Senegal animal park

We got to see some animals on a mini "safari" in Senegal. There are no meat eaters there, many animals are brought in and some are even caged so it isn't a real safari but it was cool nonetheless.

Even though you are supposed to stay in the car, the guide let us get out and take pictures. Since there weren't any dangerous animals around we jumped out for a photo.

So cool to see the giraffes up close. Very neat. The boys and I had actually studied a lot of these animals this year in their science program so it was fun to share all the cool facts we had learned. Like how giraffes have to have really high blood pressure so that they can get blood to their heads fast enough when they lift them up.

The snake is right behind Kenan. Why he likes snakes I will never know...

The guide heard I loved zebras so he let me out to take a picture with them. He made me put my hand up so it would look like I was petting it.

Senegal- part 3

Here are more pictures of our time in Senegal. It was truly a lovely time!

When did this boy grow up? He is definitely not a little boy anymore. 

The always required beach activity- being buried in the sand.

Haven didn't like that her brothers only had heads and had lost their bodies. :)

Watermelon eating buddies. These two are similar in so many ways.

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There were about 12 cats that lived at the place we were staying. Cute at first, especially the kittens. So we fed them. Dreaded it at night, though, there was always a cat fight.

 Not a typical scene you would see on a US beach. Locals would come and wash their horses at night. The horses hated it. They would buck and immediately once they were "clean" in the water, they would run and roll in the sand. Not totally sure of the point of this exercise. Maybe it got off a little dirt?

Haven loved the water even though it was freezing.

Senegal-part 2

It was truly a gift that the kids and I were able to go to Senegal. We felt like having two patients for Brett to care for in another country while fixing their meals and such was a bit much so he needed a nurse to go with him. It was work caring for the kids and two patients, no doubt, but really a blessing. I loved that our kids got to spend extended time with our Malian friends.

Josué, pictured below, had never traveled outside of Mali. So he experienced many, many firsts. First plane, first of many foods, first time seeing the ocean. The night we arrived (around 11pm thanks to getting dreadfully lost) we went out and saw the ocean. His face filled with amazement and wonder. Even though he had seen pictures of the ocean he couldn't comprehend its vastness until he saw it himself. His words were, "God is big. The world is vast. One must discover it." Probably one of my most favorite moments of all time. So special to have been there for him to experience the ocean for the first time.

The next morning the boys made him touch the water. He was incredibly fearful and wouldn't go far, even though they tried. At least he can say he's touched the water.

Both Joseph and Josué after surgery. They had it one day apart.

 Dawson's game of RISK was used well as he had truly a captive audience. The games lasted for days.

Neither guy would take any risks so if they gained one army or one country they stopped. They never went to battle to conquer. Jo hunkered down in South Africa and Josué in Australia. Finally, having conquered the rest of the world, Dawson was able to take them out.

Our last morning before heading back to Mali. The guys remarked that even though they had had surgery, the time away from the hospital was so refreshing and replenishing for them. I will always treasure the time we got to share with them.