So close we could see their LONG eyelashes
OK. So much for my once-a-week blog goal! It’s been . . . a month since the last installment. Ever since we blasted out the door for Kenya before the school year even ended, this summer has been full of milestones and memories!
Of course, one of the most memorable adventures of our lives thus far was going on safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Photographers and tourists flock to this park in search of animals in the wild, and there are five in particular they all long to observe: 1) Lion, 2) Leopard, 3) Elephant, 4) Rhino, and 5) Buffalo. These guys are known as the “Big Five.”
Buffalo and elephant sightings are common. Lions – about 50/50 chance; same for the rhino. But leopards, since they are nocturnal, can be very difficult to encounter. Our guide, Sampson, informed us that he personally escorted the same professional, wildlife photographer through the Mara for a number of years in a row, staying two weeks at a time, and never was able to round up a leopard for him to capture on film. Simply put: in the wild, there are no guarantees.
Imagine - no two sets of stripes alike!
Our safari experience lasted less than 24 hours. We explored the park in an open jeep driven by Sampson once in the late afternoon and once again the next morning. In other words, we didn’t have time to waste. If the “Big Five” were out there, we needed to find them fast!
Do you ever ask for the favor of God? Psalm 90:17 has become one of my favorites to pray. It reads, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands.”
What a beautiful and powerful prayer. I seek God’s favor in being a wife, a mother, in ministry, when I shop for groceries or run errands, when traveling, when I study His Word . . . actually, in just about every situation during the course of each day, I find myself boldly asking my Abba Father for His favor to rest upon me.
The safari was no different. We asked the Lord of all creation to call out all kinds of surprises. Let me just say, He out-did Himself!
Mr. Cheetah stalking lunch!
Not only did we see the “Big Five,” we got within feet of a herd of momma elephants and babies. At dusk, on our way back to the lodge, even our guide expressed amazement as a huge leopard crossed directly in front of our jeep and perched himself on top of a nearby mound of earth for the ultimate photo op. The lioness we witnessed came with a bonus; she sat guarding her fresh zebra kill. And, as if one rhino wasn’t impressive enough, we observed two adult rhinoceros and one extremely cute little guy tagging along behind his mother.
Cape Buffalo - notice the George Washington hairdo 🙂
Close encounters with giraffe (including a two-week old baby nursing), buffalo, gazelle, zebra, water bucks, hippos and crocadiles galore and two cheetah sightings, held us absolutely captivated.
How do we know for sure this was God’s favor and not just great luck? At one point, while we gazed over the African plain, eyes riveted on a cheetah stalking a heard of Tommy Gazelles, someone happened to glance upward. There in the sky was not one, but two distinct rainbows – a true, undeniable sign of the favor of the Lord.
I will put My bow in the sky . . .
Our Heavenly Father delights in giving good gifts to His children. He gave us His Son as a demonstration of His great love. He has given His Spirit to indwell and empower us. And, day by day, as we walk with Him, He showers His favor upon us in innumerable ways.
Do you pray for the favor of God? He waits to make His face shine upon you!
Thought you might enjoy a few more photos:
The Leopard: Are we watching him or is he watching us?!
Leave a Reply