The Africa Project: Support Needed

If you’ve been a regular reader on the blog, you might remember my Africa Project Post. I’m so excited to tell you that we have raised the $30,000 plus an extra $5,000. The $5,000 will be used towards a clinic added on to the orphanage which will benefit not only the orphans but the surrounding community. We have the opportunity to send a team to Tanzania this summer to be there for the dedication of the orphanage and to spend a week with the orphans. This is both an exciting and nerve racking time for a small group of college students going. Raising support is new for a majority of the students and we’re at the point where we’ve been sending out support letters to everyone we know. ICM is helping us with the logistics of the trip but ultimately, it is up to us to raise the support needed.

Being a part of this club has been an extraordinary opportunity and experience for me. It is incredible to begin to take on responsibility and consider the needs of others above my own. To think that my efforts, as a college student, have the capacity to impact a village in Africa by touching the life of a child who is in serious need of a home and protection. The construction of this orphanage literally has the potential to impact a life for generations, not only the life of a Tanzanian but mine as well.

We’re planning on going May 24-31. I share all this information with you to let you know what is taking place in my life and the opportunity that I have to visit Tanzania. Every person going needs to raise $3,000 for the trip. During our stay, we will have the opportunity to meet the children as well as the caretaker of the orphanage. We will have the chance to show them love, just like Christ loves His children. I am eagerly anticipating the precious time I will be able to spend with the children. If you can support me in a financial way, I would be very grateful. And, most importantly, I also need your support in prayer. Prayer is the fuel that will allow us to be successful as we follow God's leading in Tanzania.

If you would like to be part of this mission through your financial support, you can send me a check addressed to:

Kate Scheel
1000 University Pl#3107
Newport News, VA 23606

Please make your check payable to Kathleen Scheel and write "ICM The Africa Project" on the memo line. All contributions are tax deductible. We need all the help we can get, so anything you can give us, we would greatly appreciate it. The Lord is the ultimate provider, and He is the reason we can even go on this trip. I can’t wait to see how the Lord is going to reveal Himself in Tanzania.

This video was created by ICM's Kody Zenger, an amazing photographer and videographer. It shows footage of his recent trip to Tanzania. Please watch and enjoy.

AIDS, Orphans and Hope. Tanzania. from Kody Zenger on Vimeo.

My Favorite Family Vacation

In July of 2010, the Scheel Family got on a plane and flew to Las Vegas. We journeyed through places they would never forget. This trip has been my favorite family trip in the states thus far. It is possible that that bold statement may be changed in the future depending on a bigger and better vacation, but for the moment, this trip goes down in the books as a trip everyone relished. We only wish Becky could have shared it with us. She unfortunately...and both fortunately was working at CAMP-of-the-WOODS that summer. From shaking the glitter off in Las Vegas (that’s what you get for waking up in Vegas), to watching the sun both rise and set over the Grand Canyon, to driving off-road in the canyon-lands of Moab National Park, to picnicking in the wildflowers of Utah, to horseback riding in Zion, every moment out west is a priceless memory.

The western landscape is both baron and magnificent. I wish every human being could see the Grand Canyon in person. I just absolutely adore the place. I hope to take my kids there one day so they can hopefully experience the same pleasure I did in seeing the God of the Universe’s creativity in landscaping. I took a video camera and taped some footage that doesn’t do the place justice, but you’re welcome to partake in my amateur video skills. I’m also putting up our itinerary and some notes, because if YOU ever need ideas of places to explore when you take your trip southwest, you can perhaps get some plans from ours.

July 10:
Arrive in Vegas.
Sleep.

July 11:
Impressively hot.
Walk down Freemont Street in Vegas.
Disco Festival. Colorful people.
Main Street Station Buffet. Lots of food for cheap.

July 12: Nevada
Leave Vegas. Head to Phoenix.
Hoover Dam. Massive.
Chloride, AZ. Awesome ghost town. May have spotted the Mystery Machine.
Phoenix. pooool.

July 13: Grand Canyon
Gas station lunch.
Grand Canyon sunset. Glorious.
Set up camp.

July 14:
Grand Canyon sunrise. cry.
“Ooh Aah Point” hike into canyon. Nice weather in the morning.
Dad, Kate, Amy hike the rim to visitor center
Nap.
IMAX movie of Grand Canyon. Recommended.
Saw Elk at camp.
Sunset.

