I went camping in the bush and a giraffe stared at me

I will post pictures of the delightful camping trip very soon. My roomie let me take her camera and the whole process of getting the pictures to me is a bit more complicated than I thought. I've got a few but the best are yet to come. I'm waiting for those. The trip was great!!! I went with 11 kids and Mama Thandie and Papa James. We camped out in the bushiest bush I've ever been in, (Malawi family- THIS was bush bush). We learned quite a bit about animal tracks and sounds and poop. Once the kids learned that herbivorous poo was okay to touch- they went crazy. Picking up all the poop they saw and threw it at each other and had way too good of a time. A couple rangers with rifles, a.k.a. their wives, taught us a lot about rhino poaching. There job was to protect all animals, especially the rhinos from poachers. Hearing about what a problem it has become makes me sick. Visit www.stoprhinopoaching.com
Overall it was an incredible weekend and the kids really enjoyed it. We got to see a lot of cool animals but the most exotic one was the giraffe. We were leaving the park and I was thinking, "Too bad I didn't get to see a giraffe while I was here. It's alright, I'll be in Africa long enough that I'm sure I'll see one." Not two minutes later I look to my left and there she was. Her back facing us and then she slowly turned around and stared. I say "HI" like it was love at first sight. I took a couple pictures and she just stared as we drove away following the car with her massive eyes. I literally began to cry. It was overwhelming. SHE WAS GORGEOUS! I love camping as it is, but then you throw in an African sunset and sunrise?!?! Speechless.

Turns out I have a few more takers to my tap class. I've got 15 kids under 12yrs. I think 9 teenagers, and 4 adults. BRING IT ON! I am so excited. Keep looking for tap shoes and I will keep you posted on the best way for them all to come together and make their way over here :)

Can I just say how absolutely incredible it is how God moves. I look back on the past year of my life and how it has brought me here. At this exact time. It was not easy making this journey here, and the majority of the time, I did not understand what was happening. I knew, though, that something was in fact happening. Something big. This was it. And then I get here and see how perfect my timing was for the amazing people HERE!!! I understand, now, how meant to be this is for me. I want to thank, again, everyone who has been apart of this journey and helped make it happen. And there is one person in particular that has been closely involved in this crazy journey of mine and as it was not easy for them either, my side was never left. You know who you are. Thank you and I love you.

View from my porch this morning :)

They were landing at 7am. Ahhh... to watch the African sunrise from a hot air balloon.

Shoes!

The other night I went to a concert at one of our schools, Unity College. It is not a college, by the way. Colleges are Universities here. Anyway, it's a school for special needs. We have a couple kids here that attend and can I just say... it was some of the most fun I have had since I have been here!!! It was called "Imagine That". A little show reminding us to keep our imagination. The kids were many different ages and many different handicaps. It was so cool with dancing, singing, acting. AH!!! I loved it. I can't wait until Unity puts on another show.

So we have a rough tally of how many Tap students I will have. I'm looking at about 10-12 kids under 12yrs, and about 6-8 over 12yrs. I will be having one class a week for each age group lasting one hour. They will begin Monday, Oct. 3. I will be looking around at stores here to see if I can get my hands on some shoes. Typically tap shoes are a bit pricy but if you have any, or know of anyone with any old tap shoes for kids and teens, please feel free to send them our way. It would be greatly appreciated. You know you want to be apart of the beauty of dance in these kid's lives!!!!!! Donations to Refilwe can be sent to:

PO BOX 1020
Lanseria
1748
Johannesburg
SOUTH AFRICA

And don't forget about where you can donate to me! :) ------------------------->
(over there and up on the right) :D