This is the last blog I will post about Botswana. I posted in order of priority. The most important thing was that the name of Jesus was preached. Everything else, of which I am about to explain, is just the cherry on top of the best cake I have ever eaten. So if you haven’t read about the cake, you better go back and do that first. Then come back to this blog!
For most of the Race I have been in a city. Surrounded by people. So many people. And cars. All the cars. I grew up in the country so city life isn’t exactly where my heart finds a home. But this month we were in the middle of nowhere. (Kind of like where I’m from.) And it was beautiful. I pitched my tent a glance away from the Delta. Every morning I woke to birds making noise, (on this side of the world they make some pretty gnarly noises) the sun peaking into my tent, and a beautiful view of the lake. I found solace and rest in the Lord in my little tent.
Now don’t get me wrong, walking out to my tent each night was sometimes quite terrifying. Here in Africa they have some of the most deadly snakes. One bite and your done for. No joke. Needless to say I had to work through some fears. Night one-I sang fearfully and walked briskly to my tent. Night 25- I laughed my way down, praising the Lord for working through my fears. (Somewhere in the middle of the month we killed two deadly snakes and two water snakes. So I knew they were there, but was released from the fear.)
On a hot Saturday we all loaded up and headed to Namibia where a day of safari filled adventure waited. I even had the privelledge of driving one of the trucks! (Manual, drivers seat on the left, and driving on the left side of the road.) It was a blast. We saw so many elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, spring bok, hippos, monkeys. The Lord truly blessed us with His creation.
The following week a few of us got to go camping on an island. And again, since I have my license with me and can drive a stick shift, I was in the drivers seat. On our way to the island a baby elephant ran across the road in front of us. Someone in the back yelled for me to stop so they could get some pcitures. That was my first mistake. As I am slowing to a hault (in second gear still) out from behind a tree comes papa elephant running at us, flapping his ears. (That’s a bad sign!) In a freenzy I stepped on the gas and got the heck out of there. I, of course, had a little PTSD and needed to cry for the fear of what would have happened if we wouldn’t have gotten away. Praise the Lord for the fact that we are all still alive!!
Christmas away from my family was hard, but what a fun day it was! The Booyse family, our host family, planned a day of games and festivities. We started with Holy Communion, ran around like crazy folks, shared a delicious meal, and enjoyed one anothers company.
This month was so full. From sharing the gospel to enjoying Gods creation to our lives being spared from elephants and snakes to being surrounded by people I love and cherish. December 2015 will be something I never forget.
