South African Coat of Arms

A national coat of arms is the highest visual symbol of the State. The coat of arms is also a central part of the Great Seal, traditionally considered to be the highest emblem of the State. Absolute authority is given to every document with an impression of the Great Seal on it, as this means that it has been approved by the ruler of a country.

A new coat of arms now replaces one that has served South Africa since 17 September 1910. The change reflects the aim of Government to highlight the democratic change in South Africa.

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

THE DESIGN OF THE NEW COAT OF ARMS:

The new Coat of Arms is a series of elements organised in distinct symmetric oval shapes placed on top of one another.

THE LOWER OVAL SHAPE OF FOUNDATION:

The first element is the motto, in a green semi-circle. Completing the semi-circle are two symmetrically placed pairs of elephant tusks pointing upwards. Within the oval shape formed by the tusks are two symmetrical ears of wheat which in turn frame a centrally placed gold shield.

The shape of the shield makes reference to a drum, and contains two human figures from Khoi san rock art. The figures are depicted facing one another in greeting and in unity. Above the shield are placed a spear and a knobkierie, crossed in a single unit. These elements are arranged harmoniously to give focus to the shield and complete the lower oval shape of Foundation.

THE UPPER OVAL SHAPE OF ASCENDANCE:

Immediately above the lower oval shape, is the visual centre of the Coat of Arms, a Protea. The petals of the Protea are rendered in a triangular pattern reminiscent of the crafts of Africa. The secretary bird is placed above the Protea and the flower forms the chest of the bird. The secretary bird stands with its wings uplifted in a regal stance. The distinctive head feathers of the secretary bird crown a strong and vigilant head.

The rising sun above the horizon is placed between the wings of the secretary bird and completes the oval shape of ascendance.

THE SYMBOLS OF THE NEW COAT OF ARMS

The Motto:

!KE E: /XARRA //KE, written in the Khoisan language of the /Xam people, literally meaning: diverse people unite. On a collective scale it calls for the nation to unite in a common sense of belonging and national pride - Unity in Diversity.

The Ears of Wheat:

An emblem of fertility, it also symbolizes the idea of germination, growth and the feasible development of any potential. It relates to the nourishment of the people and signifies the agricultural aspects of the earth.

Elephant Tusks:

Elephants symbolize wisdom, strength, moderation and eternity.

The Shield:

It has a dual function as a vehicle for the display of identity and of spiritual defence.

The Human Figures:

The figures are derived from images on the Linton stone, a world famous example of South African Rock Art, now housed and displayed in the South African Museum in Cape Town. The Khoisan, the oldest known inhabitants of South Africa, and most probably of the earth, testify to a common humanity and heritage. The figures are depicted in an attitude of greeting, symbolizing unity.

The Spear and Knobkierie:

Dual symbols of defence and authority, they in turn represent the powerful legs of the secretary bird. The spear and knobkierie are lying down, symbolising peace.

The Protea:

The Protea is an emblem of the beauty of South Africa and its flowering. The Protea symbolizes the holistic integration of forces that grows from the earth and are nurtured from above. The most popular colours of Africa have been assigned to the Protea - green, gold, red and black.

The Secretary Bird:

The secretary bird is characterised in flight, the natural consequence of growth and speed. It is the equivalent of the lion on earth. A powerful bird whose legs - depicted as the spear and knobkierie - serve it well in its hunt for snakes symbolising protection of the nation against its enemies. It is a messenger of the heavens and conducts its grace upon the earth, in this sense it is a symbol of divine majesty. Its uplifted wings are an emblem of the ascendance of the nation, whilst simultaneously offering protection. It is depicted in gold, which clearly symbolizes its association with the sun and the highest power.

The Rising Sun:

An emblem of brightness, splendour and the supreme principle of the nature of energy, it symbolizes the promise of rebirth, the active faculties of reflection, knowledge, good judgment and willpower. It is the symbol of the source of life, of light and the ultimate wholeness of Humanity.

The completed structure of the Coat of Arms combines the lower and higher oval shapes in a symbol of infinity. The path that connects the lower edge of the scroll, through the lines of the tusks, with the horizon above which the sun rises at the top, forms the shape of the cosmic egg from which the secretary bird rises. In the symbolic sense this is the implied rebirth of the spirit of our great and heroic nation.

http://www.12234455.co.za

South African Coat of Arms

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Airline Travel and Air Line Travel

Airline travel has always been the most expedient way to take a trip. Air line travel offers some great advantages. If you have time constraints and need to get there quickly, airline travel is the way to go. If you find that a long journey in a cramped automobile holds no appeal, consider airline travel. If you want to be ready to go when you arrive at your destination, airline travel holds the key. Air line travel will get you where you are going in the least amount of time, in the best physical shape possible and ready to set out on your planned activities.

Some people find the thought of airline travel frightening. Statistics show that air line travel is one of the safest means of transportation. More people die annually from automobile accidents than die in air line travel accidents. The reason for that is that with an air line travel accident more people die at once so the media tends to sensationalize it. There may be 100 people or more killed in a single airline travel accident but compare that with the thousands of people who die each year from other types of accidents. Airline travel has a great safety record and the government tries to make sure it stays that way. Airplanes go through hundreds of government inspections each year to insure the safety of the public.

MISSIONS TRIPS

There are some really great air line travel deals available. A fast check of the Internet will produce thousands of offers for cheap tickets to just about anywhere. This can be a great way to take a weekend trip on the spur of the moment. Last minute air line travel tickets are often offered inexpensively. A fast trip to Las Vegas, New York City or any of the beach resorts is a great way to spend a long weekend. If you would like to plan a little in advance, you might try talking to a travel agent about airline travel. They have some great airline travel deals and can help with other arrangement like hotels and rental cars as well.

Airline travel is a great tool to use in fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus said in Mark 16:15 "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." As Christians we have an obligation to share our faith not only at home but also in other parts of the world as well. Air line travel makes it less difficult to take mission trips and fly to other part of the world where the Gospel has never been heard. If you are planning a mission trip, make sure to consider airline travel as your means of transportation.

Airline Travel and Air Line Travel

MISSIONS TRIPS

Driving the Queensland Coast

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of Dad piling us into the back of the old Ford and heading north on a road trip from Brisbane via Gladstone, Mackay,Townsville and ultimately tropical Cairns. The enjoyment was not just in the destination, but the sights, smells and adventures along the way. Consolidate this eternal route with the freedom of a campervan and you have the ideal framework for a memorable road trip. You could allow just over a week through to one long, sunny month (or more) enjoying the diversity of each region up and down our predominant coastline.

The beauty of the Queensland coast is that every town has a story, plus a landmark that often becomes personal. Aswe navigated the coastal roads annually, each town we passed became more familiar. Even the toilet stops warmed my heart. Heading away from the grips of Brisbane, the sunshine coast beaches were a prelude to what lay ahead. Caloundra through to Noosa are havens in themselves, each area worth a few days to gawk the inland river systems and great beaches.

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

Keep driving and you reach Hervey Bay, gateway to the predominant Fraser Island National Park and Queensland's whale watching
capital. There are a whole of day trips over the barge, showcasing one of our greatest national treasures. Less than an hour afield, gorgeous Bundaberg is an ideal base to visit Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands, each uniquely distinctive offering beloved day trips.

Head further north to Gladstone and maybe stay a while. Now marked as a premier tourist destination, Gladstone offers a
plethora of attractions. gorgeous Heron Island can't be missed, and a wealth of national parks, including Cania National Park, offer exquisite caravan parks and gorgeous bush walks. Decades before on our quick road trips, we bypassed Gladstone playing eye spy, unaware we were missing out on such gorgeous reefs, islands and scenery.

Rockhampton has fullness to offer, with fun Great Keppel Island exquisite for a day trip, or remarkable national parks inland, and is close sufficient to half way to deserve some attentiveness before the final stretch to Cairns. Coastal Yeppoon and Emu Park are worth a visit, or maybe jump on a charter boat for some serious fishing action.

Close to three hours later, just before you reach Mackay you will find a secret jewel, the Serenity Coast, merging from the small town of Sarina. This coastal road will take you along some remarkable scenery with fullness of spots to stop for a while to enjoy the views.

Mackay is not only surrounded by sugar cane plantations, but is also home to the gorgeous Brampton Island, Eungella National Park and Finch Hatton Gorge, each with remarkable lookouts and foreseen, walks. further north are the remarkable Whitsunday Islands settled just off Airlie Beach. This whole area deserves slow exploration. Whitehaven Beach stands out as a 'must see', with sand so white it's dazzling. There are fullness of day trips that will take you island hopping as well as to this natural wonder.

The next stretch to Townsville all the time had me wide eyed. There are mango trees everywhere, and the coastal views of the Whitsunday Islands are fantastic. Townville has grown into a flourishing tropical metropolis, and there is fullness to do in every direction. Visit majestic Magnetic Island, or take the family to Reef Hq, the largest living reef aquarium in the world. It's all palms and reef from here to Cairns. You are in the heart of tropical paradise, with beaches right exterior the steps of your campervan.

You have a selection of Dunk Island, Mission Beach or the Kuranda Railway once you ultimately arrive in Australia's tropical city. Green Island is all the time a favourite, illustrated from the city and so surely accessible. Cairns was all the time a favourite destination of mine, more than likely because we would anticipate our arrival for so long on our journey north. It was all the time worth every kilometre to arrive in paradise, right on the doorstep of the predominant Great wall Reef.

The beauty of a campervan is you can take your time to head home and turn your itinerary head to toe if you choose, or bask in the sunshine one of the hundreds of beaches and national parks anywhere on the Queensland Coast.

Driving the Queensland Coast

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

Salt Lake City Entertainment and Attractions

There are lots of traveler attractions at Salt Lake City. Visitors to this town can look forward to a good treat. The attractions range from architectural and historical buildings, musical theaters, parks, museums to all-inclusive malls with something for everyone.

If you are looking to visit this town on a free time / sight-seeing mission, here are some of the attractions and entertainment spots you need to contain in your "must see" list.

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

Temple Square
This is by far the most visited locations in the city, and the Utah state by extension. The fancy why is so is because the quadrate is literally accessible and it's presence to other Mormon historical attractions like the Temple, The Historical family Library, and the Tabernacle.

All in all, traveler can visit about 20 attractions from here without taking too much time and without the fuss of having to voyage long distances.

The Gateway Shopping Mall
This is an all-in-one mall which houses discrete shops, restaurants, movie theaters, museums. It offers more than just a shopping experience. There are discrete arts and exhibition centers for the art lovers to indulge themselves, while the music lovers will find Depot a most delightful experience. Critics rate it as one of the best music theaters in this part of the world.

