It's Summer in South Africa

Since we last posted, we've covered a lot of miles.

For 5+ weeks in December and January, we had so much fun visiting with people we love!  Unfortunately, we can't post all their photos, so we're opting to stick with family pictures...
ALPINE, UTAH

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

 

Then we said goodbye to this 

And headed back to this

It's the rainy season here in South Africa. I took a few photos on the way to Kate's school Friday morning.  This is how major potholes are marked (spray paint, stacked tires, bricks and other rubble).  This one takes up half the opposite lane.

Uranium Street which runs from our home to John's school floods with regularity.  Ie.  Impassable and a traffic nightmare.  We avoid it, so no photo to show!

 Without proper drainage and curbing, we get several inches of silt and rocks running into the middle of the roads.

 

And this archipelego of potholes was just "filled" the day before this big rain.  Shame.

After dropping Kate, I stopped at Broadacres Shopping Center.  The ATM machine was being re-loaded.

Yes, those are 2 guys with Kevlar vests and AK-47s.  It's a little strange to walk between them, but you get used to it.

Abian from Congo meets you as you come out of the shop and wheels your "trolley" to your car.  He then packs your groceries in your trunk and helps you back your car out.  For this immense help, you pay him R5 (that's less than $0.50), which is a big sum for him.  Some folks don't pay him at all.

Here is Kate with her new 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Louw 

And here is John, leaving at 5:45am to go to seminary before school - in his summer uniform (no tie)

We will say goodbye this week to one of our favorite missionaries, Elder Nilson (who is the cousin of 2 of our other favorite missionaries from Alpine!)

In our "Adventures with Animals" section, we have a small lizard living in our dining room and a big one hanging out in the domestic quarters.  We often have frogs enter the house through the front gate (see behind John above).  And in a shock at twilight last week, a bat chased a moth in through the back sliding door (which is never closed), up the stairs and into our office/bedroom!  Picture the magic of echolocation, the rush of wings, and the surprised Dad!  John, in the midst of this awe-inspiring display, opened the windows.  Sorry, no pictures though they would've been keepers.

Jeff and Michele had a cool date in Hillbrow which is an area of Joburg filled with great architecture and wonderful people who are trying to make it a safe and beautiful place for families to live.  It used to be one of the cool places to hang out in the '60's and '70's, but in the 90's went into a steep decline.  At one point, this was called "The most dangerous place in Africa."  We are  inspired by so many here who courageously and creatively make their corners of the world better places everyday.

Still amazed that we are in Africa.  And still hoping we can stay for a long time!

Come see us!  Love, the Stitts