When I say 'on the edge' I just mean on the edge of the Mosi-oa-tunya National Park in Livingstone. So things are still going well, don't worry! It is strange though to be working with people who live so close to the game park - the elephants really do give them problems. Ironically, when we travelled inside the park's fences just yesterday morning we didn't see any of them and yet as darkness fell and our evening church meeting ended, people said 'you better leave now before the elephants arrive'!
As we walk around in the day visiting people's homes we see signs of them everywhere - trees pushed over, perimeter park fences trampled, and people's own fruit trees butchered. The elephants come to eat people's mangos and lemons so with a man being killed by an elephant here just 2 weeks ago, some people would rather just cut their trees down than risk the elephants coming into their gardens. And if the night-time animals weren't enough to deal with, during the day there are plenty of baboons walking around who seem ready to snatch anything edible left unattended - what a life!
Livingstone is also incredibly hot! Today will likely reach around 37 degrees and that seems about average at the moment. By the time we'd done our safari yesterday (seeing plenty of Giraffe and rhinos) and then explored the Vic Falls with our team (many of whom hadn't seen them before) the sun was at its highest and the walk home was sweltering. Hannah was definitely glad for a piggy back👇🏻
Despite the heat slowing down our pace a little, we've still managed to do ministry with young offenders, an orphanage, addicts in rehab and a church we're connected with here too. Generally Abi and Hannah have spent their days either doing school-at-home or continuing what they consider to be a very important research project investigating and ranking all the local swimming pools in terms of quality, price and food available! 🤣 This morning (Saturday) they did both help us with some children's work though where Abi played David in the story of 'David and Goliath' and Hannah enjoyed being Goliaths head and shoulders (although for those of you who know the story, it wasn't a happy ending for her!). Abigail also joined Tim in entertaining the kids with his Diabalo and Hannah enjoyed blowing bubbles for the other children to chase after.
There's a short video from today you can watch here: https://youtu.be/VQQ3ba9S1Qc?si=Cl7lC5ZN8_7LR74Q
We should be going to Zimbabwe next week and would appreciate your prayers.
With much love to you all, Tim, Gemma, Abi and Hannah x
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