The Hogle Zoo
For the nature and animal lovers, the Hogle zoo will be an excellent choice. The Zoo dates back to 1931 and is home to over 800 animals. The zoo charges a small entry fee to help with the upkeep, and is the most visited paid-for-attraction in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City Entertainment and Attractions

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

The History Of San Francisco Market Street

The city of San Francisco is a beautiful city surrounded by the Pacific Ocean in Northern California. The city is famous for the vibrant Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars navigating steep hills, the historic former prison on Alcatraz island, ground shaking earthquakes, and the colorful, popular, and historic Market Street.

Market Street is a major thoroughfare that cuts through the heart of the San Francisco. It begins in the northeastern part of the city, at the historic Embarcadero on the waterfront near the Ferry Building, and continues three miles southwest to the hills of the neighborhood of Twin Peaks, after first passing historic and new hotels, world-class restaurants, the skyscrapers of downtown, the Civic Center, and the always colorful Castro District.

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

The area was first settled by the Spanish in 1776. They established a military fort and mission in honor of saint Francis of Assisi. San Francisco has transformed from a small port town into a popular tourist destination and a major cultural and financial center.

In 1817, Jasper O'Farrell was born in County Wexford, Ireland. In 1843, O'Farrell came to San Francisco, which was then known as Yerba Buena where he trained as a civil engineer. At the age of 26, O'Farrell first began work repairing Portsmouth Square. Next, he began work on a grand promenade, which was to be the widest street in the city. This grand promenade became known as Market Street.

In 1846, Yerba Buena was renamed to San Francisco after the Americans captured the city during the Mexican-American War. The war between the United States and Mexico lasted from 1846 to 1848. O'Farrell Street, near downtown, has been named in honor of Jasper O'Farrell.

Market Street has been a major artery that has defined the city for many years. The street has even been compared to Fifth Avenue in New York City and Champs-Élysées in Paris, France. Locals have described the design of the street as a straight arrow which points directly at the hills of the Twin Peaks neighborhood.

Throughout its almost 170 year history, horses, street cars, cable cars, trolleys, cars, buses, and people have made their way along Market Street. Festivities on the street have brought tourists from around the world and locals together. Reconstruction and redevelopment over the years has ensured that Market Street will continue to be an important part of San Francisco for many years to come.

The History Of San Francisco Market Street

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

The Scorpions of South Africa

While scorpions may not be the animal that immediately springs to mind when contemplating South Africa, the region is home to many keen varieties. The country is home to over 160 species of scorpions, including the world's least venomous scorpion, the 'Hadogenes', which is also the world's longest, at over 21cm! However, it is the unique abilities of the scorpion that are the most fascinating. In harsh conditions, scorpions can survive for over a year without food or water. Incredibly slow metabolisms enable them to wait out these unfavourable conditions.

Habitats

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

Varieties of scorpions can be found throughout the many separate regions of South Africa, each having very definite requirements. Their distribution in South Africa can sometimes be mapped back to substrate composition, sand systems, or even the rock types of their territories. For example, one species, the 'Opistopthalmus holmi', is confined to the Namib sand law in Namibia. Its evolution led it to become very specialized, able to navigate life surrounded by the continually shifting sands of the deserts, with long legs for walking, and fine hairs that act practically like snow shoes.

Ultraviolet

Scorpions are timid, secretive creatures, and this is easily apparent when trying to find them for study. Camouflaged during the day, and most active at night, it's difficult spotting the creatures as they go about their business. But even seeing for scorpions at night becomes difficult as they hide at the first signs of any light. Using an ultraviolet light has become the most dependable formula surrounded by experts to locate scorpions in South Africa, as they emit a green glow under the light's rays.

Footwear

A tasteless warning for travellers is that you should take extra care when leaving clothes, shoes, or sleeping bags exterior for fear that scorpions will crawl inside. Although with many species of scorpions in South Africa that are very venomous, it's always a wise precaution to check, the mean scorpion is unlikely to find your shoe an keen place to shelter. Many desert-dwelling species live under the ground or at the base of vegetation and plants. Burrows contribute a small security that is cooler and more humid than the exterior during the day - as well as a cosy nook to hide from predators. Some burrowing species will spend up to 95% of their life inside their burrows.

Hunters

Hunting tactics play a huge part in the life of a scorpion. The majority of scorpions are opportunistic, lurking within their shelters or burrows and only attacking when something they can overpower comes within stunning distance. However, two species of scorpions deviate from the trend, 'Parabuthus transvaalicus' and 'Parabuthus granulatus'. These species actively hunt for prey at night and seem practically arrogant as they move around, seemingly unconcerned at being observed.

Venom

All scorpions possess neurotoxic venom, but unlike other animals the venom is made up of any toxins which achieve separate functions. There are pain-inducing components for warning away large predators, and paralyzing toxins aimed at immobilizing prey animals such as insects. The least venomous scorpion in South Africa, the Hadogenes, has venom that is practically harmless, although they do sport a fine pair of pincers that are strong adequate to split a human fingernail. Scorpions have yet, however, to catch on as a formula of a cheap manicure!

The Scorpions of South Africa

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

Mission Beach Vacation Rentals

It's pretty much a given that a visit to San Diego will be filled with fun, sun, and amusements galore. There are a few things you can do, however, to give your experience a little extra oomph. Especially if you're a beach lover, you'll find that reserving a vacation rental near the ocean in a place like Mission Beach will ensure that your vacation to San Diego is comfortable, convenient, and utterly cool.

Mission Beach is located smack dab in the middle of The Strand, San Diego's finest stretch of coastline. This is a gathering place for tourists and locals who have the similar goals of playing games, frolicking in the surf, and generally living life like it was meant to be lived. Essentially, Mission Beach is a prime location for experiencing all that is entertaining about this delightful area of Southern California, so settling down here will keep you in touch with whatever you'd like to see and do while you're here.

MISSIONS TRIPS

When planning a getaway, most travelers head straight for hotel listings, but it's often a good idea to examine all possibilities before getting out your credit card. Off the beaten path, you never know what kind of gems, and value-friendly ones at that, you might discover.

If you're traveling with a few people, renting a beach house with three bedrooms, an airy, open, living room, and all the amenities you've come to depend on at home will make this trip special and virtually stress-free. The waves will roll into your backyard and the ample windows provide great eastern views of sunrises and the San Diego skyline. A kitchen will keep you stocked with goodies and prepared to fix a few leisurely meals with the family, and the heated Jacuzzi bath tub will make the end of every day as relaxing and luxurious as can be.

Since the kids have been clamoring to head to Belmont Amusement Park, it's a good thing that it's only a five minute walk from your front door. Spend an afternoon riding the rollercoaster and catching a few thrills in the "The Plunge" swimming pool, attractions they'll be telling their friends about for sure, and then walk back home for a snack, a nap, or a lazy day on the beach.

A short ride in the car will take you to all the other world-class sites that San Diego is know for, including LegoLand, SeaWorld, the zoo, golf courses, lighthouses, and so much more. Venture south a few miles and you'll hit Tijuana, or stick to the states and explore Old Town San Diego for all the great food and shopping you can handle. Rent kayaks for an eco-tour, head out to sea for some deep-water fishing, or simply plop down on a towel with the goal of finishing up the latest bestseller.

San Diego definitely knows how to do luxury, so if your budget is wide open then you'll find plenty of mansion-like estates to hole up in along Mission Beach. This is a place with options and history, however, so if you have less cash to spare you won't be shut out. Cute-as-a-button cottages will allow you to cozy up with that special someone for a weekend of relaxation without having to go into debt, so be sure to spend a little time searching for the right place for you. Chances are it's out there, just waiting to be discovered.

One thing most people know about San Diego is that it's pretty dog-friendly. Happily, this feature extends to many vacation rentals as well, so check the rules before you make your reservations. Your furry family members don't like to be left behind, and this trip, they may not have to be.

So if you're a fan of vacation freedom, beautiful beaches as far as the eye can see, and near-constant 70 degree weather, then a stay in a Mission Beach Vacation Rentals may be right for you. Honestly, it's probably right for just about anyone with a pulse, so deny yourself this pleasurable experience no longer. Go online to research your options, and make your way to this privileged place sometime soon.

Mission Beach Vacation Rentals

MISSIONS TRIPS

A Three Day Itinerary in Hanoi - Northern Vietnam

Hanoi is a lovely city divided into two main areas. The Old Quarter which is based around Lake Hoan Kiem, and the French Quarter where government departments, embassies, and those that work in them tend to live. The lively, bustling tourist area in the Old Quarter has plenty of hotels at very reasonable prices, tucked in between shops, restaurants, markets and motorcycles, which tend to line the tree lined footpaths, making walking something of a mission. It is a good base for a stay in Hanoi, as much of the city will be within walking distance.

Three days in this vibrant city is not enough to see everything there is to do. You could easily fill a week. I have outlined an itinerary that gives you a good cross section of sights around Hanoi that you could achieve in three days. Take into consideration the heat, which will slow you down if you are not used to it. The best way to really absorb the vibes of this fascinating city is to walk.

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Day 1 - The streets of the Old Quarter are truly a fascinating experience. You need to allow a day for wandering, map in hand. You will get a close up view of the life of working Vietnamese today. The streets all specialise in one type of commodity. So you have shoe street, towel street, tin-maker street, toy street, paper, rope - the list goes on.........and on, it certainly makes for easy shopping! If you want to ensure you don't miss some of the best streets, follow the map from a Lonely Planet, or the local tourist information maps from your hotel.

Hanoi Walking Tour Outline - I will start from the ice cream shop by Lake Hoan Kiem opposite the Highland Building. Wander round the lake edge and cross the bright red Huc Bridge to visit Ngoc Son Temple. A little further on, you'll come to the Martyr's Monument near the Water Puppet Theatre. Cross the road here and you can start to follow around the street system. Be sure to go via Memorial House - an old restored Chinese merchant's house that is very interesting. Then walk on via Bach Ma Temple. We found this shut. Most museums in Hanoi are closed between 12.00pm - 2.00pm, and on Mondays. Something you need to keep in mind when planning your days. If you are following the guide books, you will go past the East Gate to the Dong Xuan Market - a three storied market with hundreds of stalls. We preferred the open air market where flowers, local produce, fruit, vegetables, meat and fish were being processed and sold. It was interesting to see there were no flies, despite the meat and fish being out in the open uncovered. At the end of Herb Street there is Baguette et Chocolat - a good stop for some delicious cakes and pastries, and all for about a dollar! Finishing back at the Highland building, take the lift up to the rooftop restaurant for a wonderful view over Lake Hoan Kiem, and a cooling drink. Or give your weary feet a treat and indulge in a foot massage next door, with stunning views to soak up, while you are being treated to a relaxing massage for less then .

A taxi ride out to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex will take up the afternoon. Be sure to dress appropriately, and show respect. This is a place of great reverence for Vietnamese people. Finishing off the day at the Water Puppet theatre - will round off the day nicely. It is worth paying to have a front seat.

