Chronicles of the Combi -

A bit of a precursor to the story...

1.Botswana has strict driving laws.
2.You are more likely to die by car accident than AIDS in Botswana,
where 50% or more have HIV/AIDS
3.Combi's are often used for public transportation and is illegal to over fill them.

Close Call...
A combi is a van that holds 10 people. However there was 11 of us that needed to get to Kumekwane village (just outside Gabarone in Botswana). So someone said "one of us can just ride in the back "(the hatch). Sounded good at the time, so we went on. All was fine until we came up on a police check point. Michele quickly informed us to take no pictures ( this came as I was snapping some shots of Nicole hiding in the back ) and Nicole( a very quiet swiss girl working for Flying Mission) was to lay down in the back in the hopes of going unnoticed. Then it came our turn to drive through the check point. The tension was high in the combi. Michele rolled down her widow and greeted the officer in Setswana, the official language in Botswana. The officer smiled and appeared to be impressed with this little white girl speaking his language. He began to walk back along the combi looking in the window. Every time he would get close to the back Michele would grab his attention by talking Setswana very sweetly to him and every time it worked. The officer motioned for us to drive on, as we started through there was an officer on both sides of the combi. We all were hoping their eyes would focus on to the car behind us and they did. You could hear the sighs of relief as we drove on to Kumekwane.

Nicole hiding, in the picture below




Random info...
It is illegal to talk on the cell phone while driving in Botswana. Most people have cell phones because it is very difficult to get a land line phone.
It is common to see a man driving a donkey pulled cart and talking on the cell phone, that's legal :)

The Cow and the Combi....
We had just crossed the border into Botswana, and Michele says "help me keep an eye out for cows". I was like "huh"? It was dark and so we were looking for shiny eyes. I didn't realize then that the Botswana people don't fence in there livestock. So you can be on a major road and have to stop for a heard of goats or cows and such.
It was pitch black. We never saw them until we (Michele) swerved to miss them. It was a heard of cows just standing in the middle of the road. We never saw their eyes because we came up behind them. The combi was fish tailing from side to side and we heard a loud thump. The best we can figure we must have grazed the cows butt and hit his tail. Truly Michele saved our lives by handling the combi perfectly. Jeff (Michele's husband) was behind us in his "Landy" and missed them altogether. All Michele could say afterwards is " this is why we don't like driving at night" and I was like "Yeah"!

here's the combi

About Africa...

o.k. , I should first clear this up for those following the comments..... I hit a deer on University Parkway( a four lane road, 12 years ago) thanks for reminding me of that Steve! In Africa, I didn't hit the cow. Michele Royce hit the cow, I was in the passenger seat puking at the time. They couldn't have made me drive while over there, not on those roads! I have been successful at driving internationally however, in Australia. Nevermind that I never knew how fast I was going and always turning on the wipers instead of the blinkers, but no life was lost, as far as I know.

About Africa...

I have never been in a third world country. South Africa was my first, Botswana my second. And I can't wait for the third (sorry mom). I understand now why people want to do third world missions. I was fortunate enough to be apart of an amazing team that went to Africa to support Flying Mission. A mission organization that is based out of Gabarone, Botswana. Jeff and Michele Royce work for F.M. and are missionaries from my church. My team went to build up and encourage the long term missionaries and their families that are with F.M. The first part of our trip was in South Africa, just outside of Johannesburg. We were primarily responsible for putting on youth events during the F.M. conference. My job was to hang with the high-schoolers. I tried my hardest to be a blessing to them but in the end I was the one truly blessed. Most of these kids have spent their entire lives in a culture that is not theirs by nationality but it is home for them. When I asked them what their nationality was they didn't know. They find their identity in knowing that their lives count for something (unfortunately that isn't the case for a lot of teenagers). They make sacrifices because they see the despair that surrounds them and know the hope that is in them is contagious. Especially, in a culture that knows such sorrow. Everyone there has been effected by AIDS. Everyone there has lost someone to this killer. Which I saw the saddening effects of later.

After the F.M. conference we left and drove to Botswana (a five hour road trip that turned into seven because of all the stops we had to make so that I could leave my personal mark on Africa). Several of us got this stomach bug while we were in South Africa. Unfortunately, my turn was the day we were traveling. I had to go through customs while running to the bathroom in between immigration officers. It wasn't an experience I would ask for but it really gave me a neat perspective. During the worst of it, when I felt the closest to death( those that get these stomach bugs know what I mean) Michele began to sing "Blessed be the name of the Lord". The song is about praising the Lord during the good and the bad. I realize that my suffering was momentary but for so many peolple it's not momentary. By this point I saw enough poverty, enough oppression, to hurt . The next day we would be going to a daycare orphanage and spending time with children who have lost their parent to AIDS. These are the people that need to know how to praise God not for a really bad moment but for a really bad reality. We gave the kids bags that we made and decorated saying "Jesus love you", in Setswana of course. The bags had things they would need like a washcloth, toothbrush, and soap. And, fun things like candy, bouncy balls, and crayons. They were thrilled. We also brought them shoes and tons of clothes including underwear ( we left that with Michele to give them later, we didn't want to overwhelm them). We played games, painted their faces and sang songs with them. A few only wanted for me to take their picture so that they could see it on the display. They are precious and each of them will hold a special place in my heart. I pray for their future and all that awaits them. Some of them won't see their tenth birthday as they were born with HIV. It 's a legacy passed on in Botswana. It is the leading country for HIV/AIDS cases in the world. The average life expectancy is 35 years old. Their culture is filled with witchcraft and evil traditions that teaches against abstinence and faithfulness even at the very least condom use. They are a people that are killing themselves with deception. I like to think that us being there helped in a very small way, for my own sake I have to think that. As I left my mark on Africa, so Africa left a mark on my heart.

It is a beautiful land with the most amazing foliage and wildlife. Not only did I get to pet a tiger but a lion too. And, I fell in love with a giraffe, they are the coolest of all creatures!

Yeah...that's me in the picture with the giraffe :o

Thanks for reading :)

I feel the love!

I'm so excited 3 comments! I wasen't sure anyone would read this.
I can see how this can get addicting. I will try to pace myself so to avoid burnout :)

Coming soon..... a post about my African adventures (I'm still processing the trip)
some of it which I'm trying to forget! That would be the sick part! And I'm still having flashbacks from hitting the cow in the combi....more on that later.

Tonya, you night owl!

Jennifer, be careful with the pictures. I have some too. And, I am prepared to use them :)

Beginning a new chapter in my life.....Blogging.

This is really an attempt to be more like Steve Pruitt :) No really he inspires me...for real!
I also have to say that none of this could be possible without the technical support of my wonderful husband the f1rststory, who's patience with me exceeds me. Now he is currently trying to secure the bloggername above so that he can use it if needed. How cute!
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this. After spending most of my time with two young kids I'm hoping it may be a good outlet for me to attempt to formulate and articulate an adult thought...here's hoping!