Today is Christi’s birthday! What a wonderful day. We felt like it was all of our birthdays with all of the wonders we experienced today. This morning, we had breakfast as usual. This time though, Brigitte presented a gift to Muchai for being an awesome Kenyan team leader for us this week. He was very pleased with the gift. After breakfast, we had devotion led by Myron. He spoke about transformation of the heart using Ezekiel 36:26 as the foundation scripture and Romans 12:1-2 as the supporting scripture. Myron reminded us that we are called to transform our hearts and be living sacrifices. It is very easy for us to become prideful of our salvation because we may not curse or hang out or drink. So it’s important for us to remember that transformation of our heart should not result in being proud. Then he shared the transformations he has experienced in his heart this week. His transformations were made bit by bit by the worship service in Thiks, the brotherhood and sistehood of the futbol match in Thika, the welcoming ceremony in Kiria, and the farewell celebration in Kiria, just to name a few. He gave us all a lot to think about as we continued our journey today.
After devotion, we checked out of our rooms and loaded up the vans. While waiting for Muchai, I realized I left a bag behind the chair I was sitting in for debrief. I ran back in and one of the workers was getting it for me. I thanked him and returned to the van. As we were leaving, I couldn’t find my phone. I kept asking Muchai to stop the driver while I looked for it, but he kept saying just look just look. He said they had to go to the end of the road to turn around anyway. I frantically looked for my phone to no avail; emptying my bags and standing up, but could not find it. When we finally got back to the hotel, Muchai jumped off the van to run and look for it. As I stood up to follow him, I heard a thud. It was my phone hitting the floor on the van. I embarrassingly called for Muchai to return to the van. He returned to the van and we started to pull off for the second time. Muchai started telling the driver to stop. I thought he was teasing me, but he actually forgot our water, which would need for the hours of riding we were about to do. So it’s a good thing I thought I lost my phone because it prompted him to remember to get the water. We laughed about that for a while, but it was time to get going on our birthday adventure.
First stop, Lake Nakuru. We were on our way for a safari, but we got a sneak peak of what we were expecting to see on the way. We saw impalas, baboons, gazelles, zebras, and an eland. Muchai said it was just wetting our appetite. On our way, we also passed by Lake Elimentaita, which is very salty. Muchai explained that the salt dries on the top and sides of the lake when there is a lot of son. People collect it and sell it. Lake Nakuru is also salty so there are no fish in it. It’s beautiful though and still.
We learn so much about the Kenyan culture every day during our travels. Today was no different. For the past few days Muchai has been saying that he’s going to start an English class for us Americans because we pronounce everything “incorrectly” and we have the “wrong” meanings of words. For instance, there are hotels every few feet in Kenya. Well they’re not places where you rent rooms, but places where you get food (like restaurants). Places you stay are called lodges.
When we got to the town of Nakuru, we stopped at a local merchant to buy souvenirs, each lunch, and use the washrooms. All day, Muchai had been telling us to take our time. We were in no rush. So we spent over an hour in the shop bargaining for merchandise. We picked up some very nice pieces. I was going to post pictures of them, but most of what we purchased are gifts for other people that are reading the blogs and I don’t want to spoil any surprises. So you’ll just have to wait until we get back to see them. 🙂 After shopping we continued on to Lake Nakuru National Park (which was just down the road from the shop), paid our entrance fee and started our adventure. Some of the animals we saw today were giraffes, cape buffaloes, gazelles, antelopes, baboons, zebras, warthogs, rhinos, impalas, hyrax, secretary bird, and some huge deer looking thing that we can’t remember the name. We went to the baboon cliff where they had a sign that point to different cities around the world and noted how far it was. We were over 11k kms from New York. We could see all of Lake Nakuru from up there. Muchai told us that they just recently added a fence to the lookout spot because people would go there to commit suicide. How sad is that?
