Thursday, June 23, 2011

African update from Rebekah


 So here are some random picture of our visit with the Wilhites.  It takes forever for pictures to load so there are not very many but you can always go to facebook for the rest.   Here is the Wilhite family.  Notice how everyone is standing nice and straight except for one. : )  I had to get a family picture because I knew it was the only way that I'd get Drew to look at the camera. 


 Adria and Krista on the way back from the cave.  It was nice having some one else to take all the Wilhite attention (translate:teasing, bugging, general annoyance) off of us every once in awhile.
Thanks, Adria! : )  Do you get a certificate for surviving the Wilhites for so long? : )



 At the cave.  Notice who is the only one looking at the camera. : ) Is Miah talking to himself or singing?  What's up with the big stick?  Tobi's probably looking for ticks on his sweater. : )




 On the way to the cave.  It was very pretty with lots of hills.  This is Juli and Krista out for a little walk while we waited for the guide.




(This was written several days ago, sorry very busy.)
Between facebook, e-mails, and skype I've forgotten who I've told what and what I wanted tell everyone.  We do love the internet access we have here are the Hammett's even when it complains about having to serve nine people simultaneously.   You would think that with this 24/7 internet availability I would have posted already, but no..... I got sidetracked by boredom. ; )
Mr. Wilhite drove us from Polokwane to Francistown on Tuesday.   It's about a 6 hour drive and we left at 6:00 in the morning.  Everyone woke up to tell us goodbye, which means they must have liked us to get out of bed that early just to see us before we left.   We got to see a little more of the South African country on the way.  There were several little Warthog families and a giraffe on the side of the road. : )   (I think giraffes like me.) Mr. Wilhite talked to entire time, as though he was happy he didn't have any other Wilhites competing for airtime. : )  It was a much more enjoyable trip then I had expected.  Going across the SA/Botswana was interesting but not very difficult.  I am so incredibly thankful that we did not have to cross the border by ourselves.  It was easy because Mr. Wilhite knew where to go and what to do.   We would have been walking in a little circle. Once you know where to go and who to see you just show them your passport and fill out a little slip of paper which nobody reads and go on through.  Getting visas for this trip was much easier and cheaper then for my trip to Brasil.  South Africa does not require any visa for stays shorter then 90 days and Botswana didn't charge us for our visas.   There is a little bit of road between South Africa and Botswana (the one that we would have had to walk ourselves, with all our luggage), here you have to stop, get out and step on a big sponge full of some chemical, get back in your vehicle and drive through a ditch full of the same chemical.  It's so weird.  Something to do with hoof and mouth disease and the cattle they raise here.  The sponge was really gross and  I was wearing sandals so I just pretended to put my foot on the sponge.  I didn't want that chemical on my feet!!
I have to say I think South Africa is a little prettier then Botswana, but I haven't seen very much of Botswana yet so I might change my mind.

4 comments:

Suzie said...

Tobi's not looking for ticks on his sweater.....no, what he is doing is examining a minute hole in it and wondering who's going to stitch it up for him.

Anonymous said...

I'm really enjoying the pictures and commentary. Beka, where have you been going that you might pick up hoof and mouth disease? We had 20 at services tonight; started one new inmate in the HBS. Greg Kettelson is back in and I talked at length with another man we worked with last year. Have to work a 10 hour shift again tomorrow cause my helper went to Chitina fishing. Will be preaching for your Dad next Wed. so got to gt to work on that message tomorrow. I really miss you all, and am a bit envious of the great adventure you're having. God Bless,
JimG.

Suzie said...

That's a really nice picture of the Wilhites. You're camera takes nice pictures, Bek.

rebekah said...

I know Mom, I'm so thankful for it. (Thanks ACNM!) I wouldn't be taking any if I didn't have it because Kris is such a control freak about her stuff. : )
Mr. Gerth,
I guess they have trouble with hoof and mouth disease here in southern Africa because of all the cattle they raise. The regulations are actually pretty strict because they export beef to Europe.