tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86084095091614045222024-03-19T13:35:59.188+02:00Bobbi's heading back to South Africa!Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-78231581009022995432010-02-10T13:01:00.000+02:002010-02-10T13:01:28.847+02:00Badplaas, Mpumalanga, South AfricaI've been in Badplaas, a small town about 3 hours east of Johnannesburg, for almost a month now. I'm settled and used to the routine now. I'm staying with five kids who have been orphaned and whose foster father had brain cancer and last week passed away. They are ages 10-15, two boys (twins)Sipho and Sihle, who just turned 13 and three girls, Jedidyah, 15, Queenie, 11 and Angel is 10. I am staying with them in the transition period between the foster home where they were and their likely new home. <br />
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Badplaas is a very beautiful area in the foothills of the Ndlumudlumu Hills. Every day I'm stunned by the view as we drive into town. I'm staying with the five kids on another family's farm. It is hoped they will become the new foster parents. They, Kerry and Wimpie, have two kids of their own, a 12 yr old son, Mickie and 15 yr old daughter, Michelle . All the children seem to get along well,especially the boys, who are practically inseparable.<br />
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Each day I go into town with them and assist at their school. Its a tiny Christian school. Then we go home, have lunch and do homework, then free time until supper, after supper the kids go to bed and I have a couple hours to unwind. I'm not sure how long I will be here, maybe until the end of March. Then I would like to visit a missionary friend in Botswana and then end up my time in Cape Town. I fly back to the States on April 28th. Just in time for my mother's birthday on the 30th!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd12ob-Zu5Cb6_jHEIs6eWN7o5a22fkNv1YQ6P-9J0395iI0sAP5EJsqjF1e5C-DtDEWY-5HrwKacaDvBu3A9GbYSA_vCbehQasidM7zEzFMVzqlxOb94Lgrkei83w9gfKu9jJEjYn0-A/s1600-h/Kids+%26+I+at+Church+RESIZED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd12ob-Zu5Cb6_jHEIs6eWN7o5a22fkNv1YQ6P-9J0395iI0sAP5EJsqjF1e5C-DtDEWY-5HrwKacaDvBu3A9GbYSA_vCbehQasidM7zEzFMVzqlxOb94Lgrkei83w9gfKu9jJEjYn0-A/s400/Kids+%26+I+at+Church+RESIZED.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some pics.... me with all the kids except Michelle, after church last Sunday </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC6EvweTBFdBPaJcHuzub_snUTFFZw47b1pF-80Cwm8Z6ZzQ_IoJgnwrm51tI7uVaRnsh1WJoUWIgdYtHW-jrXNaGYR62S_dym81FM7wpWEBoIQ7zQGjg7-ZaMijwmPGoA2Eh_VnT_Q4/s1600-h/Jane+%26+Phil%27s+Dam+RESIZED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC6EvweTBFdBPaJcHuzub_snUTFFZw47b1pF-80Cwm8Z6ZzQ_IoJgnwrm51tI7uVaRnsh1WJoUWIgdYtHW-jrXNaGYR62S_dym81FM7wpWEBoIQ7zQGjg7-ZaMijwmPGoA2Eh_VnT_Q4/s400/Jane+%26+Phil%27s+Dam+RESIZED.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's one of my favorite views here....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ4JUJCXq3PQtnCKYv9eBZ4aC4fCFaepiU8ZY1xFb50anppEwdL9H9xGcMcZlZI2xczwUwPbSjLjN_trCtvfMIzhemIvgxQdd4Py3DQ3FoHKc61Q6QSlcadw3aTyfTZUlNAPR_ul1U78/s1600-h/Castilians+Christian+School+RESIZED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ4JUJCXq3PQtnCKYv9eBZ4aC4fCFaepiU8ZY1xFb50anppEwdL9H9xGcMcZlZI2xczwUwPbSjLjN_trCtvfMIzhemIvgxQdd4Py3DQ3FoHKc61Q6QSlcadw3aTyfTZUlNAPR_ul1U78/s400/Castilians+Christian+School+RESIZED.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a pic of the Christian school the kids attend...</div>Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-45299184918924355932010-01-01T03:42:00.002+02:002010-01-01T03:56:31.187+02:00Kids Club!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrCaLEpazAg1ZW6_MhZpkHbiYOxD_CqsB8_AorZbVxGdSxZMNUczGWKIotwmSbOEwVA1cMFLA0v3xA2FyNqXPY9yHrf3g4ce2oHyl_3X44Utq0HlBVL_BH6UtsoMhZpmS-Injw_ywxfQ/s1600-h/IMG_0700.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrCaLEpazAg1ZW6_MhZpkHbiYOxD_CqsB8_AorZbVxGdSxZMNUczGWKIotwmSbOEwVA1cMFLA0v3xA2FyNqXPY9yHrf3g4ce2oHyl_3X44Utq0HlBVL_BH6UtsoMhZpmS-Injw_ywxfQ/s400/IMG_0700.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421584194278460050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7LVWwcKp5fHp2wlvzW10z_0Zg_FS6FaMsEROyMHKNS1gG7qIH9ZsoLkAqNMV1N_HYOJTXPUGxgqj5z4ezDWrVlp5-7qshAYjuASxLp_aP8NgaVCyZMlEoVi5XIE3R-My-Lls6MpBTSU/s1600-h/IMG_0653.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7LVWwcKp5fHp2wlvzW10z_0Zg_FS6FaMsEROyMHKNS1gG7qIH9ZsoLkAqNMV1N_HYOJTXPUGxgqj5z4ezDWrVlp5-7qshAYjuASxLp_aP8NgaVCyZMlEoVi5XIE3R-My-Lls6MpBTSU/s400/IMG_0653.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421584183387091922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztZA_b2IMS_Lfbc6iHEr1GVrZM3hBh0e6W5rd-iy2ECR_QpFWT_vNsDLLWGYz5UHw-EbBEjNruxEsvQ8UkPbxK7F6qfA5Bs8VtVv0PJPFKhs8KQKvNFXVYTxiPNx73vEK5Vgn4DxI_Pk/s1600-h/DSCF2338.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztZA_b2IMS_Lfbc6iHEr1GVrZM3hBh0e6W5rd-iy2ECR_QpFWT_vNsDLLWGYz5UHw-EbBEjNruxEsvQ8UkPbxK7F6qfA5Bs8VtVv0PJPFKhs8KQKvNFXVYTxiPNx73vEK5Vgn4DxI_Pk/s400/DSCF2338.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421584180359784546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilw7uYogcuF_xjAxXrC056LVH_D6FsGdP8Pd1Jiq2cnNdmWFhjqVrzDTKz4vM6kIXVeVRzXOg-SB6ZoM_9UfKkg5BnvWy8C2DOHY8FnyCoU5PSISEOFrHWnEbXAZHe8J32ZDt6b98l9KY/s1600-h/DSCF2173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilw7uYogcuF_xjAxXrC056LVH_D6FsGdP8Pd1Jiq2cnNdmWFhjqVrzDTKz4vM6kIXVeVRzXOg-SB6ZoM_9UfKkg5BnvWy8C2DOHY8FnyCoU5PSISEOFrHWnEbXAZHe8J32ZDt6b98l9KY/s400/DSCF2173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421584174181873330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyNIajaL93D2Rk0jX2DMOVQqkeYsLnOio_mKooM4yJ15qER3jUQhJyFWzadncjQIR3u52ZcfujLCrMA0ZifedmxYizsi9J9N2rA4lWTMvmpmcEImrmAypEmu-rIRs_8zNOon1eDn_3uk/s1600-h/DSCF2261.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyNIajaL93D2Rk0jX2DMOVQqkeYsLnOio_mKooM4yJ15qER3jUQhJyFWzadncjQIR3u52ZcfujLCrMA0ZifedmxYizsi9J9N2rA4lWTMvmpmcEImrmAypEmu-rIRs_8zNOon1eDn_3uk/s400/DSCF2261.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421582159865910450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KWOcIAjI91xH6qXQXGWr6FOCQKGF55ivbbjkWj8hh3HiA2ZfSE_xMGKSR1eY0GVwY5f9GoMgiqV8j7H4g3SgWm48JW3SnBiU22KiZsdsu_ulN9whpK9EnwWAXdyjm1VHG3-1sKHsT8Q/s1600-h/DSCF2060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KWOcIAjI91xH6qXQXGWr6FOCQKGF55ivbbjkWj8hh3HiA2ZfSE_xMGKSR1eY0GVwY5f9GoMgiqV8j7H4g3SgWm48JW3SnBiU22KiZsdsu_ulN9whpK9EnwWAXdyjm1VHG3-1sKHsT8Q/s400/DSCF2060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421582150385065426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggS8cZRy9o5Poj2aXuQu9qYSbH2deO3QWVzCOyi8hv5xlMb3UQLCrOmJ4vDc4_CKQV6SsvxPnGI0oL93bGwEZjI4LC_axpeX7S523soW7ex9W-RdidZ9e-B2VevZML0GY0fqzgGR6hWIY/s1600-h/DSCF1926.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggS8cZRy9o5Poj2aXuQu9qYSbH2deO3QWVzCOyi8hv5xlMb3UQLCrOmJ4vDc4_CKQV6SsvxPnGI0oL93bGwEZjI4LC_axpeX7S523soW7ex9W-RdidZ9e-B2VevZML0GY0fqzgGR6hWIY/s400/DSCF1926.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421582140075150994" /></a>Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-71698362304164038392009-10-22T21:13:00.007+02:002009-10-25T13:05:03.775+02:00Mozambique! English class and ....So I've been in Mozambique for two and a half weeks and have been teaching now for 2 weeks and it has been interesting to say the least! My first day of classes, one student showed up!! The second class (I'm teaching a class during the week and then a class on Saturdays for those who can't come during the week) had 8 students by the end of class. So far the biggest challenge, aside from my lack of experience, is the differing levels of the students. Most are beginners, but a few speak pretty good English. It will be difficult to keep them engaged, since the lessons need to be pretty basic for the beginners. Here is a picture of some of my students, Sebastiao, Celso and Raimundo...Celso and Raimundo are two of the more advanced students....they are quite funny also... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaj0Yl2TwwEJRz5o6NIJQTOU6OYFCaMh5SlyO7U7Lh2L7V6pVvh_n7uREoPPmNGxmzsh3Mf4Q6aMabpvphO8kXt4eVjmc2VAbQ0dlxOe3xTo0uYpjPcJe4snbVtWIwvgc2ETkiUXmsYqY/s1600-h/blog-students+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaj0Yl2TwwEJRz5o6NIJQTOU6OYFCaMh5SlyO7U7Lh2L7V6pVvh_n7uREoPPmNGxmzsh3Mf4Q6aMabpvphO8kXt4eVjmc2VAbQ0dlxOe3xTo0uYpjPcJe4snbVtWIwvgc2ETkiUXmsYqY/s400/blog-students+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396485626636217074" border="0" /></a>I was warned they may try to hijack my class sometimes! =:)<br /><br />The students are quite eager though and I think even the intermediate students are enjoying the chance to speak more English. Outside of class, they don't have much opportunity to speak English, though it will apparently make it easier for them to get a good job if they speak English. The students are from a very poor area of Maputo and so don't have money to buy workbooks or dictionaries, so I'm going to try to raise money to buy them each an English/Portuguese dictionary. I think this will help them a lot. Especially if I can get them reading and writing, they will need the dictionary to expand their vocabulary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr1UdxCgT6hGgWMsqmJpO8ID4ePKl0j_82r5EVi2cjnQEiEr3epJGUlQfblb_WX_2SQv7oCkET_p4mkQXaork0tVC5QJqLVripZyK5Ay5C5-_5bDnJpx0cB1Nu4MSSyaNVa8gsP1jiXc/s1600-h/blog-p+n+g+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr1UdxCgT6hGgWMsqmJpO8ID4ePKl0j_82r5EVi2cjnQEiEr3epJGUlQfblb_WX_2SQv7oCkET_p4mkQXaork0tVC5QJqLVripZyK5Ay5C5-_5bDnJpx0cB1Nu4MSSyaNVa8gsP1jiXc/s400/blog-p+n+g+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396485629304268514" border="0" /></a>This is a picture of Grace and Patrick Mulenga. I am staying with them in their home. Two of their daughters live with them also, Shula, who is Director of the Kutwanana Primary School they run at the church; and Twatasha, their youngest daughter, who is finishing up her last year of high school. They have two other children, Mumba, their only son, is attending college in Cape Town (he is how I came to know the rest of the family!) and Katongo, the middle daughter, is attending college in Nelspruit, a town in South Africa, not far from the Mozambique border.<br /><br />I went to the primary school with Shula last Friday for their "End of Year" Party. On Thursday we had baked about 300 cookies and Shula got up Friday morning and baked cupcakes for them. It was a lot of fun! They played a couple games, then had their goodies, sang some songs, then had an awards ceremony. They kids had a ball...