Day Three - This is a good day to take a one day tour out of Hanoi. I highly recommend the day tour to Perfume Pagoda which is not actually one pagoda, but an area with 38 pagodas, Buddhist shrines and temples. It is very important for the Vietnamese people, and Buddhist pilgrims come to stay, at a special festival around March-April. Expect it to be very busy at that time.

You will be picked up from your hotel and travel through some very scenic rural countryside to the boats at My Duc. From here you take a relaxing 60 to 90 minute boat ride down the Yen Vi River. While you are rowed by one of the boat women, you can enjoy stunning views of the karst cliffs of the Huong Tich Mountains, swathes of shocking pink waterlilies, and spot small pagodas tucked into the river banks, as you drift along. You arrive at the wharf, and walk up wide steps to the base of the mountain. Lined with stalls and restaurants, you will have a meal here after you have seen the pagodas. Thein Chu is at the base of the mountain. At the moment they are building new sleeping areas, and it is intriguing to watch the craftsmen at work. While you can walk up the mountain to Huong Tich Chu - the pagoda in the cave, there is a gondola I suggest you take at least one way, for the wonderful views. The path can be slippery, and narrow, but it may be a challenge you want to take up. But do save some energy for the steps into the fascinating pagoda in a cave. Most tours include a full meal, before the return boat and bus trip.

We did this trip to Perfume Pagoda with Ganoa Tours, which we organised at the front desk of our hotel, Golden Sun. There are several tour companies you could go with.

A Three Day Itinerary in Hanoi - Northern Vietnam

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Best Places to See in Orange County, California

Much of Orange County's 798-sq mile (2,050-sq km) area is covered with sprawling urban communities linked by ever-busy freeways. Anaheim, home of Disneyland, is its second largest city, after Santa Ana.

The popular Knott's Berry Farm theme park lies a few miles northwest at Buena Park, and together these cities form the tourist capital of the county. Most of the coastline is built-up, but its communities have more variety and character than those around the theme parks. Inland, open spaces can be found where the county's eastern region encompasses part of the vast Cleveland National Forest and the Santa Ana Mountains.

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Best Places to See in Orange County, California

Bowers Museum of Cultural Art Catalina Island Centennial Heritage Museum Crystal Cathedral Disneyland Resort Knott's Berry Farm and Soak City Mission San Juan Capistrano Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace

Orange County, California: GETTING AROUND

Interstate-5 is a major north-south artery, which links Los Angeles and San Diego. New express toll lanes now operate in an effort to eliminate traffic jams. The more scenic Hwy 1, the Pacific Coastal Highway, unites the coastal resorts. Amtrakand Metrolink commuter trains run south from Los Angeles. Stops include San Juan Capistrano and Anaheim. Most bus routes are designed to meet the needs of local commuters, but shuttle vans and tour buses offer quick connections to the theme parks and to Los Angeles.

Ferries to Catalina Island run daily in summer, but travelers should check schedules in winter. Crossings from the mainland to Avalon or Two Harbors take 1-2 hours.

Best Places to See in Orange County, California

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Why Buy a CTR Ring

There are many reasons that a member or non-member of the Mormon Church might buy a CTR or other LDS ring. Some may wear the ring as a trend, or because they are fashionable. However, most wear the ring because of the strong underlying spiritual symbolism.

One mother purchased eleven CTR rings for her son serving a mission in the Philippines. Having served the members faithfully for 2 years, the missionary had made life-long and eternal friends. As a departing gift, he wanted them to remember the covenants they made having been baptized in the church. The CTR rings for these new members helped remind them of the profound feelings they had when they first felt the spirit.

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

A mission president serving in West Africa purchased two ETTE (Endure To The End) rings for two members who were recently made the 4 hour trip to be sealed in the temple. These rings were to serve as the wedding rings for the couple. When it came down to the choice to buy food or pay for a trip to the temple to be sealed, the couple chose to be sealed. These rings now serve as a symbol of their marriage, as well as their dedication to each other, and the Lord.

Thanks to giving, faithful members in a city in Wisconsin, every sister missionary that arrives in their area is to receive a RWH (Return With Honor) ring. These rings are to help the sisters of the mantle that rests on their shoulders as messengers of His gospel. The symbolism of the RWH ring encourages them to serve with diligence, patience, and love.

LDS CTR rings can serve as a reminder to live up to covenants made, to love and to cherish, or to work harder. The symbolisms an LDS ring may have are innumerous. The one thing that remains the same is how it can positively affect the life of the wearer.

Why Buy a CTR Ring

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Popular Vacation Spots in Texas

A holiday in Texas can make you glad. Nice weather, residents and a variety of cultures makes it popular. Although it is impossible to travel all the sites in a single day, some spots should be covered as follows:

Houston

MISSIONS TRIPS

This city is popular and has many types of attractions like family, education and friendly. Some are:

* Water Wall: It is a u-shaped fountain, which is 64 foot tall, surrounded by oak trees and spread across 3 acres and is the photographic site. It is a nice place for family picnic, children's enjoyment or a nap.

* The Buffalo Bayou: This is a popular attraction in Houston, which is not so photographic one, but is striking place for outdoorsman. It has a channel with bridges, walkways, skyline view, canoeing, hiking, biking and kayaking trails and parks.

* Holocaust Museum: It honors Holocaust survivors of Houston. Their stories are displayed through their belongings, photos and writings. Lately, a rail car built by German in 1942, similar to the one, which is used for carrying Jews from their dwelling places to the camps, have been added to the museum. A visitor could gaze into the 26.5-feet-long car and imagine about it with many people going towards the unimaginable thing.

San Antonio

It has historical and contemporary entertainment places. It has Alamo mission, which was once the battle place of an important battle of Texas Revolution. It has daily tours free of cost and has preserved the building of 19th century. It has River Walk featuring restaurants, shops and hotels along the river, San Antonio. Gondolas and flatbed boats take passengers to various sites across the Paseo del Rio.

Austin

Austin is a capital of Texas and has live music. Large music festivals like City Limits and South by Southwest festivals take place here. It also has historical places and geological surprises like Barton spring, which is a sequence of natural springs flowing into pools made by humans.

Popular Vacation Spots in Texas

MISSIONS TRIPS

The Road to Diversity: A Road Trip Through Different Cultures

You don't need to fly all over the world to experience different cultures, some of them can be just a couple hours away or even right in your back yard. Have you ever wondered what a family dinner is like at your neighbor's house down the street? How about 20 minutes away in the heart of the big city near you? Diversity isn't just about celebrating the differences in skin color all around the world, it's also about celebrating the differences between us and our neighbors. The differences between how we prepare our food, clean our houses, and even teach our children to count.

We can learn a lot about diversity by befriending our neighbors or taking a short road trip. So how can you experience culture without having to travel all over the world? Well the first way is through food. Ask your neighbors to do a dinner swap! One day at your house, and one at theirs. You can even swap recipes at the end to cook their favorite dishes. Or during the summertime you can go to a local food festival. There are a lot of festivals celebrating the culture from their city through food.

MISSIONS TRIPS

Another way you can explore different local cultures is by volunteering. You may not realize it, but people's culture and home life is directly affected by their money status. You can experience these differences by volunteering at your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Exploring the different parts of your city/town that you're not accustomed to can really broaden your mind and open your heart to diversity.

Another fun way to explore culture is by taking a road trip. Every town has a different culture, so going on a road trip to explore a few different towns helps you understand a different culture. While you're visiting those towns you can visit the local hot spots, boutiques, or learn about things the town is famous for. This may not seem like it'll broaden your mind as much as say, going on a mission trip to Africa, but by exploring the differences of the towns around you, you are learning more about diversity and culture every day.

It's just as important to understand the people that are around you every day as it is to understand the ones a whole ocean away from you. So take a day or two to go out and explore the culture around you. You might find that you'll learn something new and interesting.

The Road to Diversity: A Road Trip Through Different Cultures

MISSIONS TRIPS

Missionary Travel Made More Affordable

Here's a very interesting statistic: did you know that missionaries are the class of people with the fourth highest travelling miles tucked under their belts? They only trail tourists, businessmen, and students. This number is testament to how committed missionaries are with the goal of spreading the word of God all over the world.

Here's the deal though: missionary travel is often self-financed. Rare are the times when missionaries do find a sponsor who will shoulder their travel expenses. Often, missionaries must find ways to come up with the amount needed to reach their remote destinations.

MISSIONS TRIPS

But missionary travel doesn't have to be expensive - at least not as expensive as how it'll ordinarily be.
There are ways by which you can save on missionary airfare.

The best way to reduce the cost of missionary fares is by arranging your travel via a mission travel agency. A missionary travel agency is a service that provides packages specifically for people who travel to different parts of the world to spread the Good News. A missionary travel agency realizes the financial toll that these travels take, and it is committed to making things a little lighter for servants of God.

In what way will your missionary travel expenses be reduced?

1. Mission travel agencies are very flexible to the needs of missionaries. Such services perfectly understand the economic requirements of missionary travels and how difficult it is to comply with them given the humble lifestyle that missionaries live. Compromises can be made, payment scheduling can be arranged, and certain impositions can be waived just to ensure that the missionary travel pushes through.

2. Mission travel agencies offer low one-way airfares. Often, conventional travel agencies provide discounts for roundtrip tickets while rendering one-way tickets quite costly. Missionary travel agencies can extend one-way tickets at roundtrip prices. Missionaries often go to a place without any plans of coming back until their goals are met. Rare are the times that missionaries book for roundtrip tickets, and mission travel agencies are aware of this.

3. Mission travel agencies can provide wholesale prices for airfare. Some travel agencies can afford to render such prices for their tickets but they are selective as to the timing of when to offer the same. Missionary travel agencies believe that, for missionaries, anytime is the right time to provide low priced airfares.

One of the fundamental tenets of a mission is to teach people that serving others is how God wants us to live our lives. Missionary travel agencies exist to serve missionaries and help them render their service to others who need to learn God's will.

Missionary Travel Made More Affordable

MISSIONS TRIPS

South African organery Route trip data

Between Mossel Bay and Storms River in South Africa, the garden Route runs parallel to a coastline which features lakes, mountains, golden beaches, cliffs and dense indigenous forests.The garden Route has a well-developed tourist infrastructure, production the region favorite all year round. The pont at Malgas is the only remaining pont in the country, ferrying vehicles and livestock over the Breede River. Whale watching attracts tourists at Witsand and Port Beaufort from June to November. The area also has a few free-range ostrich farms.

The Grootvadersbosch Nature support covering Heidelberg comprises the favorite Bushbuck Trail, a wilderness trail and two mountain-bike trails. Riversdale is one of South Africa's most leading fynbos export areas. Other attractions comprise the Julius Gordon Africana Museum.

