3rd generation Phil

3rd generation wedding

One of the great rewards to what we do is to see 2nd and 3rd spiritual
generations get married.
Here we are Thursday night at Phil and Vumi's wedding. Phil was led
to Christ and decipled by Spho, who I decipled.

Best part of the wedding? The wedding party dancing their way into the
reception!

End of year braai

Casting vision for next year. Thobe leads the way by helping us see
our natural relationships where we can advance the Gospel.

There is no snow in Burundi

Burundi

So we are planning and praying about a move to Burundi.  As I do so I can't help but help give you a bit of a contrast between where in the USA we are from vs. where we are going.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Dr. Seuss wrote a book that is a must read for just about everyone.  It's a bit of how we're feeling today.  read a bit and see our heart beat...

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

See the sea jumpers jump

November 28, 2010 by Kristy Carlson

Wow am I ever happy to be home! I am grateful for running water, the ability to brush my teeth straight from the tap, the freedom to open my mouth in the shower, my non-bedbug-infested-bed, and ziplocks. Ziplocks really are so handy, and I vow here and now never to take them for granted again. I have been waiting to tell you all about our Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania adventures (oh boy, was it ever an adventure… and FULL of drama from head to toe) because I am moving to a new blog! It’s a really pretty blog too, with enough room to move around in and LOTS of wall space to put up photos. I have NO IDEA how long it is going to take me to put this new blog together though, being that I am totally not tech savvy. In the meantime, I will show you one of my favorite images from the trip.

Cliff jumping is all the rage for the kids in Zanzibar. These kids were having a big competition for the “best moves” while blaring house music from a portable player. It was so much fun to hang out with them… even though, to them, I was a crazy white lady with a sleeping baby strapped to my front and a bag of popcorn. Because they have to get a pretty big running start, and I wanted to be ready, Coffee Guy would stand by the que of jumpers and I would have the camera pointed at the sea with my back to the “runway.” When someone started running Coffee Guy would shout, “Heeeeee’s commmmmmiiiiiinnnnnggggg!” All in the name of unpaid photojournalism.

Luv,

me

Check out more of Kristy's photo's and stories at: http://thedriftwood.wordpress.com/

Back from Burundi!

so you need to wait, as I got back from Burundi then immediately went off to Cape Town for our Navigator National Leadership Team meetings.

I will post some great photos and news of how God is working.
we are excited.

Why we can go without Myles.

Myles and Aunty Thobe.

Burundi: We leave in 24 hours

So the drama is high here at the Carlson household.  Let me give you a taste:

Packing for a week for 3 (Me, Kristy, Neo-yes 10 month old Neo) in 2 cary-ons.  

Wondering if the crying baby is getting a tooth or did that yellow fever injection give a little bit more virus then bargained for (don't tell that to Grandma).  

A videographer is coming by today to film us and teach Kristy some shooting techniques, all with the intention that they may make a documentary about our journey.  

Myles staying behind and mom having a hard time with that already.  

Myles can't get a yellow fever injection because he is allergic to raw egg (yellow fever anti-virus grown in live chickens and egg allergy sufferers therefore can not take the injection.... weird).

Underestimated survey trip cost and still short $250 for the trip, but God has provided in closer calls before.

We need to find ballerina tights.  No, not mine, a gift for a great Navigator family in Nairobi.

Nav Expense reports due today (have I ever gotten to them before the due date?)

No idea if we are going to be able to get 1/2 the things done in Burundi that we want to do, ie look for house to rent, schools for the boys, etc.

Register with Embassy for travel into deepest Africa.

Calm Kristy down.

Make a 1 page vision outline of what we are getting ourselves into... potentially.

Sick of calling it "potential."

Need my third double espresso.

I think Ella just let a nervous toot.  Even she feels the drama.

Did I pay the electric bill?

When next you see a post, it will most likely be when we are back from Burundi.  

Thanks for listening.

Here's a lil' taste of Burundi so you have a bit of an idea of what we are getting ourselves into.  Photos not nearly as nice as Kristy's (as they are mine from the June trip) so come back next week for some real juicy ones.... and speaking of juicy, enjoy the 2nd photo.

Me at my best?

My favorite Burundi take away joint. The "Happy Muzungu (white man)."

floater bucket and Burundi sky.

These ladies make US 50 cents a day to sort 60 kgs of green coffee looking for defects.

Got the double espresso.  Everything is going to be ok.

Burundi in the news... a good thing ever?

Here Are The 20 Poorest Nations In The World

18/21

   

#3 Republic of Burundi

Image: US Army Africa via Flickr

Population: 9.8 million

GDP (PPP): $3 billion

GDP per capita: $400

Summary: Having recently emerged from a civil war between the
Hutu and Tutsi factions, Burundi’s economy faces many challenges.
 It is landlocked, lacking in resources, largely uneducated (only one
in two children attend school), and one in every fifteen adults has HIV/Aids.
Although recent political stability has proven beneficial, poverty remains
extremely prominent

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/poorest-countries-in-the-world-2010-8#3-republic-of-burundi-18#ixzz15CFxSYoq

Our church on Twitter

So you can catch all we do at hope church on Twitter @hopechurchdurbs

Are we in the cutting edge{ish} of cultural relevance?

How helpful is social media?

Do people get affected, moved, respond or change by things such as Twitter?

Weigh in or tweet me.

Loving Life

Here we sit in Durban.  Loving life.  Loving friends.  Loving students.  And we feel a tug.  A Pull.  God is moving. God is moving us.  Where?  How?  Read and better understand... or not:

Psalm 83.3-7, 12

³ Even the sparrow has found a home,
       and the swallow a nest for herself,
       where she may have her young—
       a place near your altar,
       O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

 ⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
       they are ever praising you.
       Selah

 ⁵ Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
       who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

 ⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
       they make it a place of springs;
       the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

 ⁷ They go from strength to strength,
       till each appears before God in Zion. 

¹² O LORD Almighty,
       blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Hearts set on Pilgrimage.

Just thinking of friends in Japan.

So here are a couple of the O'Donnells.  Just thinking about these fine people over in Japan with The Navigators.  Good people to support if your into that type of thing! E-mail me to find out how.

Here is a little something to help you understand what people are talking about in SA today:

Oct 20, 2010

liff

Dear Government by Gareth Cliff

This is the letter that started it all. Gareth Cliff wrote this letter to Government on his personal website:

Dear Government

OK, I get it, the President isn’t the only one in charge. The ANC believes in “collective responsibility” (So that nobody has to get blamed when things get screwed up), so I address this to everyone in government – the whole lot of you – good, bad and ugly (That’s you, Blade).

We were all so pleased with your renewed promises to deliver services (we’ll forgive the fact that in some places people are worse off than in 1994); to root out corruption (so far your record is worse than under Mbeki, Mandela or the Apartheid regime – what with family members becoming overnight millionaires); and build infrastructure (State tenders going disgustingly awry and pretty stadia standing empty notwithstanding) – and with the good job you did when FIFA were telling you what to do for a few months this year. Give yourselves half a pat on the back. Since President Sepp went off with his billions I’m afraid we have less to be proud of – Public Servants Strikes, more Presidential bastard children, increasing unemployment and a lack of leadership that allowed the Unions to make the elected government it’s bitch. You should be more than a little worried – but you’re not. Hence my letter. Here are some things that might have passed you by:

1. You have to stop corruption. Don’t stop it because rich people moan about it and because it makes poor

The finished tree

The quiver tree and the boy who's energy sends you shivers!