So, quite a few people have asked me,"What was your highlight of the whole trip"? I found the question hard to answer at first because I loved all of it. There is however one thing that I would never want to miss if I was spending the money on a plane ticket anyway and that is The Mara. The children think I am funny because I was the very one that said," I don't need to go to the Mara, its to expensive, I know what lions, giraffes, gazalles and monkeys look like. I don't need to spend my money to go see animals". Yes I really did say those things. But Jessica said it wasn't worth going if we didn't go to the Mara, or something like that. Sorry Tony's and Johnny's, I think we did come to see you too, but you know my children had to say something to get me to cooperate. So I said "OK" like wise mothers with even wiser children should do.
And I have never been sorry!The place was absolutely amazing. The 5 star Resort put us in luxury not common to this simple southerner. The beauty of the lawns and the hospitality of the hosts...The air was warm and dusty so upon arrival we were greeted with warm welcomes and cool wet washcloths to wipe our faces. Our luggage was put into our tents by eager workers. Yes, I said tents but they were not tents like you imagine. They were mini house tents complete with running water, showers,spacious rooms, coffee, rockers,soft sheets, warm blankets,and room service. Every morning hot coffee and cookies was delivered to my room 45 minutes before we left for the first game drive. Every night hot water bottles were hiding under the blankets to keep my feet from freezing when I crawled into bed. It was amazing!
We got into the Land Rovers at 6:30 still shivering in the cool morning air after having enjoyed the hot coffee and cookies, but also fully aware that it would be 2 hours before we would be able to use a bathroom. You know how that feels...coffee and drinks and feeling chilled=a bladder that is full. Well there is no way that anyone gets out of a vehicle in lion country, so we drank coffee with caution. They also gave us blankets to wrap up with since the rovers did not have any windows and it is cold in Africa early in the morning.
We split up in 2 separate rovers and always went into the same vehicle for every game drive. There was an early morning drive and afternoon one as well. The drivers were fun and could speak English and it was obvious that they were very alert to our conversations. They all had ways of communication to all the rovers that left the park so when one party spotted a nice animal they would radio the others and we would all end up gazing at the massive elephants, graceful giraffs or sneaking cheata. We had wonderful success at seeing the wild animals and were so happy to get good views of the Big 5 as they are called there. It includes the rhino, elephant, cape buffalo, lion and leapard.
One day we were so excited to see 2 male lions stalking a gazelle. We thought we might get to watch a kill, but no. These lions however were walking RIGHT BESIDE our rover, like 4 feet away. And remember we did not have windows either. This was not at a zoo where a zoo keeper would protect you, it was not a tame or trained animal putting on a show. This was real live lions that were looking for supper and they were doing what is natural for them to do. We were on their territory. The driver told us that the animals are used to the rovers but if we would make noise or children would move around very much then they would notice that, so of course we did our best at gazing in silence. Mckenzie was awe struck at the sight of those lions and kept exclaiming in loud baby jabbers! This grandma finally gave her a bag of Juice+ to eat so she stays quiet. I thought about Daniel in the lions den all night with those beasts, I thought about what it would feel like to be supper for them and I gazed in amazement and thought about the grandeur of me being in Africa in lion territory, and that I didn't want to go...not at all!
We also had some wonderful elephant sightings. Sitting in a windowless rig with 3 massive elephants 20 feet away gives you a spectacular view of just how huge those things really are. I remembered when my children were there in 2016 and a vehicle wouldn't start up and the elephant was charging at them... and I prayed our rig would start up when it needed to. To know that they are very able to flip a vehicle if they get mad and they would also crush it is not the most pleasant thought when you are watching them so very close. Its amazing how they pull grass with their trunks and then put it into their mouths.Their ears are huge and they look like a very strong and solid creature!
The leapard was very sly and shy. Carlin spotted him one evening on our way back to the park and it was getting dark. We saw him again the next day but he did his best to hide in the bush and we didn't get long views of him.
The giraffes towered high above the trees and could be seen miles in the distance. Imagine being so tall! Our driver told us that once a driver came around some trees and scared the giraffes and one kicked at the rover and hit the windshield breaking the window. No one was hurt thankfully.
We got out of the rover and walked to the rhinos. There are only 2 on the plains and they are guarded at all times from poachers. Two guards stay with them, one carries a stick and the other a gun. We were told the gun would be used on the poachers and the stick is to use on the animals. It was kind of cool taking selfies with the rhinos behind us. We were very close to them!
It rained several times when we were there so the plains were muddy some places. We drove through some incredible ruts and got stuck several times. I would always look around to make sure there was no animal stalking us . We were always able to roar and spin and back up and try again and jerk around until we got out of there. One time as we were entering one of those muddy ravines I braced myself for the speed and the jerk etc but I failed to grab hold of the bar. Suddenly I found myself ejected right out of my seat! The feeling was amazing and yet I could not do one thing to stop myself. I probably would have flown right out the window if the space would have been clear but instead I hit something or someone, I forget how that was.
