Victoria Falls - the Smoke that Thunders

Sometimes birthday wishes come true.  Mine did.  We recently visited Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe for my birthday.  It was a very fun birthday trip.

Victoria Falls is a waterfall in Southern Africa on the Zambezi River between Zimbabwe and Zambia.  The local tribe call the falls Mosi-Oa-Tunya which means the smoke that thunders in the Tonga language.  We were told by the locals that the Tonga tribe "owns" the Zambezi River.  

While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is claimed to be the largest. This claim is based on a width (5604 ft.) and height (354 ft.) which form the largest sheet of falling water in the world.  The visual impact took my breath away.  The mist is amazing, shooting up 1300 feet into the air.  You can only capture a clear photo like this (that we were lucky enough to get) if the wind blows the mist to the side.  The mist of the falls can be seen from 30 miles away.

During the flood season (now) it is impossible to see the foot of the falls and most of its face, as the walks along the cliff opposite it are in a constant shower and shrouded in mist.  For $12 US you can rent 2 extra long raincoats and 2 pairs of flip flops (your walking shoes stay safe and dry).  Because the mist blows sideways, you still get soaked - but it's fun and not at all cold.

We stayed at the Elephant Hills Resort with a great view of the Zambezi River and the mist of Victoria Falls.  Outside our 4th floor room, we enjoyed watching grazing impala and warthogs and the antics of the vervet monkeys.  There are signs on the sliding glass doors warning that the monkeys love to come in and "make mischief." 

Another wonderful part of this trip was the food; it was great! Gregg had hamburgers and steaks that rival what we enjoy in the US and something we don't often find in West Africa.

Gregg has now seen all 3 of the "big falls" (Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls, and Iguazu Falls).

Moving Day March 19, 2013

We have loved our home in Coco Palm Villas, but got the opportunity to move into the new, church built "Temple View Villas," as we call them.  They are located behind the Accra, Ghana Temple and the Area Office Building. This offers us great proximity to Gregg's work and the Temple grounds.  He now has a 3 minute commute on foot!

There are 6 apartments; 5 have 2 bedrooms and a study and one is a smaller one bedroom unit for a missionary couple.  Our neighbors here are the Africa West Area Presidency, the Accra Ghana Temple President, and the Executive Secretary to the Presidency.   

Groundbreaking occurred during our first year here and we got to participate.  We've been part of the entire, somewhat slow, construction process (kind of like watching your new home get built).  It's almost hard to believe that it is a reality.  As Gregg says, "Nothin's ever easy in Africa."  And this project was no exception.  But, the quality of construction is very good.  And yes, I swim every day (but Sunday). 

  

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.