Participant Blogs

AFRICAN EXTREMES 10 Jun 2009 In a week's time I've experienced so many different African Extremes... From Niger's desert-villages to the city of Abuja in Nigeria, nearly nothing is the same. Here are some African Extremes: Last week we couldn't find one ATM in the former capital of Niger, this week we can pick and choose between 6 ATM's that's standing next to each other in the foyer of a hotel. Last week I woke up in my tent in the middle of the desert, with the sound of Fulani-women discussing the white people whose visiting their well. This morning...

  NIGER I took a picture of you today a moment captured in time you gave me a glimpse of your soul a second to feel your heartbeat When I look at this picture I will remember you, Niger: By the look in the eyes of a boy sitting on a cart drawn by a bull the strained muscles of an elderly man carrying eighty litres of water in Guidiguir the warm bodies of innocent and neglected children fighting for a place next to me in Dogo the awe and attention of hundreds watching the Jesus film out of the dark corners...

   All the people push at once, everyone demanding something else, a cheaper bus, to carry your luggage at a certain price of course, pushing and screaming in French... I'm at the bus station in St Louis, Senegal, and in the midst of the crowds I look down into two big eyes and a small hand asking... begging... begging for money, begging for food, begging for a mom and dad, for shelter, begging for love, begging for a chance to be a child again... The boy in his big blue shirt - or did it only seem big because his body...

 Work-out in the garden! in Marrakesh!! Kabouters in Fes...                           And any shape, size or age of teapot you prefer                                                      Coulors, smells and sounds in the market of Tiznit!!!  I LOOOVE MOROCCO!!! 

 Yip, it's been quite a long road from Morocco, through Mauritania, down to Senegal!! And even though we didn't do it with 4by4's we made it, alive and well by public transport!  God has been so faithful to us... Here's some pics...   This was our view MOST of the time... We had a coffee break once ... GREAT, cheap, Mauritanian coffee!!!   The ferry from Rosso, Mauritania, to Rosso, Senegal - crazy Africa!!! YEAH!!   Did I mention something about public transport??? This is it - ALHAMDOULAHI - Praise God...  

  Looking over the incredibly green hills just outside of Fes in Morocco, I found myself sitting on the ground in the back yard of a Moroccan family. We were enjoying some Mint tea and waiting for Sunday lunch that was being prepared. Just two days before, we walked down a road, into a village with Emily who navigated a bit. We decided to go into a little village and were welcomed by ‘n local family who didn't know any of us. After about 10 minutes we were warmly invited to a traditional Sunday lunch. So here we were at...

We're staying in a quaint little town called Dahab at the Red Sea with small little restaurants all along the coastline. I's a touristy town with Egyptians bargaining for best prizes everywhere... "Welcome to Egypt!" rings in your ears every day and wtih that the sound of an Imam screaming towards heaven 5 times a day - the cry of Egyptian's hearts. In the longing of their eyes they cry out for love and forgiveness and most of all hope. Who will tell them of a living God that IS love? Who will be the messenger of hope? I had...

  This will be my bed, my room, my home for the next few months - you thought your flat was small?! After a hectic shopping spree to take all that is needed for a year - and needs to fit into a 60 litre backpack - I was on my way to JBay... 5 Weeks of training and some CRAZEEE experiences later, and I'm a richer person. All that is left of this time is pictures, memories, stories that will be told and a changed heart... We had some great teachers with us, Uncle Floyd and Retief shared some...