I arrived in Johannesburg this morning after a 14.5 hour flight from JFK. Half of the Derr family picked me up at the airport and we did a little sightseeing. I’ve attached a picture of the myself and the tiger cub I was able to play with and pet. We saw wild dogs, then cheetahs and finally white lions being fed in a nearby Lion/Rhino park. Not a bad Saturday afternoon activity after so much flying. :) This was after I ate a nice lunch on the deck overlooking a game preserve with zebras running around.
Tomorrow I catch a shuttle bus for a 5 hour drive to Swaziland where I will be picked up by Peter and driven out to “the farm” as described in the New Life Homes section of www.africanleadershippartners.org. I will be helping out doing miscellaneous projects around the property along with helping out in the school on the property. I am planning to help with a basic money management class. I will also be making efforts to reach out into the surrounding communities and take an assessment of the basic needs of the local people. Swaziland is the hardest hit from the AIDS pandemic and it has left quite a few child-led households. I hope to spend some time learning how to help these kids raising kids.
Today was a good transition into my month here. It was nice to be met with big smiles and big hugs at the airport. And that was just the taxi drivers that thought I needed a ride! I've stayed up today but now it is 11 pm and I've taken an Ambian CR to help the sleep schedule change.
Wow, that picture is very cool with you and the Tiger!
ReplyDeleteToday I was reading in Jeremiah about the plight of the fatherless and God's judgment on nations/people who do not care for them. I pray that God will grant you wisdom and a tender heart as you come alongside and learn.
Blessings Brother,
Mike C