I feel so blessed to finally be in a place where we can put down roots again. Since losing the farms in 2005 we have seriously had an exciting life and God has been so faithful, but the "gypsy life" is tiring. I can now find the seeds and plant them finally..... Yet, we are just strangers passing through on this earth, so we can never get too comfortable. Here are a few pics from the last weekend in Mauritius...

Collecting seeds again! Yay

Seriously windy time of the year...

My daily walks certainly have different views from Gabon

Love these reflections in a koi pond...

Gorgeously rich coloured framboise sold on the beach...

Now on my 2nd last day on the Ranch, I head for a walk below the house, at the bottom of a hill and discovered a beautiful little peaceful place....

And it looks as if someone else has found it before me! 

All taken with my IPhone....

The beautiful Cameroonian Zebu cattle of Nyanga Ranch. So much better in black and white to see their gorgeous hides...

life in a fishing village on the banks of the Nyanga River, Gabon.......

pounding cassava leaves with garlic for dinner.....

repairing nets.....

New Years weekend, Myumba, Gabon

We decided to spend the long weekend with a bunch of new friends, and what a mixed bunch.... Madagascan, French, English, Cubans and of course, a Mauritian/Zimbo  and a Zimbo...
I have lots of pics to share but let me start with a gorgeous one from the unspoilt beaches of Myumba....

Catholic Mission of Sainte Esprit - 1897

We had to renew my Gabon visa in the  coastal village of Myumba.  God was so organised as we had met a couple a few weeks ago, who actually lived  and worked from there!  They live in a very old mission station called the Mission of Sainte Esprit which was built in 1897.  It is perched on  a hill with a spectacular view of the interior side of the Banio Lagoon and the sea in the distance. It remains the best preserved mission of its kind in Gabon. Here are a few pics....

I've done my first painting in Gabon....

It's just a little 60cm x60cm acrylic on canvas, and my first with acrylics.  We had very limited transport to  get our kit here, but I will slowly add to my art tools.  I snapped this pic of the cockerel on one of our many trips to the capital, Libreville.

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen...... Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nyanga River, Gabon....  The view from our home...

Dr Albert Swcheitzer...."Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate."

The view from the hospital on the Ogooue River...  This link will tell you a lot about this famous Doctor..
ALBERT SCHWEITZER......

one of the Wards...... He was met with criticism by the Europeans as he got the patients family members to cook for them outside the wards.  

the outside of the surgery, laboratory, etc....

The Maternity section

The laboratory

The Dentist's section

The nursery

One of the wards in the background

Pointe Denis, Gabon.....

Point Denis is the best known seaside resort in Gabon. It lies on a peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gabon Estuary, across which boats sail to Libreville. It also lies near the Pongara National Park. I spent the day here with some new French friends.... Its a beautiful place, but due to global warming, the sea is starting to destroy a lot of homes built here.....  We had a wild ride out with a boat operated by "cowboys"..... quite hilarious actually, but was glad to have my feet on terra firma....

Well we did the the 12 hour trip from the capital Libreville, to the Ranch yesterday and I can't say its getting any easier, phew its long and tiring.... but it's also absolutely incredibly beautiful! I would say that out of the 12 hours, 6 of those hours are as if we are driving through an amazing botanical garden! Gods creativity is certainly magnified in Gabon! The close up's are obviously taken at "pit stops" and the rest are through the window as we speed by......

It's been a week of finding "different" plants..................

We took another "exploratory drive" today being Sunday........ We have so much to discover on 100 000 hectares of "bush" that is so alien to us....... Found another scrubby looking bush, I won't call it a tree, as doesn't seem to get too tall, covered in these fruits which just want to make you bite into them.  The birds had already been having a feast, so am sure its safe to munch on, but I had better wait for the ok!  The fruit reminds me so much of the "custard apple" Cherimoya Fruit  or the "ox heart"  Annon reticulate which we know..... What do you think......

Amazing what one finds whilst walking.......

So many things are missed whilst rushing past in a vehicle........
I walk this route daily and due to a shower of rain yesterday, look what I found.
The closest plant nursery is in Libreville, a 12 hour drive away, so guess what I dug up today to fill  empty spaces....... Anyone know what they are?

His perspective not my own.....

God views things through a "wide angle lens". He takes a wide sweeping view, though we tend to be limited and view life through our "macro" lens, up close and at oft times, greatly exaggerated.

All the struggles of this life have to be seen in terms of eternity.... God takes the long view!

Thankyou Lord that in the midst of my ups and downs I can trust your perspective and plan for my life.

...
Had to climb a very rocky outcrop to get this view of the road leading to the work area, Nyanga Ranch.  Its cloudy most of the time so it quite hard to get a "light" pic....

Pointed to the lens at my feet .... rocks everywhere.......