TANZANIA TRIP DAY 3

Today, our full group assembled in Tanzania. A few arrived early and some arrived this morning after an necessary airline delay leaving the United States. This caused Pat Baity and her sister-in-law, Pat, daughter-in-law, Michelle, and grand daughters, Page and Brook, to miss their connection In Amsterdam by ten minutes. They were rerouted through Doha. When they arrived, we affectionately dubbed them “the Doha Five,” which sounds like an action movie.

After having breakfast and holding a get-to-know you group meeting for our party of 18, we set out to visit the Arusha National Park. For many, it was our first time to see animals that we’ve seen in zoos in their native habitats. It did not disappoint.

We divided up and drove in three separate Toyota Land Cruisers, which resemble boxy Land Rovers. It was enchanting to see the wide open spaces as well as the thick jungle. As we entered the park, Karen Royce, who co-planned our trip along with Cheryl Kyle, and who has made 15 or more visits to Tanzania and co-founded the Endupoto School with Cheryl, said, “I’m always struck as I enter here that I’m in an animal kingdom. This belongs to them, and I’m just a visitor. It makes you realize how small we are in the world as well.”

Over the next several hours, we saw a breadth of animals, from giraffes eating leaves from the thorny branches of Ocasia trees to a baby zebra feeding beside its mother to hundreds and hundreds of flamingos to baboons and a monkey mother grooming one of her children. Debbie Smith and her group actually had a great view of a cheetah. Her guide who has been taking visitors through the park for years informed her group that he had never seen a cheetah before in this game park. What a treat! Debbie was enchanted.

For the most part, it was the peaceable kingdom that God had envisioned it to be. The animals moved about quietly under God’s watchful eye. But just in case, a guard with a rifle stood by to ward off poachers, reminding us how humans are the biggest threat to global wellbeing. We forget that we are just partners of God’s creation and not masters or exploiters of it. Over the past two decades, hunting and poaching has eliminated all rhinoceroses and several other species from this national park. Fortunately, some species are starting to make a comeback. One of our groups also saw a mahogany tree and ficus tree fighting with each other in a battle for survival.

After eating a delicious boxed lunch inside the park while looking over a lake and enjoying a cool breeze, not far from where we had recently seen hundreds of flamingos many of which took wing, we headed back to the River Tree Inn for naps or free time to walk, enjoy a beer or sit by the pool.

Over drinks at dinner, we read our first Bible verse and had a brief meditation on it before going around the table and sharing our personal reflections about the day (no one had to speak if they preferred not to do so).
Before our lovely dinner was served, Karen shared her reflection. “Someone asked me i I ever get tired of seeing these sites. I said, ‘Never!’ They never cease to amaze me!”

Now, it’s off to bed as I must preach tomorrow morning at the Anglican Cathedral in Arusha, where our group will worship at the 9 am Swahili language service. 

With love and prayers from Tanzania,

Marek