I love this time of year at home when the leaves on the trees turn such beautiful shades of yellow, red, and orange!! And even though Wisconsin usually has a beautiful fall, many go East to see the colors in New England! While still others travel TO Wisconsin!!
Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to go with our GBGM missionaries, Larry and Jane Kies, for a visit to the Vumba near Mutare. This is a mountainous area with a variety of vegetation, many hairpin curves, off-road trails for exploring, and gift and coffee shops tucked within the curves of the hills!
Just as we talk about the "peak" of color during this time of year at home, folks here talk about the "peak" of color on the musasa trees, which actually have their red leaves during the Zimbabwe spring!!
The explanation escapes me, but it has to do with the conservation of water during this dry season, so the chlorophyll process begins later in the spring near the beginning of the rainy season. The hills and valleys are covered with this beautiful color, just like the beautiful pictures you see from WI and VT/NH! Unfortunately, my little point and shoot camera doesn't do very well with distance scenic shots, so just enjoy these close-ups!!
Perhaps in this picture you can see the truck on the left ~~ clearly need a four-wheel drive to traverse the gulleys and rocks. From our vantage point we could see many of the layers of "mountains" all around us, some with small farms, a few cattle, and lots of rough terrain if you were hiking! Unfortunately, I had worn sandals to church, and did not bring sturdier shoes for the trekking!
This is just another example of God's handiwork and genius in gifting us with so many varieties of vegetation, trees, animals, insects, birds, etc.!!! Thanking God for such beauty!!
Later we had lunch at Leopard Rock, a golfing resort/hotel from the British era. On its grounds is a wild animal park!! The caretaker invited us in to walk among the zebras, ostrichs, gazelles, etc. This ostrich came after us a couple of times, but was chased away with a stick! They can be very mean!! What a shame it is that so many interesting creatures are now extinct ~~ usually due to man's lack of respect and conservation of them and their habitats.
I had hoped I could copy a photo that Larry Kies took of me with the zebras, but I can't seem to get it from FB to this blog! Only one of my many deficiencies when it comes to technology!!
Be blessed, and relish the giving and receiving of Grace!
Mary Beth
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