Zebra's in the Night ....

We have been out here for several months and we have missed celebrating special events, you know things like our Anniversary, Christmas, Arlene's birthday, Valentines Day, you know the little things. We were told by our leaders that we really need to take a minute every now and then to stop and look at the things around us. We need to remember that we are in Africa and there are things we should see. I have counseled with all of our senior couples that they need to take a couple of days out every three months or so and get away. Well it was our time last week to follow that counsel. It only took me 8 months to get up and go do it. We drove over to Victoria Falls, it's about a 5 hours drive from Lusaka. 

The roads are good and the country is beautiful. We stayed at a place right next to the Falls, the "Zambezi Sun" it was really nice. It is a very popular place to stay, Lots of people from all over the world. When we arrived we were greeted by the local greeting committee from the "Leya People" they were dressed in the local dress of their tribe, reminiscent of the time Dr. Livingstone found them. They sang and danced for us, it was really neat.

The hotel is located on 120 acres right next to the Falls. We even had wild animals on the property. The pictures below are just a sample of the ones we took. 

We really had a good time. I didn't realize how tired I was until later on. This assignment is a "marathon" not a sprint. I'm glad that I know how to run slow. One step at a time, for a long time. We will be going out on a mission tour this next week. It will take us all over the mission again. We will be glad to hold conference and trainings with our local leaders and our missionaries. We will do another blog when we return. There is a lot  going on here. We are busy once again. It never stops. We like it like that! We miss you all, we are happy and safe.

xoxo

M&A

Local "Leya" tribesmen at the hotel.

Nice look....

These guys were great fun, every time we went in and out the sang and danced for us.

What a babe....

 You know how much she enjoys pictures...

Check in....nice.

On the way to the pool.

The place is really big....

  

Pool was warm....

The rooms were small but nice....

You look right out the window into the jungle.

Birds and monkeys right out the door.

 We went out to explor, this sign was right to the left of our front door. The sign was no joke!

He had lots of his friends near by......

 Stay "queenie"

 The path from our room, the Croc sign is just to the left.

On the way to the Falls.

The only word is, "WOW!"

It was super....

When the wind shifs, you get soaked!

The "mist" or as Arlene called it, " Down Pour" was awesome!

This is the bridge that people "bungi" jump from......no thank you!

This is also the bridge that seperates Zambia & Zimbabwe.

This is just the other side of the Falls.

The water is really fast going down the gorge.

We walked back around and I found a spot to take a picture just as the water goes over.

 Honey....look...honey, where are you? 

Sweet!

 Can you hear her? I still can!

 And yes, I got in trouble....

I took the pictures just on that small rock to the left of this picture, it went straight down from there.

We went out on the really cool boat on the Zambezi River.

 We were just off the shore when we saw our first Hippo's .....

As we got closer they let us know to back-off!!

In this first group there were about 10 or so ....

Really neat!!

Later on we went to this small island in the middle of the river for an picnic ...

We stayed on the boat while our guide Peter went to check for Crocodiles .....he really did check .....

  

We were just up the channel from the Falls, you can see the mist in the background.

I promise there are no Croc's ..... you notice that it was OK for me to go look ....

Really, I promise .....

You notice that we didn't have chairs.....our guide said it makes it easier to run 

when your standing up......

 Yum, chicken on the Zambezi ....

This was taken just the other side of where we ate lunch, dark and scary.

Not Arlene ....the jungle ...

After lunch we took off down towards the Falls.

He got really close....

The monkey's were everywhere.

When we got back to the hotel we were greeted by the local heard of Zebra's.

They were just passing through.

 We followed them into the jungle.

And then it was time to go .....

These were nest's out over the water, they were full of bright yellow birds.

We went on a game drive the next day.

Impala's....just like the Car .... 

 More Zebra's and giraffes.

Home to many Croc's...

I am not going down there.......what a smile....yes dear.....

On the way back we met three armed men at the check point. they told us that they were 

there to protect the White Rhino's.

 They asked if we would like to go out in the bush and see them. 

I thought we were in the bush ....

