"Christmas" in Lesotho

In mid-December we had some very hot days, and my Australian colleagues were singing “Its Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas”. Meanwhile, the heat had me longing for the nip of frost on my nose; that was until I read news from Canada about the pre-Christmas deep freeze. Then I was really conflicted. Too hot here but oh, so cold back home. (Hot for me is above 30C, which to many is a nice day, I know.)

Dylan visited us for Christmas and he too was looking for somewhere cooler, and with nowhere to escape the heat he resorted to improvising a pool by filling the wheelbarrow with water.

Awww, this beats the heat.

Smiles, father and son.

We were blessed to have Wendy’s sister, brother-in-law, and niece visit us over Christmas as well. Our plans with them included traveling from Lesotho to the Indian Ocean coast. Our first stop, in a place called Fouriesberg, was a welcome respite from the heat as due to the elevation the temperatures were 3-4 degrees cooler. We enjoyed some great hiking, and for Dylan every pool of water was an opportunity for a swim.

Dylan 'posing' on a hike in Golden Gate.

Three monkeys in a cave.

Dylan couldn't pass up a natural water slide,

Leg of lamb for Christmas dinner.

At the coast, I thought we were again blessed, as most of our time there was overcast which kept the temperatures cooler than the normal high 30s C. We kept a relaxed pace spending a day at a game part and a couple at the ocean … more water for Dylan.

"Take my picture with the elephant."

Oh, oh, ...

Who is watching who?

"Kurt Warner" at the beach?

Back in Lesotho, it is January, and we have continued to have hot weather. But I need to learn to enjoy it, for as Wendy pointed out it is just a matter of months until winter in Lesotho, with beautiful warm days, cool nights, but having to bundle up when inside.

And this is a significant period for Wendy and I. Our two year commitment here is rapidly coming to an end, and the question is, “What next?” It is a question for which the next few weeks will bring some answers. But for now we continue to be busy and life is full.

~ Benno ~