Thursday, September 23, 2010

Mountain Goats and Buffalo and One Week to Go

The countdown to our adventure has hit the last stages.  Last night I preached for the last time in America until after our trip.  It’s been cool here lately but a wonderful warm up is approaching and will arrive tomorrow.  I’m glad since it will be much warming in Ghana.  I want us to be able for it and with it being as cool as it has been I have been concerned that it would be miserable.  I’m so grateful for all the prayers and well wishes.  If could express my thanks in words I would do it but what I feel goes far beyond words.  I so much appreciate it!  Thank you my dear friends!  I remain unsure how I will post from Africa but may put a few words when I can.  I figure the pictures and/or video likely won’t be posted until after we get home.  We return to a very busy time with our music group going out and Thanksgiving and Christmas...it makes me tired just thinking about it.  I want to share the last of the pictures from our trip now because I feel it’s a good way to leave thing off. 

 

I love buffalo!  They are such unlikely looking creatures.  Their sheer bulk is astounding.  It’s a small wonder they they’ve hurt and killed as many people as they have.  People just don’t understand the power of these animals They had many little ones with them in the herds we saw which surprised me Winter comes early in these parts and Yellowstone in particular has been known to rival Alaska for cold at certain points of the winter season.  They day we saw these animals they seemed to have not a single care in the world They were living large and the weather was beautiful so what could be better then a nice dust bath ?  I can’t help but smile every time I see them roll like this!  They are so huge and when they get down and roll it’s a comical scene!  I love witnessing their life drama as it unfolds.  Seeing this adult and calf made me smile because it seemed like a tender moment.  We watched as the buffalo lined up and took turns rolling in this dusty patch in the prairie before moving on Go ahead and smile...I sure did!  Moving alone we went through the beautiful Beartooth Pass It is a very high pass indeed...above the tree line in fact.  I love the view from up there Mountains and plains are my favorite It was unusually warm up there as we passed through but still there was snow in places .  It was a beautiful contrast to have the warmth yet the snow right there in plain view It feels like you’re on the top of the world up here !  It’s a bleak place where I’ve seldom seen more than a marmot or two They love to frequent the rocks and feel protected here I’m sure you can imagine my unbridled joy at seeing a herd of mountain goats cross the road in front of us !  It brought me back to an experience I had as a small boy years ago in Glacier National Park years ago.  I had a deep experience with God where the beauty of the place overcame me.  I was just thanking God for the wonder of it all and He told me He’d show me more...we came around a corner and came upon some mountain goats!  Here I was with my family that had never witnessed such things and they even had young!  I knew it was a moment that God was sharing with me all over again !  This time my whole family was with me and we stood overwhelmed at the power of this moment.  The young goats leapt and played while the older ones ate and were back dropped by the actual beartooth peak which the pass is named for  .  How can I explain what I felt?  I felt such unbridled joy!  These are the largest mammals that live above the tree line.  They don’t complain at the lot they’ve been delivered in life at all but thrive.  The females have been known to force big horns to submit to them and fight even bears that come after their young but for now they stood in peace and allowed us to be a part of their moment .  I love them and I so much love God for showing my family and I something like this!  I will post the video of this moment on Face Book.  God bless you all and thank you so much for the blessing you’ve been in my life!

45 comments:

  1. Very inspirational post with great photos and verse. Now I wish I was on FB to see your video. I know you have alot to do before you leave. You and your family and the group you are leaving with will be in my prayers. God bless.

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  2. Thanks for stopping by Toodie. I can try to send you the video via e-mail. I'll give it a try.

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  3. Joe beautiful words and post. You will be missed more than you know. I will keep you in my prayers and in my thoughs each day.
    As always I enjoy your photos. The bisson are really beautiful from and distace in what they do and can even kill there babies if humans get too close. Wonderful shots of them. All the images are just Grand. Nice way to leave us all
    Until next time. Safe travels my friend and I pray Gods words fill each you come in contact with to the knowledge that there is only one way and that is through him.
    Bring back memories to share .. Im excited and will look for your return.
    Hugs from Canada to each of you as you go on your Journey.
    Lisa

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  4. I ve pulled my blog off the Network Blogs on FB for now . I cant keep up with everything I have to do so I cant watch there also who posts. Just letting you know . Thanks for your support Joe.

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  5. Okay Lisa, thanks for letting me know. I hope to keep up with people as I can but I have no idea how that will play out in reality. For sure when I come back I will do the best I can. Bless you my friend.

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  6. Joe I miss you already.. I went and bought some candles each one lasts for 7 days.. so I will light one each week for you.. until you return.. along with lots of prayer for you and your family.
    it will be an exciting time.. I wish you the best.. and know in my heart that God and His angels will be with you every step of the way.. which gives me peace..
    God speed dear friend.. until your return.. sending lots of soft hugs your way..
    Hope

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  7. Thanks Hope, I know that time really flies. I was thinking of how quick a month goes and realize that we'll be back before you know it!

