  Rare Photo of a Bushbuck
A bushbuck standing in a thicket is virtually invisible as long as it remains motionless! On the Sabie river we came around a corner and surprised a bushbuck who was away from the thicket. He froze which is his standard reaction to a predator being near. At night time its disruptive white markings help to conceal it from lions and hyenas who might be passing nearby. Once he is spotted a bushbuck races for the nearest cover. Then he becomes virtually invisible. Calves dropped in dense cover, do not accompany their mothers into the open. They remain in the thicket for up to four months. The mother attends the baby regularly until it matures. The creative design of our heavenly father is amazing. It is something to watch a bushbuck return to the thicket and disappear. John 1:18 (NIV84) No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, e f who is at the Father’s side, has made him known. Cathy and Danny Sartin [email protected] _______________________________ e Or the Only Begotten f Some manuscripts but the only (or only begotten) Son The Holy Bible: New International Version (Jn 1:18). (1984). Zondervan. Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.
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 The flying Cat!
The African Lynx Our time in Africa has been wonderful. We have have seen hundreds of cats from lions . . . to leopards . . . to cheetahs. But the smaller cats have been very illusive. Pictured above is one shot of a caracal taken by a motion sensitive wildlife camera. This was captured on the guest farm of Amathunzi. Only once in ten years did we get a fleeting glimpse of this magnificent cat in the headlights of our car. The only signs of his presence would be paw tracks through the bush. He is even know to bury his scat to keep himself solitary during his nocturnal hunting. His power is reflected in it's ability to capture reedbucks over twice its size. He can capture springboks, steenboks, duikers, hares, rabbits and many rodents. The caracal has amazing speed and uncanny jumping ability that can reach three meters. The caracal is so quick that he can leap and capture birds as they leave a watering hole. It will sometimes capture two birds by swatting them with its large paws as they fly away. God's creativity is so diverse. We watched a neighborhood cat in our back yard. He hid among the flowers and attempted to capture birds coming and going from Cathy's bird feeders. He just didn't have the quickness, and jumping ability of the wild cat in Africa. Look around you and see some of God's design. It takes our breath away. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.  Water-buck Passenger on the Ark We came over a rise at Kruger National Park and saw a beautiful group of Water-bucks. Cathy remarked about this female and her unique markings, gorgeous neck mane, and ruff. What a beauty she was! This is one of the heaviest antelopes to be found in Africa. We were being treated to a safari by a former national park guide and current missionary. It was so nice to have someone along who spoke English and could converse with other guides who spoke the native languages. Then our driver said, did you know this antelope was on the ark with Noah? Certainly I was intrigued and questioned the story. He said, do you see the white ring on its backside? We say here in Africa that the water-buck was one of the first animals on the ark because he backed into the wet white paint. That created the circle you see on the rump. All of us laughed but at the same time it endeared this antelope to us. Each time we see one we think of the ark where God saved mankind from the world wide flood. We are always amazed when we are confronted with the creativity of God's designs. This beautiful animal left an impression on our hearts and minds. It made a special memory that points directly at our God. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com __________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.   The Revered Eland
A strong back and gentle nature Cathy is seen in this photograph petting a thousand pound bovine that is common in Africa. It is the largest and most ox like antelope on the dark continent. This wild and free roaming male frequented the home of our missionary friends at Amathunzi. I had attracted him to the fence with fresh apples. But I always kept a barrier between us such as a fence. He would take them out of my hand and welcome us into his world. I nicknamed him Fred! Each time we visited Amathunzi he seemed to know that we were around. Fred would come looking for another apple. The San people were considered the first people of Africa. The ancient bush people consider the Eland sacred and played a crucial role in saving the Earth Mother from the underworld. Each step an Eland would take produced a clicking sound as he lifted each hoof. It could be heard a good distance away. The San Khoi people incorporated similar clicks in their language. It is even used to this day. The gentle Bushmen seemed to be comfortable moving among wild animals, specifically lions, with ease. Bushmen studied the behavior patterns of all the animals. They slept in the middle of the open fields. Maybe that is the manner of animals and man in the Garden of Eden. Consider the behavior and eating habits of man before the flood of Noah. What a joy it was to be pals with such a stately animal. Enjoy the animals in your world and experience some of the creativity of our God. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.  Lilac Breasted Roller
Spectacular Aerial Tumbler In 2008 we first visited the dark continent of Africa. It was a mysterious place with exotic animals. But we were stunned by the variety, beauty and creativity of everything!But this bird stood out! It was perched conspicuously in the open woodlands, chasing insects for food and those aroused by bush fires. Our photo highlights the white face, the rusty cheeks, the lilac throat and breast. In flight it shows electric blue wings' The spectacular aerial tumbling is for courtship and mating. They breed in swift flight which is called "a flight on the wing." Cathy loves to speak of God's exquisite paint brush every time we encounter one. Look at what God can do! Those who live in America should consider watching for the hummingbirds. Their migration comes through the Mid-South area in September. They are beautiful. See God's handiwork and be encouraged. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com __________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.  Unexplained Mystery
Life of a Locust This four inch brown adult landed on Cathy's hand. We were in the Karoo of Africa when he appeared. I happened to have the camera in my hand when he landed. Cathy was unfazed and began to marvel at this creation of God. Once they turn brown they look for others to establish a group. When groups combine it forms a swarm. These insects eat their weight in vegetation every day! They can move up to one-hundred miles in a day. A swarm can cover many miles. They are in the ground for around twenty years and emerge after a rain. There is no other who responds like the locust. When he is born he is flightless and has to crawl along the ground. It will shed its skin five times until it becomes a full adult. They follow the wind and gather in the billions. They consume everything in its path. It is a great spectacle to behold. They can plunge a country into famine due to their nature. Crops can be devastated! God used this unexplained mystery in the book of Exodus to persuade the Egyptians to release the Hebrew people from slavery. It is also found in Revelation 9. It was called a plague! Such a small insect can do so much. God's creativity can take your breath away. Look around you today and see God's handiwork in your community. You may be surprised with what you find. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com ________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.  God's Ecology Animal
The 1,000 Mile Migration Back in 1989 we saw the great migration in Kenya. Millions of Wildebeest (also called Gnus) appeared on the plains of the Maasai. They were moving and winding as far as the eye could see. It was the annual migration to follow rain and fresh grass that sprouts as a result. Their journey takes them across the Mara River and a crocodile infested water way. The Croc's feast on the Wildebeest that they can catch and drown. Thousands of Gnus cross at the same time. They were going South for the trip that happens specifically at the right time. You could see hundreds of young ones running along with their mother. Apparently God has planned for all the babies to be born in a one month period. The little ones can run stride for stride with their mothers in only minutes after birth. My first thought was that they are stripping the land of grass and hurting the future of the plains. How can it recover? What I didn't know was the Gnu's cleared the grass to allow the sprouts of trees to remain. They do not eat those sprouts. In a year you see a new forest of trees that helps replenish the ecology of the plains. God is an amazing creator. The timing, habits and instinct of his animals have a purpose for us all. Look and see if you can see God's fingerprints in nature around you. You might be surprised! Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.  Tempting a Buffalo |
Danny SartinFour decade veteran of youth ministry in churches, Youth For Christ and now is the Founder and Executive Director of Deeper Still Missions. Danny and his wife Cathy spend most of their time mentoring missionaries in Africa, Europe, Central America and North America. Future opportunities include South America and the Asia Pacific area. Archives
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