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQfA5jQiSiuzL2btrYtQmgqmcKMz3A24ZvFYb3EJlflFl2j4cOZKRAIOci_OwLdkanMonQE3OIG8Ica7rTvzvbyhHtCvU0LbC2A34-8Jq1qjh4NVK0RkWFDvYpDZ23OrHiuIwsVYRH8E/s1600-h/blog-shula+n+teachers+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQfA5jQiSiuzL2btrYtQmgqmcKMz3A24ZvFYb3EJlflFl2j4cOZKRAIOci_OwLdkanMonQE3OIG8Ica7rTvzvbyhHtCvU0LbC2A34-8Jq1qjh4NVK0RkWFDvYpDZ23OrHiuIwsVYRH8E/s400/blog-shula+n+teachers+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396484814440613826" border="0" /></a>here's picture of Shula (in the middle), and her teachers..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekVVhyzlq1Bt8HPfo-Wvn1-ffuAAGT5UZSLb4vbGhV3vjrAumzXmMAoxINS4Iq8TLBbBUpqNfiWK_VMDOazzhvp-3EvOhGMCuvjqN2gganXXciEkXFe2sjHk36GYYwxotPalo_06MsGM/s1600-h/blog-kids+eating+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekVVhyzlq1Bt8HPfo-Wvn1-ffuAAGT5UZSLb4vbGhV3vjrAumzXmMAoxINS4Iq8TLBbBUpqNfiWK_VMDOazzhvp-3EvOhGMCuvjqN2gganXXciEkXFe2sjHk36GYYwxotPalo_06MsGM/s400/blog-kids+eating+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396484817285633234" border="0" /></a>here are the kids eating their goody plate....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD5X2yi5oYMlquGOLvmGXkNsCc2Ha3nqfc_E3wMlIpdLDyY31HsszTGuJnB0UFEkGhSUCgB7Ewp4JJtBZSR6JMFVWz4QTHuJA3pbBwbo29vIVQVNw_RHzx-Y9NuQfloqfOXoZ-8zl-EY/s1600-h/blog-kids+singing+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD5X2yi5oYMlquGOLvmGXkNsCc2Ha3nqfc_E3wMlIpdLDyY31HsszTGuJnB0UFEkGhSUCgB7Ewp4JJtBZSR6JMFVWz4QTHuJA3pbBwbo29vIVQVNw_RHzx-Y9NuQfloqfOXoZ-8zl-EY/s400/blog-kids+singing+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396484819426938226" border="0" /></a>here they are singing songs.....the school is now finished until next year, February, as it is summer here now. And yes, its getting hot...I purchased a fan earlier this week and I think it will be a life saver!!!Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-45737308744978754042009-10-06T16:12:00.004+02:002009-10-06T17:18:42.813+02:00Back in Cape Town for a few weeks!<div style="text-align: center;">So I've been back in Cape Town for three weeks and have been thoroughly enjoying myself!! I've met up with lots of friends and spent lots of time at the SOS Village. Its been so great seeing the kids again!! I leave in 2 days to go to Mozambique, so the time has come to a swift end, but here are some pics of what I've been up to...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9BgxI3i1PERlgc_7F9rFgOA0Y6kdyIEUHVF5JYwTiV4mQ1SvBMVVf4qUgPU4TTLBXoO3rXcx69ESULAMS5YPR2bIYijxJNeMfK3fK5eyDnROHus-UrVRaN0_Vw1Rx3UMGaFfxwiCrxg/s1600-h/for+blog+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9BgxI3i1PERlgc_7F9rFgOA0Y6kdyIEUHVF5JYwTiV4mQ1SvBMVVf4qUgPU4TTLBXoO3rXcx69ESULAMS5YPR2bIYijxJNeMfK3fK5eyDnROHus-UrVRaN0_Vw1Rx3UMGaFfxwiCrxg/s400/for+blog+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389497893526197410" border="0" /></a>Here's a pic of the SOS Kindergarten Teachers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYtrH2F5rJsfpciHLHvjvCWQ-hA74sKU445AekNI7JTg1-2Pz9OrfeiTgZhWas9oVpBeZngDdyX84g3tIeC-TNvz-KKBXtsakdZ8iJj5Esy8ur3eWqM000qbdYlJzs0WAj4VG2sMa9-s/s1600-h/for+blog+resized5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYtrH2F5rJsfpciHLHvjvCWQ-hA74sKU445AekNI7JTg1-2Pz9OrfeiTgZhWas9oVpBeZngDdyX84g3tIeC-TNvz-KKBXtsakdZ8iJj5Esy8ur3eWqM000qbdYlJzs0WAj4VG2sMa9-s/s400/for+blog+resized5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389498445389989346" border="0" /></a>And here are some pics of the kids at the SOS Village, I missed them so much!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ9Khyphenhyphenw6Oh9TPhyphenhyphendPnaE4kDCviFSYRHQ2I2TM_JjGqhAeI7d2RcAxFteKe2kmRMxRpnWJ0B8O0YPy0voYZpv4kfg5z_FBiWTmNR1LtuiuY7UPddkzWVc_J-rtGEaIurA60b_nUrGPCYY/s1600-h/for+blog+resized4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ9Khyphenhyphenw6Oh9TPhyphenhyphendPnaE4kDCviFSYRHQ2I2TM_JjGqhAeI7d2RcAxFteKe2kmRMxRpnWJ0B8O0YPy0voYZpv4kfg5z_FBiWTmNR1LtuiuY7UPddkzWVc_J-rtGEaIurA60b_nUrGPCYY/s400/for+blog+resized4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389497906672980306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28IX9wtFiZEkUTjFT0PW-llpX2SvoQ0pugjdX3s241iARx6UH2_iiMZB05x5mjECe8KYbYAsd2xXP4AVPhENSRBvgPjFOOaRIMMda8Q2h-0d4l3UyqnYx-2KPGDQpCOTSCmIBLeQrx-8/s1600-h/for+blog+resized3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28IX9wtFiZEkUTjFT0PW-llpX2SvoQ0pugjdX3s241iARx6UH2_iiMZB05x5mjECe8KYbYAsd2xXP4AVPhENSRBvgPjFOOaRIMMda8Q2h-0d4l3UyqnYx-2KPGDQpCOTSCmIBLeQrx-8/s400/for+blog+resized3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389497899777558050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdSLa_eaVdm0d71eUYzi2LV3zDnuv2UEqGC5IJJLpsJPWs38ukljq2FWgsxQMsjfwGHTcu69AoMXyUI0PSZd9q6YNnKHokaqoNkDLquVuWEfTV2B5tzpsucZFYElPFjh4OvPojzVBVx8/s1600-h/for+blog+resized6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdSLa_eaVdm0d71eUYzi2LV3zDnuv2UEqGC5IJJLpsJPWs38ukljq2FWgsxQMsjfwGHTcu69AoMXyUI0PSZd9q6YNnKHokaqoNkDLquVuWEfTV2B5tzpsucZFYElPFjh4OvPojzVBVx8/s400/for+blog+resized6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389498451661653906" border="0" /></a>Here's me and my friend, Jason...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FhLXQjnNF1h81L0YFdwwzI9R2-XR2M1xSWXHKynQh6-WocF0OEc2-vtEN9MQG0xlA7hJEji9mUmyWxUxZ6RTaLgV8KNLOfLjLpjyfuupGhVNqrjdhfySvX8nTBKZNF-tm4OrVX7qLvQ/s1600-h/for+blog+resized7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FhLXQjnNF1h81L0YFdwwzI9R2-XR2M1xSWXHKynQh6-WocF0OEc2-vtEN9MQG0xlA7hJEji9mUmyWxUxZ6RTaLgV8KNLOfLjLpjyfuupGhVNqrjdhfySvX8nTBKZNF-tm4OrVX7qLvQ/s400/for+blog+resized7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389498462118412546" border="0" /></a>and then me and Denzel... its been so great reconnecting with my SA family!<br /></div>Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-75684718773679485872009-09-01T03:21:00.005+02:002009-09-01T22:49:46.182+02:00The summer has gone so fast!!!So, here's a sampling of the things I was up to this summer! When I first got back I was in training at my parent's ice cream store, the Korner Kremery. My parents were going to be gone for a week with my sister's kids, so sister and I had to run the store! It was an interesting week and sister and I decided we didn't want to take over the family business!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPE8-0motHo9pI7BUeX4t9E5AhPsOWrVUXZp8bQ9XO68GsdTdrJg1s-Dm7xUU0bOqFKs1kf7aBDNMMcT54dDEA462GxBo2nmPc7Ra5uy659hp3ghORUeTguiDaxSI6WSICoaXyZmMOC8/s1600-h/IMG_7896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPE8-0motHo9pI7BUeX4t9E5AhPsOWrVUXZp8bQ9XO68GsdTdrJg1s-Dm7xUU0bOqFKs1kf7aBDNMMcT54dDEA462GxBo2nmPc7Ra5uy659hp3ghORUeTguiDaxSI6WSICoaXyZmMOC8/s400/IMG_7896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376591469965563042" border="0" /> </a>I've worked there off and on throughout the summer, filling in when workers were sick and giving my dad a break for supper. I also got to spend some time with my nieces and nephew. Here's a pic from one of the days I was there and they were outside playing with their new squirt guns! Note I was safely inside the porch so I didn't get wet!!! =:) We also got to go to Adventureland for a day and I went with them to the County Fair, got to see Chaise's dance recital and piano recital...all things I missed my two years in Cape Town! I'll be back in Dec to go with the whole fam to Disney World for a week! Should be big fun!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-acQjBHZuWbk5IPocL71CyKnSlDwan94iEidsEKazELg80U1M-LqXoRKZpRyaDr_HT-5aPyMSQ6HF6LYJRFrVNQpd6DKoW1DzNPnF9UcLwyMjcH4bDtfVjSDcq0kBHGkGJS6rg3WEAH4/s1600-h/P5200096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-acQjBHZuWbk5IPocL71CyKnSlDwan94iEidsEKazELg80U1M-LqXoRKZpRyaDr_HT-5aPyMSQ6HF6LYJRFrVNQpd6DKoW1DzNPnF9UcLwyMjcH4bDtfVjSDcq0kBHGkGJS6rg3WEAH4/s400/P5200096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376591491466595890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZR-5tMdwHnoOzYL7ZHW6HQoxAzNpbuS8cTosk0rg1QvSOD4C0xe7LLYJng_-1bBnyrV5uY830A7Sq1rGb1MpYhkIZETwpFO-nn5znogBTMBVyq1VvOXfYzuzZEcH9Atc_CEXTiqCO5s/s1600-h/IMG_2012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZR-5tMdwHnoOzYL7ZHW6HQoxAzNpbuS8cTosk0rg1QvSOD4C0xe7LLYJng_-1bBnyrV5uY830A7Sq1rGb1MpYhkIZETwpFO-nn5znogBTMBVyq1VvOXfYzuzZEcH9Atc_CEXTiqCO5s/s400/IMG_2012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376595511055764402" border="0" /></a>I also got to meet up with a couple of past volunteers and our Centre Director (now the National Director for SA) from Cape Town, Rolf in Tennessee. He was here for a camp but we got to spend a couple days with him. It was a great reunion and I look forward to seeing Rolf again in Cape Town!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcqrG0oGd2yHSV6oDsBTu4djAyAC0LgIbzvh6MVSXukj7mhNnA2OsZnT80XUC1m2qkzb5JKEAkc3SOf4rDHhbjd0iC3XMZMdOr2BEW9HJwrO_AMEYS4NCTA-7fLaesduzOmhB90al9xU/s1600-h/IMG_7865.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcqrG0oGd2yHSV6oDsBTu4djAyAC0LgIbzvh6MVSXukj7mhNnA2OsZnT80XUC1m2qkzb5JKEAkc3SOf4rDHhbjd0iC3XMZMdOr2BEW9HJwrO_AMEYS4NCTA-7fLaesduzOmhB90al9xU/s400/IMG_7865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376591479333451394" border="0" /></a>Another fun reunion was when my friend, Isabel, came to visit. We met down in Cape Town; she was a vol from Germany and we happened to have the same birthday! So last year we met in Zambia and saw Victoria Falls together for our birthday. This year she and her husband came to the US to see his sister in Oklahoma and to do some site-seeing in the Seattle area. But she came and visited me the weekend of our birthday and we had a great time together. We toured the Capitol, Governor's mansion, went to the farmer's market, an I-Cubs game, drove around Amish areas and went to the Wash. Co Fair! And of course we got in some karaoke on our birthday and had some cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory!!! Yum! Isabel is now a fan as well!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUzZhQuHrNeoBRWsKsTs7BLBywQ3z6TbiNmFkVKYKnkjoqu8k2bnz-ULV_ReOOsyDl3QQ1KZ60Bctz-NhyfcTPZJC9jla5FSazMcPcSCcIW1fOoU9yr7UiEN-1BVBiJVlQSejcujbjVM/s1600-h/Gibreal+bros+%26+sis%27s.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUzZhQuHrNeoBRWsKsTs7BLBywQ3z6TbiNmFkVKYKnkjoqu8k2bnz-ULV_ReOOsyDl3QQ1KZ60Bctz-NhyfcTPZJC9jla5FSazMcPcSCcIW1fOoU9yr7UiEN-1BVBiJVlQSejcujbjVM/s400/Gibreal+bros+%26+sis%27s.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376595523914817010" border="0" /></a>Finally, in August I went back to Kearney with my mom since my cousin, Bryan, was getting married and most of my uncles, aunts and cousins would be back! I hadn't seen any of them in three years! It was lots of fun. The pic above is of my mom and all her brothers and sister but one! It was a great time of visiting with family and doing some reminiscing with mom. We drove around Kearney and took pics of memorable places, like the farm where mom grew up, the country school she attended, her first apt, where she and my dad first lived after they got married, the hospital where I was born and we visited the cemetery to pay respects and to get more genealogical info.