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  8. Hi Joe,

    Once again a wonderful sharing of god's creation in pictures and words, thank you. Also, thank you for your encouragement to me, via my blog - Now may the peace and love of god which passes all understanding,be with you are your family for your journey and beyond. Looking forward to seeing you on here on your return. God Bless - Nita

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  9. Thanks very much Nita, I always appreciate hearing from you. I'll surely receive that peace! Blessings to you!

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  10. This is such an inspiring post Joe. I love the pictures and the words.
    Prayers for your family for a safe and meaningful mission.

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  11. Thank you Beth. I'm counting on this trip being meaningful...in fact I'm certain it will be...prayers that have been prayed and will be prayed will not go unanswered. There's already pastors from other countries in Africa that want us to come visit them...and that's before we've even arrived! Good signs!

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  12. Joe, you will be sorely missed. I know I've said that time and again but you will. Go with God my friends and we will be waiting on your return. You left us with beauty here in your blog..that will keep us until you return.

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  13. Hello again.. your not even gone yet.. and I miss you already..
    had to come back and see these buffalo once again.. they are amazing animals.. to bad they have such a bad rep.. sure does not seem they are liked much .. never have been I guess.. as most have wanted them gone sense forever.. such a shame.. and many don't understand that they really don't carry much threat.. of course their are those who would disagree..
    its quit the battle at times trying to keep them save with the grazing they do up in West.
    anyway.. my thoughts are with you ..
    soft hugs

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  14. Thanks Hope, I guess baffalo are plenty dangerous if you take chances with them but then again what isn't dangerous when you do that? I don't know anyone around here that is anti-baffalo around here...more controversy by far exists about wolves. It feels like we're gone already...only one more full day before we leave. Thursday around 1:00 PM we will be on our way...I've been feeling like I'm in transit for many days now.

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  15. Hi Joe,
    I believed you are going away for tomorrow...
    Thank you for gave your precious time for visit my space.
    Thank you for your support appreciated it very much. see you when you come home:-)
    Have a Safety trip Joe and your family,
    Michiko

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  16. Tomorrow is the big day my friend. I think we're pretty much set to go. I'm never used to this moment before our trips. There's no feeling like it in all the world. Blessings to you, I'll try to keep in touch.

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  17. Hi Joe,

    It's me Angel girl from WLS, I've just joined blogger,I've ticked your follow box, could you come tick mine so we can get each others updates.
    Enjoyed your blog.

    Hugs Lady J

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  18. Hey good to hear from you! I'm glad you moved over here...some will travel to WordPress I figure but this is home for me at least for now. I'll do my best to follow though keep in mind I'll be in Africa until November.

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  19. GOD SPEED and KEEP YOU and YOUR FAMILY WELL AND SAFE UNTIL YOU COME HOME AGAIN. Take care : )

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  20. Thanks Carol, I will think of you and the others that have been such a blessing. I hope I can post notes every once in a while.

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  21. Hi Joe, Loved reading your blog, and enjoyed the photos. Thankyou for sharing your adventure with the buffalo, and mountain goats, and letting me see them and the Beautiful landscapes through you eyes and lens.
    Wishing you and your team all the best, You must be so excited, the time is now, and God is with you wherever you are.
    You are and will be in our thoughts and prayers.
    See you when you get back.
    Dianne :)

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  22. Indeed Dianne, we're finalizing some things tonight so we can do what needs to be done tomorrow. I can hardly imagine setting down in Africa tomorrow with my family...it's been twenty years since I was there last. The pastor we're with quite prophetically said that when I met my "precious" I would have to bring here there and here we are fulfilling that word! God is amazing!

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  23. *waves* as the plane flies over head..
    keeping you all in thought and prayer..

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  24. I'm actually commenting from Ghana right now! Our safe arrival is just the beginning of answered prayers!

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  25. when i watch ur fotoos u must have felt so small. The power that it brings and same time the beauty .Enjoyn ur time in Ghana Joe.
    just relax have fun....feel emotions.
    be safe U and ur family
    MJ

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  26. helloo! i bet you thought i fell off the earth, or went touring, or something ;)
    nah, just been very busy - like im never not!
    weve been booted from wls, as you know, so now i have no excuse not to keep my other blogs current. :D so here i am.
    k☼

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  27. Just a little busy now Kirstin...I'm in Africa now on a mission. Ghana, West Africa to be exact...I'm so tied up I have little time dealing with blogging right now...heck just getting pictures takes work...the locals are kind of funny about it in fact a lady with us about caused a riot when we arrived because she took video without permission and many joined in...he picked up a stone and rushed our bus...nobody got hurt but it was a sticky situation for a bit there...how's that for exciting?