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

At the historical Strandveld Architectural heritage Site at Still Bay, visitors can watch tame eels being fed. Ancient fish-traps can be seen at Morris Point and the harbor. At the aloe factories at Albertinia, aloe juices are extracted for rehabilitation and high-quality skin-care products.

Nearby, bungee jumping on the Gourits River Gorge, hiking, mountain-biking and angling are favorite pastimes. At Mossel Bay, the Point, a well-liked area for surfers, also features a natural pool formed by rock a favorite swimming place at low tide. The St Blaize trail starts here and it is the ideal spot to watch the whales and dolphins at play in season. There is plentifulness to do in Mossel Bay, such as sun tanning on the 24-km beach, shark ping and hiking.

The harbour at Mossel Bay is one of the most contemporary industrial and recreational harbours on the southern Cape coastline. The data Canter at PetroSa (formerly Mossgas) informs visitors about the task and the yield of synthetic fuels from Mossel Bay's offshore gas fields. Other attractions comprise the Attequas Kloof Pass, Anglo-BoerSouth African War blockhouses and the Bartholomew Diaz complex. Great Brak River offers a historic village with many opportunities for whale and dolphin watching along the extensive coast. Game farms hosting four of the Big Five enrich the wild and bird life.

George is at the heart of the garden Route and the mecca of golf in the southern Cape, as it is home to the noted Fancourt Country Club and Golf Estate and assorted other acclaimed golf courses.

Board the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe on its daily trip along the coastline in the middle of George and Knysna (except Sundays) at the Outeniqua converyance Museum, where one can enjoy a variety of enterprises. Visitors can also board the Power Van here, and enjoy a view of the garden Route Botanical Garden.

The George Museum with its timber history as theme offers ongoing exhibitions. The Montagu and Voortrekker Passes are national monuments, providing spectacular views of the Outeniqua Nature Reserve, which offers any hiking trails. The George Airport, the Outeniqua Pass, the railway line and the N2 offer excellent passage and make George the ideal hub from which to inspect the garden Route and little Karoo.

Victoria Bay and Wilderness are favorite for their safe bathing and unspoilt nature. Wilderness is the western gateway to the southern Cape lakes area. It's a nature lover's paradise, best known for its beaches, lakes, placid lagoon and lush indigenous forests. Bird watchers flock to the Langvlei and Rondevlei Bird Sanctuaries in the Wilderness National Park, which host over 230 dissimilar bird species. Other activities comprise biking, abseiling, horse-riding, paragliding, scenic drives, canoeing, scuba ping and fishing.

Sedgefield borders Swartvlei Lagoon, the largest natural inland saltwater lake in South Africa. Activities comprise beach horse-riding, hiking, angling and bird-watching. Knysna has officially come to be South Africa's favorite destination. What makes it unique is the fact that the town nestles on the banks of an estuary, guarded by The Heads (two huge sandstone cliffs) surrounded by indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches.

This natural wonderland is home to the largest and smallest of creatures, from the Knysna seahorse to the Knysna elephants, rare delicate butterflies and the endemic Knysna Loerie, a colourful forest bird. Over 200 species can be found in the abundant fynbos and forest settings. Knysna is also noted for its delectable homegrown oysters, enjoyed with locally brewed beer in quaint pubs and restaurants. An eclectic mix of art galleries showcases the diversity of talent in the area. The area also offers lagoon cruises, forest hikes, golf and adventure sports. A visit to the Knysna Quays is a must.

Plettenberg Bay is adventure country, offering boat-based whale watching, black water tubing, hiking, and forest and cycling trails. Look-Out Beach is one of the Blue Flag beaches in South Africa.

The Keurbooms River Nature support at Plettenberg Bay offers a canoeing trail, and the Robberg Nature support is a treasure trove of land, marine, geological and archaeological wealth.

The Tsitsikamma National Park offers many scenic walks and trails, together with the world-famous Otter Trail. It also boasts the only underwater trail in Africa. The Park is South Africa's first proclaimed maritime reserve. There are any bungee-jumping spots in the area, together with the highest bungee jump in the world at the Bloukrans River Bridge. Other favorite activities comprise boat cruises, trout-fishing, whale watching, ping, sea-kayaking, gliding, golfing, abseiling and canoeing.

Klein Karoo Kannaland:

The Klein Karoo Kannaland is a semi-desert area broken by unexpected lush river valleys. excellent wines and port are produced in the Calitzdorp and De Rust areas.

Oudtshoorn, the world's ostrich-feather capital, is the region's main town. The Swartberg Nature support and Pass are also worth a visit. The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees is held in the town annually. Some 29 km from Oudtshoorn lie the superior Cango Caves, a series of spectacular subterranean limestone caverns. Bearing evidence of early San habitation, the 30-cave wonderland boasts magnificent dripstone formations. in the middle of 200 000 and 250 000 citizen visit the Caves annually.

Amalienstein and Zoar are historic mission stations midway in the middle of Ladismith and Calitzdorp. Visitors can go on donkey-cart and hiking trails straight through orchards and vineyards, while the Seweweekspoort is ideal for mountain-biking, hiking, and protea and fynbos admirers.

Calitzdorp boasts four wine estates, three of which are open to the public. The spring water of the Calitzdorp Spa is rich in minerals and is reputed to have remedial properties. The Gamka Mountain support is home to the rare and endangered Cape mountain zebra.

De Rust lies at the southern entrance to Meiringspoort. The Meiringspoort Gorge extends 20 km straight through the Swartberg Mountain Range. Halfway through, a beautiful 69 m-high waterfall can be seen. Wine farms in the area are open to the public.

Ladysmith is home to the Towerkop Cheese Factory. There are assorted hiking trails, mountain-biking trails and 4x4 trails in the area. The Anysberg, Klein Karoo and Towerkop Nature Reserves can also be visited.

Uniondale, on the main route in the middle of George and Graaff-Reinet, features the largest water-wheel in the country, the Old Watermill. Uniondale Poort is a scenic drive linking Uniondale with Avontuur in the Langkloof Valley.

At Vanwyksdorp, visitors can see how fynbos is dried and packed for the export market. Donkey-cart rides take visitors to Anglo-BoerSouth African War grave sites.

See more about the garden Route [http://www.travelinsouthafrica.co.za]

South African organery Route trip data

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

Mission Critical: Triathlon Training For Beginner Athletes

If you are new to the wonderful sport and are a triathlon training beginner, welcome to a new and exciting chapter in your life!

This competitive sport is a thrilling road race, bicycle tour, and swim meet all in one.

MISSIONS TRIPS

Whatever your reasons for beginning the sport, you will soon find there are a few critical steps when starting your triathlon training for beginner athletes.

Steps for the Triathlon Training Beginner to Work On

The first key step is to develop a realistic training plan.

Know your strengths and weaknesses.

The emphasis on realistic should be noticed, as many individuals push themselves too quickly and end up injured.

The second key step is to ensure you are healthy and in shape before tackling your first triathlon.

If you are interested in triathlon training and are a beginner , look into options available in the community.

Plan a trip to your local gym and check out if they have any triathlon training for beginner triathletes.

Most gyms have programs developed for introducing this sport to interested individuals and provide the expertise and training necessary.

Also, contact a group or organization that sponsors triathlons.

These groups are great resources for information for developing a training schedule as well as information on the sport.

Once you have practiced and believe yourself to be ready, look into participating in your first triathlon.

Check out an event schedule online or through your local contacts.

The World Wide Web is an excellent tool when searching for triathlons for participating in as well as techniques and plans for developing your skills.

Even after you consider yourself a triathlete, remember that training never stops.

Work diligently towards honing your skills and strengths while minimizing your weaknesses.

Develop a strategy for tackling the sport and begin to compete in events outside your local area.

Participating in a triathlon is an excellent way to complete any goals and improve on your personal health.

Mission Critical: Triathlon Training For Beginner Athletes

MISSIONS TRIPS

Five Off Beat & Inexpensive Texas Road Trip Ideas

When out of state tourists think of Texas road trips, only a few hot spots come to mind: The Alamo, Austin night life, and that is about it. I wanted to point out some other lesser-known city and outside attractions that might make for an interesting road trip.

Schlitterbahn - For your summer time road trip, drive your water-amusement-park-lovin' self down to New Braunfels, Texas and get your feet wet in this German themed oasis of fun. There are two parts to this park, and I personally enjoy the older classic part. I don't know, there is just something nostalgic about that muddy water tube slides and river tubing.

MISSIONS TRIPS

I am sure the kids and the wife would prefer the newer part with a man-made river of the chlorinated persuasion one can lounge on alligator floaty on all day. It keeps you moving whether you want to or not. There are also huge slides that make for a real tongue swallower!

Tubing on the Guadalupe River - While in the area, this is definitely something to write home about a Texas favorite. There are several different routes ranging from one hour to four that will make your day on the river a time flexible reality. You can even drink beer while tubing, but be careful and don't get carried away (no pun intended). As a recent rule, they do limit it to one six pack per person.

I'd advise doing some research online for quality "float the river" tips. For inner tube coupons from various providers, type in Tubing on the Guadalupe River in Google without quotes. Bring a picnic basket and you family can have a pretty inexpensive day of fun.

San Antonio's Haunted Railroad Crossing - After tubing all day, you still have time to make a trip that night an hour away in San Antonio. South of San Antonio, in a low key neighborhood not too far from the San Juan Mission is an intersection of roadway and railroad track that has become known in a catalog of American ghost lore.

In 1941, a catholic school bus full of kids made its way down the road and toward the intersection. It stalled on the railroad tracks and a speeding train crushed the bus, sacrificing all of the children. The bus driver, a nun, survived, until she went insane and committed suicide.

Since the accident over 60 years ago (as the story goes), any vehicle stopped on the railroad tracks will be pushed by tiny unseen hands across the tracks to safety. This is the only part of the city where ghost children help with your defensive driving in San Antonio. Try using baby power on your bumper, so you can see their prints! This is definitely spooky, and from experience it works too!

In the last ten years, the railroad crossing has grown has grown rapidly in popularity, with tourists visiting nightly mostly due to online ghost and haunting stories research.

Fredericksburg, Texas - If you're not down for ghost chases, here is a little less paranormal sabbatical, for the next day in your vacation. Known for bed and breakfast houses and antique stores, Fredericksburg, Texas is a small town located in Gillespie County (almost the exact middle of Texas). A perfect get away for you and your honey after a day on the river. They have over 300 accommodations for a town with 8,911 in population.

Only 63 miles north of San Antonio and 67 miles west of Austin, you could make a half day of a visit, the whole day and spend the night in a bed and breakfast. There are also quite a few hunting and fishing opportunities. Men, you might save that for another road trip with your buddies when you aren't with your wife or significant other.

