Another Mango Harvest

It's hard to believe that it has been another year since our last mango harvest.

 

This year I was much more cautious and only picked the ones I could reach, which was about 20.  And then I called in an expert.  Nicholas removed his dress shoes, climbed up the tree and retrieved the other 30 mangos.  We shared the bounty; he was perfectly satisfied with the arrangement and so was I.  





These mangos are big, beautiful and sweet.  Lucky me!

Florence, Italy

While we were in Rome for Christmas we got the chance to visit Florence for a couple of days with Scott and Melita Dunn.  We had never been there before and had a wonderful time.  We loved the churches, the festive holiday lights, and the amazing sculptures. 

Most famous is the sculpture of David by Michelangelo.  There are several outside replicas like this marble one in the Piazza della Signoria.  The original is on display at the Accademia Gallery, but the line was huge, so the replica worked for us.






In the city center is the Duomo or Basillica of S. Maria Del Fiore, which is breathtaking. This is one of the largest cathedrals in the world and can hold 30,000 people. The stained glass windows, multicolored marble, huge bronze doors, and paintings inside the dome by Brunelleschi are spectacular.    












There was a festive feeling in the air; the Christmas lights and shoppers made it a fun place to be.  

Christmas Party in Ivory Coast

I had the chance to join Gregg for the Employee Christmas Social/Devotional in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.  I really enjoy going to Abidjan... the skyscrapers, the wide multilane roads and a beautiful lagoon.  It is a breath of fresh air.

The employees wanted to surprise us and planned the social to take place at Coconut Village on the beach.  It was a great surprise.  We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas program under palm trees next to the beach.  We sang Christmas carols in French (their national language) and enjoyed some local cuisine.  A great trip.      

When in Rome... do as the Romans do!

We've been to Rome before.  On that visit we tossed a coin in Trevi fountain and it worked!  We came back!  So.... we tried it again.  It would be wonderful to return.

It's a great place with great food.  And for those of us who don't have a McDonalds, this find was a real treat.  But what to chose?  I chose the Leonardo.

Penne pasta al dente with arrabiata sauce and lasagne.  Magnifique!

The perfect ending to a perfect day... gelato.  Scott and Melita Dunn were with us.  Melita found a cone that was just her size.  And yes, he's having Nutella gelato.   

Joseph's First Day at High School

It has been an unbelievable journey helping Joseph Apoya get a room and get accepted into high school here in Accra.

Suffice it to say that miracles do happen and prayers are answered.  

Here in Ghana, no one rents month by month. Landlords require 3 years rent up front.  Some even make you pay a fee to see the room they are renting!  Some require a down payment on a room that isn't for sure available yet.  And many make you pay an "agent"  which can easily turn out to be the owner of the land or building.  After many disappointments, Joseph finally did succeed.

Here's the happy picture of Joseph and me in his single room.  If you ask him about this room, he will tell you that it is "just perfect."  It is about 8 feet by 10 feet.  It does not have an indoor bathroom, shower or kitchen.  There is no running water.  But,he no longer shares a sleeping room with 20 other people.  And he is still very grateful to the man who let him sleep there for the last few years rent free.  For the first time in his life he is sleeping on a bed instead of the floor. And his rent is paid up for the next 3 years; that's how long it will take to finish high school.

Because he never dreamed he would be able to go to high school in Accra, he applied for admission in the northern region where it is less costly.  However, with the help of several Obruni (white) ladies and a teacher from his junior high school who felt he had potential, we were recently able to get him into a good high school here in Accra.  This required myself and this teacher taking him to the Ministry of Education.

His former teachers all liked him because he was a "self made" student.  He was chosen as the Head Prefect of his junior high because of his scholastic ability and hard work.  He will freely admit that he was a poor student until he realized that he could look up every word he didn't understand in the dictionary as he prepared for school each day.  And this he did without parents or family support of any kind.  He did meet a compassionate American tutor who passed his name on to us and sent money to make sure he had food.  He had a weekend job all through junior high to earn money for school fees and food.   

The drama of actually getting him into school was an intense few days.  School started October 22, 2012, and no word about a spot for Joseph.  We were really worried about his chances.  But, on October 30th, he got a call saying we must come to the Ministry and then go pay fees at the school immediately.  I dropped everything, borrowed a car and off we went.  At the ministry we received the paperwork for his admission to St. Thomas Aquinas High School.  We met the Assistant Headmistress and then set off for the bank to pay the fees.  Here is a picture of Joseph in his uniform on his first day of high school.  

God really does work in the details of our lives.  He knows and cares for each of His children; even a little orphan boy in Acrra, Ghana, Africa.        

Babies of the Year

We saw some very cute babies on Safari.  We thought we would share our favorites.

baby Zebra

baby Oryx

baby Cheetahs

baby Lion

baby Elephant

baby Giraffe

baby Vervet Monkey

baby Warthogs - as Gregg says, that's a face only a mother could love...

Serengeti - the Endless Plain

Ah, the beautiful Serengeti.  If you only had the time or money to visit one place on Safari, I would choose the Serengeti in Tanzania.  Just be forewarned that these are extremely bumpy roads, to be rivaled only by the roads of Masai Mara.    

This was the first time that we have seen an animal skeleton hanging from a tree branch (a young wildebeest).  That's a sure sign of leopard nearby. We drove on.  This was the magic moment when we got to see a leopard!  She was sleeping up on the ledge of a rock formation in the middle of this Endless Plain of dried golden grass.  She woke up, stood, climbed to a higher ledge, looked out at her adoring fan club and went back to sleep.   

Although most of the wildebeest and zebra have crossed over the river and are in Kenya, we saw plenty.  We watched a group of over 200 zebras running somewhere.  

We also saw 50 Masai giraffe.  They are everywhere with many young ones.  What amazes me is that this branch is completely covered with big thorns.  Somehow, they are able to  enjoy the leaves while not getting injured.  

We visited 2 fabulous hippo pools.  There were at least 50 hippos.  They grunt, snort, and have skirmishes in the water.  But when they come on land they are perfectly quiet.  I was amazed at how big some of the females are.  

We also saw a 6 foot long black snake cross the road; our guide said it was either a black mamba or a black cobra.  My first snake siting in Africa.  Luckily I was in a vehicle!!  Almost all snakes in Africa are venomous.  Somehow, the rattlesnakes back home don't seen so threatening.  At least they give you some warning that they are there.


It was an amazing Safari.  I'm so glad we went.  Thank you Gregg.