Giving Thanks in Africa: Join us November 23-30, 2013





"I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy."
-Ernest Hemingway



The air in Zimbabwe is called champagne air. It's crisp and bubbly, like the tingle of the first sip of champagne on your lips.  It makes you want slow down and savor every moment.

Zimbabwe sits a mile above sea level just north of the border of South Africa and while news reports may keep you from coming to Zimbabwe perhaps you will listen to the whispers of your soul, come to Zimbabwe and take a deep breath in.

I have been going to Zimbabwe several times a year since 2008.  There is something about the champagne air, the kind smiles of the locals, the dreamy colors of the sunsets, the radiance of the stars lighting the dark African sky, the beauty of seeing elephants and rhinos living in their natural environment.

There is something about the spirit of the Zimbabwean people that remind me to live in a state of gratitude, giving thanks for the sunrise everyday, giving thanks for unexpected rains, just giving thanks.


This November, over (the U.S.) Thanksgiving week, we are offering a very special Giving Thanks Service & Safari trip to Zimbabwe with the founder of Qoya, Rochelle Schieck. 

Join House of Loveness founder Betsy Blankenbaker November 23-30, 2013 for daily Qoya classes lead by Rochelle under the African sky, three days of service at a local school and hospital followed by three magical nights at a safari park with daily game drives, Qoya classes, a sunrise elephant ride, rhino walk and horseback riding.

Your Thanksgiving Day in Zimbabwe (Thursday, Nov. 28) will be celebrated with a game drive to see elephants, lions, zebras and rhinos followed by a beautiful buffet in the safari park surrounded by the natural beauty of Zimbabwe, with a few special guests.  In the evening, we will do a community Qoya class under the African sky.

This is a once-in-lifetime trip.  Will you join us? Only TEN spots available.

Cost is $3,000 and includes 7 nights of shared accommodations in Zimbabwe, all meals and transportation within Zimbabwe, game drives, elephant ride, rhino walk, horseback ride and special welcome presentation from Zimbabwean Ann Hamilton-King.  A portion of your trip costs goes towards the education of children in Zimbabwe.

Price excludes air travel to and from Zimbabwe.  Flights should be booked to Harare (HRE).  You are required to have travel insurance for trip, available through http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com (or sometimes through your credit card)

    Special rate of $2,750 if you book before July 1, 2013
                Click here (link takes you to fiscal sponsor, fill in amount to purchase trip)

The Qoya classes are for women only but you are welcome to bring a partner or children with you to Zimbabwe.  Please email Betsy if you have more questions: mybetsy@mac.com
                                                                                                                       
Here is a sneak peek of the schedule:

House of Loveness Service & Safari Qoya Retreat with Rochelle Schieck November 23-30, 2013
                                              
                             
Saturday, November 23th Travel Day (Arrival)
All day arrivals into Harare (HRE) Zimbabwe, transportation to Borrowdale B&B
6pm Welcome Dinner
8pm Opening Circle and Gentle Qoya class before bedtime

 Sunday, November 24th Welcome to Zimbabwe
7.30-8am Morning breathing exercises, Meditation 
8-9am Breakfast
9:30-12 Qoya class in garden
1-2pm Lunch
2-5pm Afternoon free time
5-6pm Welcome to Zimbabwe by local Ann Hamilton-King 6-7:30pm Dinner
7:45pm-9pm Gentle Qoya/Meditation before bedtime

 Monday, November 25th Service with House of Loveness
7-8am Morning breathing exercises, Qoya
8-9am Breakfast
9:15am Transportation to HOL sponsored school
10am-1pm Small teaching groups, Qoya class, lunch with the children 
Qoya founder Rochelle Schieck
1pm Transportation to local hospital

1:30pm Tea with hospital officials followed by tour of children’s ward 
3pm Transporation to B&B
4-6pm Free time
6-7:30pm Dinner
7:45pm-9pm Gentle Qoya/Meditation before bedtime

 Tuesday, November 26th Service with House of Loveness
7-8am Morning breathing exercises, Qoya
8-9am Breakfast
9:15am Transportation to HOL sponsored school
10am-1pm Small teaching groups, Qoya class with locals, lunch with the children 
1pm Transportation to craft market
3pm Transporation to B&B
4-6pm Free time
6-7:30pm Dinner
7:45pm-9pm Gentle Qoya/Meditation before bedtime

Wednesday, November 27th Service & Safari Day
7-8am Morning breathing exercises, Qoya in garden
8-9am Breakfast
9:15am Transportation to HOL sponsored school
10am-1pm Qoya class and party (at school) for locals and children 
1pm Transportation to Safari Park (box lunches)                                  