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  28. Hey Marijke, what's up my friend? Life in Ghana, what can I say, the more things change the more they stay the same, I'm very busy and trying not to melt in the heat and the relentless humidity but I'm not complaining. The work really starts tomorrow and I'm not sure when I'll be on-line again...ugh, I just want to have some time to take pictures and such but I've had little time thus far.

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  29. I just coming to checking up your photos..
    Yes! still pretty Joe,
    I hope you have great time..
    Do they have the Japanese restaurnt?
    it will be very interesting Joe:-)
    I know you are busy man but some rest you needed too:-)
    Big Hugs,
    Michiko

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  30. Hello hello Michiko! There is starting to be more Asian stuff here now though it's not what I'd call common yet. Not a hint of anything Japanese just yet but maybe I've not looked hard enough. We have been pretty tied up and I'm really tired so I may have to put off further exploration until this weekend! Thanks for thinking of me, I totally appreciate it!

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  31. Joe you captured here 2 amazing animals. What beauties they both are. I wasn't sure I was at the right place when the music came on. Now that's more my style. Yes I know we all have our own likes.. Hope all is going well on your trip. Be careful there it's a different world. Hugs Carrie

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  32. Thinking and praying for you and family and missionaries there in Ghana. Enjoy take care on your adventure my friend.
    Toodie

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  33. I've thought of you as well Toodie. The prayers have hada powerful effect. My African brother Joe took Lovely and I out to a bush cantine...we had grasscutter rat, goat and fish in peanutbutter soup, that's about the most wild thing I've ever eaten and the miracle is it didn't give either Lovely or I trouble later...our stomachs were fine...I actually ate as much as my African bro! We had much more African food this time then ever before...oh boy you know I appreciate the prayers!

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  34. Hi Joe, the pics are awesome...love it!
    From now on my space will be with wordpress.
    hope u enjoy every second in Africa..;-)

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  35. Hey there my friend, I've seen the move to Wordpress...I wish more would come over here since I truly believe this to be the better site but if peple can find a place that they can call home on the net I'm truly happy for them. Africa is easy for me to love. I love the people and have deep ties with both the past, present and future here. Words fall short of expressing what I feel about this place. Thanks for thinking of me my friend, blessings too you!

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  36. Hi, Joe, thinking of you and your family. I hope all is well with you and we'll be looking for your safe return.

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  37. All is well my friend, we are heading out to town today and having a day with my African Bro, I'm excited about it and hope to get some good pictures. Blessings to you.

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  38. It is nice to seen your news in here,it seems
    you are enjoying there as you said you loved
    the African peple that they are simple and easy to became a good friend Joe, although you are the type of person that everybody wanted to became your friend:-)
    lookfoward to seen new pictures:-)

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  39. Checking here as I am not sure where else you may post. I cannot imagine peanutbutter soup. I read about the video and the bus being rushed with stone. Take care my friend and God be with you and your family.

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  40. I can get you here if you'd like Toodie or you're most welcome to use my e-mail address...few have done that so that's a sure thing too. We are on power generator again here with the power being very unreliable...much like the Internet. It has been pretty exciting so far with some things being scary while others are beautiful...this is just how it is. We hit the half way point of our trip tomorrow I believe. Lots to do with even a very early meeting the day we leave. I never like that because it's exhausting but it's with our dear friend who we first contacted here 20 years ago. He's done things that we can never repay so this is a small thing to go there and minister. Missing you and all on the net...I feel sort of like I'm in a time capsule...the weather here is just hot hot hot and there's no sign of it changing...seeing pictures of fall is a strange thing for me...I imagine it will come crashing back when we get back home on the 1st of November.

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  41. I thought to come over here and see what's going on just in case. (((HUGS)))

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  42. It'll be good to see your posts again and yes, you'll be home before you know it. I don't know what the weather is in Montana, but maybe you won't have snow to greet you. Stay safe with God's blessings.

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  43. Hey .. Hope all is going well way over there.Thanks for stopping Joe.
    Prayers are heading your way and have fun.

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  44. I'm still kickin' Carole thouhe net is slow and we've had more power outages in a week then i've known in a lifetime at home. I love Africa, I really do, I feel that history is being made here with the things we are involved in...it's a true blessing to be a part of something like this. Great Granny, you never know, it's been a very mild fall from what I've been seeing about the weather back at home but one thing I look forward to: no humidity! Lisa, I'm doing well enough however it is exhausting. I figure it will take some time to recoop without a doubt but it's oh so worth it to be doing what we're doing. I love this continent, country and the people so much.

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  45. Hi Joe,
    Now you are appriceated what you have had in before?
    I believe Africa is hot all arounf years?
    although I thought was only black people are lived there but I do know now it is not true...
    Can you go to the beach to swim to cooling off from hot weather?
    How is Gabbby doing? I hope she is happy girl?
    Thank you for visit. keeping touching Joe.

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