Yebo!

Yebo! and Salibonani, Hello and Greetings!

We're back from our epic trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana.

I have so much to write about, where do I begin? I kept my journal, it's all filled up. It is a treasure to me, more than a personal account of a journey, but a record of people i've met, names, addresses, this time even a language lesson carefully printed by an Ndebele man ( i'd asked to learn the basics, hello, thank you, please, good morning... Sibhekinkosi filled up another entire page with words he thought I also ought to know, giraffe, crocodile, impala, frog...)

But today, i'll start at the beginning of our trip, I know that Val and Karen and Angela already talked about our meeting (and phone call!), I must go back and leave comments to you all (when I'm a little less foggy and without tears in my eyes!! thank you friends) so now here is what it was like for me...

We'd been in Africa less than 24 hours (after two days of traveling) and were already on our way to the Kazungula Children's Ark ~ and Karen! As our bus bounced along the road to Botswana (we were coming from Zimbabwe) my phone did it's little blipblip thing it does when it has a text message. Hmmm? i've had no service except for the airport (thanks Lola!), what's this? I wonder? oh my gosh. It's Val!! She said she was with Karen and was looking for me. At this time I am fading fast, going on day four of no sleep, jet~lag had me in its grip. Now I'm on the edge of my seat again. This is really going to happen. It was all just so much, I can't explain how I felt. But the combination of being in Africa again, meeting blog friends that I love and going to see the children, well, it was overwhelming.

When I look at this photo now, I remember thinking, "be in the moment". But the feeling was so surreal, I felt like I was watching everything from a window, like I was outside looking in. Karen and Val were exactly like I imagined. Karen, so witty and charming and kind(and soo pretty too!) Val felt like a friend i'd known all my life. With a calm dignity about her, she was just like her blog, full of warmth and beauty. I wished that we all didn't live so far apart.

And now the school, and the babies! They waited...

...and waited...while we were given a tour of the school...

...and teacher Emeldah demonstrated just how it goes day to day for these little ones...

...we were treated to circle dances and songs, and then finally it was time to get down on the floor with the children. Time to bring what we'd come all this way for. Luckily Karen was willing to help me in the distribution of the little hats, I felt so shy and nervous. I really hoped they'd like them. Thank you to my husband for capturing all these photos of the

babies + hats + love

...Karen told me about the hair treatment!...


....and we got a big Thank you and we Love you!...

~ The Kazungula Children's Ark ~

I learned that this center will be celebrating it's 3rd birthday on the 5th of June this year. Bless Emeldah, Sharon(sorry to have missed her) and everyone who supports this little place. The feeling we had was it is a place for learning, having fun and most of all, being loved.

Thank you Karen, Val and Emeldah for letting us share

in a little bit of the magic. Oh! those babies...*sigh*




now, for the rest of our trip... :)

...here is my journal, complete with lots of dust and crumply pages...

....and tiny little photos, I have the most amazing little printer that lets you make these 2x3 photo stickers. You can just plop them into your book or even better hand them out to lovely people...

...I wish I could just make a copy and send one to each of you, because I wrote over 90 pages...hmmm...how best to share?

...a few drawings, not much time for art...

....I'm up for some suggestions on what to share, maybe just

a few photos, stories...do you want to hear about Mr. Ngwenya or maybe the leopard in a tree we saw? :) :) :) :)

so...'till next time...

Salakuhle ~ stay well

love, lori

p.s. thank you all so much for the birthday wishes yesterday!