Another animal that deserves mention is the monkey. They were so big and ugly and impressive in their own way but I am so thankful that they are not my ancestors! What a disgrace to suppose that we came from such undignified creatures. One day while we were out on a game drive a monkey got into Johnny and SueAnn's tent. He must have smelled the bananas and either the tent was not zipped properly or he figured out how to open it. He went into their room and made a mess, ate bananas and scattered trash etc. The room keeper found him and cleaned up the mess before we got back so we never got to see the mess. I never got to see any of the monkeys around our tents. I was told those were cute but I could not see any tho I walked up and down the walkway gazing into the trees.
The hippos were in the river below our tents but thankfully there was a fence separating us. They are for sure not gazed upon for their beauty. I am amazed and amused at the variety God used in the Creation. For sure He is a God of order but He must love to see what animal he can give a long snout or huge teeth or the roundest belly. Those for sure do not win any beauty contest! We could hear them honking in the early morning hours, or maybe it was snoring, I don't know but it was a loud noise!
The food and dining was another experience not common to me. The building was large and spacious with lots of tables. We could also eat outside if we wanted to, on the deck or in the shade close to the pool. The breakfast spread was elaborate and we were hungry by 10, since all we had was cookies and coffee. Breakfast was the only meal that was served buffet style. Every meal was quite satisfying and it was such a pleasure to be so pampered....no laundry, no dishes, no work at all just great service for everything we wanted!
We also went out to the Masai Village one day. That was an experience all its own. If you want to see people that live from the earth and all their needs are met by their simple surroundings, well go visit them. A group of them also came to the lodge one evening and danced for us. They are very strong young men with straight backs that can jump with a super good bounce! It was all very interesting! After spending 2 days and 3 nights at the Resort it was time to leave again and go back to real Africa where poverty is everywhere, where people live in little huts and animals share the same shelter the humans do. Back to busy highways where people drive like crazy and speed bumps are the only thing that forces anyone to slow down! And so we did just that. We did the long weary drive to Kisumu and spent the weekend with Waynes and Joes. I could not believe I was giving Clara a hug in Africa or seeing Wayne speak in a church with a gravel floor. I could not believe I had really gone to Africa without Jonathan...that was by far the hardest! Realizing over and over that I am not sharing this awesome experience with him! And so I smiled and I laughed and I felt a certain sense of satisfaction that I went to Africa, but I cried sometimes when nobody knew and nobody saw. And those tears cleared my jumbled head and the next day I smiled again and I knew that it was all going to be ok..and it was.
When I was in Africa I thought I would never be the same again, that I would look at life with a better view. I thought I would count my blessings more and never feel needy. When I compare my life to the life of a widow in Africa....well, there is simply no comparison! They have so many tribal rules that even a Christian widow can barely break free from. My heart pains for the needs they have! But the ones that find Jesus are so happy. It was such a joy to see them smile and sing. I thought I wouldn't need to go shopping for a long time, but guess what. I found myself at wal-mart the very next week! After all, I don't make my own butter or cheese and we need to buy eggs and the indoor septic works best if we use toilet paper. So, since I live in America I also live like an American. But I hope I never forget that so many things that I enjoy are actually undeserved blessings.
Several weeks ago we were showing our pictures to the Zook family and one little niece said that they would like to go to Africa but it costs to much money. Justin explained to her that we exchanged money for memories, that we don't have the money now but we have all these fun things to think about. I think that anyone that has the money really should go exchange it for memories...you will never regret it!!
In the meantime remember....You have so much to be thankful for!
Father's Day crept up quietly on us, I knew all week it was coming but the boys and I did not talk about it. However by Sat. night it hit me that I was going to sit in church the next day and listen to a Father's Day message. I was dreading it! I went to bed thinking.....I don't want to go to church....but I have to go to teach the youth girls sunday school class....I could leave right after that....but then I'd come home and sit by myself and have a pity party...whats so noble about that? I could sit on the back pew so no one sees me cry...and on and on my sorry thoughts went. I woke up Sunday morning with the same nasty train of thoughts. I didn't want to go to church but skipping was not going to be fun either. I took my Bible and sat at the picnic table to study the Sunday School lesson. I would deal with my sorry thoughts later. I was aroused by my phone ringing and it was the church phone relay. They said ," Due to power outage at church and several homes in the surrounding area services will be postponed 1 hour and if power comes on we will have Sunday School." I listened, stunned, in absolute amazement!! Why is the power off on a perfectly clear Sunday morning in VA? No storms, no accident, no fire. Just simply no power!! How can that be? My heart took on rejoicing because now I did not need to sit through a Father's Day message fighting my emotions. I was sooo happy. But I still found it hard for me to grasp that it really was a gift from God to me. Afterall, my thoughts were not very noble. And so I only told a very few chosen people. But after reading the book I decided it was right for me to accept it as a gift from God because He really does care about my pain. So if I actually do hit the SEND button you will see that I believe "random" happenings are God's gifts to you and me. And I have made a new determination to recognize those "random" things and thank God for them.
