We're Going on Vacation...

Brendan and Leandra have already left... yesterday. They are canoeing to the campsite with a group of friends, including an overnight on an island in the middle of the river. We're praying they don't have any closer than desired or safe encounters with hippos, crocs, elephants, other African "wild"life.

I am excited for them... and a little bit jealous. I'd LOVE to be paddling along on that trip.

We leave soon... so today I'm reposting, an earlier trip Tim took with the four oldest. Enjoy! Expect lots more photos of the whole family this time! We appreciate prayers for safety, protection on the road, uneventfulness and rest, and lots of opportunities to enjoy the amazing creatures and wilderness God has planted in this part of the world.

(photos abpve are ones I've scavenged from friends and their similar excursions)

....................................................................................................................

early morning ~ as the sun rises over the campground

the river



The week between Christmas and New Years, Tim took the four biggers (Brendan, Rebekah, Nadia and Anna) out to the bush for a few nights of camping, climbing around on rocks, tramping through the Sahel looking for wild and dangerous creatures while hoping their guide really knew what he was doing, canoeing, riding through the bush on the top of the Landcruiser - again trying to spot wild and dangerous African creatures, hanging out around a campfire with their buddies and eating the donuts Mom sent with them, freezing in the cool morning air and hoping a scorpion or snake didn't decide to seek out the warmth of their tent through the hole where the door didn't completely close.

They took a ton of pictures - and it will take us a few days to pick out the best ones to post here. I'll upload them all to facebook - so if you are one of our fb friends... you can see the whole kit and kaboodle! Even though some of their stories have horrified their mama, they had a great time - we need to get our own tent brought out here (all of its doors zip tightly shut) and the plan is next... we'll ALL go... and take our niece with us....