African Safari

Them: Do you know Swahili?

Me: I know the Lion King…Hakuna Matata

I literally saw the Lion King in real life. We drove to the watering hole. I went through the elephant graveyard. I saw Simba, Nala, Zazu, Rafiki. I saw the stampede that killed Mufasa. I saw the stars in the sky of the lion ancestry. I even saw Whoopi Goldberg’s hyena. My heart was full.

I have always loved to see God through nature. With humans out of the way, nature continues as it was created and praises God. Going on a safari and seeing animals in their natural habitat, living and breathing just as God intended left me speechless.

We stayed in THE most amazing place on the Masai Mara: Mara Engai. The view was incredible. The hospitality was 5 star and the food…OMG! Let’s just say, I kept requesting for our bread basket to be refilled.

In our 6-wheel truck, we went on a few game drives. I just wanted to see one lion. Other animals were great, but I just wanted to see one lion…I saw 25 lions! Even caught one eating a baby giraffe. I felt like I was for sure on animal planet. I personally can relate to the lion’s lifestyle: sleep and chill ALL day and only get up for food. If only…

We also saw baboons, hyenas, hippos, large birds (that will eat babies), giraffes, elephants, ostriches, topis, antelopes, mongoose, wart hogs, zebra, cape buffalo and wildebeest. We arrived on the Mara in the middle of the migration from Tanzania to Kenya and were able to ride in the midst of the migration.

Only one thing truly took my breath away…the sunset. God in all His infinite power decorated the sky and it was simply beautiful!

Less is SO much More!

Jambo!

I’ve been back in The States now for 11 days and jet lag is still the enemy. It’s always tea time in Africa so I naturally want to have hot tea all day with samosas (God’s gift to mankind…seriously, everyone needs them). However, I remind myself that I live in Texas and it’s too hot for that lol. But at last, here is the first blog after my mission trip to Kenya…where do I begin? Let’s start with the kids.

Less is SO much more

During our stay, we visited two orphanages and two day care centers that NBOI sponsors: Jamii Center in Kibera, Bowels of Love, Jamii Orphanage and Joy Care Center. These facilities were located in some of the largest slums of Kenya. We threw the children a birthday party. I was able to teach a song and get hype with a birthday cheer (KAA style). Many of the children do not know when they were born and have never had a birthday party. Seeing the joy on the faces for one small toy, cookies and punch was overwhelmingly. I was so humbled by their abundance of gratitude realizing that gifts and celebrations were things that I have grown to expect.

The children gave performances; sharing memory verses, poems, songs and dances. Many of the kids did not have shoes. Many did not have parents. Many did not have hot water. It did not matter that their toilet is a hole in the ground. It did not matter that their facilities were falling apart. It did not matter that their living conditions were not up to American standards because they had each other. Yes, their “lack” of things I take for granted gave them an opportunity for more love and joy. This was the joy that so many of us long for. This joy is not conditional on our circumstances, but built on the simple fact that God is good. They knew deep down that God loved them and brought them together to help, comfort and love one another.

The kids say, “God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good…and that’s His nature wow!”

Many times I find myself so distracted by materialism. I have upgraded things to necessities and complain when I am lacking. Through these kids, God has shown me that He truly is enough. His love, his love joy, his grace is sufficient for me.

Mungu akubariki (God Bless you)