Luckenbach, Texas - While in Fredericksburg you might as well hit Luckenbach not very far away. "Everybody's somebody in Luckenbach, Texas" because it is officially Texas' smallest town with an official government census population in 1970 of 3. Waylon and Willy sang about it.

The oldest building in town is a general store/saloon opened in 1849 by Minna Engel, whose father was an itinerant preacher from Germany. The store is also a gift shop where you can get a shirt and a shot glass, your merit badge to any city along your Texas road trip.

There you have it folks, five off beat and inexpensive Texas road trip ideas.

Five Off Beat & Inexpensive Texas Road Trip Ideas

MISSIONS TRIPS

Beach and Bollywood in Durban

Where in South Africa can you combine thrilling surf with ancient Indian customs and traditions? Durban, South Africa's surf capital is also home to the largest population of Indians living outside India, so why not combine the two on a beach and Bollywood break.

Durban - The Beach

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

If you like nothing better on holiday than catching rays and chasing waves, then Durban is the perfect destination for you. The lifestyle in Durban is all about the beach and the area is home to South Africa's most laidback crowd. Durban is also home to the only surfing museum in South Africa and among the exhibits you'll find ancient surfboards and photographs of surfing through the centuries. Although surfing is the main attraction, the main beach at Durban also boasts two yacht clubs, where you can hire a yacht for the afternoon or simply take a stroll past and have a look at how the other half live. It's virtually impossible to visit the beach at Durban and not catch a surfer, but if you choose to ignore the popular Ethekwini Beach and instead go to the less populated North and South beaches, you'll discover an area popular with the Kwa-Zulu Natal locals, and instead of surfers you'll catch people training for marathons and enjoying leisurely runs down the beach. The beaches of Durban are also home to some of the best nightlife in South Africa and after a day spent in the surf you can join the locals for a drink and dance in Joe Cools, or instead, gamble away your holiday allowance in the huge Suncoast Casino.

Durban - A Bollywood Break

The largest population of Indians outside India live in Durban, and this becomes apparent when you approach the Grey Streets area of town and are instantly hit by a pungent aroma of spices. Indian labourers were first brought to this area of South Africa to work in the emerging sugar industry and many decided to stay on and make their home in Durban, bringing customs and traditions from their home country with them. Many men and women still adopt the traditional Indian dress and it can be hard to believe you're in South Africa while sari-clad women mix spices next to you. 

No visit to Durban is complete without a trip to the Victoria Street Market. The market specialises in exotic spices like cumin, saffron and turmeric, but you can also purchase electrical goods and even shoes and fabric from the vendors. In fact, the Victoria Street Market is the best place in South Africa to pick up a bargain, so don't buy any holiday souvenirs without searching here first. 

The best time to visit Durban is towards the end of October, when South Africa's weather is still pleasant and festivities are under way for the Indian festival of Diwali. Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is celebrated in style in Durban. The skies are lit up with colourful fireworks displays and thousands of people take to the beaches.  

Beach and Bollywood in Durban

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

3 Unusual Sports You Might See in South Africa

What with the 2010 World Cup taking place in South Africa, the sporting status of the country has legitimately risen. However, it's not all football, rugby and cricket in the rainbow nation. There is a whole range of sports, which are as diverse as the population of South Africa themselves - read on to find out about just three of them.

Sand Boarding
Expending a lot of power climbing up sand dunes may not seem like your idea of fun, any way I can guarantee that the thrill you'll taste on the way back down will make it well worth the effort. Sand boarding is becoming an increasingly beloved sport in South Africa, and it's easy to see why. Relatively similar to snowboarding, sand boarding involves standing with two feet on a thin board and weaving and arcing your way at breakneck speed to the bottom of the dunes. However, for those who are less steady on their feet there is a great alternative of lying flat on your stomach on the board, and heading downhill as if you were on a surfboard. Whichever way you rule to descend down the dunes, sand boarding gives you a guaranteed adrenaline rush - just be sure to keep some sunglasses on and your mouth shut or you may just end up eating sand.

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

Shark Diving
Everyone who heads to South Africa is aware of the fact that there are some pretty big fish out in the waters. However, not everybody will know that you can in fact take to the water yourself, and swim up close and personal with the sharks. Some of the biggest and most magnificent sharks in the world can be found off the coast of South Africa, and cage diving is the perfect way to see them in all their splendour, whilst keeping at a safe length from their teeth. While a cave diving session you will be fitted with breathing tool and lowered into the water in a cage made from highly strong metal, so that you can watch the sharks in their natural habitat whilst remaining protected from them. So whether you're fascinated by sharks, or simply keen to face your fears, shark diving is a beloved recreational sport, becoming more beloved all the time.

River Boarding
If you like the idea of getting wet in South Africa, but are slightly less keen on the prospect of sharks, then possibly an additional one water sport is more favorable for you. River boarding is increasingly base in South Africa these days, and particularly in the area of Victoria Falls. Referred to by some as 'motocross on your belly', river boarding refers to the art of travelling downstream lying on your front on a board, navigating discrete rapids as you go. But it won't all be roaring rapids; in places you will be able to lie back and relax as you drift along and make the most of the stunning scenery that surrounds you.

So, though the sounds of the vuvuzelas may be ringing out over South Africa for some weeks yet, there is much more than just football to enjoy where sports are concerned. Try your hand at any one of the weird and wonderful sports for which the country is becoming known.

3 Unusual Sports You Might See in South Africa

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

separate Ways to Get around South Africa

South Africa is not a small country, and when you tour here on holiday you're going to need some way of getting around. Here's a short guide to the best ways to get colse to the country during your visit.

Rent a Car

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

There is nothing quite like the leisure of having your own vehicle to drive when you visit South Africa. When you have your own car, you'll be able to drive colse to as much as you want without having to wait for specified departure times, which will allow you to contemplate more of the charm of South Africa. For example, you may want to take a trip from Cape Town to the colse to wine regions, and if you have your own rented car then you'll be able to do this whenever you want. You'll be able to create your own schedule and tour in comfort, and you'll also be able to stop off whenever you want in order to admire the improbable sights you are sure to encounter.

Use Your Legs

Sometimes you plainly can't beat your own two legs when it comes to getting around, and although you won't want to walk over the whole of South Africa, there are some places where walking is by far the best way to get around. For example, with plenty of huge national parks and game reserves, you could go on a walking safari and get up close to nature in a way that you plainly couldn't manage in a vehicle. There are also some great hiking opportunities on offer when you visit South Africa. Why not go on a hike up Table Mountain, or take a trip to the Drakensberg Mountains for a real adventure? Alternatively, exploring a city on foot is often the best way to taste it in a more personal manner. If you visit Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban, why not take the afternoon off and perambulate colse to at your own pace?

Get a Birds-Eye View

South Africa is a big place, so if you want to see two separate locations on whether side of the country during your holiday then you will probably have to fly. Although it won't be the cheapest way to get around, it does have its attractions. You will get to your destination in just a few hours, and you'll get to spend more time enjoying the country as well as being treated to some spectacular views from the air.

Go for Something thoroughly Different

If you want to taste a thoroughly separate way of getting around, then what could be more separate than travelling on the back of the largest land animal? Elephant-back safaris are easily available in South Africa, providing you with a unique taste and a exquisite way to get around. When you tour on the back of an elephant, you will be able to get far closer to the animals on safari than you could on foot. This provides a thoroughly unique way to go on safari, and you should right on have a go if you get the opportunity. Some of the locations you can do this include Addo, Cintsa and Pilanesberg.

See South Africa in Many separate Ways

South Africa is a stunning country full of improbable sights, and when you visit you will want to tour colse to to see all of them. Try using a mixture of the above methods of getting colse to for a rich and rewarding taste in this lively country.

separate Ways to Get around South Africa

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

What to Pack for an LDS Mission

Entering the LDS mission field without the proper items is almost as disastrous as entering the LDS mission field without correct knowledge of the gospel. A lack of "tools" makes your job as an LDS missionary much more difficult and keeps you from fully focusing on serving. Since you'll be gone for two years you will need to plan carefully what to bring and what to leave behind.

When you receive your mission call it will be accompanied with a packet of information. Included in this packet are the official Church guidelines on what you should pack for your mission. In addition to packing all the necessary items from the official list, here are some tips that you may consider as well.

MISSIONS TRIPS

Focus on Traveling Light

Most missionaries have a tendency to over-pack, bringing too much into the mission field. All too often, a missionary begins his mission with several suitcases or bags stuffed beyond their capacity. After the first month or so the missionary realizes he has not used any of the extra things he packed. As a result, he ends up making a trip to the local post office to send a box or two of the unused items home, costing him and his family unnecessary time and expensive shipping charges.

By planning ahead and packing only the things you will need, you can keep your luggage as light and as manageable as possible while you travel to and from your mission and transfer to various areas within your mission.

Pack Items that Serve Multiple Functions

The obvious example of this is to pack socks that are dark athletic socks instead of packing thin dress socks that give little support and wear-out quickly. Dark-colored athletic socks will last longer, are more comfortable, more supportive, can be worn while exercising or tracting, and are designed to wick moisture away more effectively.

Buy socks with the same color and pattern. Several black or dark, navy blue socks are ideal colors. Doing this will always allow you to have a matching pair in case you lose one in the laundry or one gets a hole worn in it. Simply pair the odd sock up with another one. By doing this, you will avoid any embarrassing moments of wearing two mismatched socks during an important meeting or discussion.

Pack Appropriate Clothes for Physical Activity

In addition to the recommended guidelines for the clothes you should pack, consider bringing an extra set or two of gym clothes. You will need two to three sets so that when one set is soiled, waiting to be cleaned, you still have another set or two to use. This is not only a good idea for convenience, but also for cleanliness and hygiene. It is not good to wear soiled clothing again and again without washing them. Bacteria and other microorganisms can begin to grow on the clothing which may cause health concerns.

Pack two or three loose-fitting or stretchable, lightweight t-shirts and shorts that allow perspiration to evaporate quickly. Include a couple pair of athletic socks that can also wick moisture away quickly. This type of clothing is easy to rinse out and dries quickly, which is a plus when laundry facilities are hard to come by or when you are limited to washing once each week. Another piece of exercise clothing you should bring is a pair of sweats - a sweatshirt and sweatpants. This will be especially helpful in colder climates.

Pack to Accommodate Your Health and Fitness Needs

To consistently follow an exercise program while on your mission, you need determination, realistic expectations, and a willingness to adapt. Having a positive attitude and mindset however, will only get you so far. You also need the right "tools" to ensure your success. Unfortunately, missionary apartments do not double as fitness centers and access to fitness centers are rare and perhaps even against mission rules. This presents a unique dilemma since you are expected to exercise each morning on your mission.

