Saturday morning we went to the Lion Park, which is about an hour away from where we are living. At the park, we were able to go on a drive through the park where the lions were roaming free in their natural habitat. On this adventure we saw giraffes, cheetahs, wild dogs, antelopes, zebras, ostriches, and most importantly lions. While driving, we saw all of these animals then we later entered the lion exhibit. This was a gated section of the park and was controlled by security guys that continued to keep the gates shut so the lions couldn't get out. We drove down paved paths and the lions were walking all around us. A few of them came right up to our windows and their heads were at the same height as our windows. It was so magnificent being able to see these animals so close up and in their natural habitat. It was so amazing to think of the reality that God created these animals and that they are all so different from each other. It is also marvelous to think that he didn't have to create animals to be on this earth but has created them in a way where he is well pleased with them and we can now marvel at them. Being in an environment like this just gave me even more reasons to marvel at how big our God is and how mighty he is.
(Above is the "king of the pack" marking his territory on a tree right next to my window)
After the drive through, we were able to enter the other part of the park. This was an area with more animals and also an area where we were able to play with the lion cubs and to be hands on with them. We were allowed 2 minutes in the lion cub area and were allowed to pet them and play with them. After this, we were able to feed the giraffes and to look at the leopards, baby cheetahs, and meerkats. This was a fun opportunity for our team to walk around together and just to hang out. We had a lot of fun there and it was definitely something we will never be able to experience again.
(Top Right: Me with a lion cub at the hands on exhibit in the park)
(Left: My ministry partner Karlie and I at the Lion Park)
(Below: Me right after I fed the giraffe and he came right up to us and was trying to nestle his head on us)
(Below: Me, Michaela, and Danielle next to the Meerkat exhibit)
(Below: Jimmy, Mike, and Ben next to the Leopard exhibit)
*The day wasn't even over yet*
Saturday night, our team went out to dinner at a restaurant called Moyo. This is a very expensive steakhouse and we definitely got to experience the African culture. In the restaurant, they had a guy walking around and playing live music along with 2 other men who played instruments. They came to our table at one point and let us dance with them as they played South African songs. Also, there was a guy who walked around and painted your face! Each person on our team got their faces painted and it was a perfect opportunity for us to use our famous phrase "We're only in South Africa once".
(Above: Some of us at the dinner table at Moyo before we got our faces painted.
*Left to right* Carly, Danielle, Me, Michaela, and Ben)
(Left: All of the girls with the muscian men at Moyo)
(Below: Some of our team after they got their faces painted
*Left to right* Mike, Staci, Kyle, and Karlie)
In a few weeks, we have a weekend long retreat called "Joint Winter Conference". We are coming across a lot of barriers with students since it is the time of exams and students wanting to go home. Please pray for boldness for our team as we continue to recruit for it and pray that God would soften the hearts of students and to give them the desire to want to invest in one weekend of their lives that could possibly change their eternity.
Please continue to pray for my team and I! Pray that we would continue to strive to know God more and that he would daily sanctify us and make us more like himself. Hope everyone is doing well!!!!
All the way from South Africa,
Love, Samantha
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