It was only ten days--but we squeezed out every drop of these ten days of the year on the same continent with my (Janel's) parents! It's always a great reason to explore a little more of this fascinating country. Wanted to share with you some highlights in photo of these dreamy days, together at last.
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| If you only knew how much this photo captures this little guy. Watch out, world. |
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| Oh, yes it is: Twister. (...Not sure Grandpa won this one.) |
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| One of our highlights together was seeing the Ndere Dance Troupe in action. This group is incredibly talented, performing with tribal costumes, dances, instruments, and music. My kids were actually fixated for the whole three and a half hour performance, which was an awe-inspiring showcase of East African culture and talent. |
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| Grandma captivated the kids with her "surprise of the day". They couldn't wait for her to get up in the morning. Get this: She even brought tie-dye to create! |
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| Lots and lots of board games were played; I do believe Grandpa played at least three rounds of Monopoly with my kids. Now that, my friends, is love. |
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| John was home for three days between travels, but certainly made the most of them. My parents brought over Axis and Allies, which Grandpa, Dad, and the boys had to break in. |
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| During this time, after over a year of engagement, our dear friend Monica got married! She and some of her family came over to get made up before the ceremony. A huge congratulations, Fred and Monica! |
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| Checking out the site for eMi's joint office with Mission Aviation Fellowship! The new office should open next year, tremendously expanding eMi's opportunities for ministry. |
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| One of the unexpected highlights was on the bittersweet last day of my parents' trip: an afternoon at the zoo in Entebbe. |
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| This was truly the most incredible zoo I've been to. As my mom observed, instead of trying to recreate an animal's habitat, they pretty much just put up fencing in these animals' natural habitat so we can get close to them. In fact, this little guy regularly comes to visit his own kind of monkeys who live in the cage. |
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| These are safari ants--and if you see them, well, run. They travel in thick lines and have such powerful strength in their jaws in the in the bush, they are used as makeshift surgical staples for gaping wounds. |
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| Got to pet one of these as it ate...incredible! Also got to feed giraffes huge branches of leaves. Loved having a hands-on experience in these animals' natural habitat--almost as cool as a safari. |
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| These guys captivated us for at least twenty minutes--tumbling down hills, playing around (a whole like lot my kids, actually), and generally goofing off. The guy pictured below loved to flip and swing, clapping his feet. |
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| Close MK friends of ours! |
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| Book readin' with Dad. |
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| We heart care packages! (Thank you again, Rebecca!) |
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| Staff retreat this year was refreshing and fun for all of us. We serve with so many incredible staff families! |
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| We finally found all of the ingredients for Rice Krispie Treats! So naturally, we snapped a photo. |
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| Ronald came into our lives recently to recover our living room cushions...and every time he comes, he plays with the kids for about an hour, and sometimes stays for dinner. This is one of the things we love about life in Africa. |
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| Hope, who is now John's Human Resources assistant, has a big heart, a sharp mind, and a great friendship with all of us. |
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| First day of soccer! We are so thankful for all of the extracurricular activities available in our neighborhood. |