<br /><br />Through all of this, I was also taking a certification course for teaching English. It was more difficult than I imagined. I haven't had to think about nouns, verbs, gerunds, etc in a long time! I'm excited to be going to Mozambique to teach English and also a little nervous! Please pray for me!<br /><br />Its been a great summer, but I'm sad that I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to. I didn't get out to visit my buddies in Lincoln and I didn't get down to Kansas City to see my buddy, Mary. I miss you guys and promise I'll make it work out next time I'm back!! Love you all!Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-68351599573637365422009-04-11T03:26:00.005+02:002009-04-11T03:55:14.491+02:00February- saying goodbye to SOS, Germany & Chicago!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyyDKA3VoTjBQp3Wgs-C6oYPq9pfSerz628K7dOQJ4PL0toRbb2No2i74jLRLbr8YfU8afoY6MRA8GwaUYUT_NhhBM4rHD5D_jnlLPI8T_l4ZAxvekfgvp4UBv4fdUtVHshNf7lS3TLE/s1600-h/Me+%26+Sarah+color+corrected.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyyDKA3VoTjBQp3Wgs-C6oYPq9pfSerz628K7dOQJ4PL0toRbb2No2i74jLRLbr8YfU8afoY6MRA8GwaUYUT_NhhBM4rHD5D_jnlLPI8T_l4ZAxvekfgvp4UBv4fdUtVHshNf7lS3TLE/s400/Me+%26+Sarah+color+corrected.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323242648325210418" border="0" /></a>In February I had to say good bye to the kids at the SOS Children's Village - it was soooo hard!! I love these kids so much! Above is my friend Sarah, she's beautiful, sweet, smart and giving. I miss her immensely and hope I will be able to stay in touch...below are some of the kids posing by my car as I was getting ready to leave...neither of us really wanted me to go though!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kJHbZGKk0atdwF-E36DJvxJn3bjoP-mMQEmfx5TpyR5eqav9AAQiND74GOTGVpxGOVaZnD3MHe8JjF7s39VZX1BF0kSkzAg4V5x2vLsPSbJ24Xt5vUdrimi6zi1VOH-hAKvCXaA7bnw/s1600-h/P2060091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kJHbZGKk0atdwF-E36DJvxJn3bjoP-mMQEmfx5TpyR5eqav9AAQiND74GOTGVpxGOVaZnD3MHe8JjF7s39VZX1BF0kSkzAg4V5x2vLsPSbJ24Xt5vUdrimi6zi1VOH-hAKvCXaA7bnw/s400/P2060091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323242639889200482" border="0" /></a>When I left Cape Town I flew to Germany where I toured around for a week visiting past volunteers who are all now good friends....a lot of fabulous reunions...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSnYyuwg2s1J02mj23B34lwhiAvbVqVtXVys7Giw9gNcw1EgKVsdt7zfnFUUAE4IQiMEUPQ1aQhzSah5B8V7NTwPuYxBAHnG8Fg2OoFuX8OlxsbfRJND3uvXN22beHuS7FL9Cag708Uk/s1600-h/In+front+of+the+dom+in+Koln.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSnYyuwg2s1J02mj23B34lwhiAvbVqVtXVys7Giw9gNcw1EgKVsdt7zfnFUUAE4IQiMEUPQ1aQhzSah5B8V7NTwPuYxBAHnG8Fg2OoFuX8OlxsbfRJND3uvXN22beHuS7FL9Cag708Uk/s400/In+front+of+the+dom+in+Koln.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323241773626255650" border="0" /></a>first pic, me, Bao-Nhi, Feli and Edith in front of the dom in Cologne...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCX6P2_mQNWxIZ_3Kbq8WEWa5gbji-6nM8Ghdpy8oJmUM2S_XgDbPWY9MaRqUNukChudrWIRFp0OWgv-BJleCUYa7u_fA3_huG3AcSmInvUrG6J4NzQNBJoMEsabR16BmLigwwhgdmxXU/s1600-h/P2150044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCX6P2_mQNWxIZ_3Kbq8WEWa5gbji-6nM8Ghdpy8oJmUM2S_XgDbPWY9MaRqUNukChudrWIRFp0OWgv-BJleCUYa7u_fA3_huG3AcSmInvUrG6J4NzQNBJoMEsabR16BmLigwwhgdmxXU/s400/P2150044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323241782290870930" border="0" /></a>Then here's me with Nina, Isabel and Caro at Nina's house in Schwabisch Hall...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEdPlgJoY559f-1bVBSkexC8SO2w5wSVz8EFYRGvVZNQYB26xFyorleG95Am6avrjnObLftWp8e0C8YRJ1tzQP6H3VD83Ru8EaJqbG2CEORI6Vgt9qjBoAd_QYCXmb9fSgtuznSRwZWk/s1600-h/P2150040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEdPlgJoY559f-1bVBSkexC8SO2w5wSVz8EFYRGvVZNQYB26xFyorleG95Am6avrjnObLftWp8e0C8YRJ1tzQP6H3VD83Ru8EaJqbG2CEORI6Vgt9qjBoAd_QYCXmb9fSgtuznSRwZWk/s400/P2150040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323241777876502866" border="0" /></a>Then, here's Theres, Birgit and Isabel posing with the giant teddy in front of a teddy bear store...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcNHLffIr9fUZJVow5lSzZbtlM5pb85TTEy4-RxMt-CWmrUZEWLQWTI4juTzgAJvn6WfT3yAjXzCjeGJWrS9tSE4_BCVC1yfrZRw7wkZg3fA_SWYvDxbuJzkrRh_VzdjGidc8e_agEJI/s1600-h/P2180004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcNHLffIr9fUZJVow5lSzZbtlM5pb85TTEy4-RxMt-CWmrUZEWLQWTI4juTzgAJvn6WfT3yAjXzCjeGJWrS9tSE4_BCVC1yfrZRw7wkZg3fA_SWYvDxbuJzkrRh_VzdjGidc8e_agEJI/s400/P2180004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323241787260574658" border="0" /></a>And finally here's Steffi, Jessi and me goofing around while out shopping - gorgeous, eh?!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5SbToCNFgeDR7QO1VD52qsJ_wOrZO2i4kr9q_UUsNFZTjvHg-YWTBBOQBwN-MWUN_3I3U8Kg0VuoZhEq5Cp4-34DNU7IKJDlBfl2tbEq_ADtC0Ka0Ly2JPcHuQw6Ym1Sr4qRXbUH8sY/s1600-h/P2180029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5SbToCNFgeDR7QO1VD52qsJ_wOrZO2i4kr9q_UUsNFZTjvHg-YWTBBOQBwN-MWUN_3I3U8Kg0VuoZhEq5Cp4-34DNU7IKJDlBfl2tbEq_ADtC0Ka0Ly2JPcHuQw6Ym1Sr4qRXbUH8sY/s400/P2180029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323240692236646466" border="0" /></a>Then I flew into Chicago and stayed a few days with another past volunteer, Amy. And was joined by Gabe, Charlotte (visiting from Norway!) KT, here in this pic along with me and Amy. Lots of craziness and laughter!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrnp_o-_QLMmQRAv92ltdgvuDjlcZGxI9j72Naey_NDvGWbZhyphenhyphenSFrRleg8IUAfLzvptv-HYat5_nD1xHMBK4mm0IjKckcwcufGAyUu05JcN2nE0GPr0thn_WLiHSJpQAopDxgTWW9zVU/s1600-h/CIMG9181.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrnp_o-_QLMmQRAv92ltdgvuDjlcZGxI9j72Naey_NDvGWbZhyphenhyphenSFrRleg8IUAfLzvptv-HYat5_nD1xHMBK4mm0IjKckcwcufGAyUu05JcN2nE0GPr0thn_WLiHSJpQAopDxgTWW9zVU/s400/CIMG9181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323240685590865602" border="0" /></a><br />We had to show Charlotte the city, so here's a pic we took at what KT called "the bean" - I forget what the official name of it is, but I love the reflection of the city in it - too cool!!<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> It was a really fabulous time! Then finally, I took the Amtrak back to Iowa and was greeted by my parents and my sister and her family! It was so great to see everyone!!Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-60129163105044314322009-04-08T07:31:00.004+02:002009-04-08T08:27:16.471+02:00January - Youth Week & Botswana<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKB4FKwy20SWQaRr1V4UKrWBEmISavLevlSN64A18eOhu5MNgbQ59PFpkRC2VhQXsBKxMQWsLNFHwrJYlElF1o-Yma12vq4uHbaTItE6PgVQQROufR4pB1-kNBhJ9elRsvo1OpdvHt34/s1600-h/P1080089.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKB4FKwy20SWQaRr1V4UKrWBEmISavLevlSN64A18eOhu5MNgbQ59PFpkRC2VhQXsBKxMQWsLNFHwrJYlElF1o-Yma12vq4uHbaTItE6PgVQQROufR4pB1-kNBhJ9elRsvo1OpdvHt34/s400/P1080089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322198709888250546" border="0" /></a>In January YFC South Africa always has a youth camp called Youth Week from the 3-9th. Usually most of the Cape Town YFC International Volunteers go. Everyone said how much fun it was so I decided I needed to check it out. We chartered a bus to take everyone from Cape Town, about 50, and the trip took 20 hours! It was pretty fun, though much of the time I felt pretty old...yea, obviously I've left my youth behind a lllloooonnnngggg time ago! =:) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplM4n0_KI1mtIdwkQBTXyP_pGV_GmZP1sYxR1N7E7p5eqwUvEN-Uv5oYWcWXbDACSLEExdE22aJBK3qV5k5IIosZiQKuHEBGIRHLzZIRoIsPhlW75k5EZPdJWjzFPP2N9HOWSjs79Lfw/s1600-h/DSCN4651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplM4n0_KI1mtIdwkQBTXyP_pGV_GmZP1sYxR1N7E7p5eqwUvEN-Uv5oYWcWXbDACSLEExdE22aJBK3qV5k5IIosZiQKuHEBGIRHLzZIRoIsPhlW75k5EZPdJWjzFPP2N9HOWSjs79Lfw/s400/DSCN4651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322198720903574530" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwJyVZEyWs6U6qcQdLZ6st3DTTf8A-ewqibWo7svAPHqG5h5BB_o58L5N1HqLghgmgNwgfGGo3zP1D3-_mhjNRgwajx_P44NVZSP7urG_qQJ2d3TQfu-vtIOIG7iSdFZoKArshlQX5hE/s1600-h/P1080030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwJyVZEyWs6U6qcQdLZ6st3DTTf8A-ewqibWo7svAPHqG5h5BB_o58L5N1HqLghgmgNwgfGGo3zP1D3-_mhjNRgwajx_P44NVZSP7urG_qQJ2d3TQfu-vtIOIG7iSdFZoKArshlQX5hE/s400/P1080030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322198707298841874" border="0" /></a>It was a lot of sports and a lot of worship followed by a speaker, twice a day...overall I had a good time... Then I got on the bus with the YFC group from Botswana and went back with them. Gabarone, the capitol of Botswana is only about 4 hours from Johannesburg so it was a much shorter ride than the ride back to Cape Town!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEI7esDDY4LpkydSaWjRDto0mLLoSnQC6Qw-z2yhDa7HqDxju-LhzDwhznM_w2mI_khwgW3iYkr5ZFwhuF5JBu8FKDQiQdmjWh6fFqt6bRBBPqR38hLxAwBz0Z99XJRlgi2y6AvQYvqE/s1600-h/YFC+Office.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEI7esDDY4LpkydSaWjRDto0mLLoSnQC6Qw-z2yhDa7HqDxju-LhzDwhznM_w2mI_khwgW3iYkr5ZFwhuF5JBu8FKDQiQdmjWh6fFqt6bRBBPqR38hLxAwBz0Z99XJRlgi2y6AvQYvqE/s400/YFC+Office.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322200656036350322" border="0" /></a>Here is a picture of the YFC office in Mochudi, Botswana. This is where the bulk of YFC's ministry takes place in Botswana. Its about an hour from the capitol city. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEbkRjQkLFo0i_MLWGWf1I_UjCPQyS3ABMu4ETenWdgIF-i7u6luWzz64U6-76RHUePncTOFx9va2dGh_hAUEh1sAy7RAakWZRAkd_uPPDAjXUmlHgsgczljUnMszLu4YqekgKPjYgZg/s1600-h/Botswana+volunteers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEbkRjQkLFo0i_MLWGWf1I_UjCPQyS3ABMu4ETenWdgIF-i7u6luWzz64U6-76RHUePncTOFx9va2dGh_hAUEh1sAy7RAakWZRAkd_uPPDAjXUmlHgsgczljUnMszLu4YqekgKPjYgZg/s400/Botswana+volunteers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322200651633460978" border="0" /></a>I also got to meet all the international volunteers currently in Botswana, this is a pic of them.