Safari Stacy

I started teaching math this past week! AND I really loved it! I love having to think on my feet, modify for each of the students, and think of creative ways to teach. It's been pretty reaffirming that I did choose the right career path :)

sunrise next to the baobab tree. I had to get up quite early for it, but it was completely worth it :) And I don't know why this picture insists on being placed here, but we saw this while on safari.

Also, we had Wednesday and Thursday off of school because of Eide (a Muslim holiday). 4 of the teachers and myself went to Ruaha National Park, and I became SAFARI STACY! Let me tell you, it was awesome! We saw loads of lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, ostriches, monkeys, warthogs, hyenas, antelope, dik-diks, etc. etc. We also got uncomfortably close to the lions and elephants... within FEET, but thankfully we survived! The Lion King soundtrack played repeatedly in my head throughout the safari... it was just so fitting. I took over 250 pictures, but I will just put up a few for you here. The pictures don't do it justice, but they give you a glimpse of some of God's incredibly creative works! 

so many giraffes. They were awesome!

 

water buffalo. I kind of think they look like girls with pigtails, but supposedly they're dangerous



Mufasa! We got a little too close for comfort with this lion... and he looks hungry, doesn't he?!

 

This is Sarabi with baby Simba. Above is his father Mufasa.

Self-explanatory. It's kind of hard to see, but there's a lion laying down that was QUITE close! 



These are the zebras we watched the sunset with. Amazing.

 

we ended up driving a little bit too close to these elephants (they were blocking the road). The big elephant looked like he was getting ready to charge us as we passed. Scary! 



"The heavens tell the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." -Psalm 19:1-4

All of us teachers in our BACKYARD for the night. So incredible. Got to wake up to the sound of elephants and hippos!


While we were on safari, we drove around all day, and I found myself thinking about the future a lot... what it would be like coming back home, student teaching in the states, what I'm going to do after I graduate, upcoming weddings of friends, etc. All of a sudden it hit me: I'm on a safari in Africa and this is what I'm thinking about?! 2 Corinth. 10:5 came to mind: "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." I realized that I was seeing some of God's incredible creation, and I wanted to be in His presence and have my thoughts focused on the amazing God He is! While we were driving around, I started to use the time to recite Scripture, pray, sing praises (in my head!), commit all my worries to Him, and praise Him for His awesome creation. Not only was it a fantastic safari, but I had some great time with the Lord, which left me feeling refreshed and more ready for the months ahead :)
 
We sang this song in church today, and it really resonated with me. This is my prayer for myself and for anyone who may be reading this. Lord, may we live for your glory!!