Fortunately, daily exercise can effectively be achieved while serving your mission without the need to go to a local fitness center or having to buy and pack expensive and bulky equipment. All you need are a few well-selected items along with your own bodyweight to guarantee an excellent workout each day. Each piece of exercise equipment you pack must meet certain specifications. Each must be small and compact, inexpensive and lightweight, quick and easy to set-up and use, versatile, portable, and convenient.

With all the necessary items packed and ready to go, you are well on your way to the start of a rewarding and fulfilling journey as an LDS missionary.

What to Pack for an LDS Mission

MISSIONS TRIPS

White Man's Religion? NOT Christianity!

Christianity: White man's religion?

Martin Luther King referred to Sunday as being "the most segregated day in America."

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Truer words were never spoken.

A few years ago I was preaching and, Lord, help me, my opening words were, "Look around. What do you see? I see a church full of white people." The Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and others.... they'd all been there, but we had holes in our net and hadn't been able to keep 'em. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is like a net, catching ALL kinds of fish..." (Matt 13:47) and that includes black ones, brown ones, red, yellow, Protestant and Catholic, young, old, male and female.

As Americans, we often project an imperialistic attitude that the rest of the world detests. Regarding American CHRISTIANS, I've often heard and read of third world pastors telling how they only wish they had the money the Americans raised to take their "missionary journeys" so that they could better care for their own families and congregations... purchase bibles and study tools, attend seminary. Can we even imagine a group of half naked primitives coming into our churches to share the latest "revelation" God had given their tribe? Yet we spend a fortune crossing the pond for these "life changing" (whose life?) short-term missions experiences. Don't get me wrong, I believe in missions, most especially those geared toward helping the sick and the children, but I've heard too many stories from missionaries who admitted they felt they made NO difference on their missions trip and from Nationals who could have used a nice healthy love offering instead.

I once taught a Sunday school class to a room full of mostly Black African pastors, their small frames lost within their too-large, out-of -date suits and ties. Between them, their congregations ranged in the area of 40,000 people. These humble men were taking notes, asking questions, hanging on my every word. I don't know about them but, for me, THAT was life-changing! God bless those who were wise enough to fly these African pastors to the USA so they could return home and teach those with whom they already had relationship (key word).

Regarding this so-called "white man's religion," it's true that some mistakenly believe Christianity is the religion of Whites in the same way others consider Islam to be the religion of the Blacks. Folks, Hosea 4:6 declares, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...." Let us strive to KNOW the truth for the Scripture says, "they shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free,"(Jn 8:32). What you're about to read, I believe, will be VERY liberating.

THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR ANCESTORY

Black Christianity did not start in America with the slaves that converted to their master's religion. Genesis 10 shows us where all the races originated. The Black lineage is presented by family, languages, locations and nations. The Bible tells us, in Genesis, that everyone began with Adam and Eve. EVERYONE! Genesis 2:7 tells us Adam was made from the earth. Science has proven that we're all made from the same materials as are found in the earth. The Hebrew word for Adam is Adahm, meaning "red" or "from red earth."

Yes, Adam was a person of color!

After the flood, it was Noah and his kids that populated the earth (Acts 17:26; Gen 9:18,19). His sons were named Ham, Shem, and Japheth. These names mean Black, Dusky and Bright, or "fair," respectively. Biblical historians agree that Ham is the ancestral father of the Black races - the Mongoloids, Egyptians, Ethiopians, the Canaanites, and the Indians. From Shem descended the Jews, Arabs and Persians. From Japheth came the Greeks, Caucasians, Russians, the Indo-Europeans.

One Black son out of three? Well, we don't know exactly HOW dark the pigment was of the other two but, is that possible? With God, ALL things are possible. Face it, if YOU were the Supreme Creative Being, wouldn't YOU get creative when making people and animals?

Look around. Look in the mirror... God's been VERY creative. Medical research tells us it IS possible to have children that are very different in color, especially if one or both parents are dark-complexioned, but it's impossible for a fair complexioned person to produce a dark-skinned child. So, for Noah to have fathered a "black" son, he or his wife had to have been dark-skinned, too.

Logically speaking.

Noah's son, Ham, father of African and Black races, had four boys... Cush, Mizraim, Phut and Canaan, Genesis 10:6. Cush was father of the Ethiopians (Gen 2:13; 10:6) and the people living within Asia and Africa. Cush means "black" and Ethiopia means "man witha sunburned face." Jeremiah13:23 says, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin...?"

Mizraim fathered the Egyptians and his name means "children of the sun." Eventually, they even started worshipping it, but that's another story. Ham is derived from the Egyptian name "Kam," the srongest word in the Egyptian language for "black." The book of Psalms refers to Egypt as "the land of Ham" (Ps 78:51; 105:23, 26. 27; 106:21,22). Phut was father of the nation of Libya, (Ezekiel 27:10; 38:5; Jer 46:9 and Nahum 3:9). Libya means "black" also.

Ham's youngest son was Canaan, cursed by Noah in Genesis 9:20-26. Though we've all heard of Ethiopia, Egypt and Libya, strange how there's no Canaan today. Note: Contrary to the teaching of SOME, it was NOT the entire black race that was cursed, only the Canaanites, because of Canaan's sin. They were the original inhabitants of Israel (1 Chr 4:40) but exist no more. My, how they could have been blessed! Yes, there ARE long-term consequences for sin, affecting even our descendants.

Noah's sons migrated, spreading out all over the earth: Japheth's people to modern Europe, Shem's to the Middle East. Ham's descendants went to southern Arabia, Africa, and India. Cush had a son named Nimrod (Gen 10:10) who built the tower of Babel as well as Erech, Accad and Calneh near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the starting point of all civilization (Gen 10:10; 11:1).

Cush's descendants founded powerful Assyria,builders of Ninevah.

The Bible gives no record of Phut's geneology.

Ham's decendants included Menelik, offspring of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, to whom Ethiopians trace their historical roots.

Joseph married an Egyptian woman (Gen 41:50-52) so his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim definitely had Hamitic (Black) blood.

Jethro was Ethiopian and converted to Judaism because of Moses' testimony (Ex 18:1-12).

Moses was married to an Ethiopian woman, too, (Numbers 12:1). Was she black? Could have been! In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron began opposing Moses because of his Cushite (Ethiopian) wife, showing contempt for her ancestry. This angered the Lord and Miriam was stricken with leprosy (interestingly, this disease would not only make MIRIAM the outcast from the community, but her skin became REALLY white as a result of the disease. Poetic justice? After Moses pleaded on her behalf, God healed her and returned her to the camp). NOTE: It is my contention that Miriam's REAL problem was not so much with Moses' wife as it was with his prophetic gift and his special relationship with God. Perhaps she went for the obvious (Miriam's fleshtone) rather than humbllng herself and admitting to Moses how she envied him.

The Scripture does not indicate any prohibition against Jews marrying Cushites (Ethiopians) and they seemed to have had good relations with them (Amos 9:7; Ps 68:31; Zeph 3:10; Is 11:11).

Jehudi was a secretary in the king's court during Jeremiah's time and was a descendeant of Cushi (Jer 36:14,21,23) as was the prophet Zephaniah.

From Ham's lineage came Joshua, and David'sgrandmother, Rahab, a Canaanite. Bath-sheba means"daughterof Sheba." Sheba is listed in Ham's family registry, Genesis 7.

Bath-sheba was married to Uriah the Hittite, whose roots can be traced to Ham's grandson, Heth (Gen 10:15). King Solomon's complexion and hair are described as black but beautiful (Song of Solomon 5:10,11).

Moving to the New Testament times, scholars believe the wise men who sought the baby Jesus (no biblical record of there being only three) were Ethiopians because the gold, frankincense, and myrrh were plentiful in southern Arabia and east Africa.

The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39 undoubtedly brought Christianity to Ethiopia.
Simon the Canaanite was considered to be a Black apostle (Matt 10:4).

Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry His cross, was probably a descendant of Ham since Cyrene was in North Africa.

Apollos (Acts 18:24) came from Ham, too. Certainly, nations that descended from Ham were there at Pentecost (Acts 2) with the establishment of the Church.

Simeon, or Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene were leaders of the Antioch Church (Acts 13:1). The people of these regions were black. These were the men who ordained and commissioned the great apostle Paul.

JESUS: Man of Many Colors

Jesus was of mixed ancestory. You heard right... Jesus was mixed! Our Lord was a person of color! Though He was primarily Semetic, of the five ladies referred to in His geneology, Tama, Rahab, Ruth, Bath-sheba, and Mary, the first four descended from Ham, Noah's Black son (Matt 1:1-16).

Let's face it, folks, man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7). It doesn't matter if you're green with orange spots! He's not looking for complexion or physical features. He's not impressed by what we look like, talklike, or where we live. He doesn't care how religious we are or how beautiful our church is. He doesn't care how we dress, drive or what denomination we claim.

You see, there was no room at the Inn when our Saviour was born and now He's looking at our hearts, regardless of our epidermal hue, to see if there's room there for Him to rule each individual's life as Lord.

No matter what color our epidermis may be, the question we must answer is: are we available?

Need pastoral counseling and prayer? Write or IM me at team1min@aol.com

Every blessing!

White Man's Religion? NOT Christianity!

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Saving Your Trip With Basic Camping Supplies

Camping trips are great. Camping allows you to have fun, adventure, and learning while embracing the challenge of living outdoors. Many people consider camping as a relaxing recreational activity in addition to a more rigorous sport such as mountain climbing or whitewater rafting.

Camping is also necessary for more serious intentions. Researchers and scientists, for example, set up camps near a volcano to study its geology. Soldiers set up a field camp during a prolonged mission.

MISSIONS TRIPS

Whatever the purpose is, before heading out to a campsite, it is best to have a checklist of camping supplies. It's important to ensure that what you need is within your grasp. Remember that you may be out in a remote place, far from any convenience store or supply center. Imagine how frustrating would it be when you want to build a nice, warm campfire only to find out that the campsite you chose is devoid of dry twigs that can be used for fuel!

Aside from your camping equipment, you would need to carry along the following camping supplies:

1. Matches - Doing it the prehistoric way, striking flint and stone, can definitely be done, but lighting a campfire with a match is so much easier. Make sure that you purchase waterproof matches. If, for some reason, you can't obtain waterproof matches, then bring standard matches but store them in a waterproof container. You can also carry a butane lighter as an alternative.

2. Firewood - You are never guaranteed that you can get good firewood when you arrive at a campsite. Woods, twigs, and other sources of fuel might be damp or, worse, unavailable. Many campers usually bring a few dry logs for this purpose. You can keep the wood dry by covering it with a piece of tarp.

3. Drinking water - Bring along safe, clean bottled water. This is actually one of the most important camping supplies you should have with you. Bodies of water found in the wild are relatively clean and can be used for washing or bathing. They are not safe for drinking, however. If it is somehow impractical to bring bottled water during your camping, acquire a portable water purifier or pack some water purifier tablets.

