Welcome to the Rainy Season

As I was working on posts last week I came across this one, patiently waiting in a state of "draft" since March. Wow. Has it really been 3 months since my trip to Kenya? This year is moving by much too quickly! Finding this post made me realize that I kind of failed at documenting our trip. Oh well. Maybe I'll get around to getting the rest of the stories up. Maybe. Let's not get our hopes up. This post, however, does document a pretty notable day--the one where we all got soaked. Enjoy reminiscing with me!

Hell's Gate National Park
Monday, March 14

After the lake tour and walking safari we headed to the lodge to check in, eat lunch, and change into shorts for our tour of Hell’s Gate National Park. Just before the entrance to the park, we stopped at little shop and each paid 500 ksh to rent bikes that we would ride into and through the park! We had been planning this part of the trip since the beginning and we were pretty excited. The excitement, however, dwindled slightly as I struggled to ride my well-worn bike uphill to the park entrance. I would like to blame some of the challenge to the high altitude, but it was also due in part to the misappropriate gear that my bike was stuck in. At the gate, while I was seriously reconsidering this whole “bike through the park” plan, Eustace got my gears adjusted and I felt a little better about it all. (It turns out that each one of us was wondering at that point if we should have just ridden in the van rather than taking the bikes, but we stuck it out.) Hell’s Gate is a beautiful park and it was fun just ride the dirt roads and see zebra and gazelles as I went.

Our destination for our biking tour was the gorge in Hell’s Gate where there is a fabulous view of the area. As we approached the entrance to the gorge, a herd of cape buffalo decided that would a good time to cross the road—and they took their time doing so. Cape buffalo are massive animals and can be fierce (and charge) if you get too close. So, we kept our distance. As we waited for them to cross, the rain that had recently started as a sprinkle began to pick up. As our time at the park was running out, it became clear that the rain wasn’t stopping anytime soon and the buffalo weren’t going to move out of our way.

Enjoying the ride and the view -- before the rain!

We decided to forgo the gorge and ride back to the entrance to the park. Just minutes into our return ride the thunder started and then the downpour and then the hail! As pea sized hail began pelting our arms and legs and faces, we pulled over to the side of the road and took cover under a tree (or tried too). The trees in the park weren’t made for rain cover! As we huddled together in the cold rain (so cold!) we couldn’t help but laugh together—what an adventure our bike ride through the park had become!

We were very, very cold. But still managed to smile!

Unfortunately, the storm was just beginning. We stood under that leafless tree for probably half an hour before deciding that enough of the storm had passed over us and we had to just ride back. So, we did. The rain kept pouring down and the hail kept stinging our legs, but we pressed on. As we reached the entrance to the park, the storm let up. Our driver started laughing when we saw us all soaking wet and exhausted—they didn’t have any rain at the gate or any idea that a storm had gone through the park! While we never ended up seeing the beautiful gorge of Hell’s Gate, we definitely had a memorable experience and we have a great story to tell! (We look forward to seeing Rose’s pictures of the gorge, from a previous visit, at a later date.)

Shivering, we rode back to the lodge in the warm van and then took some much needed showers. Clean and warmer, we ate a lovely dinner (the first of many international buffets) and then went to bed quite early. We had a very tiring day!

Our hotel room: four rooms are inside these Africa meets England cottages.

Classic tourist photo in front of the lodge.

Walking with the Animals

Lake Navaisha - Monday, March 14

We reached Lake Navaisha in the late morning, which gave us time for a little safari adventure before checking in to our lodge. So, we drove to the lake for a boat tour to see hippos! The lake was beautiful, the sky was clear, and the hippos were easy to spot (with the help of our boat tour guide). He drove us around the lake, pointing out various kinds of birds and the families of hippopotamus hanging out among the reeds in the middle of the lake. We saw some baby hippos (the first of many baby animals we would see on safari) and some very, very large daddy hippos. They were mostly submerged in the cool lake water, with just the tops of their heads (with knobby ears, eyes, and nose) and their wide backs sticking out above. It was my first taste of seeing one of God’s amazing wild animals so up close and it was thrilling. I was also quite thankful for the great zoom lens that allowed me to capture the beauty!



Hippo staying cool in Lake Navaisha.



An unexpected addition to the morning hippo tour was a walking safari through a park that bordered the lake. Our guide took us across the lake, showing us more exotic birds along the way. We were met by another guide when we got of our boat lakeside. It was just a few steps into the park and we were literally walking among the animals. I was mere yards away from zebras (and baby zebras!), wildebeests (and their very awkward babies), giraffes (so graceful), and waterbuck. It was amazing! And it was the just the beginning an adventurous day... 




Yes, I'm walking around with Zebras!

 



Just a stroll with the wildebeests.





The most beautiful giraffe!



Today I met a homeless man

He was sitting on a wrought iron fence along Washington Street, shaking his plastic cup holding of a small pile of coins he had collected today. He asked for change, which I gave him. Then, I stopped to talk to him. His name is Willie. He is from Little Rock, Arkansas. He came to Indianapolis to find a job as a machinist, but couldn't find work. He stayed at Wheeler Mission for awhile. Willie met a man who receives mail for him, mostly from his mother in Arkansas. He showed me the envelope of one that he just got today. (He wanted to prove that he wasn't telling stories.)

Then we started talking about food. I asked him if would like some lunch. He said that he would--a hambuger and fries would be nice. Since Panera was the closest place for lunch, I suggested some soup. He said he would like potato soup--and a ham sandwhich. A minute later I found myself in line at Panera (where I often go for lunch) buying lunch for a homeless man (which I had never done before). I held back tears as I scanned the menu for potato soup and a ham sandwhich. I placed my order as anyone else--substituing wheat bread for rye (would Willie like rye? I don't.) and selecting broccoli cheddar (my personal favorite) as potato soup was not on the menu today. I took the meal out to Willie and he was very thankful. He was persistant in telling me that he wasn't a scammer, he was a hard worker, and he really needed some more money so he could could get cleaned up somewhere and stay some more nights at Wheeler. I asked him if knew Jesus, if he had given his life to Christ. He said that he'd heard about Him. I told him that the truth about Jesus was more valuable than money and shared the gospel with him. I felt compelled to give him some more money--trusting that Willie would keep his word and, more importantly, knowing that my money is really on loan from God. I told Willie that I would pray for him and when he asked me to really do it, to really pray for him, I asked if I could pray right then. So, I stood next Willie outside IRT on Washington St and I prayed for him and I prayed for me--that God would keep teaching me what it means to trust him and care for those around me as Jesus would. Willie shook my hand and I said goodbye, praying more for him as I walked down the street.

Why has is taken me so many months to buy lunch for a hungry person I've seen on the street? Working downtown has allowed me to encounter so many homeless people and others asking for money from the workers and shoppers who busily pass by. I talked to Willie about why poeple so often just walk along without giving money or saying anything to him. My answer reflected my own experience--that being one of uncertainty, of fear, and of worrying that the money given may not be put to good use. For years I have been distanced from the povery of my own city. Growing up on the northside of Indy it was not difficult to avoid eye contact with the few people holding cardboard signs near the interstate ramps. Homelessness was not as visible and it wasn't something that I really wanted to think about.

I do struggle with knowing the best way respond to poverty and homelessness. There are books that are on my list to read (like When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert) that would probably help me understand the issues better and figure out what role I may play. As I reflect on my lunch break adventure and my friend Willie I am reminded that just a year or two ago I would have said that I didn't really feel passionate about domestic poverty. Not surprisingly, working a year downtown and reengaging with my home city has changed that. I am praying about how I might adjust my ministry involvement over the next year in order to actively engage in alleviately poverty and sharing Christ's love to those less fortunately than me in my own city.

I know that lunch and $20 is not going to get Willie out of homelessness, but I do pray that he would know that God cares for him and is the ultimate source of lastly hope and life. If you have any stories or thoughts on how to help the homeless and those begging on the streets, please share. I have so much to learn...

A new adventure...a new part of the world!

I am going to Cambodia! In 2 months!!!

Since blogging seems like the best way to keep track of my thoughts, record my experiences, and keep people in my life connected with me as I travel--I'm back.

I've been home from Italy for over 2 years. I've had several jobs in Indianapolis, a fun nanny job in Birmingham, AL, great time with family and friends, and time to experience a new stage of my life. I've been working two part-time jobs for over a year now. I've been living out of my parents' house for almost a year--and that's been an adventure in itself. In December I got together with a friend from college and caught up on life. She mentioned that I seemed restless. Restless. Yes, that's it. I'm eager to do something new, something different, and figure out what God has in store for me next.

Last summer I spoke with my Missions Pastor about my previous missions experience, my heart for the nations, and my interest in relief and development work. He told me more about our church's partnership with World Relief Cambodia and some potential opportunities to get involved there. I didn't really know where Cambodia was until a year ago! The more I learned about the work they do and our church partnership, the more interested I became. East Asia was on my radar.

And so was India. My conversation with Nate was initiated by the pull on my heart to respond to an announcement he made about a Vision Trip to India. I had never thought about going to India, but I knew that I was suppose to pursue this trip. So, this past November I spent 10 days in India with a group from my church (www.yourchurch.com). India. What an amazing place. I saw things I'd never seen before and got a tiny glimpse of the great work that God is doing in the country of India. Ten days was not long enough. I felt like I had just gotten my feet wet. I wanted more.

I believe that God used that short trip to India, that "vision" trip, to open my heart to the East and confirm my calling to go to Cambodia.

In January '09 I met Kate from Cambodia, learned about her, her job as Partnership Coordinator, and spoke specifically about me coming to fill in for her as she takes some time off to finish her dissertation. I could come in May/June to help with the summer ESL program and then cover her spot in the fall. I was encouraged and more excited about the possibility to serve, but there were no details.

Then, in the first week of February I got an email from Kate asking me if I could come earlier--April! So, everything started moving! And I'm going for sure!

There are many things to do in the next two months: prayer and financial support raising, figure out what do with my stuff and school loans for 8 months, pack (ack!), and see as many friends and family as I can! While I'm not technically "ready" to go, my heart is ready. I am so thankful for how the Lord has constructed this opportunity. I trust that he will provide everything (and every dollar) I need to go and to thrive there. I'm praying that this 8 month stint in Cambodia will provide vision and direction for what might be next!

More to come... Please pray!