“People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege.”- David Livingstone
I have been mulling over what to write about my trip to Africa for several weeks- for two reasons. One, Harvey was predicted to hit Houston within a few hours of our landing in Houston so we went straight to collect our kids from my parents (who also brought us groceries and water, since all the grocery stores in Houston were wiped out before we got there) then straight home. Friday night proved to be rainy but nothing serious and Saturday was just drizzly and cloudy. We got out and about a few times during the day and early evening but then Saturday night the torrential downpour began… and didn’t stop for about 48 hours. Our house is fine but one or both of us spent the next week helping friends and strangers salvage what belongings they could and trashing the rest. It was (and still is) quite surreal.
The other reason is, it is nearly impossible to put into words what I experienced. To say it was life-changing is understating it. I’ve been on many mission trips, starting with inner-city Chicago when I was 19. I have dearly loved every trip I’ve been on, but this trip. This trip will never leave me.
This is just a short little summary of the trip- I’ll write more about specific experiences in the days and weeks to come.
Here’s a secret: I wasn’t super excited about this trip. I mean yes, I wanted to go but it was SO overwhelming getting everything together that I told Ben the day before we left, “This is it. I’m going this time but I am NOT going again.” Ahem. Apparently God heard that and laughed.
The minute we stepped out of the Land Rover into Maasai Land, I felt at home. Completely at peace for the first time in over a year. I deeply LOVED these people at first sight.
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20
I wanted to be with them every possible second of every day. They are just so precious- the most loving group of people I’ve ever been around. And there were lots of babies to hold. 🙂
How God saw it his will to connect us to these amazing people is a blessing I don’t understand. But they are our people and we are theirs. 
I have spent exactly 8.5 days in Africa so far in my life, but if God allows, there will be many more to come.
About Kelli Hays
