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Published: April 13th 2008
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The Amazing Sparkling Sun rays
off the eastern coast of Tanzania, at a little place called "Paradise" ~Peponi~ The reason you haven’t heard from us in a week or so now is, that last week we were finally able to get away for a little rest and relaxation with the family. We had been planning on this trip for some time now. We were joined by Kelly & Callie, and 3 of the Hochdorfs; Anita & the kids Race and Maddie. I thought you would enjoy seeing a different side of Africa, the tropical coastline...
Peponi, the place we like to camp at, means Paradise in Swahili, and it truly is! Every time we stand there at the camp site with the waves rolling in at our feet the song, "Have You Seen Jesus My Lord" comes to mind. Where it says,
"Have you ever stood at the ocean with the white foam at your feet, felt the endless thundering motion, then I say you've seen Jesus my Lord!" This song takes on a whole new level of truth when you are standing knee deep in the Indian Ocean along the Eastern Coastline of Tanzania, and you realize that you are on the outermost edge of AFRICA! And nothing else seems to have ever been so beautiful
The Road to Pangani
which we use as a shortcut to Peponi in all your life. You feel like stretching out your arms and running into the waves, the way you did as a child. For me it was vacationing with my grandparents at Padre Island on the southern tip of Texas, which in comparison now, is… worlds apart from where we are standing here today. There's nothing I’ve ever experienced that has captured that song better!
Your thoughts seem to immediately wander to Matthew Chapter 4 with the scene of Jesus calling the disciples to, "Come and Follow Me, to become Fishers of men!" You stand there on the barren beaches watch the local fishermen, casting out their rope nets by hand and then pulling them back in together, and you can just imagine being there, during the biblical scene of the text, in person. Watching them drops their nets and leave the boats and follow after Jesus. It’s truly a step back in time along these coast lines, the villages live in simple homes, mud thatch and sticks, and spend their lives in the sea, returning home only to sleep each night. It’s just so gorgeous. Hard to explain, hard to even capture in pictures! But the landscape of
The Perfect patterns created in the sand....
washed away and recreated over and over again with each new tide. this region of Tanzania is something unique and colorful and so very different from any other area. Each morning we would be awakened by the rolling in of the waves at the early tide, as it rolled up just 10 feet from the tent, and life began. You would start to hear the ladies walking the beaches in groups with their baskets on their heads looking for shells to sell, and the fishermen pushing out their boats going out for the catch of the day! It was peaceful and serene, just what we were needing!
This is why we love camping at the beach so much! There is no greater place to relax and have a quiet peaceful retreat with the family, and be able to open God's word and study as your staring out into the crystal clear blue waters of the vast deep ocean.
The kids enjoy the walking along the beaches and seas shell hunting, building sandcastles and of course the Dhow rides out into the ocean, snorkeling and running around on their own deserted sand island. We had an amazing week. We come back feeling refreshed and renewed and are already busy and back to
The view from the tent.
Is just breath taking..... work!
This is the last 6 weeks of the kids school year and they are working hard, at getting everything done in time to be finished with their assignments & Final Exams before the campaigns in June. So our focus around the house is primarily on them right now, to get everything completed, graded, recorded and turned in.
Hope you enjoy the pictures and just wish you could have been there to enjoy it with us! We’re glad to be home once again and ready and excited about what the next week has in store!
Love You All!
Julie
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Hannah Beth
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Awww....guys this reminds me of our trip last summer. I had so much fun!!! I miss and love you all soooooooo much! ~Hannah Beth~