School is in session!

Dumelang from South Africa! It sure has been warm over on this side of the world! It is hard to imagine that home received around a foot of snow. My face is nice and rosy and my arms have a beautiful light pink farmer's tan from my day out on a farm call today. The sun here is just so much more intense.

Saturday we went out to the Mafikeng game reserve. I saw giraffes, zebras, white rhinos, wildebeast, kudu, hardebeasts, springbok, waterbucks, ostriches, and several other hoofstock. I was most captivated with the giraffes. They are just so docile and don't seem to care whether you are there or not. I posted picture on my facebook page. If you aren't on facebook, let me know and I will try to find some way to upload a few onto here.

Sunday's church service was really good. They have been without a pastor for about a year, and God is really starting to stir amongst the congregation. They are starting to see areas where God is calling them to grow and move beyond their comfort zones. Something that many people have been praying for. :) Sunday was also a big day for another reason. It was mine and Rebecca's African birthdays (because our birthdays won't happen when we are in Africa)! We invited some people over, baked a homemade carrot cake and played games. It was tons of fun. The Africans in the group sang us happy birthday in Setswana! :)

Monday morning was the first day of classes for the new school year here at Northwest University. The day started off with an orientation for the final year diploma (equivalent to an associates) and degree (equivalent to a bachelors) students. There are about 70 all together. I gave a case presentation on Anaplasmosis that I had previously competed with at the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Conference. (I have used it in several classes--gotten a lot of miles out of that one!) This was to be an example of the case presentations the veterinarians want them to do at assigned times throughout the semester. After the orientation was over, we started in clinics. Most of the students already know my name, but I need some help learning theirs! The school is taught in English, but that doesn't mean American English! The accent both ways presents some communication difficulties. I have found myself being much more demonstrative (yes I know this is a scary thought) and speaking S-L-O-W. :) I am really enjoying the teaching aspect. Kinda makes me really consider sometime going back into academia.

Tuesday, I along with Dr. Nyirenda did an enucleation (taking out the eye) of a cow. The cow had been stolen and was tied up in a court case so the owner wanted to go ahead with the surgery. Her only job will be to have a calf each year. Initially we thought that the eye had already ruptured, but as we started the procedure we realized she had just had severe eyelid trauma, causing the eyelids to be about 2" thick, and the eye was still intact. Because we could not create a clean eyelid margin and she would have no eyelashes for protection, we decided to go ahead and remove it. The surgery went great and she is recovering nicely. I too have pictures of this, but they are not for the weak stomached!

I really enjoy going on the farm calls here, because I get to get out and see the countryside. I think my country roots make me crave wide open spaces! :) All the land here is communal (not fenced) and owned by the tribe. Ranchers will hire a shepherd to watch over their herd and the shepherd's will live in a little mud house out in the range land. Something I saw today that I found so interesting was a nose ring with spikes on it. They were in the smaller cattle. I inquired and they told me it is to facilitate weaning. That way when the calf tries to nurse, the spike pokes the mom and she kicks. I told them, "In America, we just take the babies away from their mamas!" That is impossible for them to do with their set-up. Quite innovative I thought! :)

Tomorrow we are having a Bible study over lunch with any of the staff/faculty that want to come. Paula had started it and had been the one driving it. She decided that for this semester that she wanted them to take the initiative and that they would start when someone asked. Praise the Lord it happened! I made a carrot cake (requested by Akofa and Tshepe--receptionist and technician respectively) for refreshments.

Something that has really been just so heavy on my heart lately is the need for discipleship in the Body of Christ. I remember when I was working with Dr. Kelly Crowdis in Haiti and her making the comment that Haiti was over evangelized and under discipled. Well, that is true of the vast majority of Africa. The Lord gave me this picture of a baby being born into the world, and just being left without anyone to provide for its needs food, water, shelter and nurture. He showed me that this is much like many believers who come to know Christ at these mass crusades (which are good--don't get me wrong), but have no people to help guide them in their spiritual walk afterwards. I want to share with them that Jesus didn't just die so that you could spend eternity with Him: He died that you could experience abundant life here on earth. Jesus cares about all aspects of your life. He desires RELATIONSHIP not religious practices. I want them to know my God who set me free from bondage and to let them know that He is no respecter of persons. He can do the same for them. Gosh, my heart is just so burdened to help grow-up the Body. Anyhoo, please be praying that God would show me where He is leading me and that I would be bold in my faith walk.

May the Lord bless and keep you. May He make His face to shine upon you, to comfort you and give you peace. Til next time . . .