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUM1BsoiO-TrpLaRlNl4XIInPxuVzt_8BWFb0Lm8JhiR_Bu6pg1OWqsst8RLs-PNL44PftnhdY3RY02oh7yko52zVnY5kQzZBukHUv1nUR2_tNN94lLzkImHzlGlnJgUT2tAAquAeeP4/s1600-h/Tapologo+DCC+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUM1BsoiO-TrpLaRlNl4XIInPxuVzt_8BWFb0Lm8JhiR_Bu6pg1OWqsst8RLs-PNL44PftnhdY3RY02oh7yko52zVnY5kQzZBukHUv1nUR2_tNN94lLzkImHzlGlnJgUT2tAAquAeeP4/s400/Tapologo+DCC+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322200650624880242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZNod8bgflcVwe9tgrmrVnL8yyliVhZxtQ3jYuL48X_UVieUOGlMNiRvkJUj4h2XiAX0wbJb2KNJXr22I9OAEYZ_7ldK6dXabXgLEZfX5RgTWeFYcBLjB93-83_I375o8mNKRGEq_x0E/s1600-h/Kids+-+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZNod8bgflcVwe9tgrmrVnL8yyliVhZxtQ3jYuL48X_UVieUOGlMNiRvkJUj4h2XiAX0wbJb2KNJXr22I9OAEYZ_7ldK6dXabXgLEZfX5RgTWeFYcBLjB93-83_I375o8mNKRGEq_x0E/s400/Kids+-+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322200657032983906" border="0" /></a>Most importantly, I got to visit the Orphan day care YFC runs in Mochudi. My main task when I get back to Botswana is to get another one of these started in another area of Botswana. It will be a whole new challenge for me! It was a great visit...then I flew back to Cape Town to start saying good bye... =:(Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-80166378293632862062009-04-06T22:25:00.003+02:002009-04-07T01:50:39.320+02:00December 2008In December, 12 of us volunteers and our project manager, Andre and his wife, Lindsay, decided to go on a road trip once school was out. So we rented a large van and headed out... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbT6pfzBCJavqOmNnSulutFMCuAeGwO1OzDL1P0gtUYKX319xrLUUU__0NFuM1_ihAsAzbMWp_6K58SYD39HMAh6B_Gm63l1pPnObGKgudTOTTpGqXHSPH3OSU4WHvsIJr2CzHbKFwLeU/s1600-h/Lion+at+Cango+Wildlife+Ranch.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbT6pfzBCJavqOmNnSulutFMCuAeGwO1OzDL1P0gtUYKX319xrLUUU__0NFuM1_ihAsAzbMWp_6K58SYD39HMAh6B_Gm63l1pPnObGKgudTOTTpGqXHSPH3OSU4WHvsIJr2CzHbKFwLeU/s400/Lion+at+Cango+Wildlife+Ranch.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321726003080757458" border="0" /></a>....we saw this lion at a wild life ranch and saw the Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn.... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA6rZIQTpN7qes4L1iZjSs1cq9Bi9jsyzM3FW_qoIIcyla6uBDNYOkEoymGWUL7zmnP2qoEwAf7kMPyDnbyfGiaWApVTVxaYfS7KxbGuRjM1ligMCEY3OxVOw7FQT28SgGbqtv9Est7Y/s1600-h/Knysna+Lagoon.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA6rZIQTpN7qes4L1iZjSs1cq9Bi9jsyzM3FW_qoIIcyla6uBDNYOkEoymGWUL7zmnP2qoEwAf7kMPyDnbyfGiaWApVTVxaYfS7KxbGuRjM1ligMCEY3OxVOw7FQT28SgGbqtv9Est7Y/s400/Knysna+Lagoon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321725999314171650" border="0" /></a>...then headed to Knysna and checked out the lagoon... and the Big Tree (its BIG! =:) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhje7R1mUIaA2Y1m9_GsjigfblSJ6Mo61Fq90fW02HZV_hlSl776j_As3OQEipAc-iyK_OAKglWBOSZ_sFZiNnPDGuZIespYCgtkWQhFwdk6MWJ0nV5LXHut0-ZGuruYAFxpIwexJSOyP4/s1600-h/Plett+Bay+Beach.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhje7R1mUIaA2Y1m9_GsjigfblSJ6Mo61Fq90fW02HZV_hlSl776j_As3OQEipAc-iyK_OAKglWBOSZ_sFZiNnPDGuZIespYCgtkWQhFwdk6MWJ0nV5LXHut0-ZGuruYAFxpIwexJSOyP4/s400/Plett+Bay+Beach.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321725998884339330" border="0" /></a>....then we laid on the beach in Plettenberg Bay (also went to beaches in Jeffrey's Bay & Durban)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5j4JT45UW2OTJH1Nt087Y82ANUjX-9snfAYZraNH9BDsWrTLnqijr-OU90H0XMTERIiAyGj8f-CIV2e03bWnisYhhRgJR-tXKh_L20CjYIwnFbgrzzQYPJvCdVfDnTVKW1Tfb9xnVVro/s1600-h/Me+%26+the+ellies+at+Addo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5j4JT45UW2OTJH1Nt087Y82ANUjX-9snfAYZraNH9BDsWrTLnqijr-OU90H0XMTERIiAyGj8f-CIV2e03bWnisYhhRgJR-tXKh_L20CjYIwnFbgrzzQYPJvCdVfDnTVKW1Tfb9xnVVro/s400/Me+%26+the+ellies+at+Addo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321726002159152514" border="0" /></a>then on to Port Elizabeth where we went to the Addo Elephant Park...here's me with the ellies!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbT6pfzBCJavqOmNnSulutFMCuAeGwO1OzDL1P0gtUYKX319xrLUUU__0NFuM1_ihAsAzbMWp_6K58SYD39HMAh6B_Gm63l1pPnObGKgudTOTTpGqXHSPH3OSU4WHvsIJr2CzHbKFwLeU/s1600-h/Lion+at+Cango+Wildlife+Ranch.JPG"></a> In Durban we also went to UShaka! Which is part Sea World, part water park, part mall...the water slides were a great way to beat the heat - it was very HOT in Durban!! Then we made the long trip home....took two days, driving about 11 hours a day... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgB2utjER1mwViDh9PM8b3dz01DclY783Kpk-bFPukOla2bv9tLv4UPbFdfr4dkkTQdQvgNZtjTNiqnqhxrT07m4gr1O9unHSmYjdiN0-Q2Z_mq1A6NuyrEGbYz22Ip47YN0POHR4G0NE/s1600-h/whole+group+in+Knysna.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgB2utjER1mwViDh9PM8b3dz01DclY783Kpk-bFPukOla2bv9tLv4UPbFdfr4dkkTQdQvgNZtjTNiqnqhxrT07m4gr1O9unHSmYjdiN0-Q2Z_mq1A6NuyrEGbYz22Ip47YN0POHR4G0NE/s400/whole+group+in+Knysna.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321725992914482114" border="0" /></a>here's a pic of the whole group, minus Helen, who took the pic! We were home in time for Christmas but during the trip my wallet and cell phone were stolen so I wasn't so much in a festive mood.... pretty much stayed at home and took it easy.... saved what little cash I had....Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-19457404210934789082008-12-26T18:33:00.003+02:002008-12-26T18:52:04.975+02:00Last day of school at the SOS KG!!<div style="text-align: center;">So on the last day of school we had a beach themed Christmas party. First the kids donned their bathers (swimsuits to you Americans!) and ran through the sprinklers...or as Joanen did below, just stuck their heads right in the water!!! An excellent way to combat the heat! =:) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihTozIjA2uGvtRsLzwQ33ttiUTx8tqQz245SwuTt1fjvLyYgV89b2GAYfsF_NF_OdMdoeNPsEIXUELTlxXPjgZ9xohaVDD7L-o7Iqjeq7olYK7EPGSyYCtwHjuS9mhADupoO8tsSH7cs/s1600-h/Joanen+in+sprinkler.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihTozIjA2uGvtRsLzwQ33ttiUTx8tqQz245SwuTt1fjvLyYgV89b2GAYfsF_NF_OdMdoeNPsEIXUELTlxXPjgZ9xohaVDD7L-o7Iqjeq7olYK7EPGSyYCtwHjuS9mhADupoO8tsSH7cs/s400/Joanen+in+sprinkler.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284139933486362290" border="0" /></a>When not running in the sprinklers, the kids all laid down on their towels. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1HJBlQvstpCV5kTChkjpO91ebwxJ5KFxDUSr7OKz1maYuvwzVb41NMErmNHIP57yy4CDB0ZvpR8ijQZXIxuFlhM5yV8FNkcaTz175JfhlaHenorM7b6bkD6viENdklJ1cPPg8vxkHmI/s1600-h/kids+sunbathing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1HJBlQvstpCV5kTChkjpO91ebwxJ5KFxDUSr7OKz1maYuvwzVb41NMErmNHIP57yy4CDB0ZvpR8ijQZXIxuFlhM5yV8FNkcaTz175JfhlaHenorM7b6bkD6viENdklJ1cPPg8vxkHmI/s400/kids+sunbathing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284139935287552146" border="0" /></a> Then they put up the jumping castles and the kids all took their turns jumping around! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkpsv-anVndh0NwXnA01ulna9lTChTwgriX2s6y_y3okuixiFRpjLAvXfvnbT-Y89PquM8Buh7p0JbD5bnzfe9wLQKW3Xabde8_FEh6QqZeCOCNrcGc0XCSSffhDgw1wY9L_NwAVvOX0/s1600-h/jumping+castle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkpsv-anVndh0NwXnA01ulna9lTChTwgriX2s6y_y3okuixiFRpjLAvXfvnbT-Y89PquM8Buh7p0JbD5bnzfe9wLQKW3Xabde8_FEh6QqZeCOCNrcGc0XCSSffhDgw1wY9L_NwAVvOX0/s400/jumping+castle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284139941176234258" border="0" /></a> Finally we went into the courtyard and had lunch - here's a pic of mielies we had (corn on the cob for us Americans!) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6EG8jjF-ZXO_hCO403OMkfzBAK22To1jlhDktj4rtZqaA6Pq-tY6GLBhM8mLdLy2QEapbxCDlW7vxz4U2toDKsXO8QQ0LGZPxRTsH-JNFVl-ks4b5GwQPVeBX0qBhqZCy4tFpjo7E7Y/s1600-h/Mielie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6EG8jjF-ZXO_hCO403OMkfzBAK22To1jlhDktj4rtZqaA6Pq-tY6GLBhM8mLdLy2QEapbxCDlW7vxz4U2toDKsXO8QQ0LGZPxRTsH-JNFVl-ks4b5GwQPVeBX0qBhqZCy4tFpjo7E7Y/s400/Mielie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284139939424339154" border="0" /></a>...and handed out presents that were donated by an area insurance company. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6RwCi1MMPnaqbB-R7bSOp04HO_L7Y5Bh_h6QqTZScuDvGj_8EUF5jtji_Jm8UEe-Nb1m1lJQYEM5nwbzDbprzrSdO274_XVPtGJpoxjkVqmr4iy1m15ONbKwV25pmSP8hTolgyOesvY/s1600-h/Presents!.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6RwCi1MMPnaqbB-R7bSOp04HO_L7Y5Bh_h6QqTZScuDvGj_8EUF5jtji_Jm8UEe-Nb1m1lJQYEM5nwbzDbprzrSdO274_XVPtGJpoxjkVqmr4iy1m15ONbKwV25pmSP8hTolgyOesvY/s400/Presents!.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284138984633489106" border="0" /></a>Here's a pic of some of the girls opening their presents. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYDBgy8JdEioGrv4TeQZzRXvWq6foa64FT64nnAAjQC7-DWC8-19OFmpTxtYSWRlykdYfLc-4ps3kUo27tA05fkHpeQ_Ax6zON4xWZVIdXXkRsITHUk3l4Xw0zoNT-3e_M2I8gvxcaf4/s1600-h/girls+opening+presents.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYDBgy8JdEioGrv4TeQZzRXvWq6foa64FT64nnAAjQC7-DWC8-19OFmpTxtYSWRlykdYfLc-4ps3kUo27tA05fkHpeQ_Ax6zON4xWZVIdXXkRsITHUk3l4Xw0zoNT-3e_M2I8gvxcaf4/s400/girls+opening+presents.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284138981349668178" border="0" /></a>I just love this last picture of Thulani, isn't she beautiful!!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1etaiwu_L_JH85z29WagPuXtb17RRnEIevnHSbfMrzW6wjFafFHOqjMEmFH1jmfBe48JUdu4ZXlB1AXfL77fXN2B8OlUQryoz6WAWOZq71OnutNOfZ05Qqpat7ALFtQ97JoVbn2cQaPU/s1600-h/Thulani.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1etaiwu_L_JH85z29WagPuXtb17RRnEIevnHSbfMrzW6wjFafFHOqjMEmFH1jmfBe48JUdu4ZXlB1AXfL77fXN2B8OlUQryoz6WAWOZq71OnutNOfZ05Qqpat7ALFtQ97JoVbn2cQaPU/s400/Thulani.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284138989483284018" border="0" /></a>Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-37792496856297535502008-11-11T22:18:00.004+02:002008-11-11T22:37:23.255+02:00who knew I liked sushi? .....and everyone knows I love dessert!!!<div style="text-align: center;">So on Friday nights until 7pm they have half price sushi and drinks at Beluga, a fancy schmancy eatery downtown Cape Town. So one of our friends who loves sushi talked me and another vol, Natalie, into going there for sushi. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmc8TTmv6EPTquU85axWpZQngeYZk7UHBtcWmQ8KmlbFIfOjOn87a0QZB55w1FUaa4Ape2g7jEbOkXdh4qMnNqvYWeseVfVlziJusjXY3CkRqDxlHNVwBTIP8WAhHpab0vUhSNXZyP7Y/s1600-h/Beluga+sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmc8TTmv6EPTquU85axWpZQngeYZk7UHBtcWmQ8KmlbFIfOjOn87a0QZB55w1FUaa4Ape2g7jEbOkXdh4qMnNqvYWeseVfVlziJusjXY3CkRqDxlHNVwBTIP8WAhHpab0vUhSNXZyP7Y/s320/Beluga+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267498674433115234" border="0" /></a>I've only tried sushi one other time and thought it was pretty nasty, but at everyone's urging, I gave it another try, and, whadaya know? I liked it - a lot!!! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9g2LpbZ1g4tm9A3ykDHRyKWwC-hdFmdZ4SHwOTNuvQjuUh_BBqGpjMXxHuIamaValgIKJkRNAwTHaiFtt717_z7LguQL5OdUgQGVGhsEY6oe4uroO6O7z-6Ikub81c0QTX-6w-jRWmpI/s1600-h/I+like+SUSHI%21%21%21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9g2LpbZ1g4tm9A3ykDHRyKWwC-hdFmdZ4SHwOTNuvQjuUh_BBqGpjMXxHuIamaValgIKJkRNAwTHaiFtt717_z7LguQL5OdUgQGVGhsEY6oe4uroO6O7z-6Ikub81c0QTX-6w-jRWmpI/s320/I+like+SUSHI%21%21%21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267498666308923986" border="0" /></a>Here's a pic of my Samuri rolls, salmon with avocado... I also had a banana kiwi daquiri...yum!