Walking with Giraffes

10 June 2010

This morning I took a walk with 17 giraffes. I got up at 530 am to wash my face and get ready to go on a nature hike. The rain was coming down-but the rain here is almost like a snow. I thought it was snow at first, but it wasn’t cold enough out. We gathered in the chumba and made our way to the front gate with Daniel faithfully leading us. Just before we reached the gate someone spotted a giraffe on the hill. It was barely light out and misty but still, I saw her. And she was beautiful. Then we saw another. We left the gate and saw two more. Then a younger one bringing up the rear. I couldn’t believe it, five giraffes. I haven’t even seen one very well so far and here’s five! Unfortunately I wasn’t getting any good pictures because of the lack of light. We continue to walk along our path, with the giraffes walking theirs parallel to us. As we go on more and more giraffes pop up and join this herd. At this point I’m starting to freak out with joy. We get to a bend in the trail several hundreds of meters away and we get really close. We’ve been walking alongside these giraffes for some time, and now we’re barely 50 meters away from SEVENTEEN giraffes. I am not joking, tears well up. I cannot believe my fortune. I missed the nature walk the morning before when they got close to zebras, but this was worth it to be here for this one. God is so good. I’d been asking Him to show me in some way that He is here with me. I’ve been feeling a lack of connection with my classmates, but this was His love in a BIG way. It made my day. Giraffes. In the wild. 50 meters away. Seventeen of them. Amazing. Praise the Lord.

Surge protector.

08 June 2010

I WOULD short out the power and kill the lights in the Chumba…

Okay the stupid field guide told me to bring a surge suppressor for using my laptop so I did. So I plugged the surge suppressor into my 3 to 2 prong converter which was plugged into my plug adaptor into then I plugged that contraption into the power strip and out came the loudest noise I’ve ever heard in my life, a stream of sparks and out go the lights. Dang it! This is my life.

But other than that incredible experience, Kenya is amazing. I’m in KENYA. I can’t even believe it. Here are the Kswahili words I know so far: Jambo (Welcome or you’re welcome), Chumba (the main room), banda (cabin), choo (toilet), duka (store), mzuri (good), asante (thank you), and tafadhali (please). I’m in love with the language. The people. The country. I love everything about this place. I don’t love the bugs, but I tolerate them because they’re Kenyan.
Yesterday was amazing. Today was amazing. We got here and had some orientation and free time. Unpacked our rooms. It was all a blur. We have vervets that just wander around the camp and try to steal our food. Right now they’re cute, but I can see where after awhile the bit gets old.

Pictured above: My bed with mosquito net :)

The only thing that disappoints me is that I haven’t seen much wildlife from the camp. But it’s only day two.

Today I woke up early-ish and laid in bed listening to the birds. It was beautiful and I couldn’t believe that this was my life. Then I went for a run around the perimeter of the fence. Now we’ve been warned not to wander into the tall grass because we have incredibly dangerous snakes here (black mambas, spitting cobras, etc.) and we were told that the trail went along the electric fence. So of course I listen to the latter and ignore the former. So in order to follow the fence I start running in thick, tall grass. Doesn’t take me long to realize that maybe this isn’t the trail and maybe it isn’t a good idea to proceed. I turned around and continued my run in the opposite direction. Got my foot caught in a hole and fell down, but the run was beautiful. Hard but amazing. So happy. I seriously can’t believe this is my life.

I am absolutely, 100% in love with everything about this place. Every second I’m here I that much more convinced that Africa is going to play a prominent role in my life.

travelling.

06 June 2010

I smell. My ankles are swollen. And I’m sweaty.
And I haven’t even gone on the long flight.

Long running pants were a good idea for maybe one or two flights, but I wish I would’ve worn a skirt instead. Now I know better. I don’t mean to be a negative nancy, it’s just I have 9 more hours to kill in this airport and I kinda feel like garbage. I’m not feeling well liked right now. Not that I’m annoying people, I just kinda wish I had someone that I felt more connected with. I’m being impatient I’m sure. And I wish I would have brought my converter/adapter in my carry on.

