So much to say, so sure that I could not covey all that happened over the trip! It was so amazing. I am putting pictures from the dancing with the tribal women, as that was my favorite. I also want to put the picture of the girl with her drums...she is playing on an empty water jug...now, because of the drought, I found this to be so compelling that such a beautiful sound could come from such a suffering. these villages emaciated by lack of water, yet such a beautiful sound came from their hearts. They sang loud and strong, they sang of the disease that has taken their parents from them. The pain is devastating, the loss great, and the sounds deep, their hearts strong as they take their hardship and from it produce beauty in a song. I was dumbstruck, convicted, and then simply smiled as I was reminded that our God is one of restoration, that even through such pain: a heartbreak, a famine, a disease stricken country, a massacre of parents - somewhere in the depths of these pains, there is beauty founded in those who survive. I don't know how it happens, but I witnessed the silencing awe of determination, of survival.
More, so much more to tell: stories of building fences with branches and twine, digging with sticks in the ground to erect homes, singing and dancing, sleeping in mosquito nets, peeing in squatty potties in outhouse at 2am, aiding the sick, loving the orphans, safaris in Nairobi, cameling crossings in the wild, henna tattooing my nails and arms, and the list could go on!
Memories of a beautiful Africa!