<br />Then on a Saturday, Natalie and I went downtown to walk around and look at the market and some of the shops and we found this interesting place....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgi0vPr22od27d38uzJITBrEglAoehwdI8d8WNgUmZpxoL8cP2Ao5A9fMJ8U_trCsgSJhs0hcUYhVQ8We8kqvRCAIdMmdz0X-zNeqLjvYnV0jBYFhHUQVWcR3ZHeNicKpQ1ENOsoTAUY/s1600-h/Mr+Pickwick+Deli+sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgi0vPr22od27d38uzJITBrEglAoehwdI8d8WNgUmZpxoL8cP2Ao5A9fMJ8U_trCsgSJhs0hcUYhVQ8We8kqvRCAIdMmdz0X-zNeqLjvYnV0jBYFhHUQVWcR3ZHeNicKpQ1ENOsoTAUY/s320/Mr+Pickwick+Deli+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267498683548832274" border="0" /></a>Mr Pickwicks Deli - Splendid Deli Foods. Simply Silly Shakes. We had to give it a try.... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMnLptR8U47mAShPb3DK7NogS9EiRi21oSMByo0ZTMpQyH6gTIxaQBOajOD7nrWwBZ5i3cIKK88kVVwEkxCukzSyaQUUQd99eVQhC9U3DMyrRD9he5q3UnV0i7Efm1-ecxwsWg2sbRl0/s1600-h/Natalie's+Sunshine+Cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMnLptR8U47mAShPb3DK7NogS9EiRi21oSMByo0ZTMpQyH6gTIxaQBOajOD7nrWwBZ5i3cIKK88kVVwEkxCukzSyaQUUQd99eVQhC9U3DMyrRD9he5q3UnV0i7Efm1-ecxwsWg2sbRl0/s320/Natalie's+Sunshine+Cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267498688134307122" border="0" /></a>so Natalie had the Hummingbird Cake.... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifj3uKjcjvDwvmhV4xH5aBsoxglV0gbMlDe9qhyphenhyphenD9TInDT-QkM6s530HmzeXf3uJ1UNxeD1uaxnHi0d8Mk_Mlq2WtqlCiGmbTH8Bbv6tFwAqKkSqcuuaoWTScSk9XurW6i_1ARqTrYQR4/s1600-h/Brownie+%26+Ice+Cream.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifj3uKjcjvDwvmhV4xH5aBsoxglV0gbMlDe9qhyphenhyphenD9TInDT-QkM6s530HmzeXf3uJ1UNxeD1uaxnHi0d8Mk_Mlq2WtqlCiGmbTH8Bbv6tFwAqKkSqcuuaoWTScSk9XurW6i_1ARqTrYQR4/s320/Brownie+%26+Ice+Cream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267498692711717474" border="0" /></a>and I had a brownie with ice cream....too yummy on a hot day!!!<br /></div>Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-27744791344246418082008-11-11T22:11:00.003+02:002008-11-11T22:18:44.535+02:00Masquerade Party!!<div style="text-align: center;">So the Blouberg volunteer house had a Masquerade Party just before Halloween (which they do not celebrate here!). You couldn't come in without a mask, if you didn't bring one, they'd provide one for you - most of them not very flattering!! It was big fun...here are a couple pics.... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELfAXLH6bkemLNuMEJlRzvPgsO2pRRkgQ4Vpyt5C2vxLqy6DRlAVOy1nlRX8eFrdx8CE7zyWzza3zufwKfoU5URmnKBG1PUd-MkBNvuNxQwU22X3f541pWVJakmcITCuyEz_Zx4JuwEw/s1600-h/Joana+%26+me+at+Masquerade.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELfAXLH6bkemLNuMEJlRzvPgsO2pRRkgQ4Vpyt5C2vxLqy6DRlAVOy1nlRX8eFrdx8CE7zyWzza3zufwKfoU5URmnKBG1PUd-MkBNvuNxQwU22X3f541pWVJakmcITCuyEz_Zx4JuwEw/s320/Joana+%26+me+at+Masquerade.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267495926656327106" border="0" /></a>There weren't many choices at the stores, so Joana and I had the same mask!!! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyQRr3t6aeKKBQ-hsfpRPt5zJ5N8_YO7-b7hjJtKgDugIAIJJsdxqViU6CM-dljFdjg5UJ_bCnnnv14eyrz5IV8BMBjyaUhoHXZMcqXhdM1leGTV034a5Hc1AU7lX9crqgwe3BHi8beM/s1600-h/Cathleen+%26+Jozien+at+Masquerade.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyQRr3t6aeKKBQ-hsfpRPt5zJ5N8_YO7-b7hjJtKgDugIAIJJsdxqViU6CM-dljFdjg5UJ_bCnnnv14eyrz5IV8BMBjyaUhoHXZMcqXhdM1leGTV034a5Hc1AU7lX9crqgwe3BHi8beM/s320/Cathleen+%26+Jozien+at+Masquerade.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267495923580541426" border="0" /></a>Cathleen and Jozien.....<br /></div>Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-34334115887402788792008-11-11T22:01:00.003+02:002008-11-11T22:07:34.156+02:00More American-style!!!<div style="text-align: center;">So I found the pics of "The Famous American Style Chocolate Chip Cookies" <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunw63bbIsH_4b3r2U1I0pa-GKhUQP5LKJj_oeHgvO-RGa8I0RldBacWBHkUJ9DsS8UR0KyaqygVJpxWVNLKgc8T9z5n6fwbsfChR9tNVkvuTA63wCytEdzfRlTAW0_atmJdTeWtQK63Y/s1600-h/American+style+choc+chip+cookies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunw63bbIsH_4b3r2U1I0pa-GKhUQP5LKJj_oeHgvO-RGa8I0RldBacWBHkUJ9DsS8UR0KyaqygVJpxWVNLKgc8T9z5n6fwbsfChR9tNVkvuTA63wCytEdzfRlTAW0_atmJdTeWtQK63Y/s320/American+style+choc+chip+cookies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267493251200834914" border="0" /></a>and "American Carmel Corn". <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTu00D_KQWqrdLFT9NXmXorY2XHP-ieioJaxXegsApS3RH93UGEsmFbmqGADow_UCnk36LOfKxSgTRnqPZ29Nf1CKVeiJbuzVOeJ0tamRDznit8EMmNuI1rMPUh4YJPwE5JNWuS9aZbWE/s1600-h/American+style+carmel+corn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTu00D_KQWqrdLFT9NXmXorY2XHP-ieioJaxXegsApS3RH93UGEsmFbmqGADow_UCnk36LOfKxSgTRnqPZ29Nf1CKVeiJbuzVOeJ0tamRDznit8EMmNuI1rMPUh4YJPwE5JNWuS9aZbWE/s320/American+style+carmel+corn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267493242111330226" border="0" /></a>Again, it just makes me laugh whenever I see these in the store - in Cape Town, South Africa!!! Both very good btw, gotta love American-style!!! =:)<br /></div>Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-33805124693531292132008-11-11T21:52:00.003+02:002008-11-11T21:59:38.876+02:00Goodbye Edith!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gOfV95fpa1qnhquW-34TBM5aMZhoxZBoF3xwg7FdGYVDmDh6nQzMLFltvyifbfq8-mxLOZthKld8C301nBXq-urKkUQd1EYD_i8s-XDS-xlUzn2sy_Z08QtQTOMSHpXFZ8QI6tLrWPA/s1600-h/Edith+%26+Nosizwe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gOfV95fpa1qnhquW-34TBM5aMZhoxZBoF3xwg7FdGYVDmDh6nQzMLFltvyifbfq8-mxLOZthKld8C301nBXq-urKkUQd1EYD_i8s-XDS-xlUzn2sy_Z08QtQTOMSHpXFZ8QI6tLrWPA/s320/Edith+%26+Nosizwe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267490465181764786" border="0" /></a>Now, Edith just left last week, so I'm not so behind with her post!! She is also from Germany, seems we've been overrun with Germans lately!! =:)<br />She served in our Kangaroo Moms program at the Karl Bremer Hospital and then she and the girls started a new program at New Life Center, where women go to hide a pregnancy, then give up the baby for adoption. Apparently one of the "women" is only 11 years old!! Their aim here is to fellowship with and encourage these women. <br /><br />Edith also served in the farm project, where the kids live in a small development where their parents work at the big, main farm. They live in pretty poor, unhygienic conditions. They are trying to find creative ways to teach them basic hygiene without offending them or their parents!<br /><br />Edith was so sweet and seemed to always have a smile on her face! She was truly a joy to be around. We will greatly miss her! She is hoping to study to be a midwife back in Germany. God bless you in all you do, Edith!!Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-70419947529444670062008-11-11T21:46:00.002+02:002008-11-11T21:51:27.020+02:00Goodbye Lea!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkoNoctk813UuLR0trJmd6ZNs5ICtZIR30GxME4rKMyloKHI8cgBfcQgzkZ9jg_uGq0n1gfZuqocZSr80z0Q9WmL8iKWcjGgFWdK7jvrP2MU2nYYd3TTMuOjBvOnfBxtPdoVrFiGZsdA/s1600-h/Lea+and+kids.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkoNoctk813UuLR0trJmd6ZNs5ICtZIR30GxME4rKMyloKHI8cgBfcQgzkZ9jg_uGq0n1gfZuqocZSr80z0Q9WmL8iKWcjGgFWdK7jvrP2MU2nYYd3TTMuOjBvOnfBxtPdoVrFiGZsdA/s400/Lea+and+kids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267488894950136562" border="0" /></a><br />So Lea left in September and I'm just now getting around to updating! She was only here for 2 months and served in the Kylemore project, so I didn't get a chance to know her very well. But clearly she bonded with the kids and will be missed!! She is back home in Germany, but we joked that she was an American German because she'd spent enough time in the States that she had hardly any accent....many would guess she was from the US instead of Germany! I am sure God will use her great heart in mighty ways!! God bless, Lea!!Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-28236738783168326132008-11-11T21:39:00.003+02:002008-11-11T21:44:58.595+02:00What makes me smile every day?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnwVgZx1hTX9zpLXBmAeE7yVgCiBkjQ5Y123y-polE8I96NbynQSBkLePILwxLldQu34VNDnpInmqhrGchZi5ZIKECUbQyNGmpM-DxE4o37pLug1_t1ROxrkKUbuoARCDGykGSonN218/s1600-h/View+of+my+visors.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnwVgZx1hTX9zpLXBmAeE7yVgCiBkjQ5Y123y-polE8I96NbynQSBkLePILwxLldQu34VNDnpInmqhrGchZi5ZIKECUbQyNGmpM-DxE4o37pLug1_t1ROxrkKUbuoARCDGykGSonN218/s400/View+of+my+visors.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267487308653704402" border="0" /></a><br />This is a picture of my front sun visors in my car. They are wire, beaded flowers that I buy from the guys selling stuff at the street lights (called "robots" here!). I started with just a couple but soon decided I would set a goal to have them going all the way across before I left...and, as you can see, I succeeded with several months to spare!!! They really do make me smile every day!!!Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-8770207944989981582008-11-11T21:24:00.003+02:002008-11-11T21:38:19.695+02:00Habitat for Humanity build...<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFjMuMPdZ4qNVgBnlulp0k_tViBIyYUFUX4cv1KQSC4_oWEGbCQ8VYC1oLsLq35pF4THSoDI3JvGgHBHzmtcUqqcSOIYebFyJHSQoov0n7qBXzoxyeqozP9QSz3YmzjG6gNxo8E1cLnM/s1600-h/Habitat+House.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFjMuMPdZ4qNVgBnlulp0k_tViBIyYUFUX4cv1KQSC4_oWEGbCQ8VYC1oLsLq35pF4THSoDI3JvGgHBHzmtcUqqcSOIYebFyJHSQoov0n7qBXzoxyeqozP9QSz3YmzjG6gNxo8E1cLnM/s320/Habitat+House.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267484271803272498" border="0" /></a>A few days in July and then again in September, some of us volunteers assisted at a Habitat for Humanity build in the township of Mfuleni. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_DlDm62Esk8faUZFWvd4w-fPeUWsp4qGSs33gf6tFdV4_uRzBN5e_JUJMDLnan9osuepaS6yK5_x-6LHpcUa9dZMxfe-AXXfraAoTmy77byzDZDvRbV9Gko5PB9y2rDUsTpf7LSBeag/s1600-h/putting+up+rafters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_DlDm62Esk8faUZFWvd4w-fPeUWsp4qGSs33gf6tFdV4_uRzBN5e_JUJMDLnan9osuepaS6yK5_x-6LHpcUa9dZMxfe-AXXfraAoTmy77byzDZDvRbV9Gko5PB9y2rDUsTpf7LSBeag/s320/putting+up+rafters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267484261667642882" border="0" /></a>The day I helped out we were putting up rafters for the roof, then finished the roof with tiles. