This month was a month that was prophesied to be about breakthrough or impact.
Here is how it started…
The bus ride was coming to an end. After having been cooped up in a bus for a mere 18 hours, the squad was tired. We had spent a lot of time at the border dealing with the theft of one of the squad members bags and the conductor and driver had taking a disliking to us or merely did not care to converse with us. It was a long ride.
That all changed when mountains came into view. I spotted Mount Kilimanjaro from a long ways away. It was massive, at first it disappeared into the cloud line. I was mesmerized for a couple hours I could not disrupt my gaze. I stared content in life and desperately wishing for the time to hike to the top.
Our destination was Rafiki Backpackers, yet another awesome place that Andrew and Kelly had hooked the squad up with. This place was going to be different though. It is not the place that makes a moment memorable it is the people.
It is kind of funny to me that the place was called Rafiki’s, meaning friend in Kiswahili, because I was about to make a lifelong friend.
Let me introduce you to Alfred.
I hit it off with Alfred, the guy is awesome and one of the most hospitable people you could possibly meet. He made everything possible for the squad’s days at the backpackers to be as awesome as possible and in the process he became a really good friend.
Turns out, Alfred also works for an expedition company that guides trips to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. We would stay up for hours talking about the various aspects of climbing and routes to take. We would laugh and talk about all kinds of things. He would invite me to go to places or to just come back and hang out after we had left. We were able to take him out to eat and converse for a little while longer before we left Moshi.
He even called a few days later to see how we were doing. I hope in life that I am known as someone who cares and craves friendship; with people, with God and the heart to look after people. Alfred genuinely cared and enjoyed friendship. What is more important?
I can laugh about it now, but two out five pairs of my underwear were stolen this month. Why do I tell you that? I want to mention this because I do not care. If you asked me what the one thing I would not want to go missing, it would be my underwear. Underwear is important on The World Race! But after it was stolen it made me realize that I didn’t care. I don’t care about material things. The things that I remember will be the relationships that I have formed.
Tanzania has been one of my favorite months and I have not really been able to put my finger on why. This is my conclusion. This month started off with great friends and for that reason, I know I will be back. I am going to make it back so that I can hike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro with Alfred.
I miss my friends and family. In the past I have taken them for granted, not any more.
