Safari

Thanks to a generous gift from a group of Christians loving as Christ loves, our family was blessed with the opportunity to go on safari. Here's a little peek of our time away.

At a gas station stop on the way to safari.

Climb up,

onward

one step

at a time.

Don't stop

rest but

no quitting.

Strive by

curiosity

because

you must

see what

is at the

top.

This was our other stop along the way: Otino Wa, a restaurant and small craft shop run by a mission school. Otino Wa in one of the rare places in Uganda one can get cinnamon rolls and soft serve ice cream (that is, in classical Ugandan fashion, if they happen to have it that day).

Five and half hours later, we made it to Murchison Falls National Park!

Photo credits to Mom

Makai, already sick of the car, enjoyed swinging on the gate while Dad registered with the guards and we all slathered in sunscreen.

Dad took the legs off of a couple folding chairs so he could strap them to the roof rack. Luka and Emalai enjoyed sitting up here, which left Grace and I plenty of room to stand on the car seats and look out the sun roof.

Makai bopped around inside the car. At times, he watched videos in the back seat. Other moments, he helped Dad drive or sat on Mom's lap. Still other times, Makai sat with his blanket and watched the scenery and animals through the window. He did a great job! Of course, he didn't always label the animals correctly. When we stopped to look at cape buffalo, Makai yelled, "Dad, do you see the rhino?!"

I enjoyed taking pictures of the various landscapes. In the park, one may see typical savanna (depicted above), desolate grasslands, thick forests, river banks, or

hills covered in palm trees.

The teen and Emalai crew. Gotta have a hat and sunglasses to survive safari sun!

Makai listening to music and enjoying air coming through an open window.

Unfortunately, our AC broke on the way to the park. We did fine most of the time, since we had windows open or were standing out the sunroof anyway. However, there was a certain time we suffered because of the lack of AC... we were driving through a forest inhabited by thousands of biting tsetse flies! After being bit several times, we decided to shut all the windows and kill the flies in the car until we got out of the forest. Well, let's just say we ended up riding in a moist sauna for ten or fifteen minutes, smacking fly after fly with shoes or our hands, and laughing our heads off so we wouldn't go insane :)

Treeless

Bare

Or is it?

Might one say

Instead

This place gives

Clarity?

I can't get over my love for palm trees! The variety in Murchinson stands regal, its pointy fronds waving in the wind.

A bridge has recently been constructed, connecting the two sides of the park over the Nile River. All the times we've come to the park during previous years, a ferry was needed to be taken from one side of the river to the other. I'll admit, I'm sad to loose a childhood experience of riding the ferry, though the bridge proved much quicker!

People want the sun to shine before them

To light the way and warn of hinderances

They want to see the pain and avoid it

To skirt around rough paths towards smooth ones

The sun, however, illuminates brightly even from behind

Warming one's back while letting him see just enough.

Praise brilliant radiance from posterior or anterior.

Lovely veranda area to lounge at our hotel, overlooking lake Albert.

A stunning contrast between

Bricks, which build and solidify,

And death, which breaks and robs.

I've been challenged multiple times this year to think of rest outside of stereotypical forms. Yes, we still need sleep; additionally, rest can be found throughout the day in multiple forms.

For me, reading is rest. I forget my concerns and escape into a different world. Coloring and art are rest, because my mind swells with creativity that I get to dictate. Music can be rest for me. Taking a walk in nature rejuvenates me. Playing games with my family gives me rest. Finally, the hardest- but beneficial- rest practice for me: letting things be what they are, going as they flow, and embracing spontaneity.

The room Grace and I stayed in.

Photo credits to Grace

Can you see why I love these trees?!

There were several skulls and bones scattered around the hotel. This was an elephant jaw... hanging next to mops that were draped over tree branches to dry! :)

Stunning!

When you see the thick tangle of branches in a single tree, then look at all the trees in the distance that you drive past, it's no wonder leopards are so talented at hiding!

African sunset

My little brother is so grown up! Luka is strong young man who is growing in his Christ-likeness each day. He makes me laugh, is endlessly enthusiastic about what interests him, is a stellar athlete and a leader among his peers.

The hotel's restaurant. Our family fell in love with the hotel staff during our stay. They were friendly and shared about their homes and families when we asked. The staff was thrilled to hear that us kids had grown up in Africa. They especially loved Makai with his hilarious antics.

Makai at 5:30 a.m.- expressionate as always!

A huge beetle Grace and I found outside our door. I absolutely love its long antennas!

See the monkey sitting in the tree?

Despite desolation

Its bare, ragged arms

Point to the light

Of a full moon

Sandy, desolate scenery.

The view from our sunroof.

Having fun and taking selfies during the hours driving around without seeing anything exciting.

Emalai, ever creative when bored, told herself the story of creation to Abraham during one uneventful stretch :)

Gathering to look at an animal.

Elephants are simply majestic... they walk unconcerned with the world, waving their huge Africa-shaped ears while gathering green leaves with nimble trunks.

Giraffe

Beautiful

Just because You are able

Glamorous

Simply due to Your delight in creation

Stunning

To Your praise and glory alone

Graceful

Because miraculous life enters its lungs

Elegant

Mirroring the royalty of its Maker

Adapting the way nap time looks :)

Makai still wanted to look through binoculars when we weren't on game drives. He watched people exiting the restaurant through these "binocs".

Wow, that's all I can say. Wow.

Can you find the warthog?

True selfie... I'm the only self looking :)

Watching a leopard, waiting for it to move (Sorry, my phone couldn't zoom in close enough to get a picture of it!). This sighting was my favorite part of our safari! I've only seen a leopard once before in the wild, and that was from a great distance. Plus, that leopard didn't do anything but lay there and yawn once. The leopard we saw on this trip walked around, yawned several time, and laid in the grass less than half a football field away from the road!

Lion mama and cub!!!

Although unique animals and stunning landscapes surrounded me, I couldn't help noticing this everyday beauty.

In dry season, park rangers burn the grass to make room to new growth. Seeing the flames at night proved simultaneously eerie and amazing.

On our last night, Grace pounded on the bathroom door while I was showering. "There's elephants breaking tree branches outside; they're close to our porch!" She shouted. I quickly got dressed, ignoring my still soapy hair, and ran outside to see. We could see one elephant a small distance from our porch. He wacked through the brush with his trunk and pulled down a couple branches. We could hear more elephants moving around but never saw them. The next day, Grace and I got this picture by the trees where the elephants had been.

Makai wanted to hold an antelope skull for a picture.

More lions! God blessed immensely with lions sightings close to the road on all three days of our safari! We saw a group of five lions twice, and saw nine others too!