WALKING WITH THE LIONS!!!

We recently had visitors from the States, John & Kay Denny (Jean's sister), and we had the opportunity to take a week off from Missionary Work and do a little traveling throughout Zimbabwe.  We had a fantastic time, going from one end to the other. 
One of our destinations was a wild game park called ANTELOPE PARK.  Here they had young lions that you could actually go out into the bush and walk with them.  We must say, that this was one of the high lites of out journeys so far.  It was so majestic and mystical all at the same time.  We loved it!!!

Here are some of the photos of our visit to:

ANTELOPE PARK

This guy will grow up to be the King of The Jungle!!!!
They are so majestic in real life.  No fences here.

I was just a little apprehensive about this particular move they asked me to preform.  (Note the stick in my hand, a lot of good that's going to do).

My wife was braver than I was, I think she had the tame one.  She ask our guide if they had eaten today, and he assured her that they had (They only feed them every 3 days, thank goodness we got them on the day they had been fed).

This guy was only 17 months old, but you could feel the power in him when you put your hand on him.  He watched every move around him.

Checking out the neighbors.

Looks so content just setting there on his back honches, but believe me, he's ready to move.

On the banks of the river, in Africa!!!

You'll be able to tell that the pictures by the water are our favorite pictures.  They were kindof in a playful mode here. 

Just a regular cat getting a drink from the river.

Of course, this is my favorite picture.  After a while, they kind of act like they know who you are.

Wanted the stick, but didn't want to get wet going after it.

Couldn't quite figure out the reflection in the water.

A picture is worth a thousnad words.

Kay and John loved Africa so much, I think they will want to come here on their mission.  Believe me, it is a place that no one will ever forget, BEAUTIFUL AFRICA!!!

WHERE ELSE COULD YOU GET A PICTURE LIKE THIS!!!!

WHAT AFRICAN PEOPLE CARRY ON THEIR HEADS

On a recent trip to Masvingo (which is becoming Sister Heck's favorite place to visit) we thought of the idea to putting together a theme for our next blog, so here it is, WHAT AFRICAN'S CARRY ON THEIR HEADS!!!!  ENJOY..........................

On a recent Couple Meeting in Masvingo, we were able to see this woman who was carrying a load of fire wood back to her village.  We turned around in the road to find her, and she was gone.  We took the only trail that she could have gone down, and found her.  She was already at her hut, and her husband, as usual, was asleep on the ground.  We quickly made friends with everyone, and she agreed to carry the load of wood again.  They could speak no English whatsoever, but we had a wonderful time meeting with them.

When we saw her walking down the road, she was moving quite fast, and had both hands down by her side. 

Sister Heck thought that she could carry a load like this, and so did I, but she wouldn't try.

They simply put an old towel or rag  on their head, then put the load on their head.  One lady told me she once carried a load of wood for 20 kilometers like this.

This is the trail that we took down to the village.  It was wide enough to get a car down, but it was actually a foot path, but over the years it has been worn down to appear as a road.  They were all amazed that we drove our car down the path.

This young woman was at a village that Sister Heck and I had previously visited.  She told us that she was 12 years old, and was gathering wood for her sister to cook with.  She invited us to visit her hut.

These young guys were just coming out of the bush, and they were so happy with all the cooking firewood that they had found.  Their mom will be happy about this.

Sister Heck had to stop and give the guys a treat for their hard effort and good work.  Note the worn trail that they have used for a long time.

This young woman had woven a floor mat out of Elephant grass for sale for someone's hut.

These little girls had bags of Roller Meal, maze, or we call it corn, on their heads.  This is a staple for all these people that they eat everyday.  Most families only have one good meal a day, and it is usually a meal of sudza which is made from roller meal or maze.  We never did find out where they got this from, but they appreciated Sister Heck's gift and candy.

More gifts and more candy!!

This gal was coming up from a stream and had 20 litres (5gallons) of water on her head, and a small bucket of water in her hand.  I don't think that I could even lift the bucket onto my head, let alone carry it on my head.

They make it look so easy!!!!

More picture of Head pictures to come!!!!!

Please come back.



VENDORS OF ZIMBABWE

Everyone in Zimbabwe is a Vendor of some sorts!

9 out of 10 people sell TOMATOES!

There are some other VENDORS, and we will attempt to show a few of them, but.....................

If you don't believe that story, then check out these PHOTOS!!!

Each pan of tomatoes were selling for $3.00 each, nice tomatoes!

Same price here, but they weren't quite as ripe.

There must have been 50 vendors in this one spot.

On the way home from Marondera, we would pass through "Tomato Alley" literally 100's of Vendors would line the road back to Harare.

Some of these vendors are as young as 6 years old, and sit on the highway all day long.

 Wild grown honey!!

Sister Heck is about to make a $2.00 purchase of wild honey.

Anyone for flowers?

More flowers!

How about a pool toy, or a Zimbabwe flag off his back.

I love these guys, they stand in the middle of the road, and you literally have to dodge them to keep from running over them!

One of the busiest intersection in Harare!!  That's why they are there.

How about a newspaper, or airtime for your cell phone, only $1.

How about a sack of cow manure??

Or maybe a wooden sculpture.

Roasted corn on the cob, we haven't tried this yet, but we will before we leave.

Just about on every corner, and only $1 for 4 ears.  But no butter.

More airtime and he also will cut your tree down for you, TREEFELLER.

Another treefeller advertising his wares, and you can bet he's not far away either.

How about a tree ripened banana or apple, 5 for $1.

How about a sack of home grown potatoes, kinda like the ones from Idaho, but different fertilizer, if you know what I mean.

Plants, Pots, Airtime, and Cooking Gas!!!!!!!!

You can buy bricks, sand and cement all on the same corner!!

How about a handmade broom?

How about some used clothes!.

Zimbabwe has some of the best stone and rock sculpture artists in the world, they also sell everything they can think of to help subsidize their income.

Hand made baskets!!

YEP!!!

Tree ripe bananas are big here, mainly because they are free to the vendors.

Worms are big here, literally big.

This guy was eating (worms) all of dads profits!!!

This gal got Sister Heck, she told me 4 for $1, and Sister Heck paid $1 for one.  This is what we put our groceries in when we go shopping.!!!!

This is our favorite Vendor at the open market in Avondale open air market.  She will get whatever we want for a great price.  Her name is Agnes, and she is now in the process of reading the Book of Mormon.  What a great lady, and wonderful friend.  She knows all our kids by name and ask about them each time we see her.

These are some of the vendors we see everyday as we travel around Zimbabwe!