My flights weren’t so bad so far. The first two were actually lovely. I had tons of room and got to sleep. The one from Newark to London was less enjoyable because of my cranky man next to me and just general lack of space. But that’s okay, I survived it. I hope I don’t totally crash when we get there.

I opted not to go into London. I just think it’ll make me sweatier and crankier. Plus I’m going to see London on my way back in a better circumstance. I’m just really uncomfortable because of the bloating in my ankles and calves. L
I wish I didn’t feel the need to be liked.

(cont.)
Delayed 3 hours IN the plane. Surrounded by children from Dublin (okay, high school students but same difference). Plug in to watch movies broken/now working. Didn’t get any sleep on the flight. Ugh. I did not enjoy the flight to Nairobi. Good thing I was going to…NAIROBI!!!
The drive from the airport to the camp was amazing. Zebra everywhere. EVERYWHERE. The babies are the cutest. Flights may have sucked, but the drive totally made up for it. This is Africa.

kenya.

One post just wouldn't be enough. I was keeping a "blog" while I was gone with the intention of posting them when I got home, so starting today I'll be posting entries I made while abroad.

Enjoy!

goodbyes.

I'm just not good at them and I don't like them.
Maybe someday I'll perfect the "goodbye" but until then I accept the fact that I'm overly nostalgic and not a fan of upcoming change.

on the bright side: I do cope with change well once it happens.

Kenya in 6 days.

podcasts.

blessing :)

I've been having a hard time being disciplined in my quiet times this summer. I find that if I don't have a schedule I easily put off Bible time. Maybe for multiple reasons including: sloth, denial, fear, etc.

Sometimes there is so much going on in this crazy head of mine that I don't want to sit down with God because I just don't want come face to face with what's bouncing around in there. So that's the fear aspect. Kind of the denial part too.

And sloth...well that's self explanitory. I'm lazy. I so do not want to be.

So last weekend I was at church and the pastor read from 2 Timothy 1-14, and wow it was jam packed stuff, but ultimately the sermon talked about how to keep yourself on fire for God. It also gave me the idea to download some sermons in the form of podcasts onto my iPod and listen to them when I run.

Two birds. One stone.

I get a chance to connect with God while doing something good for my body. I'm trying to be better to my body-it's not easy-but turns out I like running. The podcast I listened to today was really eye opening.

I've learned that intentions and feelings and thoughts mean nothing. Action. Action is what matters. You can tell me you love me. You can tell me that you've never felt about someone the way you feel about me. You can want to be the man for me-but until you take action, risk, to be that man, to love me-it means nothing. We can have every intention of living a better life, of being an outward focused person-but again, life isn't about intention, it's about action.

Take action. Don't wish to be the person you want to be. Be him/her.
Don't take a passive role in your own life. Don't sit back and expect God to bring every blessing to you...have an interdependent relationship with the Lord, not a co-dependent one.

Take action.

psalm 77.

For the director of music. Fore Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

1I cried out to God for help;
I cried out ot God to hear me.
2When I ws in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.

3I rememberedyou, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
4You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7"Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"

10Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretchedout his right hand.
11I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds."

13Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
14You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16The waters saw you, God.
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17The clouds poured down water,
the heaves resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

20You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

wow.
Well first of all praise God for this verse and it's conviction and encouragement.

How often do I look back on the "good old days" and long for it and wonder why God took it away? Why didn't he replace it with something? (verse 5) I am humbled by this. As a response to his fear that God will never show up again, that he will abandon forever. "Will the Lord reject forever?" Sure I had a rough year, but I should look to the author for how I ought to respond to the hard times.

Praise.

"To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord;" (verses 10-11a). What a great idea. When I feel abandoned, frustrated, or angry at the Lord I ought to look and what he has done for me. I ought to humble myself and praise the Lord for his abundance.

This year was amazing. CRU was amazing. The people I met...the things I saw...the changes in my life. God is amazing.