So we went with them....

It sounded something like this....We will walk single file, you must not make any noise.

I will lead you, lady go next, then you. My friend will watch the rear. Stay

very close, walk fast......

And away we went....

 Nice AK47 ....

 No path, just walk.....

And were walking .....

How far is this?

And there they were....Mom, Jr. and the baby.... 

We were this close....

It was super....I know where is your hat......

And then Dad showed up....he was really big! He just looked at us and snorted.

 Then we backed away...

Really cool....

 You just can't make this stuff up....

Yes, it was hot and you just can't believe how many bugs and stickers we found on us ...

 Oh look dear, another Giraffe...

The Zebra's came back after dinner and spent the night on our front lawn...

Sun coming up over the Falls. The African words are,

"Mossi Oa Tunya" or the Mist that Thunders.

We love you all. We miss you. Please come and join us here. We need all of you senior couples to come and serve with us. It is a blast.

xoxo

M&A

Red, Blue, White, Yellow......

Since our last posting we have been all over the country and now we are home again for a moment. We were privileged to have had Elder & Sister Hartman come and visit. Elder Hartman is the mental health Doctor in the Africa Southeast Area for the Church. You might have read his book, "The People Code". He is a brilliant man and they are one of the most fun couples we have ever met. He brings new meaning to the term, "my new best friend" They were able to spend 10 days with us as we toured the mission. We were able to travel the mission by car. We had him captive for days, boy did I learn things about me. It was most fun to see how the missionaries reacted to what "color" they were. As you know I am "RED" not just "RED, BRIGHT RED." Arlene is very blue with all of the other colors in her basket. Needless to say, we had many OH .... moments. It was fun to see all of the missionaries say, now I know why my companion does that. He's Red! It was such fun. 

The corn crop is almost ready to harvest. In some areas the rain has been plentiful, but in others it has been poor. We worry that many of these good people will go hungry in the winter months due to crop failure. The old song, "God bless the rains down in Africa"really takes on new meaning. We continue to pray for them.

At the end of the mission tour with the Hartman's, we transferred almost the whole mission. It involved all but nine, so it was massive. From the letters I have received, it sounds like everyone is happy in their new assignments. Transfers are just like other Church callings, your released from one area and called to serve in another. One of the Sisters told me at lunch the other day that she was a little upset that I had transferred her into another area. She asked me, "Why did you do that President?" I looked at her and said, "I didn't transfer you, the Lord did. Now go find out why." Last week we met up again and she said, "Oh President, We were out in the compound contacting less active families and we felt that we should cross the street and knock on the door.  The lady answered and said, I have been waiting for you, I had a dream that you would come and teach me, and you were the ones I saw in my dream." I am thankful that the Lord blesses us as we do His work. I am thankful for faithful Sisters who follow the Spirit and just "go and do". 

It seems like the harder you try, the behinder you get. We feel that everyday. There is so much to do. We are happy here. It is hard to serve a mission. I am thankful that the Lord took a chance when he called us. I never thought that I would get over the power going out, and the Internet not working. You know us "REDS" I want it fixed now! .... but now that I have embraced the color yellow, it's OK, it will come back on sometime....it is fun to sit in the dark and eat cookies and listen to the rain. I am thankful for Arlene. What a wonderful women. I am so blessed to be here with her. I always knew that I loved my wife. She has been my companion and my friend for over 40 years. Some people say marriage is like peeling an onion. You never know what is next. I think being married to Arlene is like being married to a 20 caret diamond. Every time the light shines on it, it looks different. And when I pause and look, I see just how blessed I am. 

We know that many of you have families that are sick and are struggling. We pray for you, we think of you and we know that you will be made well and you will find your way. 

Next week we are heading over to Livingstone for a day or so. We will send pictures. We hope you enjoy these.

Until next time. 

xoxox

M&A

Everyday these men bring wood in from the countryside. Many of them leave in the early morning. They sell their wood and with the small amount of money they by food for their families and ride back into the villages, and start over again for tomorrow. 

Oxen and cows are still the best way to travel.

