thankfully some of the flight crew got stuck in the same traffic, and so we made our flight with no problem. We would spend the next 11 hours or so on the British Airways Boeing 747. Lots of fun.
When we got to London Heathrow Airport, we had to go through three different security check points. First, normal security after we landed and had to get to a different terminal, then at the America Airline check in place, and then again at our departure gate. Sarah left the gate to buy a drink and they gave her a pat down when she came back in. They take their security serious in London.
Anyways, after and 11 hour flight from Johannesburg and two hour break we where on an 8 1/2 hour flight to Chicago. Once we landed in Chicago we had to clear customs and re-check our bags. It ended up being less of a hassle than I thought it would be. We parted ways Jess, Ryan, & Josh after going through security. As we were getting ready to board our final flight of our long trip home, Sarah noticed that famous country singer & actress Leann Rimes was on our flight from Chicago to Denver. That was kind of cool.
That flight was about an hour and half and seemed like nothing compared to the last two. Once in Denver a friend picked us up in our car (Thanks Jordan), we dropped him back at his house in Aurora and then headed home.
Once we got home Sarah and I took some much needed showers, which felt amazing after 35 hours of traveling. Once dressed and feeling better we headed to my Mom & Dad's house to pick up our kids and dogs (thanks Mom, Dad, & Chris).
It was a joyous reunion. We spent a quiet evening at home and once the kids went to bed Sarah and I spent time reflecting on the great trip and both crashed pretty early in the evening. I think I was out by 9 PM or so which for me is really early for me.
We had a great time and have memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.
FYI: District 9/ Prawn Update: Due to a lack of time I was not able to do enough investigation to confirm or deny the existence of District 9 and/ or Prawns living in Johannesburg.
After that we checked out a mall in Pretoria, then went back to the house to pack all of our stuff and load the cars. Before heading to the airport we hit one last market to get some souvenirs and gifts for people. After surviving the market and pushy sales people, we were off to the airport until the rental car got a flat tire. It would not have been that big of a deal, except that there was no owners manual, and the tools were missing from the kit to change the tire. After some ingenuity from Ryan and Dad, we got the spare tire on and got back on our way.
The delay caused us to hit rush hour traffic in Johannesburg, which got us to get to the airport with about an hour to spare for making our flight. Thankfully some of the flight crew got stuck in the same traffic, and so we made our flight with no problem. We would spend the next 11 hours or so on the British Airways Boeing 747. Lots of fun.
When we got to London Heathrow Airport, we had to go through three different security check points. First, normal security after we landed and had to get to a different terminal, then at the America Airline check in place, and then again at our departure gate. Sarah left the gate to buy a drink and they gave her a pat down when she came back in. They take their security serious in London.
Anyways, after and 11 hour flight from Johannesburg and two hour break we where on an 8 1/2 hour flight to Chicago. Once we landed in Chicago we had to clear customs and re-check our bags. It ended up being less of a hassle than I thought it would be. We parted ways Jess, Ryan, & Josh after going through security. As we were getting ready to board our final flight of our long trip home, Sarah noticed that famous country singer & actress Leann Rimes was on our flight from Chicago to Denver. That was kind of cool.
That flight was about an hour and half and seemed like nothing compared to the last two. Once in Denver a friend picked us up in our car (Thanks Jordan), we dropped him back at his house in Aurora and then headed home.
Once we got home Sarah and I took some much needed showers, which felt amazing after 35 hours of traveling. Once dressed and feeling better we headed to my Mom & Dad's house to pick up our kids and dogs (thanks Mom, Dad, & Chris).
It was a joyous reunion. We spent a quiet evening at home and once the kids went to bed Sarah and I spent time reflecting on the great trip and both crashed pretty early in the evening. I think I was out by 9 PM or so which for me is really early for me.
We had a great time and have memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.
FYI: District 9/ Prawn Update: Due to a lack of time I was not able to do enough investigation to confirm or deny the existence of District 9 and/ or Prawns living in Johannesburg.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Safari Time: SA Trip Days 9, 10, & 11
On Monday morning, we got up early to make the drive to Kruger National Park. It's an enormous chunk of land in the north east corner of South Africa left alone from development. There are lots of wild animals doing what they do in their natural habitat, it's like a zoo on steroids. As soon as we entered Kruger we began to see animals, it was awesome. We saw a lot of impala, giraffes, elephants, zebras, & various birds. This was all before even getting to our lodge or going on a game drive (safari).
