First to die!!!!!!

Now that I am back and have had a chance to settle back into the routine of life, I've had a chance to reflect on my trip to Africa. I was amazed at the beauty of the area we were in. It wasn't that I didn't think Africa was going to be beautiful, but the mountains in the area were awesome, way different than I had imagined. The drives every morning to the work site were filled with views of God's incredible creation and some of his critters that you just don't see in Iowa. There were several days that we would see baboon sitting on the side of the road, like we would see raccoon in the US. The first one I saw was a quick glimpse from the "first to die" seat, a lone baboon running down the side of a hill just off the road. I mentioned this seat in an earlier post, thought I would explain the title. On our first morning drive to the work site, Terry (seen here with Krista in the "First to die seat"),
our fearless leader, was chauffeuring us on a foggy morning. I was trying to soak in the sites of Africa, but also keep my breakfast down on our hilly drive at speeds that aren't recommended for a 1986 VW bus. I'm not aware of a turbo option on a VW bus, but this thing must have had one. Terry drove this thing like he was at the Indianapolis 500, which I have a little knowledge of seeing as how I lived right by the track for several years. He made the kombi fly up and down these hills, hugging corners and scarring our Missions Director, who was in the truck waaaaaaay behind us and giving us a lot more to look at than just the nature sights. I happen to be in this famed seat on this first morning and man was it foggy out. This didn't slow down Terry Andretti (Indy reference), he acted like he didn't even notice. He was passing cars like they were standing still and doing his best, it appeared, to loose the other vehicles in our convoy. When you are leading a line of vehicles, and you are the only one who knows where you are going, try not to ditch the other vehicles in your line. Don't run yellow lights, don't weave in and out of traffic, and please, please, please don't pass semi trucks on a hill, on a curve on a really foggy morning. Terry did, thus giving the passenger seat the name "first to die." I love Terry and I gained a new respect for his driving, later, much later, but this morning, I damn near wet myself, this time it wasn't laughter. I looked back at my co near death participants and they all seemed to have a wide eyed view of how close we were to meeting God on that very day. I wouldn't mind meeting God, but in a VW bus, in Africa, with baboons nearby to rip the flesh off my body wasn't how I pictured my last moments. It would have made an awesome obituary though. How many have you seen written up as death by baboon? We have had cancer deaths in my family, old age, but you get a baboon mentioned in your obit, people are going to remember you. Too morbid? Sorry. That same day, I was again in the "FTD" seat when Terry was trying to text while driving. We were 10 feet away from rear ending a car that had slowed for a speed bump when I said "Terry." I said it calmly, but I tell you now, I was a bit frightened. I will say, the rest of the week was either uneventful on the driving front, or we built an immunity to it. Oh, we did side swipe a fence pulling into the work area, but that seemed so trivial compared to the near flaming death on the foggy morning, I nearly forgot. On another, more important front, I still have the picture of the kids that will be living in the houses in my mind. Here it is.


I received an email from one of the people I went with. He had asked the names of the kids chosen to live in the house, here are some of them, you tell me if you see something in common.

Melita Tale female 13 years old
Thapelo Tale male 14 years old
Seilo Tale male
Nono Tale male 3 years old
Thabo Moomi male *special needs

Seems to be a lot of Tale kids. Appears that this is a family that has to grow up with just each other, no parents. I hope the houses we built, plus the great work that Blessman ministries is doing to educate, feed and care for these kids, can show these kids that they are loved. We may not be their parents, but they can always count on God to be there for them, he is our Father, all of us no matter where we are from. Just looking at this list and this picture, how could I not want to go back? How could anyone?