Friday, April 8, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Pros For Africa
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand
yes, this is a real chimpanzee!
the chimpanzees opened their act by flying in on ziplines, rocking out as a chimpanzee rock band, then doing a boxing match between themselves. so wouldn't happen in the U.S.!
drinking a Pepsi from a plastic bag bc the street vendors don't let you keep the bottles
Mindy just got back from Bangkok, Thailand where she spent a week training with World Vision staff on how to respond to international disasters as a communicator. She didn't have a lot of time to sightsee but she did get a chance to drop by Safari World and make some new friends!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Congrats Travis!
"After seven months unemployed, I'm back to work! I begin my new job with CBS News on Monday morning (January 17th). I will be a producer for Newspath. Newspath helps coordinate news and video for all of the affiliates around the country. For example, when Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in Arizona, Newspath put up video from Arizona on a server so all of the CBS affiliates around the country could access the video to run on their own newscasts. In addition, Newspath sends reporters out to big stories to cover them for everyone.
I certainly appreciate everyone who prayed for me while I was unemployed. This was a tough period for me and I appreciate your support." Travis
Christmas 2010
on vacation with Mindy's family in Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Mindy loved driving the snowmobile solo!
Mindy and Dad skiing Wolfcreek
Mindy never uses poles when skiing
Travis had an eye injury and couldn't go snowmobiling or skiing....
so Mindy took a picture to crop him in later.
Catching up with good friends Brad, Wendy and Annabelle in Dallas
Travis got new shoes and a golf driver for Christmas
Mindy got new boots and a black vest for Christmas!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Friday, December 24, 2010
World Vision's "True Spirit of Christmas Tour" - Dec 2010
This December, World Vision sent me to Africa
for two weeks to showcase unique Christmas gifts
that our donors provide during the holiday season
...everything from goats to chickens to cows.
for two weeks to showcase unique Christmas gifts
that our donors provide during the holiday season
...everything from goats to chickens to cows.
Every day, I got to meet a new family who received a different gift.
I learned so much about how
simple gifts can not only change someone's life
but transform families and communities!
simple gifts can not only change someone's life
but transform families and communities!
I hope you'll get a chance to read a few of my blogs.
And if you're interested in giving this season go to
Merry Christmas!
True Spirit of Christmas Tour Trailer
MY FAVORITE VIDEOS!!!:
Meeting Elvis in Tanzania- how chickens changed his life!
Meeting Alfred, the child I'm now sponsoring in Ghana.
Our "12 Days of Christmas"
Day 1- GOATS http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/1st-day-in-tanzania.html
VIDEO: http://worldvisiontv.org/home/true-spirit-christmas-2010-gift-goats#1
Day 2- MICROLOANS http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/tanzania-day-2.html
VIDEO: http://worldvisiontv.org/home/true-spirit-christmas-2010-gift-loan#2
Day 3- COWS http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/tanzania-day-3.html
VIDEO: http://worldvisiontv.org/home/true-spirit-christmas-2010-gift-cow#1
Day 4- CHICKENS http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-4-tanzania.html
VIDEO: http://worldvisiontv.org/home/true-spirit-christmas-2010-gift-chickens#2
Day 5- PRAYER http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/africa-day-5-final-day-in-tanzania.html
Day 6- travel from Tanzania to Ghana http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/long-journey-to-hope-blog-by-steve.html
Day 7- BIBLE http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/africa-day-7-ghana.html
VIDEO: http://worldvisiontv.org/home/true-spirit-christmas-2010-gift-bible#0
Day 8- CHILD SPONSORSHIP http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/africa-day-8-child-sponsorship-ghana.html
VIDEO: http://worldvisiontv.org/home/true-spirit-christmas-2010-gift-sponsorship#0
Day 9- ORPHANS & VULNERABLE CHILDREN http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/africa-day-9.html
VIDEO: http://worldvisiontv.org/home/true-spirit-christmas-2010-orphans-vulnerable-children#1
Day 10- MEDICINE & SUPPLIES http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/africa-day-10-medicine-supplies-ghana.html
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJCAlnMXzdg
Day 11- WATER & WELLS http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/africa-day-11-water-wells-ghana.html
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rJTNNFBuII
Day 12- FINAL THOUGHTS- CHRISTMAS CATALOGShttp://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-12-final-day-in-africa-christmas.html
BONUS: Top 20 Lessons I learned in Africa...the hard way! http://travisandmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-20-lessons-i-learned-in-africathe.html
(Mindy Mizell, World Vision Media Relations Director
& 2010 True Spirit of Christmas Tour Host)
Top 20 Lessons I Learned in Africa...the hard way!
1- Always pack a carry-on bag that contains at least 4 days worth of clothes.
2- Don't ever lose your electronic room key. Replacements have to be shipped in and the rest of your team will be penalized with having to turn in their keys at the front desk each night. (thanks Josh!) :-)
3- If your luggage doesn't arrive for several days, don't bother buying men's deodorant if you can't find women's deodorant. It's not really deodorant but a really, really potent cologne!
4- If you need to buy pants to sleep in because you are still waiting for your luggage, expect to only find M.C. Hammer looking pants at the store. There are no solid colored clothes to choose from. (You'll get used to the stares each night when you go downstairs for dinner.)
5- Don't pick up the cute little African baby sitting alone in a mixing bowl on the ground. There is a reason they are in a bowl. Mama may be using it as a makeshift diaper and you could end up with pee down your shirt. (But in Africa, that means you will be blessed with fertility!)
6- Don't make up your own dance moves when asked to dance in front of an entire African village...you could frighten the children. (steve!)
7- If your local driver likes to listen to country music, expect to hear the same c.d. over and over and over again all week.
8- Always pack an electric adapter...but please note that your American hair dryer may overheat and blow the power in your room anyway because it's not used to the high current of electricity.
9- Don't wave up and down. Wave side ways. Africans will think you are trying to get them to come to you if you wave the wrong way.
10- And don't do the thumbs up! It means you've offended their mother....not that you really like something.
11- If you end up taking cold showers every day for 10 days straight, you may want to ask your team if there just happens to be a switch next to your front door to turn on the hot water heater.
12- Drink the ginger juice at your own risk.
13- Look for bones ANY time you eat fish or anything with beef in it.
14- Creamy licky. It's just the name of the local ice cream store.
15- African children do NOT like craisins....they are not delicious cranberry raisins...but are considered repulsive and will be spit out immediately.
16- If you get mud on your jeans, do NOT wipe it off with your hand. It may look like mud but it could be 'fertilizer' aka cow manure.
17- Do not go to Africa if you do not like eating chicken and rice for every meal.
18- As tempting as it may sound to eat American food again for a change, do NOT order the cheeseburger. You may end up flat on your back for a solid 32 hours.
19- If you get motion sickness, do not travel with World Vision. They have a knack for finding every bumpy road in Africa!
20- Do NOT cross your legs when sitting and greeting the local African chief. It's not ladylike ...but is actually considered offensive! ooops
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