The Earth is Yours

The team just got back from a once in a lifetime road trip to Katavi National Park, where we went on a safari with some of the Hope of the Nations staff and kids club leaders. It was a get-to-know-you/team building trip. It was so special to get to share the experience with some of our new Tanzanian friends. Most of the kids club leaders had never been on a safari before or seen giraffes, elephants and lions even though they have lived in Tanzania their whole lives.

An African road trip is not like a Canadian road trip. For one thing, most of the roads aren’t paved. Not only are they unpaved, they are full of giant holes you can lose your car in. My back will never be the same, you guys. In addition to the holes and rocks you also have to drive on the left and watch for kamikaze goats. Our truck had to drive with the windows down the whole way so by the time we arrived we were covered in dust.

It took us nearly 8 hours to get from Kigoma to Katavi, which gave lots of time for conversation in the car and bonding over the particularly big bumps. You are supposed to say, “Asante Sana” after the biggest ones. That means “Thank You” in Swahili. I asked the kids club director, Moses, why they say that and he shrugged, “because it’s fun.”

We saw so many incredible things on safari including yes, lions. But I don’t think I can really do it justice typing on my phone so I will write a more in depth entry when I get back. Just know that it was awesome in every sense of the word. I have experienced so many new things in the last three days I can barely take it all in.

The main thing that I am feeling after the safari is a sense of wonder. It blows me away that the same God who created the beautiful big cedar trees, the beaches and the mountains in Vancouver also made these dry plains with lions and elephants and crazy twisty trees. Our God is infinitely creative. And creation really is filled with His glory, no matter where in this world you are.

Yesterday as I was sitting on top of the jeep, with the wind and dust in my hair a song popped into my head. The Earth, and all if it’s beauty is singing out to Him.

Creation sees you
And starts composing
The fields and trees they start rejoicing

Now it’s rising from the ground,

Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy Lord
The Earth is Yours and singing
Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Lord
The Earth is Yours
The Earth is Yours.