One of the first things we saw was a cape buffalo alone on a hill top. Muchai explained that it was probably injured and left by the rest of the herd to die. Later we saw a cape buffalo skull. That was the first time we left the van inside the park. We were a little nervous because there were gazelles, antelopes, zebras, and cape buffaloes not far from us. We jumped out, snapped our pictures and hurried back onto the van.
There was a cape buffalo with a tire around its torso. We figured it put its body into it as a young buck and grew into it. Since we have a nurse, physician assistant, and ob/gyn on the team, we were trying to convince them to go to it and cut it off. Needless to say, they didn’t budge. Poor fella. A couple of times, I was thinking poor us. These males were very attentive and even charged the van a couple of times. Yikes!
We also went to a water fall and enjoyed the sounds of the flowing water. We had just past a herd of cape buffaloes which had tried to charge our van earlier, and now we were being asked to walk to a waterfall. Huh? Really? You do see all these gazelles right here and remember the cape buffaloes around the corner, and see that baboon right there, right? Well we did it. We got out and saw a cape buffalo skull sitting on a bench. Shaun and I went to inspect it, while some of the others went to the washroom. Reah joined Shaun and me. When we looked up at the nearest tree, we realized a bunch of baboons were making their way down the tree. It was time to move. So we walked towards the waterfall. Shaun was ahead of us, but looked back and told us to watch out. The baboon was following. Say what now? I was praying that Joseph would bring us the van instead of us having to walk back.
Later, we were in a thick vegetation area (you know, those perfect for hiding predators), and our driver Joseph and I inhaled fumes and started to choke. I was sitting in the front seat because the seat where I originally was sitting didn’t have a functioning window. All week, I had been roughing it out in the back of the van. Well not really. I was in the back of the van all week enduring the bumps, but I slept during most of the trip. The bumpy ride just rocked me to sleep. I couldn’t help it. Luckily the people of Kiria didn’t notice that. Otherwise they might have named me the sleepy one instead of the one who cooks. Anyway, I digress. Back to the safari.
Joseph and I started to choke off of fumes so he immediately cut the engine. Then everyone else started to cough as well. He asked Reah and Kim to temporarily relocate so that he could look in a panel under their seats. Muchai bravely waited outside of the bus. Myron said he’d make sure the leopard behind him didn’t attack. There was no leopard of course. Turns out, the cables on one of the batteries had burned out and acid was leaking from the battery. That can’t be good in the middle of the safari? We were jokingly saying we were going to have to send out a brave soul for help. Joseph was able to stop the acid leak and he said we would be fine with only one battery. I hope so. We have to get back out of the safari tomorrow morning.
It took us 3 hours to drive through the safari to our hotel, which is the Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge. This place is beautiful! There’s an electric fence around the entire campus to keep the wildlife out. Once we entered the main gate, security greeted us with a smile and warm welcome. We made our way to reception. There was someone there with hot towels for us to clean up with and a glass of juice. The Panorama Hotel in Lake Naivasha did the same thing. We drank our juice, gave up our passports and were given our room keys. Now check out how God works. Cristi and I have been roommates all week long from Thika until now. When we were at the Panorama in Lake Naivasha, our room number was 52. Christi was 52 years old (she gave me permission to say that, by the way). We checked out the Panorama this morning and checked into Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge this evening on Christi’s 53rd birthday. We are now in room 53. What a coincidence. Christi says it’s God’s way of confirming that she was supposed to be on this trip. I would have to agree.
After checking out our rooms, we met back at reception at 7pm. There was a stage set up for song and dance. Some staff members performed traditional songs and dance for us as a welcome. They even invited us to dance with them. Brigitte, Les, Tracey, and I danced with them. It was a lot of fun. Then it was time for dinner. The entire compound is beautiful including the restaurant area (or should I call it the hotel area). It was buffet style eating. They had two tables prepared for us, with our napkins folded like birds.
