Day 7

Hello all -

Today's update will be short because (a) the events were simple and (b) it's 10 pm and I have to pack and rehearse my sermon for the morning!

At 5:30 am this morning we loaded up onto a bus destined for a safari tour arranged by Mary. 3 hours into the country and another 7 hours touring the Naruku game park (then 3 hours back home for a overwhelming total of 13 hours in the van). The park is located on the floor of the Rift Valley and is some of the most spectacular land I've ever seen. Literally like walking around in a postcard of Africa. We saw zebra, impala, water buffalo, jackel, hyena, rhino (yes, rhino), giraffe, a 7+ foot python, thousands of pelicans and pink flamingo, and baboons - one of which made a surprise leap onto the side of the van, reaching a hairy arm inside and scaring Megan out of her skin. Good times...

After returning from this amazing trip, we took the 6 key leaders out for an Ethiopian dinner (Mary and Wallace, Oliver and Edinah, Keith and Kathy). We had planned to take 18 others who were closely involved in the work we were doing, but because of the time of evening, location of restaurant, and safety concerns with being out that late for many of the workers... we were asked if we could simply make an equivalent financial gift available to each of their families... which we gladly did. Good laughs, shared blessings and some tears shed around dinner. We will miss these people and look forward to seeing them again soon.

Tomorrow we go out to Joska, the 6-8th grade boarding school in the country where I will preach and we'll see the work they are doing there before loading up on a plane beginning the LOOOOOOOONG journey back home!

Thanks for reading along with our journey! See you soon!