July 15:
Sunrise/pack up camp. Raced the sun. beat it.
Last look at Canyon. Meet friends from the Netherlands. Suggested we check out Antelope Canyon.
Indian Reservation. Met Chief Tsosie.
Antelope Slot Canyon in CO. Met Italians Valentina and Antillo. Took amazing pictures.
Horseshoe Bend River.
Mesa Verde Lodge. Stargaze.

July 16: Mesa Verde, CO
Cliff Palace of the ancient Pueblo’s in Mesa Verde National Park.
Balcony House. Ancient carved house from rock. Looks like Italy.
Eat wild boar.

July 17: Moab, Utah
Leave Mesa Verde.
Arches National Park. ROCKS.
4-Wheeling in Canyonlands.
Stayed in cabin that night. AC.

July 18:
Castle Rock in Arches NP.
Mountain bike trail on slickwalk.

July 19: Bryce, Utah
Sunrise.
Drink coffee in the beautiful lodge at Bryce Canyon NP.
Hike.
Nap.
Swim with Germans.
Dad and Amy hike rim trail, Momma and Kate hang at lodge.

July 20:
Bryce Point.
Drive through Cedar Banks. Wildflowers and beautiful valley with rolling green hills.
Set up camp at Zion NP.
Swim in river.
Weeping Rock Hike in Zion.
Hang at lodge.

July 21:
Horseback riding in canyon. Sweaty butt. Ride Charley.
Hike The Narrows. River hike.
Swim in river.

July 22:
Angel’s Landing Hike in Zion. Adrenaline rush.
Drive back to Vegas. Stay in Tuscany Suites. Night swim.

July 23:
Cut flight close!
Home.

Puppy Love

I found myself flipping through the channels the other day when I came across the ever-popular tearjerker flick, “Marley and Me.” The effect a dog has on a person is nothing less than impressive. There I was, sitting in my room, tears streaming down my face (I share this with the utmost honesty and see no shame in showing emotion outwardly). Any pet can bring joy into a person’s life. Cats are debatable, but dogs have such a love for humans. Despite the dog’s incessant behavior to dig up the trash or mark it’s territory in the house when an unwelcome dog comes to visit, we, as owners and dog lovers, still find a special place in our hearts for these adorable creatures.

I’ve been missing my dog a great deal recently. Tessa is a labradoodle and a big lovable white fur ball. We often think she is a human being in a dog suit. Her eyes are expressive and her feelings can get hurt very easily. Now, in all honesty, when I read blogs about other people’s dogs, I can get a little bored. I mean, who wants to hear about someone else’s dog when you know your dog is far better than anyone else’s? But here I am, missing my dog and wanting to talk about her. Feel free to tune out, but be advised, she’s a unique character.

I’ll tell you, she’s not perfect. She farts, on average, about 15 times a day. And they smell about 15 times worse than any human flatulence. On the upside, whenever one of the family members rips one, if Tessa is in the room, we blame her. She’s a wonderful excuse. Another imperfection is her fu Manchu. This Asian-looking mustache always is a little moist, so a person must maneuver their hand around the moving muzzle in order to dodge her wet nose and pat her on the head. Because she has the appearance of a dread-locked sheepdog, she requires frequent grooming and the occasional bath to remove the smelly lab odor.

With all these imperfections, you would think that having a dog like this would be a chore. And it is. But Tessa is one of the most caring, engaging, and endearing dogs. She treats you like her puppies. When she sits under the table at dinnertime, if your feet are close to her, she’ll tenderly lick you in between the toes with her warm tongue. Yes, it’s gross, and sometimes I hate it. But I know she loves us and it’s her way of showing it. She’s getting to be an old lady, so she’s falls asleep easily. You can always hear her little happy sighs as she dreams about a field of puppies, all for her to care for. She’s such a mother, and we love her.

While I’m at school, I miss being around dogs, so in order to get my puppy fix, I look at pictures of adorable dogs on pinterest or Katelyn James’ new cuddly puppy, Bokeh. Man, I can’t wait to live in my own house and get a dog of my own! For now, I’m just a hopeless puppy lover.

With her Christmas present,

or more like our Christmas present