I like to think that my passion for Africa began with my childhood obsession of the Lion King. It has always topped my list of favorite Disney movies, and it became even more special after I got to drive through the Serengeti and see those beloved cartoon characters come to life. (Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch… but my 5-year-old heart likes to believe that those warthogs we saw really do think like Pumbaa and the family of lions really do have their own Pride Rock to call home).

I didn’t grow up dreaming of coming to Africa, though. Once I started developing my own independence the Lord placed within me a strong desire to travel, and that is a dream I’ve gotten to fulfill over and over again. It wasn’t until I started planning some kind of adventure for last summer that the idea of going to Africa began to sneak its way back into my mind, and before I knew it I was boarding a flight to Tanzania for the very first time. It was slightly terrifying and very exhilarating.

When my very creative imagination began to create pictures in my mind of what visiting (and now living) in Africa would be like, I first jumped to the stereotypical setting of mud huts and run-down buildings and going weeks without a proper shower. I was in for a surprise when I arrived last year to a beautiful lodge that acted as our home base for those two weeks. My fantasy of living in a rural village was quickly replaced by the reality of a bustling town with its own share of tourists coming to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our visits to tucked-away villages fulfilled my desire to see that kind of setting, but my longing to live there was left as just a dream.

This year has had a similar feel to last year, with much less exposure to the smaller villages around Arusha where most of the locals actually live. Our Work the World house is located in a more upscale neighborhood outside of town; it still has its own bumpy dirt road and African quirks like the occasional power cut and lots of hand-washing, but it’s still far from the village atmosphere that I’ve always wanted. It was the perfect setting for the work I was here for, and the community in the house was something I have valued and cherished so much. I traded a dream of rural living for a big city lifestyle (on African terms) and a busy government hospital, and I wouldn’t change a thing about the experience I’ve had so far.

However, my last week here is one of the main reasons I booked this trip. Tomorrow begins my most anticipated adventure and the day I have been anxiously waiting for since I first started dreaming about Africa. For the next 7 days, my friend Emily and I will be living in a Maasai village in Engaruka. No amount of words is enough to describe how incredibly excited I am!

The Maasai are one of the tribes of East Africa. You may have come across their name in a National Geographic magazine or a book about the region; they are easily the most well known tribe here. Part of the world’s intrigue over them comes from the vast differences in culture and lifestyle that they have compared to the quickly advancing modern society that surrounds them. They are mostly native to Tanzania and Kenya and they can be easily picked out of a crowd because of the bright red and bright blue fabrics that they always wear. Their villages are as rural as they come in Africa – no electricity, no running water, no other neighboring communities and no technology to speak of. This is the kind of place I thought I’d never get the chance to live in, until now. Until tomorrow!

For the next week, I’ll be living in the wilderness. I’ll be finding out what it’s like to live like a Maasai in every way and enjoying the disconnect I’ll have from the rest of the world. As excited as I am to share my experiences there with you, it will have to wait until I get back – most likely, until I get all the way back home!

Now that I’ve put 4 weeks behind me, it is a strange feeling to be sitting here writing my last blog post in Arusha and what could very well be my last blog post in Africa before I get back to the States. I can’t wrap my mind around the fact that I have only been here for a month, and yet they have flown by so quickly. I’m not one for cheesy clichés, but I can’t deny the truth that time really does fly when you’re having the best adventures.

While I’m spending this week away from the rest of society, I would love some prayer! I’ve been warned by 2 of my Christian sisters who have been to the village already that this experience will challenge me in every way – physically, emotionally, and most of all spiritually. It will require a whole new level of being “unashamed of the Gospel” (Romans 1:16) as I live among a people who have their own organized religion and may have never heard of Jesus before. I hope to share His love in whatever ways He calls me to, whether that’s simply through my actions or the words that He provides.

I have a feeling this week is going to change my life and grow me in new and different ways than my time in Arusha. I hope that the Lord keeps my eyes open and my heart eager to learn as much as I can about these people.

Until next weekend, kwa heri! See you on the other side of the wilderness 🙂

 

– Allie