3pm Check-in at Safari lodge
4-6pm Sundowners and Sunset Game Ride 
6.30-8pm Dinner
8-9pm Outdoor Circle & Dancing at Fire Pit

 Thursday, November 28th On Safari (Thanksgiving Day in the US)
7-8:30am Morning breathing exercises, Qoya in garden
8:30-9am Breakfast
9:30-3.30pm Game Drive and Thanksgiving Day Brunch (with surprise guests!) 
4-6pm Free Time, Swim, Rest
6.30-8pm Dinner
8-9.30pm Thanksgiving Gratitude Despacho & Qoya  at Fire Pit

 Friday, November 29th On Safari
6-8am Sunrise Elephant Ride
8-9am Breakfast
9:30-Noon Qoya class in garden                                                                  

 
12.30-1.30pm Lunch
3-5pm Free Time, Swim, Rest
5-7pm Sunset Game Drive
7.30-9pm Dinner
9-11pm Closing Ceremony and Qoya Dance Party under the African Sky

 Saturday, November 30th Travel Day (Departure)
6-8am Sunrise Elephant Ride
8-9am Breakfast
10am Transportation to airport (book flights out of HRE for 1pm or after) 


 Saturday, November 30 - Monday, December 2 
Optional two night add-on to Victoria Falls if there is enough interest.  Please email mybetsy@mac.com for more information.
Where will you be this Thanksgiving?  Reserve your spot today.  


“Travel brings power and love back into your life.” 
― Rumi





House of Loveness is grateful to have From The Heart Productions as a fiscal sponsor. 
 FTHP is a 501 C 3 organization
Donations can be made to FTHP for the benefit of House of Loveness 
For more information on FTHP: fromtheheartproductions.com
Click here to make a donation

 




Comments

  1. Around Zimbabwe ToursJuly 21, 2013 at 8:22 PM

    Spending vacation for Zimbabwe trip is really superb. I really mean to know the great adventure over wildlife in Zimbabwe so give me the right turn on that. Well! If you want to know the features over Zimbabwe wildlife for your great tour then just get ride on that.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Following My Heart

Image
"It is the heart that gives; the fingers just let go." -Ibo tribe, Nigeria In the next 48 hours, ten women and two of their children are joining me for a week long retreat in Zimbabwe.  I am filled with gratitude for the sacrifice they are making to leave their families during the Thanksgiving holiday, pack bags full of supplies to bring to the children and fly 20 plus hours to Zimbabwe. I have to believe the decision to come to Zimbabwe was made from their heart.  Their head might have given them another answer. On my first trip to Zimbabwe in 2008, I arrived to the news the baby I was to adopt had died.  I spent eight days in Zimbabwe to get her buried and in my head I knew I never wanted to go back.  But my heart led me to return again six weeks later with a wheelchair for Kuda, one of the abandoned children I met whose legs were so atrophied that he scooted on his hands across the dirty hospital floor.  No one ever thought he would walk but I wanted him off that hos
Read more

Springtime In Zimbabwe

Image
Making friends at Wild Is Life I spent a week in Zimbabwe in August.  I really didn't want go. I'm so grateful I got on the plane anyway. Before I left, I was feeling frustrated about the recent elections in Zim and how the results would affect the citizens.  I was also frustrated because House of Loveness needs a new car (the kids are taking buses and hitching rides to school).  I was frustrated because I desire to move the children to a better home but we don’t have enough money to make it possible.  I was frustrated because we are having problems getting birth certificates for the (abandoned) kids and they need these to go to boarding school.  I also felt pressure to stay in the US for the release of my new film so I could pay my own bills.  The trip ended up being filled with deep connection to the children, the animals, the people, the land and the sunsets.  My frustrations turned to gratitude. My walk with Tatenda My first morning in Zimbabwe, I
Read more
Image
My first trip to Zimbabwe in 2008 "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find how you yourself have altered."                                                            -Nelson Mandela   I have been traveling to Africa several times a year since 2008 when I went to Zimbabwe with dreams of adopting a baby girl that had been abandoned.  She was named Loveness by the hospital staff who cared for her after she was delivered to the hospital in a dirty wheelbarrow.  A local man had found Loveness and three other babies, all a few weeks old, abandoned in the nearby fields.  This was the height of the cholera epidemic and the collapse of the economy.    After I received the call about Loveness, I arrived in Zimbabwe a few weeks later with six suitcases of supplies for the babies donated by friends and family in the United States.  I was thrilled to becom e a mother again.   Sadly, I arrived to the news that the
Read more