Highlights of Africa

Looking back I have decided that there are three distinct highlights of my time in Africa.
1. Delivering my first baby. Baby Dale was born on December 1, 2010. There has been nothing like that feeling of touching that first baby and helping him into the world. You sense and experience firsthand the fragility of life. You see the breath of life as the infant takes its first gasp of air and you are in awe that you were a part of that moment. It is really a feeling that cannot be described in words, because none can really capture the beauty of the experience. Baby Dale is a miracle and an amazing gift not only to his family, but to me too. He was named in memory of my grandfather who died December 1, 2008.

2. Kenya. I was blessed to be able to go to Kenya for 4 days to do ministry and also to get visas for the Bangladesh team approved at the embassy in Nairobi. While Bek and Liz were at the Bangladesh embassy for the majority of the trip, Emily and I were able to do some teachings and ministry in several of the slums. The first day of ministry/teaching we were able to share about nutrition during pregnancy with about 25 women and then after that teaching we prayed for the women and then began a second teaching with the traditional birth attendants from the slum on Using Aseptic Technique during birth. It was a powerful experience. To be in a room with women who had years and years of experience in what may seem to you and I like impossible conditions for a woman to labour in was amazing. I literally felt like I was in a room full of legends. An amazing honour for both Emily and I. After the teachings Jannekah (our hostess while in Kenya) was explaining to one of the birth attendants and a local pastors about how I have a heart for Kenya and would one day like to end up there. The birth attendant responded by saying something along the lines of "why doesn't she just stay now?" In that moment I remember my heart felt as if it was going to leap out of my chest. Being in the slums and in Nairobi in general felt as if I really were home and as if I was meant to be there my whole life. To ever leave once arriving seemed as if I were to abandon my true love. I mentioned many times how I felt like Africa had become my home, but I didn't fully realize what that meant until I crossed the border from Tanzania into Kenyan land. I knew that is where my heart was. That is where my heart will always be.

3. Momma comes to Tanzania! My whole world changed when I found out that my mom was coming to Africa. I think it was in December when my mom called me and told me that she was definitely coming to Africa. At that point she hadn't even told my dad. There had been talk about her coming, but after communicating through email earlier with my school leader, she didn't feel that my schedule was going to allow for her to be there and be able to see me much. I don't know what changed her mind, but she just knew she had to come to get at least a small glimpse into what my life in Tanzania was like. I remember that when she had called to tell me it was a moment in outreach when I was seriously considering giving up. It was hard and our team was not in a good place, so with my mom coming it was really the only thing at the time (besides my commitment to what God had called me to) that was going to keep me in Tanzania. It was amazing. We worked it out where she could come during the second to last week while I was there, because my schedule wasn't as busy and we would be approaching debriefing week.
I went to the airport with Bethany to pick her up and even as she came out of the arrival doors I couldn't believe she was there in Africa... with me! We did a lot while she was there and I am sure both of us were exhausted at the end. The second day she was there she went to the hospital with me. That was pretty overwhelming and difficult for her I think. She saw two deliveries happening at the same time, she witnessed a delivery happen outside the labour ward in a bajaj that a couple of us ran to during our lunch break (definitely not an everyday occurrence), and the best part was she was able to love on some babies.
We then went on a safari in the Selous National Park. Amazing time. Although for me it was a little uncomfortable to be a tourist at the beginning. We stayed at a camp nearby the entry to the National park. The camp was right on the river and during the day we could hear and sometimes see hippos out lounging and playing in the water. It was pretty awesome. We went on a boating safari almost as soon as we arrived at camp where we saw hippos, crocodiles, monkeys and some really cool birds. The next day we went in the truck through the national park and saw all of the big animals, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, more hippos, a large pride of lions, impalas, and a lot of other animals. The best part was seeing the elephants and two elephants with a newborn in the middle of them. The baby was 4 days old and was all trunk, tripping over itself. It was adorable. The third and final day we went on a walking safari early in the morning. Highlight of the whole trip was coming face to face with a wild African elephant on the path that we had just walked on moments earlier. We were maybe at most 30 feet from the elephant. It was the greatest!
Besides the safari, I was able to take my mom to Zanzibar for a couple of days. It was pretty magical. We stayed at Sea Cliff Zanzibar (look it up) and were two of maybe 16 guests in the whole complex. We spent the whole time lounging, relaxing and being fed amazing food that easily could have cost us hundreds of dollars in the states and it was all inclusive. Ah, take me back please.
Anyways, those were definitely my top three highlights of Africa. I hope you enjoyed. I have plenty of more highlights and pictures to share! As soon as I get home I will be more than happy and willing to show you all the pictures and tell of the stories behind them.