There was a young man serenading us while we ate. He had an amazing voice and played the guitar very well. Muchai secretly shared that it was Christi’s birthday. Some of the performers came out with some of the staff with a flame and cake and sang a birthday song, much better than the traditional birthday song. Christi’s face showed excitement with a hint of embarrassment. But it was beautiful. I wish this blog allowed me to post videos because I have quite a few videos I would like to share with everyone. But the stills will have to do.
Following dinner, we had a debrief led by Lynn. She piggy backed on what Myron discussed during devotion earlier. She discussed how the transformation of her heart has occurred with a sense of community. She wants to return home and talk with people she hasn’t seen in a while. She then asked us all to share the transformations of our heart. Some shared that they wanted to write their sponsor children more. Some noted that the want to live more like the people of Kiria and not be so controlled by time. Some noted they wanted to make more time for people. Muchai shared that as a child, he had a home visit by a missionary and it completely changed his life. Who knows what type of life he would be living if he had not experienced that visit. That is similar to what Hauran shared yesterday. He believes he must always be a reflection f God because the next generation is watching. He may be teaching the future president or governor or pastor. The future of our youth is in our hands. Lynn closed us out by reminding us that transforming ourselves allows us to love God completely, love ourselves correctly, and love our neighbors compassionately.
Being that this is our final night in Kenya, Reah led a week debrief where she asked has this trip been what you expected it to be. Lynn said it exceeded her expectations. Christi was blown away by the people. Kim, Suzanne, and Myron were concerned they would compare the trip to past trips, but noted there were plenty of differences that made this a trip of itself. Tracey didn’t expect the love and passion from everyone. Shaun said he expected to help and teach others but they actually helped and taught him. Les and I stated that we didn’t come with any expectations but were blown away by our interactions with the adults. Heidi was very thankful that English was well known so we didn’t have to work with translators throughout this trip. Se was also impressed with the organization and leadership by Reah and Muchai. I noted that doing the blog forced me to pay attention and really soak in what was going on around us, which I usually have trouble doing. Brigitte noted that we have this judgemental belief that the people of Kiria were lacking because they don’t have the technology or tools that we have. But in actuality, they’re richer than us because they have a joy, contentment with, and deep appreciation for what they do have. Reah noted that she doesn’t have expectations because each trip is different because of the team members. But she appreciates the friendships and relationships that have been built during this trip. Tracey agreed with that and Suzanne added if you can pee in the woods in the rain with someone, you’ve bonded. Did I forget to add that to the blog? Well Tracey, Suzanne, and Kim peed in the rain together in the Aberdear National Park when we stopped at the watch tower. I guess when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go.
Finally, Reah gave us some things to remember as we transition back to our lives.
- Don’t make huge life changes in the first 30 days.
- Reach out to your prayer partner if you feel like you’re having some emotional struggles.
- Don’t take it personally if someone doesn’t want to hear about your trip.
Then she gave us question for us to ponder during our trip home.
- What did you see in the people?
- Which of their needs seemed most vivid to you?
- What aspects of their lives have impressed you or inspired you the most?
- When you think of the Kenya people, what immediately comes to your mind?
- What keeps you from seeing your world properly?
- Write down anything and everything that comes to mind with respect to changes you’d like to make in your life because of this trip.
- Rank that list by importance.
- Write your top 3-5 on a prayer card and pray for those changes.
- Take a spiritual gifts test
There is so much to reflect on from the past 8 days. Our lives will be forever changed by this trip. Tomorrow is a travel day, so the blog post might be a tad late. But for now, please enjoy a few more pictures from today.
Castor Oil plant. Am I the only one who has a mother that made me drink this oil to stay healthy as a child?
Well ok then.
Baboon
Pool at the Panorama in the shape of Africa
Horax
The most persistent root I’ve ever seen.
As we were walking back to the road from the latrines, the new van was arriving. We loaded up and said our goodbyes and headed back down the mountain. We dropped off Peterson, Hauron, Francis, and Mercy along the way. Mercy gave us all a bear hug before leaving the van. All week, we have been amazed at what the locals had been transporting on motorcycle. We finally got a picture of one.
hopemissionsinternational 