Things to see
We had the chance, while in Livingston, to go and see Victoria Falls. We also went across the border so got to see both the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides; the falls are around 3km wide! In the local language it is called Mosi-O-Tunya - "Smoke that thunders". Very suitable, it definitely thunders, and you can see the spray from many miles giving it the appearance of a bushfire. It was one of the most awesome things I have ever seen, I wish I could have done it justice with the photos.
Things to do
Besides English teaching, painting, and just getting to know the place, I had the opportunity to spend a day with Jonno doing the kinds of things he does - riding out through the mountains crossing rivers, helping cross rivers,
digging in peoples gardens, eating with them, playing games, talking with them (or at least smiling and listening). We had covered about 50km up and down hills on dirt "tracks" and I was feeling stuffed when Jonno says to me as we ride along, "So Dave, this is Church planting." Those wouldn't have been the first words off my tongue, but it was a
good call. It was a little eye into what it might look like to authentically express Christ to people like these, and it was good to have my subconscious perception of what Church should look like broadened a bit. It was also great just to get out and to connect faces and lives with what he and the rest of the team are on about.
In Madagascar it was great to see all the innovative things that MAF is doing to help people in remote areas. Flying, providing logistic, communication, and garage services, using four wheelers and fold-up boats that fit into the aircraft, helping to communities rebuild after fires and even using hovercrafts to get access to the inaccessible! We got to do a range of things from researching how to chip 'n tar airstrips to prevent erosion, to tiling, to visiting villages. One of the more interesting things though, was helping one of the MAF workers to harvest one of his rice fields. It was a really fun day, cutting the rice, bundling it, and beating it out over drums. Fun... for one day. I have a new appreciation for rice.
The name of the local beer in Malawi, in case you can't read it, is "Kuche Kuche". =) The sign was above a urinal in mens toilets in Zimbabwe. Maybe I was tired, but it made me laugh for a long time.
Changing Landscapes
From City to country, Mauritius to Madagascar, the landscape changed quite a bit on us...
Africa
My photos from the holidays and the trip to Africa have finally been sorted so I thought I might post some here to give you a little eye into the trip. If you want more details visit
Neale's blog.
Getting around...
Our lovely bus which took us from Jo'burg in South Africa through Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, back into Mozambigue, back through Malawai and finally through Zambia. We got to know it quite well...
Other modes of transport... planes, trailers on four wheelers...
We learnt from the locals too...
