We made the trip to Lesotho yesterday. Attached are descriptive pictures of my last 24 hours. I am almost over the jet lag. The scenery along the trip from Johannesburg, South Africa to Maseru, Lesotho was landscape of plains of farmland. An occasional tree or windmill. The windmills usually have a well underneath it and the wind pumps the water up. You'll see an ostrich here, but we also saw zebra!! The sky is so blue, the land is just wide open. In the distance we could start to see the mountains after a couple of hours in the car.

The landscape shot #259 is us right before we got to customs, leaving South Africa and entering Lesotho. That was a wild experience. Getting out of the car and walking to a building to get my passport stamped. The picture #265 is the border between the two countries. Needless to say I was using my camera descretly... Suggestion by Uncle Frank. Thanks.

The salt and pepper shakers were a gift to me, hand carved from the ivory of a hippo's tooth! We did a little bit of gift exchange at dinner, they were so excited about the chocolate chips that I brought and the bathtub Crayons. It has been wonderful to see family. Between my Bible, family, and oddly enough- my Sanatary shirt that I am sleeping in- I feel right at home. It is helpful to have bearings like that! The last picture is this morning, taken in the front seat of the car on the way to school. That is Isaac in my lap playing with the airconditioning vent. Andrew in the backseat making a face. The name of their school is Maseru Prep School and is for ages preK through sixth grade. Aunt Nancy and I will go this afternoon to pick them up after our trip up the mountain.
Today and tomorrow are planned to include horseback riding through some of the very rural areas and to also visit MIS Children's Home. This is what I am looking forward to most of all. It is an orphanage for children here... Ministry of Insured Salvation. Check it out www.visionhopelesotho.org and click on MIS.

Sala hantle, which means bye, for now.
JA

Lumella - Hello from Johannesburg

Lumella is actually pronounced "Du-mella" and means Hello in Sesotho, what the natives speak where we are headed tomorrow.

I made it!! Wow, and what a flight. The sun rise out of my window yesterday was a montage of the colors of a flame, bright oranges and pinks into blues, just magnificent. Only have two minutes to write. I have already met a few people that are doing really cool work. One of the girls I met on the plane was headed to an orphanage in Zambia. Just an hour ago we stopped by the Baptist International Mission Hostle and met a few families. Church planters one in Angola and the other was in Malawi!

On the plane I opened one of the 78 bibles that I was able to bring with me. I read Psalm 137-139. It was so refreshing to read! It is amazing to hear God!
Hugs to all of you reading this!! I will try to write again soon.
M&D, this camera is so great! We are headed tomorrow to pick up Uncle Frank's laptop from IBM, I'll be sure to take a picture of that for you.

Love always,
JA

Julie Anna leaves for Africa - Jan 04, 2008

Dear family and friends,

Julie Anna is now on her way to Johannesburg, South Africa. Although Julie Anna will not be going to Kenya, she would like to ask you to pray for the people there and the unrest there following the recent elections. The UN World Food Program said it was scrambling to bring food to 180,000 displaced people in the Rift Valley area, which is where
Julie Anna's cousin Katie goes to school. Her cousin's return to school has been delayed until Jan 19, so Julie Anna will get to see her while in Lesotho, but they are very concerned about the situation for the people.

Julie Anna's luggage cleared the 50 pound weight check, and at last count there were 78 Bibles in with her things. She has an extra memory card for her new digital camera, and a new passport in hand. She is so excited about her trip, and I just wanted to send a quick note out to thank you all for praying for her, for her safety, for God's guidance, for blessings on the people she meets, and on her desire to find a continuing ministry for the AIDS orphans of Lesotho.