Scorpions and Rabies

Today is a huge day in my life. It has been exactly 1 year since I had my Achilles tendon reconstructed…and wow, there is so much to be thankful for! After not even being able to walk for a few months, I can now walk, swim, ride a bike, jump, jog, and even sprint! I’m not 100% of what I was a year ago, but God continues giving me encouragement to keep getting stronger and to use my body for His glory.

Achilles severed

Less than 8 months after one of the worst athletic injuries possible on a bicycle, I was on my bicycle riding across the USA at 100+ miles per day. It’s a huge praise. My surgeon was amazing. My dad took really good care of me during the time around the surgery. Sarah, who is now my girlfriend, looked after me amazingly…and we had only been on 2 dates before I had my injury! She’s a champ. I knew she had to be my girlfriend when she brought me peanut butter ice cream ;) Oh yeah, and yesterday she found and cataloged a brand new tree species in Botswana!

Me with the plant princess

My buddy Josh, who had a bad leg accident about 2 years prior to my accident, encouraged me last summer to keep growing and depending on God through the tough times. Finally, my best friend Goose and his wife Kelsey let me stay in their house while I stumbled around on crutches and was not able to contribute much in terms of household chores. I’m so grateful to have such amazing friends and family in my life J

Achilles reconstructed!

 Now I’m so much more thankful for the use of my body…and I hope to never take it for granted again!  

Finishing the cross country cycling trip 8.5 months after Achilles reconstruction :)

  

 3 girls from Charleston, who were volunteering in Burundi for the past month, went to the zoo yesterday. The zookeeper decided to let them in the cage with one of the monkeys. Not only did the zookeeper let them in there, but he locked them in. The monkey did not like people in his space, so he began jumping on the girls and he bit one of them 3 times! He even drew a bit of blood…so guess what? That girl is rushing back to the USA to get rabies shots. One of the girls who was not bitten videotaped the entire ordeal. It was actually a pretty hilarious video. But pray that this young lady, who shall remain unnamed, doesn’t have some sort of weird disease.

Holding a crocodile's tail

 Last night Zack, JD, and I found a scorpion scurrying up the wall in JD’s room. Needless to say, we caught it and are keeping it as a pet. Now we’re searching for bugs to feed it.

Lastly, planning for Gitega International Academy is going well. JD and Freddy are going to Kigali and Kampala this week to recruit teachers.

Gitega International Academy (GIA)

YFC Bujumbura office, where we are planning for the opening of GIA

Thanks for the support. Good things are happening here. 

Grace and Peace,

jeff