Resting in Tanzania
Resting in TANZANIA
Day 3: Balm……. Healing balm from the Father’s Hands as we journey through emotions of awe in the gorgeousness of His Creation! After arriving here on the Coast – in a very secluded and untouched beach, where we rest at “THE TIDES – PANGANI” it is the quiet and spontaneous rhythm of the days, that allow us to empty ourselves before Him who calls us back to the heartbeat of the original simplicity to living and breathing!
It was in the power of the ocean’s (quite mediocre) waves this morning, that I was overcome with THANKFUL emotion as His awe engulfed me in the wind, the salt water and the quiet, outstretched beach! I was surprised at the bottled up emotion of the past two years happenings, the emotional injury and bruises inflicted on the battle field of mission life, have been more than I anticipated, yet the ever present JOY of the Lord in ALL that He allows us to grow from – and into!
Ethiopia has been a tough call – a stretch in the Spirit, resulting into a deeper walk of dependency with the Lord! THANK YOU, FATHER!
The personal loss of my earthly Father after a long illness, changing family dynamics, the conflict within Harry & myself to nurture our own children in His presence and grace within this demanding environment - the birthing of the Eye Clinic with Harry, the war against death to bring abandoned babies and children to life in Christ, hosting a myriad of guests with grace and love ……. I am confronted with the reality of the toll it takes on our lives – so many more advantages than disadvantages, though!
This is a new place for me to walk out of – this deep valley of exhaustion, where I feel frightened and insecure of the new found emotion, is a first. This is NOT who I know myself to be, but it is surprisingly real and I can only now admit that I am looking forward to rise up above it – yesterday, I was still too exhausted to consider the climb……today, hope is visible!
“The Healing Power of The Lord! - THIS is why I brought you and your family here!” It is as though the Lord Himself whispers it and the Holy Spirit delivers it on the wind that forces it into my mind - Words of Hope, Recovery, eventually Healing and then Rest……! Yes, surely recovery is a need right now – THEN healing can take place, THEN a rebuilding so we can focus on the continued call. I find myself hesitating right here – not ready to move in and on through this step, because recovery is incomplete yet.
Every now and then a villager would cycle by and then I spotted three little boys catching crabs in the sand! Simplicity! Uncomplicated and basic! Refreshing to observe and I breathe deeper and with ease!
3 DAYS LATER:
I am recovering from a quick, yet strong sunstroke episode – after being so cautious with repeated applications of a powerful sunblock, much hydration and a wide brim hat, I failed…..! Halfway through our 3rd everning’s supper, I excused myself to get to our room, then woke up in the aloes that line the path - & stumbled to the room where Harry had to peal me off the bathroom floor a few minutes later as he came to check on me. I have been licking my facial wounds and two chipped teeth, but mostly my disappointment of loosing two days outside……! Much stronger today, we welcomed the sunrise on the beach & I feel awakened to a new moment – another chance – as my family and hosts assure me that the injuries could have been so much worse! Blessed are we!
The children gallop over the white sand in their sunkissed skin – just as though they have grown here – delighted in chasing the little sand crabs and now that the tide is changing, they show off their treasures found in the ocean and on the beach!
Our hosts are caring and considerate, compassionate and so kind – and we are reminded of the continuous giving on demand in a resort such as this! Guests come and go, hosts smile graciously and carry overstuffed bags, affirming their availability and I wonder silently, ‘where would they have to go to rest?’ Someone asks for a sewing kit, another needs more ice in an already cool drink, our host surprises me with a chunk of ice, wrapped in a white linen cloth for my pulsing cheek wound – it brings marvelous relief and I find it almost uncomfortable to be on the receiving end……..!
CELEBRATION! Harry & I walk in the sunrise and thank the Father for 17 years of marriage this morning! The children joyfully meet us and wanted to hear “of your wedding day” one more time – and we reminisce! A romantic candle lit beach meal with crab completes the day!
Two days later and we move into another treasure: SAADANI SAFARI LODGE – (www.saadanisafarilodge.com) - 3 hours drive south from THE TIDES LODGE –(www.thetideslodge.com) still in Tanzania!…..! We now entered the SAADAMI WILD RESERVE where a small variety of baboon, monkeys, aardvark and buck surprise us here so close to they beach – it is here where bush, beach and river meet – a gorgeous part of God’s creation! I found myself to be surprised around every corner – the surprising detail and creativity of an ‘outside-the-box-thinker’ is visible in the one space after the other! This Lodge is carefully placed in its bushy environment where no plant really gets disturbed or restricted from flourishing – floors and ceilings are cautiously carved around the expanding roots and trunks – even the FIRE buckets hanging on hooks along the walk way, has shells carefully layed on the surface – the esthetic touches are in abundance and no two spaces are the same…… even the little curio shop’s koi pond in the center of the space, is a surprise!
We returned to Ethiopia with everyone’s HOPE-ometer rising! THANK YOU, LORD!