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYT5Gl9u5Gssj-51QZB9EPAw95mz0b2bRErGM-pa3C1mUms3km8JFteZvm4LNU912kh4Mp0U8iAJ17DWOODtp0t46CNYgtCm7dGFPSybuG19TmrGa2WuZsH7rBh6kEEYeDcgLCa6L1Xz4/s1600-h/Kids+in+the+street.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYT5Gl9u5Gssj-51QZB9EPAw95mz0b2bRErGM-pa3C1mUms3km8JFteZvm4LNU912kh4Mp0U8iAJ17DWOODtp0t46CNYgtCm7dGFPSybuG19TmrGa2WuZsH7rBh6kEEYeDcgLCa6L1Xz4/s320/Kids+in+the+street.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267484252898650322" border="0" /></a> I couldn't help snapping a pic of some kids in the street.... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAGug2F6lEyeGD1FptmJDhZmAJyb6Xf3Bad2BiQ9SRFhcagGuP_cTLwOwVFp7WTrSdzt3vC_uAjF1BuAAXlCt-fec2QXd8upvWI4VmpRyVIM1M5x-2Q-fWKEnGDl-89DWd3MhK_FhuKE/s1600-h/Me+%26+Melany.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAGug2F6lEyeGD1FptmJDhZmAJyb6Xf3Bad2BiQ9SRFhcagGuP_cTLwOwVFp7WTrSdzt3vC_uAjF1BuAAXlCt-fec2QXd8upvWI4VmpRyVIM1M5x-2Q-fWKEnGDl-89DWd3MhK_FhuKE/s320/Me+%26+Melany.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267484591325047474" border="0" /></a>Here's a pic of me and one of our South African team members, Melany. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1Zo_qmjukhYyI9PHZSbPCVHXhwsdA8lm1uL1jn3gE_Lvbnh1WWIu0hUDChmvjEPxBghyFTln34zM2iRgCWp6OK_LkjslwY8hFfxAmQKU0MiB6czsijVAyqchKuqD22K8Fk4O4jfZC6Q/s1600-h/laying+roof+tiles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1Zo_qmjukhYyI9PHZSbPCVHXhwsdA8lm1uL1jn3gE_Lvbnh1WWIu0hUDChmvjEPxBghyFTln34zM2iRgCWp6OK_LkjslwY8hFfxAmQKU0MiB6czsijVAyqchKuqD22K8Fk4O4jfZC6Q/s320/laying+roof+tiles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267484250989838258" border="0" /></a>Finishing the roof.... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1ub73uGHcJ-a9zSE-hBxT2_l6TGFh-3X3eEAGetWiZzNTCBuuHXPPuqHyQUdEDFSYPZNB5Ys-MH972IPYV39Hd12yKFyjwM03t3iL_HD7-ZT2q78ESQWc6RsrSWTTSW1hw1ctbiJnA8/s1600-h/New+home+owner%21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1ub73uGHcJ-a9zSE-hBxT2_l6TGFh-3X3eEAGetWiZzNTCBuuHXPPuqHyQUdEDFSYPZNB5Ys-MH972IPYV39Hd12yKFyjwM03t3iL_HD7-ZT2q78ESQWc6RsrSWTTSW1hw1ctbiJnA8/s320/New+home+owner%21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267484233821163426" border="0" /></a>The happy homeowner, Ntsikelelo Mgaju and her daughter.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-88906367983961670862008-10-25T21:45:00.003+02:002008-10-25T22:30:32.121+02:00Ricardo - a short, wild life....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4f5R7qbcxGrL2-NGTsOyfTaXwjL9NDCF7JUAZR2EToo3n5yW2BWASQoZ8LoRKNUHinwmqyMUGHJ4pJ3hekIeGuBSXTPvNmzVgZEVCS3Y7mFpwcfcsIHCdpVdOQfnvTqn8ljgcv4BmzI/s1600-h/Ricardo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4f5R7qbcxGrL2-NGTsOyfTaXwjL9NDCF7JUAZR2EToo3n5yW2BWASQoZ8LoRKNUHinwmqyMUGHJ4pJ3hekIeGuBSXTPvNmzVgZEVCS3Y7mFpwcfcsIHCdpVdOQfnvTqn8ljgcv4BmzI/s400/Ricardo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261185128676334850" border="0" /></a>Ricardo was one of the kids at the SOS Village. Wild and untamed is how I would describe him....He hung around with a group of boys who were always into trouble and on September 30th it caught up with him. The boys had climbed over a wall to escape the village, were running across a busy street when a car struck Ricardo, killing him instantly. And now I'm left wondering what could have been...<br /><br />Here are my strongest memories of Ricardo:<br />At the KG: When I was volunteering at the kindergarten last year, I had many run-in's with Ricardo. We tried our best to make him stay in class and listen to the lessons, but he was always too antsy, he literally couldn't sit still! And if he did stay in the class he was generally disruptive and combative towards the other children. So much of the time he spent running around in the courtyard or helping the custodian, Uncle Andele. But the sweetest memory I have was when he graduated from kindergarten last year, he told one of our other volunteers to "Tell that guy (Denzel) that I graduated!" He was so proud and wanted someone to know! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fC-a3RHkp-5cfs-d6JnL9ToceJHVOSwTFUOGdM7vmzcNbo0XB58PSxWHvo3gb9TG3JQFv4azehyphenhyphenwsuBR0lAS1XVmdxMeLkzU_jkxdYol6VNm1Gz3pT8dmnsWmdt_zXOyNAjXrHcCkp4/s1600-h/Ricardo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fC-a3RHkp-5cfs-d6JnL9ToceJHVOSwTFUOGdM7vmzcNbo0XB58PSxWHvo3gb9TG3JQFv4azehyphenhyphenwsuBR0lAS1XVmdxMeLkzU_jkxdYol6VNm1Gz3pT8dmnsWmdt_zXOyNAjXrHcCkp4/s400/Ricardo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261185123425866882" border="0" /></a><br />When I would see Ricardo in the village in the evening, he was always in motion, running around, climbing things, he couldn't be bothered to come down and talk to us boring old people!! But at the same time he loved to go into the hall where we did a lifeskills program with the teenagers and wreak havoc! That is how most of us from YFC remember Ricardo. Running around, being disruptive, but impossible to catch to talk to, impossible to get him to stop for a moment and listen to you...<br /><br />I don't know what his background was, all the kids at SOS have suffered from either abuse or neglect or both and have been sorely let down by the adults in their lives, he has 3 other siblings still living at the village.... I don't know how long Ricardo had lived at the village... I know his SOS mom worried about him and had trouble keeping tabs on him, try as she might... I always wondered about Ricardo myself... since he couldn't stay in class, how could he learn? And if he had no education, what was his future? To be honest, I thought without some sort of intervention, Ricardo would end up in jail. And so maybe God knew Ricardo was too wild for this world, he couldn't be tamed and he couldn't be forced to conform to society, so now he's at peace and I hope his soul is free.... I miss seeing Ricardo race past me at the village... and again, I can't help but wonder what might have been... I have nothing but love and memories of this wonderful, wild child...RicardoBobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-50080146195692109472008-10-17T23:50:00.007+02:002008-10-18T01:01:35.286+02:00YFC General Assembly<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcfZcsbFsijlzAwcmXNo1pBBvNOX02nuUqScy-sRa949swpqD23ed3JtQ1kZXTScMO4oQw36CFU98Ot2De2cloOeLw2pWt0peduEEPqEdssdEt2SWXXUF3R7kMFy66rPyeO0K4srwKvo/s1600-h/Are+we+people+of+the+cross+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcfZcsbFsijlzAwcmXNo1pBBvNOX02nuUqScy-sRa949swpqD23ed3JtQ1kZXTScMO4oQw36CFU98Ot2De2cloOeLw2pWt0peduEEPqEdssdEt2SWXXUF3R7kMFy66rPyeO0K4srwKvo/s200/Are+we+people+of+the+cross+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258245457779144610" border="0" /></a>So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">YFC</span> has a General Assembly (GA!) every 4 years and this year it was held at our training centre in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Magaliesburg</span>, South Africa (just outside of Johannesburg). Its the first time it has been held in Africa, so we really wanted to make a big impression on the rest of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">YFC</span> world! Here is one of my favorite pictures, taken at one of the evening sessions.....I love the colors and how the cross is illuminated....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdkB43EyHgGcQXw5-5YkxBigCO9ysBPtDv30Yg3JH84VU1pP8I_SRh7_ZuDGD8wVpZyCZYWLdQd0GQrKNzL9ZBV7NAzn4QhrK_4qk0oPaNy_n941wj2rh8Dx7nympi0Y98By4VTjn-2o/s1600-h/Logo+of+GA+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdkB43EyHgGcQXw5-5YkxBigCO9ysBPtDv30Yg3JH84VU1pP8I_SRh7_ZuDGD8wVpZyCZYWLdQd0GQrKNzL9ZBV7NAzn4QhrK_4qk0oPaNy_n941wj2rh8Dx7nympi0Y98By4VTjn-2o/s200/Logo+of+GA+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258246379270217234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is the logo of GA....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So most of us volunteers in Cape Town went early to GA to help with getting everything ready and then we were "on duty" the whole week. The dates of GA were Sept 19-26<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span>. Over 800 people were there from over 100 nations! It was truly amazing! I was part of the Admin team that had to get everyone registered and into rooms! No small feat, believe me! Here are some pics of registra<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMVHS8HmvwNEnxbh4556h0T9798DWXLhVvPTdAM5hdkA16bV1lqboolGvaibz0_L38GeyT_KnVmtzhtFBFq9NKI5tG_GGmHFA1ryosxg7YvpbKqQ3NlgjQ3Mf7AtTWL5uJg2NtTms-sM/s1600-h/Registation+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMVHS8HmvwNEnxbh4556h0T9798DWXLhVvPTdAM5hdkA16bV1lqboolGvaibz0_L38GeyT_KnVmtzhtFBFq9NKI5tG_GGmHFA1ryosxg7YvpbKqQ3NlgjQ3Mf7AtTWL5uJg2NtTms-sM/s200/Registation+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258247134756526450" border="0" /></a>tion and of me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd7nE2ZZUrugYvpaZtcX-vqbFGdd1aGn_zc3h185f2SaIpWJZv8FOXSBP9254CbFxSxDYKfOzGmkk_XZUmN4O4vNiZTeyHmSHjWhdt0mEhE2tNpW26zUW3u3V2kkbf3sjmCfD4080R2k/s1600-h/Natalie+and+I+at+info+desk+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd7nE2ZZUrugYvpaZtcX-vqbFGdd1aGn_zc3h185f2SaIpWJZv8FOXSBP9254CbFxSxDYKfOzGmkk_XZUmN4O4vNiZTeyHmSHjWhdt0mEhE2tNpW26zUW3u3V2kkbf3sjmCfD4080R2k/s200/Natalie+and+I+at+info+desk+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258246379383675842" border="0" /></a> and Natalie at the Info Desk...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />At the opening ceremony the worship band really got things off to a great start with incredible, spirited worship songs (the worship band is from Cape Town so I know most of them so it was cool to see them on stage and using their God-given talents!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpOf_UTWm-O2crzqbybML2t6gJ8myNNniEMf3tnhOZopVL9ejKg1b9i07v_g37T1KlkatI5orIHpLBnmRTW-qI_XvQS9ZDVMP2kvUbOZRFYXUw73v6E_KeSiOMpzm2hyphenhyphenweNvHDfeVrwQ/s1600-h/CT+Worship+Band4+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpOf_UTWm-O2crzqbybML2t6gJ8myNNniEMf3tnhOZopVL9ejKg1b9i07v_g37T1KlkatI5orIHpLBnmRTW-qI_XvQS9ZDVMP2kvUbOZRFYXUw73v6E_KeSiOMpzm2hyphenhyphenweNvHDfeVrwQ/s200/CT+Worship+Band4+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258245464284551298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And we had some Zulu dancers to get everyone in "Africa mode"! It was a fabulous night....