COZV Race Around the World

A HUGE THANK YOU to Courtney West for organizing the COZV Race Around the World that was held Saturday June 18th.  Also a HUGE THANK YOU to ALL who helped, participated and donated/pledged toward one of our kids.  Thank you to all of the racers around the world that supported us here in Africa!

The race started here in Namibia.  We were again blessed with friends that provided a HUGE TRUCK to take ALL of our children to the sports stadium!!  They actually needed a ladder to get into the truck.  WOW!!  That was so awesome and such a blessing not to have to take many, many trips to and from the stadium to get all of our kids and staff and volunteers there.  THANK YOU MARIANNE AND MICHAEL!!!  The babies and some of the staff went in the car with us. 

                            

Once we got to the sports stadium we lined up for the start of the race.  We were walking/running a LONG track.  The track here is longer than the typical US 1/4 mile track.  It is about 400 meters so our kids really went longer than what you might calculate when you count laps.  We did have a small candy incentive for each lap  

  

Some ran, some walked, some were carried.  We took music and turned it up loud!  Everyone had a great time. 

   

   

After the big race/run/walk/carry, we came back to the village for a traditional braii and traditional dancing.  It was a great day and we really appreciate all of you that participated in any way!!  Thank you always for your prayers financial support.  The kids are here because YOU CARE!!  God is so Good and we give HIM all of the praise and Thanks!!!

    

When the connection is good to us, we will be loading more pictures on our website photo gallery section.  There are a ton of great pictures that we hope that you enjoy!  Blessings and Love from Africa!

Sports–Friendly?

We walked to a friendly sports match on Wednesday.  It was over the bush and through the water   The first water was below the knee but the last water was above the knee, especially for us short people!  The girls played net ball and won.  One of our girls got injured and we think she has a hamstring pull.  She was lucky there are 2 strong men – Travis and Jimmy – to carry her some of the way back.  They were also blessed that one of our friends in the village offered a macolo ride so they rode in the dug out canoe most of the way.  The rest of us walked the distance.  The boys played soccer and they ended in a 3 –3 draw.  They played great as usual.  The cheering squad on the side had a wonderful time dancing and chanting!  A fun time for all!!  Even the dogs (not Lydia as she stayed with her pups) escorted us and were with us the whole time. 

         

  

BABIES X 9 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I guess you might say we are grandparents!  NINE BABIES!!!  Congratulations Lydia!!!  Now, let us tell you that her puppies (the older ones) are only 8 months old!  Now she has 9 new ones to take care of.  Birthday Friday June 10.  Where?  Born on the river bank in a nice dug out nest in the sand.  Well, we left them for a while but by late afternoon we decided that they should be moved to a safer and warmer spot.  At night, the bank of the river would be cold and during the day they might be eaten by a crocodile or a big lizard.  So, after a recue of the first born (we found her in a totally different spot than the rest of the litter) and a recue of the last born (this one rolled down the bank a ways and was still in the sack) we recued the entire litter by moving them to the big dog house.  All nine seem to be doing well.  Lydia is a trooper as she has had 3 litters in the last 15 months!  If we have anything to say about it, we say this will be the last.  Puppies however, are not hard to get rid of.  We have already had requests for 5 of the nine so I am sure the other 4 will go fast.  Let’s see if we fall in love with one to keep for our very own