DANU, THE BIG BROWN DOG!

Danu was born in February and we got him in May, 2017.  He is part South African Boerboel and Great Dane.  He has grown quickly and most everyone has grown to love him, even those smaller than him.  We chose the name Danu which is New Day said in reverse.  He loves to hang out at the dining hall preferring to scrounge for food and eat scraps from the kids than eat the delicious dog food we buy for him.  When not playing with the kids, playing on the sand pile, or playing in the mud puddles he can be found attending school, chasing lizards, mice, grasshoppers, or about anything else that moves!  Danu follows his master everywhere even when in the car, always preferring to lead,  has a ferocious bark, and thinks he is a lapdog.  We think he isn't finished growing, too!

Chililego means blessing!

 

Chililego came to us after seven members of his family, including his mother, was killed in a van accident while traveling to a family member's funeral.  After the scene was processed, the police officers decided to make one more look into the wrecked van.  Much to their surprise they found a small baby, Chililego, whose name means blessing.  It was determined by the remaining family and social welfare that he should come to New Day; actually God chose him to come to New Day.  Upon arriving here he stayed for a few days with Lorna Batten and her two older children in the Ark while they were here on a mission trip.  Upon their departure and our arrival back from Durban, we decided to take Chililego into our home until decisions were made and his Zambian NDO mama arrived back from holiday.  We immediately fell in love with this little fella!  He always had such a serious look on his face and I often wondered what this little guy was processing in his young mind.

 

 

 Relatives came to visit, grandmother and aunt.

Durban, South Africa

This past August, we ventured off to Durban, South Africa...by ourselves!  This was the first time we have ever taken a trip to an unknown destination...by ourselves...without other family members or family members awaiting at the final destination!  Durban is on the eastern side of South Africa on the Indian Ocean.  It is a beautiful city filled with warm people. 

 I drew this picture a couple of weeks before we left on our trip.  Little did I know this is exactly what our view would be each morning!

This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!

The view from our 10th floor room to the right and harbor.

We spent a lot of time on the piers watching surfers; the waves were huge!

We enjoyed fresh seafood, local traditional dance, shopping, pedicures, massages, a gondola ride, swimming, and even stumbled on a local artisan's market.

One day trip included a drive up into the mountains for a safari and wonderful lunch at the lodge.

 
 

But prior to the safari we veered off the highway to a little known waterfall and trail.

You can see the highway above the falls.

 


Another day trip included a visit to a crocodile farm and traditional tribal performance with lunch overlooking the valley of a thousand hills.

Our guide, Oasis; we loved getting to know him.

We ended this day with a tour of the city and original market.  Durban and the Indian Ocean behind us and to the right  is the harbor.

 The Indian Ocean and view to the left. 

Our week long adventure ended with a full moon over the Indian Ocean.

Thank you, God!

Just a Few of our Favorite Photos

 Love to see these rowdy kindergarteners with a book!

 I can think of all sorts of captions for this darling picture of Luyando and Bleston.

Hildah...beautiful woman, inside and out!  She is our Head Teacher, amazing interpreter, spiritual role model, and so much more!  We have known Hildah since our first trip to Zambia in December 2004.   

 Bleston and Laston will surely grow up to be best buds.

 This woman came to my door to sell me her handiwork. 

I was so impressed she did all of this with no pattern and so, of course, I bought it!

 Sonic and his sister, Shadow, had been at New Day since the beginning.  I fell in love with Sonic when we came in June 2016 and he quickly became "my" dog.  

He served this place faithfully for many years and I still miss him.

OUR MOST FAVORITE OF ALL ARE OUR GRANDCHILDREN

Our Kimbrough grandchildren:  Isabel, Abigail, Isaac, and Amos!

Our Tidwell grandchildren:  Caedmon, Cambree, and Cason!

OF COURSE THEIR PARENTS ARE PRETTY SPECIAL TO US TOO!

Blu and Darbi and Dawnya and Blake 

October Baptism

On a warm and sunny day in October, 15 new believers followed through in believer's baptism in the river about one and half miles from the New Day Baptist Church.