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGU-HBEILfOcWGl-bhrWpYEUzwMIM-GUiShzMaEwIuW0VVl-UIo1HtmTmOpdv64HPYv5HdWR0-qRDiMwQPhk4zMXpJo_l0czZ1hCPbvOumr_fIGQIlWZJhNS-X3XL3gbCjMlhHnmtMMI/s1600-h/Zulu+dancers3+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGU-HBEILfOcWGl-bhrWpYEUzwMIM-GUiShzMaEwIuW0VVl-UIo1HtmTmOpdv64HPYv5HdWR0-qRDiMwQPhk4zMXpJo_l0czZ1hCPbvOumr_fIGQIlWZJhNS-X3XL3gbCjMlhHnmtMMI/s200/Zulu+dancers3+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258248615442745106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But then every night was great! There were talks given every morning and evening. Because I was helping with admin, I missed most of the morning sessions, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDq29mZrwLr0_F6QwSdWSFtXLMrrGM0nwG-mFwBwePlppMOXJltMfbemwoUrgZNM0CZJ-zkOWsUGkxGb08188n-yLAkHUujTUAjRYnVREv3fIIl2TV7DbV9UKF0QJFbPzlkOqBcFTdEU/s1600-h/Robert+Gelinas2+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDq29mZrwLr0_F6QwSdWSFtXLMrrGM0nwG-mFwBwePlppMOXJltMfbemwoUrgZNM0CZJ-zkOWsUGkxGb08188n-yLAkHUujTUAjRYnVREv3fIIl2TV7DbV9UKF0QJFbPzlkOqBcFTdEU/s200/Robert+Gelinas2+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258248126377911602" border="0" /></a>but luckily I didn't miss most of the evening sessions, because they were mostly given by Robert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gelinas</span>. He's a pastor from Denver and to say he was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">phenomenal</span> is an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">understatement</span>!!! He gave 5 talks on being "People of the cross". In the most powerful message he gave he asked if we were willing to accept whatever "cup" God might have for us in our lives - referring to Mt 26:39 when Jesus said "...My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will." He asked us to think about what cup God may have placed in our lives and are we willing to accept it or will we run from it? One of the other speakers talked about how important it was in his life when as a teen, an older man in his church told him God had told him to pray for the young man, every day. And how that man had encouraged and stood up for him in the church. He challenged us all to ask God to show us one young person that we should pray for every day and to tell that young person we were praying for them and what a difference it could make in that person's life...I know who I'm praying for....will you also take the challenge?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIhbuwaVvROUt8zHbb4K3qspYUX0yw36YFe-VBoPYPhInT8UixJu0UytRlntgpj_9NQIKz3z36Zx2RGR54QY0e_NGV8o7k8jhmbdhPNl9WO-8AsRaLbQAL1yC9p_XcdSfDMVm1QC_eRA/s1600-h/Commissioning+300+Young+Leaders4+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIhbuwaVvROUt8zHbb4K3qspYUX0yw36YFe-VBoPYPhInT8UixJu0UytRlntgpj_9NQIKz3z36Zx2RGR54QY0e_NGV8o7k8jhmbdhPNl9WO-8AsRaLbQAL1yC9p_XcdSfDMVm1QC_eRA/s200/Commissioning+300+Young+Leaders4+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258245461497536690" border="0" /></a>All throughout the week there were special sessions for all the Young Leaders at the conference...almost 300 of them! It was the kickoff of a 2 year program these Young Leaders will be going through to equip them to go out in their countries and proclaim the gospel to other young people. On the last night we commissioned these young people...here's a pic....<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhWCN6jbKyT24OxqhXkCTAlISphSsFC8xNygJsfb8ZSzsKsZJtam7BP06jobHyBtnOTaFtiKp7z6kQUt_vIkLT2JhzZB0x_DX2HEdT_eLKeISvzhAkuDbdG6KizmeLi4XsCI7cfiRYLs/s1600-h/Waiting+for+the+train+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhWCN6jbKyT24OxqhXkCTAlISphSsFC8xNygJsfb8ZSzsKsZJtam7BP06jobHyBtnOTaFtiKp7z6kQUt_vIkLT2JhzZB0x_DX2HEdT_eLKeISvzhAkuDbdG6KizmeLi4XsCI7cfiRYLs/s200/Waiting+for+the+train+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258248618532400994" border="0" /></a>It truly was an incredible week, so many great stories....but to be honest, this introverted girl was exhausted by the end of the week and anxious to get back to Cape Town and back to "normal life". So finally here are some pics of us waiting for the train and then on the train we took to and from Magaliesburg. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnQEInwGeK4ux7QW9JU8QKFHp-hRIsiGtakfvVCRS7HvVazwUujMeuOB4jLk3rdalcI0LlCR6pfVUCEtE1C6oojp61YafQ7iDy-J3I7BVPIDJrcTmkCHXHlUx9dn7npPp9obgHY5nOBU/s1600-h/Me+and+Lizzie+on+the+train+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnQEInwGeK4ux7QW9JU8QKFHp-hRIsiGtakfvVCRS7HvVazwUujMeuOB4jLk3rdalcI0LlCR6pfVUCEtE1C6oojp61YafQ7iDy-J3I7BVPIDJrcTmkCHXHlUx9dn7npPp9obgHY5nOBU/s200/Me+and+Lizzie+on+the+train+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258246375986139378" border="0" /></a>Here are s<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2wAuviVvij3ClHjeu8ItPeHZaq1tf4tKYjkDt-p-Z7WLLuGjigRjtAS-AW7Agez_yRuLbU7PLQKt5SX-pCOchKLgSHPh-nBo7l2xITQ-SPlWmDtdGC-jMUsAYa7Zd7e6gvsBPZeEsWc/s1600-h/Rita+Rosa+%26+Natalie+on+train+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2wAuviVvij3ClHjeu8ItPeHZaq1tf4tKYjkDt-p-Z7WLLuGjigRjtAS-AW7Agez_yRuLbU7PLQKt5SX-pCOchKLgSHPh-nBo7l2xITQ-SPlWmDtdGC-jMUsAYa7Zd7e6gvsBPZeEsWc/s200/Rita+Rosa+%26+Natalie+on+train+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258247138934203778" border="0" /></a>ome pics of my fellow YFC staff, me with Rolf's wife, Lizzie (Rolf is the National Director - formerly our Cape Town Centre Director) and then Rita, Rosa and Natalie....<br /><br />It takes over 24 hours to get from Cape Town to Jo'burg, so we had lots of time for fun and games......<br /><br />our favorites? Rummikub and Sequence!!! Lots of fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwZdi99_iNEx6T3Pb8PhrlP6a6VBX4MKiBQSg8NAonMjWvItuEzJ41HRryt42lMN0bZjbyIDkjMvWexBn8gRCKo6gqG9gyEMyzPqYQNZ3SJKklyokrpmF0p39xXncvGdW94SdBJgEmeA/s1600-h/Rummikub+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwZdi99_iNEx6T3Pb8PhrlP6a6VBX4MKiBQSg8NAonMjWvItuEzJ41HRryt42lMN0bZjbyIDkjMvWexBn8gRCKo6gqG9gyEMyzPqYQNZ3SJKklyokrpmF0p39xXncvGdW94SdBJgEmeA/s200/Rummikub+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258248127184365698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-icgpWAkvTC6UsItzaA2gVMFk-4qUvkpOa8lZ4X3XWum8lLbIl1g-ROD1nju1tD3Ee7Z_Dq7B2pWjtzUu14shEyMW8RYoZ_Mq7B2yBuGG1XIplEZUAJQFcq20XOdnQKVX9zGsTIEhcY/s1600-h/Sequence+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-icgpWAkvTC6UsItzaA2gVMFk-4qUvkpOa8lZ4X3XWum8lLbIl1g-ROD1nju1tD3Ee7Z_Dq7B2pWjtzUu14shEyMW8RYoZ_Mq7B2yBuGG1XIplEZUAJQFcq20XOdnQKVX9zGsTIEhcY/s200/Sequence+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258248131625225426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIHzIadUcQjivcGuhDuP2X_Y4Z_k01XVwqL0_rYZbe3wWM-XgS2W8Eqe7oKjIRB_mRJAeHa2dTtH6XDpVMkaihQP0CNRlFvYWwPOmC6V6I9_En6dwUlW6z-wcjScnTsIWJMZvLaCevBE/s1600-h/snow+on+the+mts+%26+lake+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIHzIadUcQjivcGuhDuP2X_Y4Z_k01XVwqL0_rYZbe3wWM-XgS2W8Eqe7oKjIRB_mRJAeHa2dTtH6XDpVMkaihQP0CNRlFvYWwPOmC6V6I9_En6dwUlW6z-wcjScnTsIWJMZvLaCevBE/s200/snow+on+the+mts+%26+lake+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258248132111230386" border="0" /></a>And finally a picture of the scenery going by - SNOW on the mountains and a beautiful lake in the valley below!! South Africa is truly so breathtaking!!Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-22659397126154722672008-09-14T18:08:00.005+02:002008-09-14T18:21:18.630+02:00SOS Photo Shoot!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY567o7PTUwJXPnFcQ91kbjzgePKS6k1QU69qGUxdW3VqBIZLi7l_q3mqoAXprhy_6rxFvQc9o-D2XrSFvL0tf0AMTva0nFXKUB2kJlH7erfavnbTye6khrB5VQgunX8DZu6yhkL8jsVI/s1600-h/Fakazele+Nosizwe+Sarah+Anita+me+%26+Jonathan+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY567o7PTUwJXPnFcQ91kbjzgePKS6k1QU69qGUxdW3VqBIZLi7l_q3mqoAXprhy_6rxFvQc9o-D2XrSFvL0tf0AMTva0nFXKUB2kJlH7erfavnbTye6khrB5VQgunX8DZu6yhkL8jsVI/s200/Fakazele+Nosizwe+Sarah+Anita+me+%26+Jonathan+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245912501115677970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguM_McneZcxyiRBHoAIdHt7XEAugzrNtx0pJbSdOZn9gALzcMEmA87KsNyGjxNxDRuEl113kVd-jWnC68L89uL_uwoKyY2zv0BR_9wgZJ3sD-k7q7sMGcUeeNNpwZ-5_5VNk7EvezB5YY/s1600-h/Me+%26+Cathy+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguM_McneZcxyiRBHoAIdHt7XEAugzrNtx0pJbSdOZn9gALzcMEmA87KsNyGjxNxDRuEl113kVd-jWnC68L89uL_uwoKyY2zv0BR_9wgZJ3sD-k7q7sMGcUeeNNpwZ-5_5VNk7EvezB5YY/s200/Me+%26+Cathy+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245912504710133362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eLEsQBQAmMDkqEGQ07GLu9LyaIqmAi7jZTXt9JEtOy-HAGV8yHjwKUgtzANk0WMhzU2bDpiCEDD68vaKe86dHDMyJrDH7i59AiZUrQogmGdW5_kT-TfwnSDHQblDRc0-gLvOiKQTXXA/s1600-h/Me+%26+Jonathan+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eLEsQBQAmMDkqEGQ07GLu9LyaIqmAi7jZTXt9JEtOy-HAGV8yHjwKUgtzANk0WMhzU2bDpiCEDD68vaKe86dHDMyJrDH7i59AiZUrQogmGdW5_kT-TfwnSDHQblDRc0-gLvOiKQTXXA/s200/Me+%26+Jonathan+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245912510994821202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrVbXo-Fy7sfB8MA4Ee55qS7uKj17jvEDFDD73RzmbI1G2XIk1TW4cIwRAMpqsNMT0-2LAmKUSHAq9em_C2Sn1AbYl2Dtgg-Q89_oKjsvrsOXppUWkl5VXSqOTvDZajSL2_Zu4w7G_kc/s1600-h/Me+%26+TK+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrVbXo-Fy7sfB8MA4Ee55qS7uKj17jvEDFDD73RzmbI1G2XIk1TW4cIwRAMpqsNMT0-2LAmKUSHAq9em_C2Sn1AbYl2Dtgg-Q89_oKjsvrsOXppUWkl5VXSqOTvDZajSL2_Zu4w7G_kc/s200/Me+%26+TK+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245911772956837346" border="0" /></a>The kids at SOS love to have the picture taken <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksFYenYy2XqRTHrJtwIxsCOi0oYAW8lFopzceJxaA6G25tlDamzH_jsK9OAsAnmh2ezD811w6nXXMfQVsUieJStBRzXdsslv8EEUU5bvvRqKEAE0l4fY92zAO3_X9DvMj1CnUrN97-V8/s1600-h/me+%26+Songezo+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksFYenYy2XqRTHrJtwIxsCOi0oYAW8lFopzceJxaA6G25tlDamzH_jsK9OAsAnmh2ezD811w6nXXMfQVsUieJStBRzXdsslv8EEUU5bvvRqKEAE0l4fY92zAO3_X9DvMj1CnUrN97-V8/s200/me+%26+Songezo+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245911771306227138" border="0" /></a>and then they will bug you for days until you print t<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWs49baWxW61vCoQ_hsOmX_lR3xv6JiLXWMhL9VOjiRTwpDDCSzyUvvcRgo1gMR_DVw6UxUcWfEfPEHL8nyLm2_lp4Hbg9QBDiugoShJudeOFyJOv7KXe2wcBcK9GmUSy3eQ76HHn9ok/s1600-h/Me+Joanen+%26+Sadida+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWs49baWxW61vCoQ_hsOmX_lR3xv6JiLXWMhL9VOjiRTwpDDCSzyUvvcRgo1gMR_DVw6UxUcWfEfPEHL8nyLm2_lp4Hbg9QBDiugoShJudeOFyJOv7KXe2wcBcK9GmUSy3eQ76HHn9ok/s200/Me+Joanen+%26+Sadida+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245911776480665458" border="0" /></a>hem out and bring them a copy! But I love them so much and can never have enough pics, so here's a <span style="font-style: italic;">small</span> sampling....Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-84662020742393499732008-09-13T23:02:00.004+02:002008-09-13T23:19:28.570+02:00American Style!