Once we got to the lodge we would be staying at called, "Little Jock" (part of Jock Safari Lodge), we were greeted by our hosts David & Ilana. They had pretend champagne (fizzy apple juice) for us. They took our luggage to our rooms, and we signed a form that said if an animal hurt or killed us on a game drive they were not liable. They also took our lunch order. I had a Kudu filet that was very tasty!
After lunch and settling in, David took us on our first game drive. It was simply, amazing! We tracked some lions, but never saw them. However, we did see rhino, elephant, giraffe, impala, kudu, water buck, duiker, bushbuck, warthog all kind of birds (we saw one bird catch a frog), and we had snacks in a dry river bed.
As it got dark we saw a beautiful sunset over the bush. It was fiery reds & oranges, just awesome! The game drive doesn't end when the sun goes down, because our guide used a spot light to find some various nocturnal creatures like jackal, serval, African wild cat, white-tailed mongoose, some bats, and birds. Our first game drive had a good variety of animals and was an incredible experience!
It got pretty cold, and as we got back to the lodge after our first game drive they had hot chocolate and coffee waiting for us! Then it was dinner. We were all pretty tired and went to bed shortly after dinner, good thing too, because we had to get up early the next morning.
5:30 AM. That's when the wake up call came. Thank goodness for coffee! You get up early to see the animals as they get up and maybe catch a few of the nocturnal ones heading to sleep. This morning we got to see a male leopard stalk a warthog and almost have a nice big breakfast. Unfortunately, the leopard lunged into a bush and the warthog got away, but it was a thrill to see that!
It was a great start to the morning, and made being cold worth it. We also got to see a beautiful sunrise. As the game drive went on we got to see many of the same animals we already seen, and add hippo, crocodile, some dwarf mongoose, and many new birds to our list of animals seen. It was a good morning. When we got back to the lodge they had hot drinks and a breakfast starter buffet (fruit, yogurt, muffins, etc.) waiting. As you nibble on that they take your order for a hot breakfast. I had a delicious omelet.
After breakfast, just the guys (Paul, Ryan, & I) went on a "Bush Walk." We had three armed guides and walked around in the bush for about two hours. We learned about trees, dung, came close to a couple of warthogs, and saw a cape buffalo. It was a nice informative walk, and made Ryan and I want to camp or do a backpacking trip through the bush.
After the walk, we had a high tea, which is a smaller lunch consisting of finger foods and drinks. Then it was off for our evening game drive. We saw a lot of the same animals as other game drives, and added blue wildebeest, nile monitor, bushbaby, genet, steenbok, sable, banded mongoose, cape hare, pearl-spotted owl, eagle owl, and some other new birds to our list of animals seen.
We all really wanted to see some lions, we heard a lioness in the distance at one point, but never saw her. At one point we ran into several rhinos blocking the road. They are very territorial animals, and for a little bit it seemed like we might get charged, but it all worked out fine.
After the game drive we finished the day with an outdoor dinner under the stars and by the fire. It was another great day!
We got up at 5:30 AM again, and headed out for our last game drive. We added vervet monkey, spotted & brown hyaena, and a few new birds to our list of animals seen. It was a cold morning and our slowest game drive for animals spotted. Although we still got to see a lot of animals just not many new ones. We had no luck seeing a lion, although some were spotted that morning, they were way on the other side of Kruger. After the game drive we had breakfast and then had to pack up and head back to Pretoria.
Being at Kruger and the safari lodge was one of those things you get to cross off your bucket list. It was such an incredible experience, and we all had a ton of fun. I could have stayed for several more days, but time and money get in the way of that.
As we were leaving Little Jock & Kruger, we got stuck in the middle of a huge heard of Elephants crossing the road. A momma elephant got agitated at us, and we thought she might come after us. But we backed up to let her know we were not trying to get to her or her babies. After a bit of a tense situation, she moved on. As we got up to that spot we saw what seemed like hundreds of elephants at the river bed drinking and cooling, not to mention the several that had already passed in front of us. It was crazy. On the way out of the park we also saw a civet, that was the last new animal we got to add to our list.
Then it was about a four our drive back to Pretoria. Our time in South Africa is coming to an end and that's sad. It's been a great time and adventure, and I'm so grateful to get to have these memories and experiences! We have a few things to do in the morning, and then we start the long journey home tomorrow night. The time has gone by so fast.
FYI: Saw a guy possibly eating cat food, so I might have a "District 9/ Prawn," sighting. Still not sure though as further recon is required.
