We are back from Safari, and we had a great time! We took TONS of pictures of all the animals we saw, so I will post some soon. But, for those of you who just don't consider it a real post unless there is a picture, I am including a picture of Steve riding an ostrich this past Sunday. Doesn't it look like he's having fun? It was quite a sight to see! I really wanted to do it too, but you had to climb up on this fence and then swing your leg over this huge bird... I didn't think my legs could handle it. While at the Ostrich Farm, we took a walking tour and saw birds from egg to adult, and we also dined on ostrich for lunch. It was actually very tasty... kinda tasted like steak. I think you'd like it.

The church service we went to on Sunday was very moving for me. The church meets in a tent, and the services are conducted in English, though they often sing in Swahili as well. Vivian had told us that you never know what you are going to get... sometimes the music is great, sometimes not so much. Sometimes the preaching is great, sometimes not so much. They have many different people who get up and lead on Sundays. The day we were there the music and the preaching were very good. I started to tear up while we were singing "Ancient of Days", when we sang,

From every nation
All of creation
Bow before the Ancient of Days!
Every tongue in heaven and earth
Shall declare Your glory
Every knee will bow at Your thrown
In worship

That really struck me, because here I was on the other side of the world, worshipping One God with people so very different than me... yet the same as well. Our God is what unites us. It was very moving. Then we had the Lord's Supper together, and again I was overcome with the knowledge that we are one body with many parts. The sermon was good, about God being there with us when we go through hard times. At the end of the service, the pastor asked those who were mourning and greiving and going through difficulties to come up to the front, and then he asked the church to gather around them, lay hands on them, and just let them know that they are not alone in their suffering. It is easy to rejoice with those who rejoice, but we also need to mourn with those who mourn. Again I was struck by the sight of white and black, rich and poor, friends and strangers coming alongside each other...in worship. It was beautiful.

And in the middle of it all, I thought of my friends and family back in the States, who would soon be worshipping the same God in churches all over the country, and I felt so connected to you, even though we are so far apart right now. What an awesome God we serve!

Safari pics coming soon!