How much do you think that weights?

One after another, all day long.

You never know what you will see on the road, these men were just on the corner singing.

Rush hour in Lusaka.

How many can you get in one truck? The CPH would have a field day here.

 NYC eat your heart out. This is the first horse we have seen here.

Mounted drill team.....

Elder & Sister Hartman with the Lusaka Zone.

Elder Sibanda always has the right answer.

I didn't think President would give us a test, he never gives tests....

They all passed.....

Copperbelt Zone. Up near the DR Congo border.

Elder Nyelele, did you enjoy your lunch?

Yes i did President. Very much!!

These are the huts in the villages just up the road from Liwonde, Malawi.

How is that for green.

 Huts as far as you can see.

Market day.

This is a new way of carring the "mantel"

 All day to and from the market.

When it's sunny you just put the top up.

That's a ton on wood.

We attented a babtism in Kauma Branch. It was wonderful.

Look at all the smiles.

Today changed their lives forever.

We like Skype......

Over the past few weeks we have been able to "Skype" some of you. It has been a dream come true. We have been able to see all of the kids and our grandchildren and that has been great. One day last week I was able to link up with the boys at the old office. It was so neat to see all of them, It made me think just how much I love those men. I am so blessed to have friends like them. In my job at the studio it was an honor to work with these guys, some of them for 40 plus years. I am blessed to have such good friends. It was so neat to be right in the office again. Only for a minute.....We have had more rain these past few weeks. It has been amazing. The crops are enjoying it very much. We are sending along a few more pictures. It is really hard to explain that just right down the road is all of this wildlife and people who just work and work all day. They never worry about anything, they just work and take care of one another. Most of the families here farm. They are able to manage feeding themselves and earn some money where and when they can. If you are earning over $100.00 in a month you are doing well. We enjoyed having Elder & Sister Carl B. Cook come and visit the mission. We had a wonderful time attending conferences and meetings with them. They traveled with us over to Malawi and it was nice to listen to their counsel and feel of their warm spirit for the work. The day before we were to fly over to Malawi the airline decided to cancel the flight. It happens all of the time. So plan "B" went into effect. We drove. It like going from Los Angeles to Ogden, Utah with no stops. No stops because there isn't anywhere to stop. We were able to find fuel in Chipata and that sustained us until we arrived into Blantyre. We sent them home to Johannesburg when they finished the mission tour. We then went home via Lilongwe. We spoke with Samantha last week, she said that Jr. was ill with the flu and that it caused his diabetes to flare up. We would ask for your thoughts and prayers for her and the family. We know that the Lord will bless Jr. he is a fine young man and has great faith. We are blessed to had trials and struggles. We are thankful that we are able to learn from these experiences. We know that all of you will be blessed while we are gone. We were told that in our blessings when we left you. I know that God will watch over all of you while we are awy, you have no need to fear. This I know. We will write to you soon, we love you all. Hey, Get Skype and call us.....love to all. M&A

After a day in the fields. We stopped and offered some water. It was hot and they were out in the middle of the bush....

This is just down the road from the house. we go out there a lot to see the elephants, it was late in the afternoon and it was raining a little.

 

 On the way home we stopped to look at the white cranes in the trees.....

The baboons here are not to be played with. As much as you would like to get out and take pictures of them. They will steal everything they can get their hands on. They love any kind of food or anything that is shiny. Easy or the bald jokes.....

This was taken at our District and Zone Leader Council in Lusaka, Zambia

Lunch time for the Sisters.

We had about 45 at the Conference with the Cook's in Lusaka.

The Cook's enjoying lunch.

Woodlands, Lusaka  and Copperbelt  Zone Conference January 2012

President & Sister Padovich, Elder & Sister Carl B. Cook of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy.

Lusaka, Zambia  January 3, 2012

Zone Conference Blantyre, Malawi January 2012

 This is a picture of some of the members in Liwonde, Malawi we held a meeting there last month. It was one of the highlights of our trip. 

True and faithful people.

Zone Conference Lilongwe, Malawi