4. Food - Food should be part of your camping supply pack. Unless if you are deliberately hunting game as camp food, bring along ready-to-eat and easy to prepare meals such as instant noodles and preserved goods. A good alternative is to bring MREs or Meals, Ready-to-Eat. Used by soldiers in the field, MREs are self-contained, individual field rations. They are available in many flavors. Each packed meal, which contains around 1,200 calories include a main course; a starchy side dish; crackers; a spread such as cheese or peanut butter; a dessert; a powdered beverage mix; an accessory packet that contains a plastic spoon, a beverage bag, moist napkins, coffee, and sugar; and a flameless heater to warm up the meal.

5. Utensils and tools - Camping involves a lot of cutting, skinning, shaving, and crushing. For this purpose, utensils and tools should also be part of camping supplies. Utensils include forks, spoon, knives, and the like. Tools to bring include a survival knife, a multipurpose pocket knife, a flathead and phillips screwdriver, a bottle opener, a can opener, scissors, tweezers, an awl, sharp razor blades, a small hammer, and pliers.

These are your basic camping supplies. Other supplies will probably be needed, depending on the condition and the requirements of your camping trip.

Saving Your Trip With Basic Camping Supplies

MISSIONS TRIPS

Medications to Prevent Malaria

Malaria is a serious disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Although there is no vaccine for malaria, travelers should avoid infection by repelling mosquitoes and using preventive medicines.

Malaria can develop days or weeks after an infected mosquito bite. If you develop unexplained fever during your trip, or any time in the year after you return home, then seek prompt medical care. Inform the treating physician about your travel history, including malaria prophylaxis medications you have taken.

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Malaria risks in specific regions depend upon many factors, including mosquito population levels, weather conditions and local infection rates. Therefore, travelers must seek advice from medical professionals who have current knowledge of the malaria risk in your destinations.

Repelling Mosquitoes

o Use insect repellent containing 30-50% DEET on all exposed skin except eyes, lips and open wounds.. Wash off with soap when you return indoors.

o Apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent.

o Pre-treat clothes, tents, netting and shoes with permethrin, which repels mosquitoes.

o Read the product labels of repellent products carefully for proper use.

o Minimize exposed skin when hiking. Wear long pants tucked into socks and long sleeve shirts tucked in.

o Avoid perfumes and scented products which serve as mosquito magnets.

o Choose accommodations with screens in all windows.

o Use permethrin pre-treated mosquito bed netting with an elastic edge for a tight fit while sleeping.

o Try to remain indoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

There are several medications available to prevent malaria. Some of these medicines work better in certain destinations, depending upon local malaria resistance patterns. Each of them has unique advantages and side-effects. Children and pregnant travelers require special considerations.

Preventive medicines are taken before, during and after the trip. It is extremely important to take these medications as prescribed.

Chloroquine

" Used only for travel to areas where there is no chloroquine-resistant malaria.
" Take once weekly.
" Take with food for better tolerability.
" Begin taking 1-2 weeks before travel to malaria-risk area.
" Continue taking weekly while traveling in malaria-risk area and for 4 weeks after leaving the area..
" Headache, dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia and itching are the most frequent side effects.

Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)

" Take daily.
" Take at the same time every day.
" Begin taking 1-2 days before travel to malaria-risk area.
" Continue taking daily while in malaria-risk area and for 7 days after leaving the region.
" Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and headache are the most frequent side effects.

Mefloquin (Lariam)

" Used only for travel to areas where there is no mefloquine-resistant malaria.
" Take once weekly.
" Continue taking weekly while in malaria-risk area and for 4 weeks after leaving the region.
" Rarely associated with serious adverse reactions (e.g. psychosis or seizures) at prophylactic doses.
" Upset stomach, headache, insomnia, abnormal dreams, depression, anxiety and dizziness are the most frequent side effects.

Doxycycline

" Take daily.
" Take with food for better tolerability.
" Do not take before going to bed.
" Take at the same time every day.
" Begin taking 1-2 days before travel to malaria-risk area.
" Continue taking daily while in malaria-risk area and for 4 weeks after leaving the area.
" Can cause photosensitivity (sensitivity to sunlight). Decrease the risk by avoiding sun exposure and using sunscreens.
" Can cause vaginal yeast infection

Before you travel, see your travel medicine provider

" Review your specific itinerary and determine your risk of malaria exposure.
" Review your personal medical history and medications.
" Discuss anti-malarial medication options.
" Prepare an alternate plan in the event that you develop significant side effects to medication while abroad.
" Discuss treatment options if you develop malaria while abroad.

Medications to Prevent Malaria

MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA

Bay of Islands in New Zealand

The Bay of Islands is one of the best attractions in New Zealand. It consists of 144 offshore islands and an irregular coastline. All the islands are within 50km of the coast. The largest island is about 22 hectares. Many of these islands are uninhabited, while the rest are privately-owned or are reserves.

The Bay of Islands is a favourite recreation spot for many locals as well as tourists due to its favourable climate, great beaches, silent coves and aquamarine waters. Many visitors come here for deep-sea fishing, swimming, kayaking, sailing, cruising, water-skiing, jetboating and diving. This place is usually most crowded while summer in New Zealand.

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

A good way to witness the Bay of Islands is to go for a pilotage trip. In this way, you can moderately view the surroundings of this gorgeous place. Besides, while the pilotage trip, you can include activities such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking or fishing. There are dolphin swimming trips available here. For these trips, you can have chance of cruising nearby the islands as well as watch and swim with the dolphins. If you are keen in sea kayaking, you can choose to join a guided tour or go for it yourself by renting a kayak. Besides kayaking, visitors can enjoy the fun and excitement of jet boating. There are other involving activities for tourists such as scenic flights, paragliding and horse-trekking. As this place is preeminent for its coastal scenery, going for a scenic flight would enable tourists to enjoy the gorgeous scenery.

Paihai is a favorite town in the Bay of Islands. This small town has a great amount of visitors, especially while summer. Previously a mission post, this place has come to be a bustling modern town with fullness of activities to offer. There are many shopping areas, restaurants and cafeterias. All types of accommodations are also available here. Paihai is a base for deep-sea game fishing. Its favorite wharf offers cruises and fishing trips nearby the bay. There are many historical places here and they are indicated by plaques settled along the seafront.

Some attractions are settled near Paihai. Waitangi National hold is settled within walking distance from Paihai. The Lily Pond Park, settled at the north of Paihai, is a great destination for family outing. This park gives its visitors the chance to interact with many kinds of farm animals. The animals in the park include goats, sheep, eels, alpaca and emus. Someone else attraction, the Haruru Falls, is settled about 3km from Paihai.

Russell is a gorgeous historic town in the Bay of Islands. It is a quiet town with many historic structure and a spectacular, waterfront. Someone else town, Kerikeri, is favorite for its orchards and outdoor cafes.

The Bay of Islands is absolutely one the most gorgeous and historic regions in New Zealand. If you are finding for a place for recreational activities, like camping, boating, fishing or plainly relaxing, you can think visiting this place. Visit Bay of Islands now and find out more.

Bay of Islands in New Zealand

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

Fair Game

Unfortunately though, the Plame affair was far from a fictitious paranoia ridden screenplay; and as history trudges on it will forever be a shadow looming over the patrimony of the Bush administration and the damaging ramifications it placed on the collective perception of the Central brain Agency. Published in 2007, Plame's autobiography, Fair Game, provides understanding into events surrounding her outing as an undercover Cia agent, its impact, and the twenty years of aid she devoted to the Cia. This recapitulate will begin with a brief synopsis of Fair Game, discuss the unfolding of events that led to Plame's outing, and highlight some of the issues within the Central brain department as pointed out by Plame throughout her twenty year career.

Published in October 2007, Fair Game is an account of Valerie Plame's twenty year tenure at the Central brain department and the events that led up to and followed the leak of her name by Washington Post reporter Robert Novak in July 2003. As an employee of the Cia, before Plame could issue her book, she had to submit all her writings to the Cia Publications recapitulate Board (Prb), to make sure she was not releasing any classified information. There are vital portions of Fair Game blacked out that the Cia redacted but as the reader finds out later on towards the end of the book, much of that facts had already been declassified and was in the collective sphere. Since, much of the blacked out portions of the book were already declassified, there is an afterword by Laura Rozen that fills in the missing pieces of information.

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

When Valerie Plame first joined the department in 1985, under Cia director William Casey, it 'was in the midst of rapid increase and thoughprovoking transformation'. Casey, who, 'to this day many in the department think the best director the department has ever had', began the work student program, an elite program into which Plame was accepted. The program was a true training program that coupled intense schoraly teachings of the Agency's ways, government and political systems, and vigorous corporeal training at the "Farm". In the first chapter, Plame begins with her perceive at the "Farm", which included paramilitary-style operational training and corps- building. With such exercises as trudging through woods and swamps carrying eighty pound book bags at 4 a.m., jumping out of helicopters, evading potential captors, and simulated situations of being captured and held captive, it is definite the Cia went to great lengths in training their recruits and sifting out the weaklings. After successfully graduating from the student program, Plame got her first assignment as a Cia case officer in Athens, Greece in 1989. Having had official cover while in Greece, she worked by day as a junior political officer at the U.S. Embassy.

It was while the after-hours where Plame carried out her work as a covert operations officer. While in Greece, she was assigned to the internal political developments, and much of her work focused on the Marxist terrorist group 17 November (N17), which had been responsible for over 100 attacks and 23 assassinations, one which included the Athens Cia center Chief Richard Welch in 1975. As an operations officer, it was Plame's duty to seek out potential recruits, organize connections, verbalize relations, and resolve either or not they would be a vital source of facts for the Agency. Essentially, she spent her years in Greece recruiting spies that could provide vital inside facts on N17. By 1992, Plame returned back to Washington after the N17 had been taken down by local Greek authorities. In the middle of the years of 1992 and 1996, Plame worked as a Nonofficial Covered Officer (Noc) in Brussels. Plame spent only a year as a Noc, because the prior years were devoted to schoraly training to distance herself from the U.S. Government. By 1997, she was called back to headquarters to work in the newly created Couterproliferation department (Cpd) in the Directorate of Operations (Do). It was also that year, that Plame would meet hereafter husband, former U.S. Ambassador to Gabon, Joseph C. Wilson Iv. By 1998, the combine married and placed in Washington, D.C.