Once we got to the lodge we would be staying at called, "Little Jock" (part of Jock Safari Lodge), we were greeted by our hosts David & Ilana. They had pretend champagne (fizzy apple juice) for us. They took our luggage to our rooms, and we signed a form that said if an animal hurt or killed us on a game drive they were not liable. They also took our lunch order. I had a Kudu filet that was very tasty!
After lunch and settling in, David took us on our first game drive. It was simply, amazing! We tracked some lions, but never saw them. However, we did see rhino, elephant, giraffe, impala, kudu, water buck, duiker, bushbuck, warthog all kind of birds (we saw one bird catch a frog), and we had snacks in a dry river bed.
As it got dark we saw a beautiful sunset over the bush. It was fiery reds & oranges, just awesome! The game drive doesn't end when the sun goes down, because our guide used a spot light to find some various nocturnal creatures like jackal, serval, African wild cat, white-tailed mongoose, some bats, and birds. Our first game drive had a good variety of animals and was an incredible experience!
It got pretty cold, and as we got back to the lodge after our first game drive they had hot chocolate and coffee waiting for us! Then it was dinner. We were all pretty tired and went to bed shortly after dinner, good thing too, because we had to get up early the next morning.
5:30 AM. That's when the wake up call came. Thank goodness for coffee! You get up early to see the animals as they get up and maybe catch a few of the nocturnal ones heading to sleep. This morning we got to see a male leopard stalk a warthog and almost have a nice big breakfast. Unfortunately, the leopard lunged into a bush and the warthog got away, but it was a thrill to see that!
It was a great start to the morning, and made being cold worth it. We also got to see a beautiful sunrise. As the game drive went on we got to see many of the same animals we already seen, and add hippo, crocodile, some dwarf mongoose, and many new birds to our list of animals seen. It was a good morning. When we got back to the lodge they had hot drinks and a breakfast starter buffet (fruit, yogurt, muffins, etc.) waiting. As you nibble on that they take your order for a hot breakfast. I had a delicious omelet.
After breakfast, just the guys (Paul, Ryan, & I) went on a "Bush Walk." We had three armed guides and walked around in the bush for about two hours. We learned about trees, dung, came close to a couple of warthogs, and saw a cape buffalo. It was a nice informative walk, and made Ryan and I want to camp or do a backpacking trip through the bush.
After the walk, we had a high tea, which is a smaller lunch consisting of finger foods and drinks. Then it was off for our evening game drive. We saw a lot of the same animals as other game drives, and added blue wildebeest, nile monitor, bushbaby, genet, steenbok, sable, banded mongoose, cape hare, pearl-spotted owl, eagle owl, and some other new birds to our list of animals seen.
We all really wanted to see some lions, we heard a lioness in the distance at one point, but never saw her. At one point we ran into several rhinos blocking the road. They are very territorial animals, and for a little bit it seemed like we might get charged, but it all worked out fine.
After the game drive we finished the day with an outdoor dinner under the stars and by the fire. It was another great day!
We got up at 5:30 AM again, and headed out for our last game drive. We added vervet monkey, spotted & brown hyaena, and a few new birds to our list of animals seen. It was a cold morning and our slowest game drive for animals spotted. Although we still got to see a lot of animals just not many new ones. We had no luck seeing a lion, although some were spotted that morning, they were way on the other side of Kruger. After the game drive we had breakfast and then had to pack up and head back to Pretoria.
Being at Kruger and the safari lodge was one of those things you get to cross off your bucket list. It was such an incredible experience, and we all had a ton of fun. I could have stayed for several more days, but time and money get in the way of that.
As we were leaving Little Jock & Kruger, we got stuck in the middle of a huge heard of Elephants crossing the road. A momma elephant got agitated at us, and we thought she might come after us. But we backed up to let her know we were not trying to get to her or her babies. After a bit of a tense situation, she moved on. As we got up to that spot we saw what seemed like hundreds of elephants at the river bed drinking and cooling, not to mention the several that had already passed in front of us. It was crazy. On the way out of the park we also saw a civet, that was the last new animal we got to add to our list.
Then it was about a four our drive back to Pretoria. Our time in South Africa is coming to an end and that's sad. It's been a great time and adventure, and I'm so grateful to get to have these memories and experiences! We have a few things to do in the morning, and then we start the long journey home tomorrow night. The time has gone by so fast.