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-jUCmxnbHHcyXJIriIVAT-VKNQzH6-tEbVw64f4RQpFtIPc2tHzOxhEyV1_2dfK20ehNgtFE9trLfXw1U7wRbekJPG0J0bzaDN4wq4KFRQ_LIvHz8ug1lWhvI8Yyn_MTPIikh7G-8OU/s1600-h/American+Corndogs+Stand+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-jUCmxnbHHcyXJIriIVAT-VKNQzH6-tEbVw64f4RQpFtIPc2tHzOxhEyV1_2dfK20ehNgtFE9trLfXw1U7wRbekJPG0J0bzaDN4wq4KFRQ_LIvHz8ug1lWhvI8Yyn_MTPIikh7G-8OU/s320/American+Corndogs+Stand+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245618376832328994" border="0" /></a>So here's a picture of an actual vendor at Canal Walk, the biggest mall in Cape Town - American Corn Dogs!! And they're so good and they remind me of the State Fair every time I have one! Not because I get corn dogs at the State Fair - cheesecake on a stick is more likely to grab my attention - but because I know there's the State Fair brand corn dogs...and so it makes me nostalgic! I also had taken a picture of the packaging touting "American-style chocolate chip cookies" and "American-style caramel corn" but I must have accidentally deleted them....its makes me laugh every time I see them!! It seems so funny to see packaging like that in Africa!! And they're both also very good, btw, gotta love American-style!! =:)Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-13595689037590587142008-09-13T22:35:00.003+02:002008-09-13T22:49:08.798+02:00Goodbye Gabe!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1if3GBSyPxm21aFAKHY5BjGbjVtSwihivvrwsD2xo_0Ajq8Ilt2fjeCfwaa72yb5EU8ehPMfx90_oMYlazcyVZuqZLJ8c15Jm66921j1JPnUCwbSH-BxNwRMLTDtVMPJvQnJMDZKEtI/s1600-h/Gabe+%26+Nosizwe+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1if3GBSyPxm21aFAKHY5BjGbjVtSwihivvrwsD2xo_0Ajq8Ilt2fjeCfwaa72yb5EU8ehPMfx90_oMYlazcyVZuqZLJ8c15Jm66921j1JPnUCwbSH-BxNwRMLTDtVMPJvQnJMDZKEtI/s200/Gabe+%26+Nosizwe+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245610494038978050" border="0" /></a>All I can say about Gabe is he's an original! He does not fit into any box you could come up with for a guy from the US, Georgia, in particular. He has no plans to go to college. Brags about how he can't cook, how he can live off a few bucks a week for food - he ate more pizza here in Cape Town than I thought was possible. He had no desire to see any of the sites in Cape Town -one of the most beautiful cities in the world! He's perfectly happy to sit in front of his computer for hours playing his Star Wars game - or sitting on the ledge on the front of the house playing his guitar. And though he hates 80's music (which I love!), he scores huge points for liking Janis Joplin and classic rock! On a serious note, Gabe worked in our project at Vissershok Primary School and at SOS Children's Village, and when many of the vols left and it was just him and Jana, he really stepped up to the plate and took the lead...much to our suprise!!! The teens at SOS will really miss him! I had lots of fun reminiscing about old TV show theme songs with Gabe...our favorite to annoy fellow vols with....sing it with me, Gabe, sing it loud.... "Green Acres is the place to be....Farm livin is the life for me!...."Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-14656002085431041572008-09-13T22:26:00.002+02:002008-09-13T22:34:55.452+02:00Goodbye Arjan!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluseO5M9NWSEmRYY0d46aNle4-CPWbZIDf2bZpjJrvf-JmWzzRnA4XpoZdrOCeZxCF4NuYg_cTSTupLOJwiJvIE1i-o0swUjpwAELBkWTeY8vwpRgxlP66-5_qVUSaQ_5Sa7xDA9jkuI/s1600-h/meno+arjan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluseO5M9NWSEmRYY0d46aNle4-CPWbZIDf2bZpjJrvf-JmWzzRnA4XpoZdrOCeZxCF4NuYg_cTSTupLOJwiJvIE1i-o0swUjpwAELBkWTeY8vwpRgxlP66-5_qVUSaQ_5Sa7xDA9jkuI/s200/meno+arjan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245606911128389378" border="0" /></a>So Arjan lived at the Kylemore house, so I didn't get to know him very well, but I know he is sorely missed in that community! He assimilated very quickly to the culture there and was involved on several levels. He taught lifeskills at the High School with one of our other vols, Rita. He led a nature club with some of the youth and he was a member of the soccer team in Kylemore - they called him Long Man because he's so tall! He has such an easy-going, fun-loving way about him that made him very approachable. It also helps that he is from Holland and since Dutch and Afrikaans (the "mother-tongue" of most of the colored community in South Africa) are quite similar, he could understand and communicate with them more easily. Here is a pic of him with Meno, one of our team members from last year who has come back to YFC to lead the Kylemore house. (Arjan is the white guy! =:) )Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-61649963562797083982008-09-13T22:02:00.002+02:002008-09-13T22:10:58.309+02:00Goodbye Bao-Nhi!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QNrHNSrer2C0n_gBGJPxFYFw5ND8sPh47G6ROruXasZQGg-Der39fT4g6BhoHbJ8z2WitykYcDx_HTfvhZRjI-VrZ2hjR4tdgmd-mt5YagGPKZOIqoMyeLjN3fZxzpFN_caqPtP43ic/s1600-h/BN+and+SOS+Kids.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QNrHNSrer2C0n_gBGJPxFYFw5ND8sPh47G6ROruXasZQGg-Der39fT4g6BhoHbJ8z2WitykYcDx_HTfvhZRjI-VrZ2hjR4tdgmd-mt5YagGPKZOIqoMyeLjN3fZxzpFN_caqPtP43ic/s200/BN+and+SOS+Kids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245600774478170226" border="0" /></a>Bao-Nhi and I got to be very good friends the last few months she was here and I miss her already, very much!! She has such a huge heart and is always taking care of everyone! I told her she has the most heightened sense of responsibility of anyone I've ever met! You always knew you could count on Bao-Nhi to follow through if you asked her to do something.....not always true with many of the vols...at least not in any timely manner! =:) Bao-Nhi also had a great sense of humor and we just plain had fun together. I assisted her with the program with the younger kids at the SOS Childrens Village and I was always amazed at how well she could control the kids and how she commanded the respect - trust me - this is no easy task!!! I know all the kids at SOS miss her very much - as do I! Here's a pic of her with many of the regulars to our program! Goodbye, Bao-Nhi, I wish you a long, prosperous, joy-filled life! Love you much....Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-30959764437518161282008-09-13T20:41:00.003+02:002008-09-13T22:02:06.537+02:00Goodbye Nina!!Nina left in mid August to go back home to Germany. She came to YFC Cape Town as a second visit, to be the leader of the Year of Your Life team that our office has every year. Unfortunately the year did not go as planned and Nina did not stay with the team, instead she moved to our Blouberg v<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpGbZ-fOqPLqR4HMjTZUDFYTF1Z8_6JXYw-LIvuX41iQlEka5DAEOKMAxmaQOMgqh0BpFgfOQdhI6x4hzeBNCIYlLY9CjrUpZ6bIsKGFfIcRac5Di5YONbbCnC0Jz3uH2-2D5odaDOHQ/s1600-h/Denzel+%26+Nina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpGbZ-fOqPLqR4HMjTZUDFYTF1Z8_6JXYw-LIvuX41iQlEka5DAEOKMAxmaQOMgqh0BpFgfOQdhI6x4hzeBNCIYlLY9CjrUpZ6bIsKGFfIcRac5Di5YONbbCnC0Jz3uH2-2D5odaDOHQ/s200/Denzel+%26+Nina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245598372041402418" border="0" /></a>olunteer house in May. She then made the decision to return home in August in hopes that she would still be able to find a teaching job before school started in late September. Nina is also in a relationship with one of our staff members, Denzel, whom she met and kept in contact with the first time she was here with YFC as a volunteer. Denzel visited her in Germany in 2007 and then she made the decision to come back to South Africa to also give their relationship a chance to grow....and it did....though they are once again in different continents, they are still together and making the best of it...only time will tell where their relationship goes, but I for one am pulling for them, I think they're such a sweet couple. Here is a pic of them.... Nina, Denzel and I got to hang out a few times and I really enjoyed it, I also enjoyed the few times Nina and I hung out together and wish there had been more time for us to get to know each other. She is a good friend and I hope I will see her in February when I'm in Germany!Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608409509161404522.post-69811067698010623712008-07-22T16:59:00.005+02:002008-07-22T17:08:46.856+02:00Karaoke Birthday!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsripsD_iyJ_byrVWlugFRCcP7jnr6g9xbNI72Q1YmDFFP5JUZyamYHyhGfEbNAUnfdsyk2fAlQcdFaCWZY35AMsmxoASwTtNOxLroOP53waxsvu56ogNHVHilAt6II1mDhNOxRETJ4Q/s1600-h/karoke+resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsripsD_iyJ_byrVWlugFRCcP7jnr6g9xbNI72Q1YmDFFP5JUZyamYHyhGfEbNAUnfdsyk2fAlQcdFaCWZY35AMsmxoASwTtNOxLroOP53waxsvu56ogNHVHilAt6II1mDhNOxRETJ4Q/s200/karoke+resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854691631772098" border="0" /></a>So again this year we celebrated my birthday with karaoke!!! It was soooo much fun!!! My friend Isabel that I went to visit in Zambia flew back to Cape Town with me and we spent our birthday together! Yea, we have the same birthday, so last year when she was a volunteer she left right before our birthday, but we said it would be great to meet at Victoria Falls for our birthday next y<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnAaORnsGQuOvJr64qJwgLWmxZuGB_vq07lr-5dHdA6fisYPwyrRHX-LJhIIsmD6IDdpdGn57TvRxRSn4szYstQSRoNLCoi6GVmyWTLNgMVfI89y4DGyks39rsszkSIof-FEbujOw8gs/s1600-h/karaoke4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnAaORnsGQuOvJr64qJwgLWmxZuGB_vq07lr-5dHdA6fisYPwyrRHX-LJhIIsmD6IDdpdGn57TvRxRSn4szYstQSRoNLCoi6GVmyWTLNgMVfI89y4DGyks39rsszkSIof-FEbujOw8gs/s200/karaoke4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854700183403506" border="0" /></a>ear, and our wish came true!!! So Isabel was there and fellow volunteer, Bao-Nhi, then we were joined by friends: the Skippers family, Mumba, Claudine and<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc5qWyQ89V2SGtx33ayM1lWVZTqDwK__CfFgunletWV6Ehd5P9wkB0ctxW4Tn6s_c7H2Q4sD3hLW1hwukraLyr8Uth9PfnALxXw5YTt8i7EzsgtuloV6rrRJ7i3MvD-rJyJAT1XC2kpE/s1600-h/karaoke3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc5qWyQ89V2SGtx33ayM1lWVZTqDwK__CfFgunletWV6Ehd5P9wkB0ctxW4Tn6s_c7H2Q4sD3hLW1hwukraLyr8Uth9PfnALxXw5YTt8i7EzsgtuloV6rrRJ7i3MvD-rJyJAT1XC2kpE/s200/karaoke3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854698949593138" border="0" /></a> Edwina! Everyone humored me by singing and there was some dancing as well....a great time was had by all!!! Enjoy the pics!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65CANjQZYC9yVu0oyqZDLKiJh2qDdGWwODa2XcVZKKZ8D-eWfUfkk4MuA8MLhTe-uXu7xJbw5lpeMtPlFMt79dMRjk7D3_Rei18KMy9uGgItOhMNFTs-vIxknErNVQB-9mThe9J6VksA/s1600-h/karaoke2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65CANjQZYC9yVu0oyqZDLKiJh2qDdGWwODa2XcVZKKZ8D-eWfUfkk4MuA8MLhTe-uXu7xJbw5lpeMtPlFMt79dMRjk7D3_Rei18KMy9uGgItOhMNFTs-vIxknErNVQB-9mThe9J6VksA/s200/karaoke2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854695213265202" border="0" /></a>Bobbi Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01766480278338587090noreply@blogger.com0