Last week I accomplished one of the craziest things I’ve ever done in my life. My team and I camped out in the middle of the wild! For two nights we pitched out tents and stayed in Hwange national park in Zimbabwe. Our host, Pastor Jeff assured us this was the best place to go to experience the wild African animals in their natural habitat.
Instead of driving up for one day to ride around in a truck, my team wanted to camp there for two nights. This sounded like a cool idea until Jeff started to describe what the campsite is like. “oh yeah there’s a fence, but there are lots of holes in them.” Or “one time I knew a guy who woke up to lions scratching at his tent.” Ummmmmmmm, no thanks!
I was instantly filled with fear and hesitation, but my team was beyond excited for this opportunity. Of course Jeff would never put us in harms way, and I trusted his word that nothing would happen as long as we followed the rules. However, the week leading up to the trip I was filled with mixed emotions. Going on an African safari has been on my bucket list for as long as I could remember, so my adventurous side was looking forward to the trip. Yet, my worrier side kept thinking of the “what ifs” and “wouldn’t it be safer to stay home?
Nonetheless, my adventurous side won and in no time we were on the road to Hwange. As we approached the park the giraffe and elephants near the entrance instantly captivated me. This was nothing like the zoo back home. We spent several hours driving around until we reached our campsite in the middle of the park. I laughed at the fence because “some holes in it” was quite a generous description. It was essentially branches and chicken wire. Anything could get through it if it really wanted to.
We pitched our tents and got settled down for the night. It was one of the best campsites in the park because a watering hole was just a quarter of a mile away. We could see elephants, zebra, ostriches, kudu, baboons, and so much more just from our tents. Talk about a view!
Jeff assured us we were all going to be completely safe because it is unnatural for animals to attack a tent. They have way more options and opportunity outside of our campsite and would not have any interest in visiting us.
I replayed all he told us as I laid down on my sleeping pad in Dani’s tent. However, that did not keep me from being wide-eyed for several hours while I listened to the trumpeting of elephants, the laughing of hyenas, the songs of birds, and……was that a lion growling?!? There was a deep growl coming from what seemed like right outside our fence. I was convinced that it was a lion. I was filled with fear from head to toe. I did not move a muscle and I forgot everything Jeff told us.
I let a half-hour pass before I returned to my rational thoughts. I did not hear anything for a while, and I reassured myself that nothing was going to happen to me as long as I stayed in my tent.
I finally turned my thoughts to Jesus and asked him to be near. He reminded me of Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I have never experience that verse become more real to me than in that night. After asking Jesus to take my anxiety and replace it with peace, I instantly relaxed. I felt peace and calm for the first time since deciding to go on this trip. And the best part is, I finally fell asleep.
How often do we allow ourselves to get wrapped up in fear? So many times I miss out because I am worrying or choosing to focus on my anxieties instead of my God. The sounds of lions can distract me from his voice, and I forget everything he ever told me and promised me.
Just like we were completely safe in our tents last week, we are safe in the arms of Jesus. No matter if lions want to surround us, or scratch at our tent, we are safe as long as we stay in them. We are safe as long as we stay in Him.
I am so thankful that I did not let fear keep me from this adventure. Check out this video to get a great glimpse into all that we saw and experienced!