FYI: Saw a guy possibly eating cat food, so I might have a "District 9/ Prawn," sighting. Still not sure though as further recon is required.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Market, Elephants, & Church: SA Trip Days 7 & 8
Saturday & Sunday were fun days, but very different. Saturday started by going to the Irene Market in the Pretoria, SA area. It's a very popular market and the thing to do twice a month on a Saturday morning. Thousands of people stroll the hundreds of vendors items. It's kind of like a flee market in the US. There is a large variety of new and used things. There is also a big food vendor section as well. Mom wanted us to try the South African pancake/ crepe which came with just cinnamon and sugar on them, they were tasty. I also got a muffin filled with chocolate, it was very yummy. As a side note my nine year old nephew Josh is very good at bartering! He bought a couple of things and got good prices on them, it was very funny to watch him do that.
After getting some food and most of us buying some stuff at the market, it was off to a town called Hartbeespoort, to the "Elephant Sanctuary."
Hartbeespoort is a beautiful lake town with a really cool dam. You drive over it, but it's only one lane at time. While you wait you are bombarded by locals trying to sell you stuff. They walk down the street with items in their hand yelling at you through your car windows. It's funny & annoying at the same time.
Once we got to the Elephant Sanctuary we did a three hour program in which we got to learn all about elephants, as well as touch, feed, get a kiss from, walk with, and ride the elephants. This sanctuary rescues Elephants from bad situations. It was such an incredible experience, to be so close to such an enormous and majestic creature, just surreal. Words fall short of how fun, incredible, and unforgettable this experience was. I am so grateful to Mom & Dad McCool for taking us to do that, what a gift!
After leaving the elephants we had dinner at a SA chain steak restaurant called "Dros." It was good. I had a steak in the Dros Sauce (a cheesy sauce with bacon & onion), which was tasty. Ask Sarah about ordering the peri, peri sauce (it was very hot and made her burger more spicy than she anticipated).
Sunday, we got up and went to Eastside Community Church. It was an enjoyable church service, and of course lots of people wanted to to meet us. After church we had the Pastor & his family over lunch. We made fajitas, which was new to them, because there is very little Mexican food in SA. We had a fun time eating & fellowshipping with them.
After that we just hung out at the house and got packed for our trip to Kruger National Park/ Game Reserve. There, we will be going on game drives/ safari. We are hoping to see lots of animals we would normally only ever see in a zoo. Should be a lot of fun!
Well more updates to come when we get back from Kruger, and as always thanks for reading.
FYI: "District 9/ Prawn" update, it's possible that some of the peddlers and/ or beggars we have seen the past couple of days are part prawn, further investigation is required before we can say either way.
After getting some food and most of us buying some stuff at the market, it was off to a town called Hartbeespoort, to the "Elephant Sanctuary."
Hartbeespoort is a beautiful lake town with a really cool dam. You drive over it, but it's only one lane at time. While you wait you are bombarded by locals trying to sell you stuff. They walk down the street with items in their hand yelling at you through your car windows. It's funny & annoying at the same time.
Once we got to the Elephant Sanctuary we did a three hour program in which we got to learn all about elephants, as well as touch, feed, get a kiss from, walk with, and ride the elephants. This sanctuary rescues Elephants from bad situations. It was such an incredible experience, to be so close to such an enormous and majestic creature, just surreal. Words fall short of how fun, incredible, and unforgettable this experience was. I am so grateful to Mom & Dad McCool for taking us to do that, what a gift!
After leaving the elephants we had dinner at a SA chain steak restaurant called "Dros." It was good. I had a steak in the Dros Sauce (a cheesy sauce with bacon & onion), which was tasty. Ask Sarah about ordering the peri, peri sauce (it was very hot and made her burger more spicy than she anticipated).
Sunday, we got up and went to Eastside Community Church. It was an enjoyable church service, and of course lots of people wanted to to meet us. After church we had the Pastor & his family over lunch. We made fajitas, which was new to them, because there is very little Mexican food in SA. We had a fun time eating & fellowshipping with them.
After that we just hung out at the house and got packed for our trip to Kruger National Park/ Game Reserve. There, we will be going on game drives/ safari. We are hoping to see lots of animals we would normally only ever see in a zoo. Should be a lot of fun!
Well more updates to come when we get back from Kruger, and as always thanks for reading.
FYI: "District 9/ Prawn" update, it's possible that some of the peddlers and/ or beggars we have seen the past couple of days are part prawn, further investigation is required before we can say either way.
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