Today, I almost slapped a hippo!

We took a day off from our Panua experience to go on a safari in Lake Nakuru National Park which is about an hour north of Naivasha. George, who has been our driver all week, did a great job taking us through the park. We didn't get to see lions or leopards, but we saw just about everything else there is to see. We've been here long enough that zebras are like alligators back home. You don't even notice them anymore because they are everywhere.

The giraffes were really cool. At one point we were in a herd of them as they were eating from the acacia trees all around us. I have no idea how they can eat the leaves and not get their lips and gums torn up by all the thorns. We have some really good photos and videos to post of them on Instagram and Facebook. You can see them there.

We also got to see several rhinos. I learned the difference between a black rhino and a white rhino. It has nothing to do with color. It is the shape of their lips. The black are pointy and the white are square. As George told me the word for square sounds like our word for white and that is how they got to be called white rhinos.

We also saw the cape buffalo. They are big animals with some big horns. There were lots of impalas, water buck, Thompson gazelles, and other antelope along with ostriches, warthogs, and some really cool looking birds.

What I still am amazed at is the elevations and the mountains. We were over 5000ft all day, even in the grasslands. Several times we were over 6000. The weather is cool here. The Kenyans say it is warm but I don't think it got above 75 today with a nice breeze. I think my phrase, "It is Africa hot," may have to be changed. There were some great lookout spots around the park. Truly was beautiful. You'll have to check out the pics on Facebook or Instagram.

So I almost had to slap a hippopotamus today. We stopped at a picnic area in the park. George, our driver, told us to stay close but I saw a creek bed about 30 yards away. It had a really steep embankment. No need to fear, I found a way down. As I was standing there looking at the muddy water and the vegetation I realized that it wasn't a "human" path down to the water, it was a game trail and look over there is a trail leading up to the other side. I began to realize this wasn't the best idea to be down here by myself. I started back up when I heard David Miller say, "Hey is that a statue?" When I turned to look to see I realized we weren't at Disney World any more. That wasn't a statue or robot of a hippo, but a real live African Hippopotamus! It was about 30 yards in front of me coming down the trail. I got up to the top pretty quickly, and before I could get my camera out the hippo was gone. I do have a picture of the backside of the hippo. I am sure as they say it was more scared of me than I was of it. Roy reminded me that the most dangerous animal in Africa is the hippo. More people are killed every year by the hippo than any other animal. So I can say I faced down Africa's most deadly animal and it backed away!

What I wrestle with is when we came out of the park and left the natural beauty of Africa, we were once again back facing extreme poverty. There really is no way to describe it. Americans and Kenyans may live on the same planet but we are in different worlds. The restrooms in the national park were the nicest we have had in Kenya, minus the one in our hotel rooms. By the way the hotel bathrooms wouldn't cut it in Motel 6 in the US. The barns we had in Williston are palaces compared to some of the homes that we have been in. Some of the "nicer" homes remind me of the Jamestown historic site in Virginia. Water that I wouldn't let the cows drink is used to cook. Yet, George, our driver is hopeful about the future of Kenya. The people here are joyful and ooze hospitality. There are moments where I have seen hope. The Panua program impacts one life at a time. Given youth a hand up and not a hand out is hope. The Lifewater Wells bringing clean water to community is hope. The people's belief that God is alive and at work in Kenya is hope.

Perhaps that is what we cling to, that God is at work. God is at work and that brings hope.