The beauty of Africa

Although I consider it's people most beautiful, you can't deny the awesomeness of the African landscape.
What a wonder to behold.

I found myself transfixed by the beauty of each morning ~ the colors of the foliage, the sound of birds that wake you up every day, and more. The photo below is my view out my window at the missionary's home, in the A/G compound there. I loved to get up when the rain woke me in the middle of the night and just look out the window for a while and listen to the sounds.

I really love the Jacoranda and Acacia trees...

and the giraffes...

I came home with about 50 giraffe photos, reason being they are my favorite. I think they are so tall and graceful, and until going to Africa I had never seen one run. I had only experienced them at the zoo, where they are just standing there, or maybe walking a few steps. It was so incredible to see several of them together, running. They are still graceful, in my opinion, when they are running. I think they are such beautiful creatures.

Barb had never seen one with it's legs bent, leaning down in the water for a drink. She said, "I would love to see that and have a photo of it. In all the years I've been in Africa (30) I've never seen that or gotten a photo of it." Less than an hour later, we saw a giraffe doing just that! She had the top down in the land rover and I got up on the seat, went through the roof and snapped a few photos. What a day!

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What To Do First to Make a Profit

Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said:

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Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory!

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Social media etiquette 101

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I'm Just Being Transparent...

This year at the Stronger Conference, a young minister stopped me as I was walking out of the room at the conclusion of a workshop and she said, "I want to tell you something..." (I was all ears.) She said, "Do you notice how many of the speakers this weekend are saying, "Now, I'm just being transparent when I tell you..." or "I'm just keepin' it real..." I nodded yes. In fact, I mentioned that I was one of those speakers. I think I probably said a few times in both my keynote message and my workshop that I was just "keepin' it real."

After I affirmed that yes, I had noticed that -- she said, "Do you know why they have to do that? They do it...and you do it, because so many people don't keep it real. So many in leadership aren't transparent, Deanna. That's why all these people speaking here feel an urge to declare their transparency.." I let her know that usually when I say, "I'm just keeping …

Deanna Doss Shrodes

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