Mom and Dad's African Adventure Part I: Sudan

This Christmas, I received a very special gift. I was given the opportunity to share my life here in Africa with my parents. It was an experience that I will never forget.

Thank you Mom and Dad for stepping out of your comfort zone, for taking the time and traveling so far to see the people that I love here in Sudan.

I love you!

I head back to Sudan tomorrow. And although I could have written volumes about our African adventure, time is not on my side. So, for now, I will share these pictures and maybe add some stories later. Enjoy!

Dad and Mom - Africa Bound!

Flying Into Nagishot, Sudan

Tianne, Elly and I have imagined meeting a plane carrying our family members on our little Didinga airstrip for over two years.
What fun it was to have this fantasy actually come true!!!

The 2010 school year commenced while Mom and Dad were in Nagishot.
P3 with the Davey's

Laundry

Though I doubt Mom is ready to move to Sudan,
she couldn't deny the beauty of these Didinga Hills.

Mom with my good friend Joyce and her two sweeties - Janie and Katie

Aaaahhh, it was so nice to have a man around.
Dad fixed my bed and the outhouse door.
If he would have had the time, he would have reconstructed our whole house.

My parents sat in on a few of our classes.
Practicing for our Christmas pageant
(thank God for Lojure - singing is not a strength for me)

Our Didinga Kitchen

Thanksgiving Day
Making stuffing, fresh garden cooked carrots and pecan pie with mom.

Tianne killed and cooked the chicken, but Dad had the honor of carving it.
It was yummy!

Elly's pumpkin pie
(last January she brought canned pumpkin from the States just for Thanksgiving pie)
and the pecan pie Mom and I baked.

Celebrating Thanksgiving in Didinga with my Mom and Dad!!!
So special!

Mom, Dad, Tianne, Elly and I

Thanksgiving Dinner

Our Table

Our View

Heading to Napep
Mom and Dad were real troopers.
Though they were really jet-legged,
they hiked the ten miles to Napep in 90+ degree temperatures without complaining.

In the forest, on the way to Napep.

With Napep Friends

Dad LOVED sharing his video camera with everyone.

Dad with the men at the work party.

Sharing a Common Hobby

Nakong, Mom and Nakenya

Me with my Didinga Mom, Pia and her youngest son, Abona

Didinga Momma Grinding Corn

What a Gift - My Two Families

Mom and Dad meet my Didinga Grandma

Trying out a Didinga bow

We left Napep at 4 am so that we could make it home to Nagishot for Sunday's church service.
Most of the ten mile hike was done that morning in the dark.

Sunrise in Didinga
My Mom and Dad ROCK!!!