The Cpd that Plame joined in 1998 was 'devoted to obtaining brain and thwarting nuclear acquisitions efforts of rogue nations and nonstate actors'. One of the main objectives and most successes of the Cpd while this time was the take down of A.Q. Khan in 2003. Khan, a Pakistani, had over the years set up a large nuclear black shop network. After giving birth to her twins, Plame took a year off work before returning to the department full time in April 2001. Upon her return, 'Valerie Wilson was one of two Cia operations officers assigned to work in the Iraq field of the Cpd'. After the events of September 11th occurred, it was not long before the war drums began gently beating in the distance. It was also while this time that the trickle of politics began to gently seep into the agency. Agreeing to Plame, the department began the investigation into the yellowcake uranium from Niger shortly after an officer came to her office saying that she had just gotten off the phone with a staffer from the office of the Vice President. The officer had spoken with the staffer after they had received an brain record passed on from the Italian government.

The record "alleged in 1999 Iraq had sought yellowcake uranium. .. From Niger'. The staffer told the officer that the Vice President wanted more facts on the claim. When this officer came to Plame, saying that she had just received a phone call from a staffer working in the Vice President's office she was momentarily perplexed. As Plame noted, 'in my experience, I had never known that to happen. There were exact protocols and procedures for funneling brain to policy makers or fielding their questions'. Plame brushed it aside and went to work,' unaware of the unprecedented whole of visits the vice president had made to Headquarters to meet with analysts and look for an available evidence to preserve the Iraq Wmd claims the administration was beginning to make'. Working with fellow employees on how to best research the Niger claims, Plame and her colleagues worked diligently trying to come up with the best options.

It was while this time that Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson, was brought up as man who could help the department in investigating the Niger claims. Despite later reports, it was not Plame herself who had recommended Joe for the mission but a midlevel reports officer,' who knew of Joe's history and role in the first Gulf War, his allinclusive perceive in Africa, and also that in 1999 the Cia had sent Joe on a sensitive mission to Africa on uranium issues'. At the time, Plame embraced the idea, unaware of the damaging events and controversy that would ensue. Plame and the reports officer met with their boss to discuss the proposition. Embracing the idea, their boss, 'suggested putting together a meeting with Joe and the appropriate department and State officers'. A week later, Wilson met with 'Iraq/Niger experts from Cpd, the Di, and State', and three weeks later in early March of 2002, he began his fact seeing mission in Niger. Upon his return nine days later, two 'Cia officers, one of whom was the Reports Officer who had recommend [Wilson]', came to the Wilson's household to debrief Wilson on his trip so they could immediately write up an brain report. As the collective now knows, Wilson found no evidence that supported claims that Iraq had sought yellowcake uranium from Niger. Yet despite the refuting claims, the administration still seemed convinced that Iraq was in proprietary of Wmd and posed a serious threat to the nation's security.

Furthermore, in his 2003 January State of the Union speech, President Bush stated 'the British government has learned that Sadam Hussein recently sought vital quantities of uranium from Africa'. The war drums prolonged to beat on, getting louder with the passing months, and by March 2003, the invasion of Iraq had begun. Needless to say, the Wilson's were bewildered. Both Plame and Wilson had and knew of evidence that refuted much of what the Bush administration had been feeding to the public, especially the claim that Iraq had been seeking uranium from Niger. These sixteen words that showed up in the President's speech would be a major source of contention in the following months. How that claim made its way into a presidential speech to the public, was not only bewildering to the Wilson's but to many others in the Cia. As the war lingered on, and Wmds continuously failed to show up, Wilson was prompted to write an record about his trip to Niger. The July 6 New York Times op-ed, titled "What I Did Not Find in Africa", set in request for retrial the firestorm that would soon become the Plame Affair. On July 14, weeks after Wilson's record appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post ran an record by journalist Robert Novak that claimed, 'Wilson never worked for the Cia, but his wife Valerie Plame, is an department operative on weapons of mass destruction.' After Plame's identity as a Cia agent was released, the backlash began. Accusations of nepotism against Plame were copiously thrown around. Wilson was accused of biased and sloppy reporting about his trip to Niger. The toll that the controversy had on the combine was tremendous. The affair would drag on for four tumultuous years, finally ending in the indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who had leaked Plame's name to Robert Novak.

Fair Game highlights one of the many issues the brain community has had to continuously tackle. That issue, politicized intelligence, is one that has been as onerous as it has been persistent; and as revealed throughout Fair Game, how unmistakably politicized brain can shape even the direst of policy decisions. an additional one issue, as pointed out by Plame, which the Cia dealt with while this period, was the deep seated disagreements that existed amongst the Cia and other brain Agencies. Though genuine disagreements amongst the assorted brain agencies are common, in the case of the Iraq War and Wmds, the failure to transport the severity of the disagreements that existed failed to make its way to policy makers. Though Plame cites many of the obstacles the department faced, she doesn't propose any remedies to alleviate or fix the cited issues.

Of the many issues the brain community has had to continuously tackle, since the inception of the Ic with the 1947 National safety Act, politicized brain has long been a thorn in the side of the Ic. Politicized brain can occur in assorted forms, from policy makers telling analysts what outcomes should be in their done products, to analysts feeling pressured to give policy makers what they want to hear, and analysts trying to shape outcomes themselves. Though analysts are trained to and take extra precaution to avoid politicization of intelligence, it can sometimes be so subtle that it slips under the radar. In the case of the lead up to the Iraq War, it was clear that politicization had made its way into the Cia. As early as 2002, as later reports would reveal, Vice President Cheney and his senior aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, made an unprecedented whole of visits to Cia headquarters.

Speaking with department analysts that were working on the Iraq Wmd issues, they would often ask questions about Iraq and potential links to Al-Qaeda. Though these multiple visits by the pair weren't publicly known until June 2003, senior brain officials were quoted as saying that these visits by Cheney 'had created and environment in which some analysts felt they were being pressured to make their assessments fit with the Bush Administration's policy objectives.. .while visits to Cia Headquarters are not unprecedented, they are unusual'. Supplementary evidence of the creeping politicization of brain prolonged to occur as the country moved closer to war. The sixteen words previously mentioned about Iraq obtaining uranium in Bush's state of the union speech and how it made its way into his speech befuddled many department employees. Despite firm warnings to the White House from the Cia and then Dci George Tenet, against citing the Iraq-Niger claims, those infamous sixteen words somehow managed to find its way into the 2003 State of the Union address. Agreeing to Rozen, 'National safety Council Official, Robert Joseph, would go nearby Tenent to find a Cia department head, Winpac chief Alan Foley, willing to sign off on the president citing the Niger claim'.

As it became increasingly clear that the nation was headed for war, a sense of polarization within the Cia was also mounting. When Plame joined the agency, there was never mention of political affiliation, but 'with the passage of time, politics began to creep into the environment and one tended to have a general idea of where one's colleagues stood on the Bush administration'. As polarization and politicization began to gently seep into the Agency, it wasn't until 2004 when the Cia had truly felt the flood of politicization. The 2004 resignations of Director of Central brain (Dci) George Tenet and Deputy Director of Operations (Ddo) Jim Pavitt, shocked many department employees. Though the pair cited a desire to spend more time with their families as the thinking for leaving, employees knew there was more to it than that. By September, Bush appointed Porter Goss as the new Dci. Goss, from the beginning was bitterly resented by many department employees.

He was criticized for not interacting with senior department managers, for spending little time with the heads of foreign brain services (all of whom the Cia relied on for cooperation in counter terrorism and counter proliferation matters); for not being sufficiently engaged in day-to-day activities, and for being unable to devotee some of the details of operations.

Furthermore, after a memo Goss emailed to all Cia employees after the 2004 presidential election, fears of the creeping politicization of the department were fully realized. As Plame notes, the memo read as follows, 'We preserve the administration, and its policies, in our work as department employees... We do not identify with, support, or champion opposition to the administration or its policies. We provide the brain as we see it-and let the facts alone speak to the policy maker'. Though it is clear there was a degree of politicization within the department while this time, politicization has been a long standing issue. Clearly, with the case of the Iraq War, politicization played a major role. In the past, politicization has all the time played a part within the brain community, but because it has tended to come in more subtle forms it is an issue that is often overlooked. Because analysts are trained to detect and avoid politicized intelligence, and the repercussions are severe, the only definite remedies seem to be to have more arduous training of analysts and employees of the Ic on politicization. an additional one potential remedy is in the choice of Dci; the negative impact Porter Goss had on the Cia was considerable.

As Plame notes, ' by January 2005, over twenty senior Cia officials had retired or resigned since Goss became Dci...one thousand years of hard-earned operational perceive walked.. .when our country's national safety needs were greatest'. In an department as vital as the Cia, a good leader that unites rather than divides is imperative. Furthermore, the role of the Dci should not be attenuated to serving as a puppet to the President's administration.

Another issue the brain community constantly must deal with is the disagreements among the assorted agencies on intelligence. One divergence in singular that erupted In the middle of the department of vigor and the Cia was over the purpose of the aluminum tubes ordered by Iraq in 2001. The vigor Department's stance was that the tubes were used for rocket casings, while one department interpreter believed the tubes were used for centrifuge rotors used to separate isotopes to enrich uranium. Agreeing to Plame, 'the crime and sizable failure of the brain community-and the Cia in particular- was that these deep disagreements were relegated to footnotes in tiny type at the bottom of the National brain estimation (Nie)'. Furthermore, the "Presidents Summary", a one page memo, warned the President that there were serious doubts about the intended use of the aluminum tubes. Despite the warnings and doubts expressed by the agency, 'that inconvenient fact did not fit well into their war planning'.

Whether or not, the administration would have heeded the warnings of the Cia had they been clearer and direct about the serious doubts that existed In the middle of the agencies is unclear but it is definite the department failed to portray the severity of the divergence and uncertainty that surrounded the use of the aluminum tubes. This instance highlights two of the obstacles faced by all the brain agencies. divergence will almost all the time exists amongst the agencies, but given the succinct nature of brain reports, many of the existing doubts are often relegated to footnotes. policy makers naturally do not have the time to read long detailed brain reports, but sometimes definite issues, such as the decision to go to war, brief reports do not seem sufficient. Although, the newly enacted brain Reform and Terrorism arresting act of 2004, has allowed for broader cooperation amongst the agencies, it is relatively early to see if these new implantations will make an impact in rectifying the issue of department cooperation and their effects on brain reports.

As man who was betrayed by, not only her country ,but the department which she devoted 20 years too, one would expect Fair Game to be a bitter ridden memoir loaded with ample finger pointing. Though, there is unmistakably a sense of hurt and betrayal on Plame's part present throughout the book, she takes great care in not portraying herself as a victim at the hands of the U.S. Government. Fair Game highlights many issues that the brain Community, and in singular the Cia, have had to continuously tackle. Though she identifies these issues, she does not offer any recommendations or revisions to rectify these problems. Overall, Fair Game provides readers with deeper understanding into the workings of the Cia and a deeper appreciation of an department that far too often falls under collective scrutiny.

Fair Game

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA