A lil' bit of Africa! - Part 1

Jambo!

One of the reasons I started this blog was to share my experiences with you, including my thoughts and feelings during each experience. This past May (2007), I embarked on a safari (journey) that changed my life. This 3 week trip in Kenya, Africa put passion and fire back into my life. I returned feeling empowered, ready to challenge myself, ready to conquer anything, ready to change.

To share what I truly felt during my days in Africa, I figure, what better way, than to post a few excerpts from my journal. Some of these are really emotional, some of these are just plain funny (to me anyway :P ). It'll give you a brief run-through of my 3 weeks and the rollercoaster ride of emotions!

May 18 (In Nairobi)
Pretty pooped right now...but today was cool. Woke up to dogs barking and birds chirping. Normally I'd love to wake up to 'sounds of nature' but NOT at 4am after my first sleep in a bed in 2 nights. Got to know the leadership group some more over some games and meals, and a trip to the Giraffe Sanctuary where I made out with 2 giraffes!! They are BEAUTIFUL animals!...

Landing here in Kenya & spending the day outside hasn't shocked me in any way yet. I mean, what I've seen so far is pretty much what I expected of Nairobi. But just being here, away from home, and cut off from a lot of technology is pretty eye-opening. I can do without a lot of what I have at home. Charlotte's right...it does take a special person to leave home and come here to do this work voluntarily. Yes, I AM doing other cool things like safaris, but my main goal and purpose for being here on this trip is to meet the people of these communities and learn about how they live and try to help them get some things they need while still preserving their traditions and their culture.

I'm in a really good place right now. I am mentally prepared for what I will experience when I get to the Maasai Mara and for what I wish to absorb (obviously everything). I'm not too sure I'm prepared emotionally...more so for those "happy-tear" moments. I know not everyone gets an opportunity like this, and I already feel so blessed to be able to learn like this without having gone out to the Mara yet. So, I can't imagine what I'm going to feel one I see those bricks rising up to complete that school, or once I see the children walk to school everyday.

I know on my way to making a change and can't wait to meet these kids and BE a change.

May 19 (In Salabwek)
... We pulled into our site and the greeting from the Kenyan staff was so LOUD! We were so LOUD and happy! Our camp is surprisingly comfortable. I'm so glad Kevin and Charlotte taught us about "Level 3" [refer to post: LEV3L). There clearly is a lot to experience while I'm here for 3 weeks, and with being exhausted at times, it's easy to miss out on things if I'm not LEV3L'ing it ALL THE WAY!

...I can't wait to go back home and describe my time here to everyone and get them aware and excited to so something like this AT LEAST once in their lives!

...The group with me is incredible! They're funny, loving, emotional, athletic, creative, filled with a lot of musical talent, and it's SO cool to be a part of them and share with them.

... I can't thank God enough for continuously bringing amazing people into my life for me to learn from, and share experiences with and teach. So, a lil' Asante Sana to the man upstairs!

May 20 (In Salabwek)
It's the end of a spectacular Day 5! I cannot find the words to express how I feel tonight because all I can do right now is cry tears of...happiness, gratefulness, joy, sympathy...and a whole lot more.

...At the church we were welcomed as warmly as we always are in Kenya and asked to feel at home. The energy and most of all the PASSION in every adult, youth, and child, is mind-blowing.

...There is so much extra material I live with to make my life more "comfortable" and here these 400 people gather as a community every Sunday to truly give thanks and praise God for the good rains they have had and for education they are able to give their kids. How often do we TRULY focus and keep real God-given/natural gifts at our center? We're all blessed with SO many talents that we change the world with everyday - and often don't realize it.

...We played with ALL the little children after our classroom talk. There were SO many kids running around. We taught them games, their favourite was 'Duck Duck Goose'....and MAN did I discover I was out of shape! HAH! And it didn't help that these kids are SUPER-FAST on bare feet! Even the papas were cheering the kids on to pick us to run against so they could get a laugh out of it! LoL! Incredible friendships and laughs! I met a cool kid named Johanna!

...I still can't get over how blessed I am to be in the presence of such people - my group and the Kenyans together. These people as I'm sure exist all over the world need to be an example to all of us to live in the present and enjoy what we already have.

...Like Peter mentioned, a lot of us spend our lives working to find ways to lengthen life and postpone death...but taking a lesson in living for right now, from special people like the Maasai seriously wouldn't hurt. We need to SMILE more, HUG more, tell people we LOVE them more. They're all really easy to do! We need to take a breather once in a while, and not worry so much about money and salary, paycheques, bills, mortgages....and just.... LIVE this LIFE you are given. Live TODAY, 'cause it's a gift! God Bless.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END of Part 1

More to come...stay tuned.