Safari and "Kwa heri" (Goodbye in Kiswahili)

Well, here I sit sipping Chai (and wondering if I can recreate this taste when we return home), while reflecting on our safari. (I also need to hurry, because at this time of day, the line for this computer grows quickly!) It will probably be the last typed blog before we leave, though I plan to try to "upload" some photos later today or tomorrow. Anyway, the safari was an absolutely amazing trip! Words truly can not describe all of God's glory, extending down from the Serengeti. Before our trip, I argued that Animal Kingdom would suit me just fine. I now know that though the Disney Designers did an awesome job of bringing Africa to America, it is not possible to bring 700 square miles into a theme park. The sunset alone was worth a thousand words. The sunrise over the herds of zebra may run a close second. (We can't wait to watch Lion King again, though through different eyes!). Disney had some serious "on-location" creators over here before they put that movie together. They captured so many of the wonders...and in animation! To see these animals directly in front of you, in the wild, and without bars in front of them was at times actually frightening - especially in the case of the lions. The kids have been keeping journals along the way and were totally "into" making sure they wrote down everything they saw! I promised them I would try to recall most of it in the blog, but they wanted to help. So, I'll type as they call out the animals they remember seeing. Here we go...

"zebras, lions elephants, wildabeasts, warthogs, ostriches, giraffes, hippos - "oh, lots of hippos"
(Glenn), rhinos, dik diks, "Mom what was that thing again that the jackel was eating? Oh yeah, a Thompson Gazelle" (Hugh), baboons, monkeys, "and don't forget the baby baboons on their moms' backs!" (Wallace), antelope and lots of really pretty birds." There, I think we've got it.
As they scurry off to play, I'll try to finish this up before the computer line grows!

We had heard that The Mara Safari Club was special, and indeed , it delivered. After a three-hour ride down what was supposed to be roads but again, seemed more like dirt bike trails, we arrived to a (literally) warm greeting at the lodge. We were handed warm eucalyptus infused towels and glasses of mango juice. We were escorted to our "tent," though it was more like a beautiful, individual hotel room with "tent" ceiling and walls. Hugh loved the zipper door, and (believe it or not) his crib! The rest of us got a chuckle out of the fact that they brought him a crib instead of a cot or roll-away bed! Our tent had a deck that overlooked the Mara river, FULL of hippos. At first, we thought this was cute, because at the zoo, they're always swimming or basking in the sun. It didn't take long to figure out that hippos are actually active at night! We were startled by the noises they made, but eventually got used to it, sort of. Hugh said they sounded like "Jabba the Hut," and if you've never seen Star Wars, you can't "appreciate" that lovely sound. It's kind of an oinking, piglike noise, that made Hugh laugh hard, each time he heard it. Boys:) Anyway, the location could not have been more gorgeous, and to picture it in the middle of nowhere, and I mean NOWHERE, was the most amazing part.

While we were there, we swam in and lounged by the pool, ate delicious meals "al fresco" and went on 3 game rides - two daytime/evening rides and one sunrise ride. They woke us each morning with hot cocoa and Kenyan coffee, and upon our game ride return, we ate breakfast. We were entertained on Saturday evening by a Masaii Tribe member, who enlightened us of the ways of his people. Seriously tough people. It wasn't until Saturday night that I got violently ill. It's not exactly a memory I wish to recall! It's now Wednesday, and I'm feeling like I'm on "the mend," but it was definitely the most testy time of our trip. At one point, Scottie and I thought we had left our camera in the jeep, from our last game ride. So at about 10:00 at night, Scottie headed out to see if he could find it. Meanwhile, I'm throwing up in a tent in the middle of (again) NOWHERE, with three sleeping children and no phone or means of communication. Scottie was gone for nearly an hour, which at the time felt like an eternity. The longer he was gone, the more I began to wonder if he was coming back. Then these thoughts of "What on earth will I do in this condition if he doesn't return?" started playing in my mind. Thankfully, he did return, though without the camera. Apparently, he "chatted" with many folks along the way, all concerned about the camera and my health. For some reason, we thought to look around the bed one more time, and there it was, wrapped up in the mosquito net. All's well that ends well, but that hour of panic was enough to sustain us for the entire trip.

That low point in our safari had me lying on that bathroom floor and wondering why we'd decided to come out for the safari at all. I began to pray to God to continue to see us through this journey, for surely He didn't take us that far to leave us there. I thought about Abraham and how God asked him to leave his country, his people, and his father's family to go to a far away land. He left his comforts, his life, really, "even though he did not know where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8). I began to rely on faith more than ever that night, and when Scottie walked into that tent, a sense of security returned, both physically and spiritually. I was ashamed that I had thought that way at all, and looking back, it did seem silly to "freak out." However, to a small degree, the element of fear has stayed with us thoughout our trip. Of course, so has the feeling of being surrounded by much prayer. Some people say that they can "feel" prayer. Until this trip, I must admit I never really "felt" it, though I knew people prayed for us. A similar feeling of actually feeling prayer for us was at Pilgrimage, and it was a connection we can fortunately feel again and again, due to our proximity to it. Yet, as we wind down our trip here, we are feeling bittersweet emotions. As invigorating as both Pilgrimage and this trip have been to us, this time, we are finding ourselves feeling like we're leaving something behind. Kind of like the camera. A torn feeling; A chapter, maybe. But a chunk of our hearts none-the-less.

We know that these next few days will be filled with sad "goodbyes," but we also hope that we've "helped" and that some things in the community will be at least a little better because of our visit. Scottie has implemented a computer "sign-out" program for the Peds./Nursery Unit, I've made small comfortable adjustments here and there, and the kids have made lifelong friends; We've all made connections. However, overall, it was us that were helped. We have been touched in many ways and I'm sure they will continue to surface and unfold throughout our lives, hopefully for the better. We were blessed before we came, but had no idea how blessed we'd be upon our leaving.

We take with us pieces of this wonderful place and wish to thank everyone who has made this a safe journey for us - from Samaratin's Purse and World Medical Mission, our family, friends, church, Scottie's partners and co-workers & Dr. Kelly to Tenwek Hospital, Dan & Heather Galat, the Roberts, the Whites, Carol Spears, the Brauns & the Hollands and all of the amazing brothers and sisters in Christ we have met along the way. May His peace continue to be with you and His blessings fulfill you. Please continue to pray for our safe return to Fayetteville, and know that your prayers are literally felt.
All Our Love, Avery, Scottie, Wallace, Glenn & Hugh Cameron