In a very random order, here is a glimpse into my life in South Africa!
Tembo, the largest elephant I’ve ever hugged! Tembo was one of six orphan elephants at “Elephant Whispers”, a place where I was able to interact and ride the elephants!
Team Kaleo girls rocking it like always! I’ve loved and lived life with these beautiful ladies. I couldn’t have asked for better women!
Team Kaleo conquering the Kruger. These people have meant so much to me in the last 4 months! Growth has happened in amazing ways with each and every one of us.
I was in little kid heaven in the Kruger! Loving all the animals!
I was the one who brought binoculars, but I shared the love!
These lovely ladies have been a God send! (left to right: Me, Haley, Catherine, Alyssa, Emily)
I was really excited about sharing the binoculars!
Our host’s daughter Sheena is our official new best friend!
No big deal, just fit too many people in a van to go to town. World Race style
Check out this hot stuff Alyssa! She has pushed my boundaries (her goal is to get me to cuddle….) and I push her boundaries (not living in fear…). We equal each other out!
Andy, our host, taught me how to use this monster of a sound system. I love pushing buttons, and listening to music, so therefore it was perfect!
We were a little excited at 4 in the morning for our trip to the Kruger!
My weekly life of grocery shopping, but this was the Christmas food committee going shopping. We had 6 carts full, and only 5 people to push. Feeding 45 hungry people, 3 meals a day, each week, was a sight in the grocery store. Of course we usually only had 1 hour to shop… oh all the fun!
We aren’t in a small box, I promise! But we always have fun when our ‘Baby Jack’ is sleeping!
Our squad picture. Sound girls and Andy!
A little trip to our host’s home on Christmas Eve!
A cutie at one of the Christmas Parties! Rosie can take some awesome pictures!
Half of the crew that were my little shadows, following my every move! It didn’t matter it was crazy hot in the sun, their smiles made it all worth while!
Gorgeous drive to one of the camps. South Africa is absolutely breathtaking!
Bounce house fun! I got the littlest kids, and most of them had the time of their lives. Some were terrified, but they figured out how to hold on the sides and still jump. We called it the “Jack Twerk”… because Jack is impossible to teach how to twerk, but it is priceless just to watch! *Twerking is a movement that only comes out in the darkness of our boredom.*
The only thing I can juggle are handkerchiefs, thanks to Jacob from college and 4-H. But this was definitely a God moment, because I could juggle 3 tennis balls in front of these kids! It was also a God thing that they picked the ex-softball player to throw the tennis balls… as high as I could! Dangerous to have 10 kids chasing every 1 tennis ball, but the only injuries happened to me.
Boy or girl, Rosie and I can’t tell, but this kid that the BEST throwing arm.
My heart is always with the children, no matter what age, they all have a special section in my heart.
Found this wall art at Promise’s church, and I, of course, had to take a jumping picture with the cool dude!
One of my favorite pictures, skyping with the family for Christmas.
Doing what’s normal on Christmas when you celebrate in South Africa… eating lunch while lounging in the pool with your closest friends!
These were the 2 kids that starting throwing the tennis ball with me. I’m convinced God told them to play with me, because I needed a little ball throwing back in my life!
This little boy was so cute, looked like a 90 year old man, but still cute nonetheless. The tree in the background was the tree that he started climbing up, then jumped into my arms. He started a movement, because about 20 other kids started jumping. (My arms were a little sore the next day)
Our very first Braai, or barbeque, with Andy. Cooking A LOT of chicken for the staff’s Christmas lunch. It was a girl-only cookout, besides Andy, which didn’t go over well with the guys on the squad.
My teammate, Nathan, got me the perfect Christmas presents. A scarf that has all African animals and African trees on it, a combination of everything I love! Thanks Nathan!!!
Team Kaleo crushing Christmas with out SWEET Christmas sweaters (cut into tank tops, because it’s too hot for actual sweaters!). Earlier, while making cinnamon rolls for 50 people, I had on a very cute nightgown. Gems found at the church in Greece, everyone was jealous of those who had the privilege of wearing them! (Austin, Andrea, Heather, and myself)
Another highlight from an adventure day, riding on an African elephant! She was the baby of all the orphaned elephants, but that meant we actually climbed onto her, unlike the others who just walked up to a ladder.
ChoChoCho, the largest group of kids at the Children in Distress Christmas Parties. They welcomed us with dancing and singing, and ended with loud cheers and (new) red hats waving!
Some kids had never seen of a bounce house, which can be very daunting. Luckily they trusted me to hold onto their hands so they could still enjoy jumping! The kid in the orange is having a blast, a typical face of the kids… pure joy!
The front yard at CHoChoCho, holding about 300+ kids in the church property. Frisbees were flying, hula hoops were going around, and just a bit of chaos surrounding the 9 helpers.
The star of the Christmas play, Professor something of something and something… I don’t remember, but Tjerk (TJ) was the German professor in the play, meaning he got to drive the time machine. (don’t ask about the play… I still don’t understand it) He was one of the 2 German volunteers staying at Manna for Children in Distress. (Johannes was always too cool for Haley and It’s shenanigans, so he wouldn’t take a picture with us). TJ is one of the smartest, tallest, 18 year old I’ve met, and I have enjoyed every conversation with him. Teasing was a mutual love language between the 3 of us, which made things even better!
