Halala ngosuku lokuzalwa

Happy Birthday in Zulu

When I asked our friend Given how old he thought I was... he said 42!

How awesome is Amber?

1.  She sang Happy Birthday to me more times then I can count.

2.  She made me brownie sundaes for dessert.

3.  She took me to the movies

4.  She bought party hats because I said a couple days before how it's not going to be that kind of birthday because it's not like we are going to have hats or anything. She proved me wrong :)

I love my Ruth Anne!

Isn't he the cutest? Never a dull moment when Joshuwa's around!

Group shot... thanks guys for making this day so special for me.

And thanks to Kurt & Janna Kay for surprising me the night before with cake AND tennis. Ha!

Home Sweet Home

This is a picture of the outside of our "flat" with our toyota corolla.  We have 3 bedrooms therefore we have an extra room...  come on over for a visit!

This is our kitchen/dining room/living room. You can see the wooden steps that lead up to a room which we plan to use as our office. What you can't see is that I'm wearing multiple layers including my jacket... which I often wear when inside. There is no central heating and it is 0C (32F)... therefore we stay downstairs beside the gas heater. The gas heater has wheels so we move it back and forth between the living room and our bathroom when it's shower time.

This will be my first birthday - July 6th - celebrated in the winter!!

This is the master bedroom that Amber graciously allowed me to have. I wish you could see how many layers are on my bed... only 4 blankets and an electric heating pad under the fitted sheet. My typical night attire is leggings, long pants, long socks, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt and a fleece jacket.

Let's just say it gets a little chilly at night without heat.

And of course I had to take a picture of the bathroom or as they call it here... the toilet or the loo.

I'm in Africa!

I thought I would give you a list of some fun things that have occurred thus far:

1.  During a 10 hour layover in Germany, I felt the need to brush my teeth so I used the faucet water.  A couple hours later I see a sign on the bathroom door instructing people not to drink the water because there is evidence of E. coli in the city.  Who would have thought you would have to worry about drinking the water in Germany?

2.  We went to a mall in Soweto... as we were leaving, a guard had us roll down the window and asked "are you okay?"  In reality, he was checking the ignition to make sure there were keys in it... you could say that there are quite a few cars stolen around here.

3.  Driving... Most cars are manual which I love since my first car was a stick but I have not driven one for a few years. I'm trying to get used to that as well as driving on the left side of the road. The hardest part is turning left or right and remembering which way to look for oncoming traffic. I have to keep telling myself when turning... short left, long right. 

This is a picture of my first time driving!
Check out our sweet ride

This is the Last Time

Okay not the last time ever... just the last time for 2 years.

We are leaving at 5pm today. I can't believe it's finally time to go. I'm so ready to be in Africa!

LAST... Birthday Party

Thanks Ry for the awesome faces and making us retake the picture multiple times. I'm going to miss my family!

LAST... Saturday Morning Cappuccino

Please take note of Papa Jim - He makes the best cup around! I love you Papa #2

LAST... Game Night

Kooper loves posing for pictures. I'm gonna miss you both so much. Thanks for all your support and love over the years for your baby sister. Look who's flown the coop now!

LAST... Father's Day

I love you so much Dad. Thanks for always being there for me. We'll celebrate next year on skype.

LAST... Coffee Date with Anne

Thanks for all the good times spent sharing life together and encouraging one another. You've been there for me from the beginning.

LAST... Day with Lori

I'm gonna miss just hangin' out with you doing whatever. Can't believe we've only known each other for seven months and it feels like a lifetime (in a good way of course).

I Love My Aunt Rachie

In case you had a blonde moment like I did after receiving this birthday gift from my sister... 

Vanessa is pregnant

And I'm going to be an Aunt!!

I'm so excited for V and Ry O... just a little sad that I won't get to meet my first nephew/niece in person for 2 years. But I heart technology and will be keeping in touch via skype :)

And here is a picture from Theresa's Baby Shower - I'm still hoping Chloe will come so I can see her before I head to Africa!

Commissioning Service x2

On Sunday, Amber and I were commissioned at Brier Creek by 2 of my favorite people, Danny & J.D. This is a picture of my parents and I before heading back to training. 

We were then commissioned in VA this past Wednesday. Thank you to Mom, Dad, Dawn & Kim for driving up to support me :)

These are just a few of the kids that I'm going to miss... 

It was hard saying goodbye but I'm excited to be flying out on Wed. June 24th!! Thank you to all of you who were praying for my visa to arrive... it came today SO I'm going to get to travel with Amber after all.

Friends Are Friends Forever

Some of my awesome friends came for a visit!

We went on a canal boat tour in downtown Richmond. We had fun with "Cotton" our boat captain. 

How would you like to spend 27 hours in a 3x2 wooden crate? 

In 1849 Henry "Box" Brown, a slave in Richmond, VA mailed himself to the Philadelphia office of the Anti-Slavery Society and was freed!

East African Meal

We had an awesome African meal which included many different foods that I don't know the names of. We had beef, beans, greens and fruit. We also had pop, which is called all different names depending on where you go in Africa - we shaped it into a spoon to eat since we were not allowed to use silverware. We also had chipatas which is a sort of bread that looks like tortillas. We had fun helping to prepare everything. 

This is a picture of Team #3!

Ultimate...

...Frisbee

I got some ups, not really but I've enjoyed trying to play. This is how we spend the little amount of free time we have after being in class all day.

Sanibonani

Greetings in Zulu

Sorry I have not been able to post recently... I'm doing well but have been extremely busy. I may not be able to update over the next couple weeks but please stay tuned. Enjoy this picture of Amber and I in traditional Kenyan dress :)