What I am listening to now. Andrew Bird, “Armchairs.�
Its 5:00 a.m. on the 8th of November. I’m in Sumbawanga, Tanzania.
Flies are having a dance party all around me as I try to type this thing up.
I would try to sleep in later but the 50 chickens that live in the room next to me tend to get up early. Screw it. I’m up, might as well plug out a blog.
Road trips eat your heart out.
(11.30.10) take bus from Gulu to Kampala to stay at hostel: 6 hours
(11.2.10) leave for Kampala to Dar es Salaam by bus: 32 hours
(11.4.10) Dar es Salaam to Mbeya by bus: 14 hours
(11.5.10) Mbeya to Sumbawanga by bus: 7.5 hours
Total hours on bus this week: 59.5 hours
Let me give you some highlights:
Crossing the border on foot into Kenya with sleep aids in my system.
Peeing behind buses at a gas station into a pile of trash while looking past barbed wires onto a slum in front of me.
Seeing Mt. Kilimanjaro rise above the clouds upon entering Tanzania.
Being ready to meet my Maker as we pass truckers at 60+ mph on a 1 1/2 lane highway that would make New Jersey’s roads look smooth.
Learning our drivers would like us to pay them back for multiple bribes they paid along the way to the corrupt traffic police that stopped us 5 times along the way.
Seeing hyenas, giraffes, impala’s, and water buffalo out my window.
Watching the drunken man next to Kyle fall out of his seat from the booze in his system.
Riding 6 hours on a dirt road where gaining elevation wasn’t from driving higher into the mountains but from hitting bumps the size of elephants.
Eating 3 days straight of peanut butter and digestive cookies.
Waking up to find out I had been leaning on the seat in front of me while drooling on my own foot.
Epic ride. I’m learning contentment. Nothing ever goes completely as planned in Africa. A 60 hour bus ride is proof of that. Lack of sleep takes a toll. Then you have two options.
Get upset.
Or laugh with life.
I think attitude tells a lot about someone’s relationship with the Lord. People who aren’t content have a lack of trust in what the Lord is trying to show them. There is a lack of perspective when we complain. We feel entitled to our health, wealth, or a life of smooth sailing all the way to those pearly gates.
Stop asking what God’s will for your life is, that’s getting old to be honest. Here it is. “Be joyful always. Pray continually. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is God’s will for your life.� We often miss that God is always trying to teach us something. We look at our circumstances and become angry. But why? Why not learn to be thankful in all circumstances. Those roots run deep into a life of contentment and joy.
That’s what I want. Contentment. And a fly swatter.
Yours Truly
Jude’s Uncle, My Sister’s Brother, My Parent’s Son
