When we arrived in Africa, we asked ourselves: How can you go to Africa and not go on a safari? So we did…or so we thought.
What started out as a simple day expedition turned into a long, two-day adventure! We set out to see some zebras and giraffes and lions and hippos and the entire cast of the lion king in the Ngorongoro Crater (supposed to be one of the best in Africa, so…the world, right?). It’s funny that the word “safari” actually means adventure or journey, because that’s exactly what it was. Jesus decided to turn our simple 12 hour safari into a safari for Him. Let me give you the breakdown of events (thanks to Becca Stangl for this schedule of events!):
Wednesday, February 20th:
5:00 Wake up
6:00 Get a call from Moses, asking for directions to where we live
6:40 Moses calls back – he’s at the primary school nearby – where we don’t live – wondering where we are. We tell him we will walk there to meet him.
6:45 We begin walking to the school. As soon as we step out of our compound, Kirby slips on the sand and cuts her knee! Monica claims this is NOT prophetic of our day – Andrea and Shelli quickly tend to Kirby by cleaning her wound and bandaging it. Then we set off for the school.
7:00 Arrive at the school, meet Moses, load up into the truck and set it off on our “adventure!”
7:15 Begin playing African music, for example, “Waka Waka” and “The Circle of Life”
9:45 Stop for breakfast
10:50 Return to the truck after breakfast – we discover the hood up and a man underneath working on the engine…
11:10 Begin our journey again
11:37 Pull of the road due to the engine overheating
12:30 Stop in town at a garage to fix the fan – we walk around to kill time – we were told it would take 1-5 hours!
12:45 Elizabeth meets and then leads Jonathan to Christ
13:08 Find a cool little restaurant to hang out in until Moses is done fixing the truck
14:45 Find internet
15:35 Walk back to the shop to find Moses
15:55 Meet Moses – he informs us we won’t be able to go on the safari today because of the time, we’ll have to stay over night in a lodge and go early in the morning. We say staying overnight is not an option, we need to return to Arusha and come back tomorrow. Moses calls his boss to see what can be done.
16:15 Moses returns and again says we need to stay the night – we again refuse. Moses leaves to call his boss again – he drives away in the truck – panic sweeps through us and we fear he won’t return.
16:40 Moses returns! Andrea talks to him then she talks to his boss. We are going home and coming back tomorrow!
17:05 Walk to the truck – it’s not ready – it’s getting the alignment fixed and tires replaced
17:20 Back in the truck heading home
18:20 See a beautiful rainbow – God’s promise!
18:24 Moses spots giraffes and zebras, immediately stopping the truck on the side of the road
20:20 We discover a leaky roof
21:00 Home sweet home! Except for the fact that Moses gets the truck stuck in the mud right outside our compound
21:03 Attempt to push the truck out of the muddy hole
21:05 The truck is out!
21:30 Dinner
22:00 Bed
Thursday, February 21:
5:15 Wake up!
5:55 Moses arrives at our house
5:57 Walk to the truck
6:00 Pray over the day. Upon the completion of the prayer, Moses puts the truck in gear and heads out
6:01 Start the day with worship music
8:22 Stop for breakfast – same place, different day
9:38 Leave the restaurant
10:21 Avoid hitting a herd of goats
10:35 We randomly stop along the road – the engine is overheating!
10:45 Leave the gas station and push on towards the safari
10:50 Swerve to avoid hitting a herd of sheep
11:30 Arrive at the entrance of Ngorongoro Conservatory! After over 12 hours in the truck, we’re excited to finally be there!
11:45 Enter Ngorongoro – see tons of baboons
12:08 Stop to see the view and take pictures
13:08 Final bathroom stop …
13:30 Enter the crater. We see: zebras, wildebeest, warthogs, hyenas, elephants, rhinos, hippos, flamingos, gazelles, antelopes, ducks, several kinds of birds, one lion
14:00 Stop in the middle of the crater to pour water in the overheating engine
15:50 Leave the crater – if the truck makes it, that is!
17:30 Exit the park
18:10 Stop at the same garage as yesterday – this time it’s only for water. However, while waiting we discover that we are parked next to a large petroleum truck – whose engine is still running and is receiving welding work on its underside. This time I was legitimately worried for our safety.
18:34 Back on the road again with no gas explosions to speak of!
19:10 Stop due to our truck overheating again!
20:00 Back on the road – hoping the next stop is home
20:44 Stop at a security checkpoint – they say we shouldn’t be out this late due to thieves!
21:00 Andrea receives a text from Pastor – he’s worried about us and wants updates every 10 minutes!
21:11 Pull off road into a vacant lot, in the pouring rain and lightening – Moses fills the engine with more water – we pray for God’s protection against the thieves!
21:20 The windows become super foggy – Monica becomes the human defroster!
22:22 Reach another security checkpoint – apparently we are breaking a rule/law by traveling in a safari truck this late!
23:04 Stop for gas
23:15 Finally arrive home!
23:20 Discover the chappati that was awaiting us is locked inside of Pastor’s house!
23:50 Lay down for bed without eating dinner 🙁
What did we learn from our supposed-to-be-one-day, two-day safari? Well, Jesus taught us a lot about patience and choosing joy in less than joyful circumstances. He gave us great fellowship with one another in the 20+ hours we spent in the truck together. He gave us two days of the most beautiful African sunrises and sunsets.
He used us (meaning Elizabeth) to add another brother to the kingdom, which made the whole adventure entirely worth it. He gave us a great story to tell. And He gave us not just the safari we were promised, but a Kingdom Safari!
