Burst of Adrenaline (a guest post by Heather Borden)

As I nervously climbed over the cracking dead log, Dad looked through the binoculars and stared death in the eye. Only twenty feet away was an enormous hippopotamus, staring right at us from the shallow pond. Because hippos kill more people annually than any other African animal, we were certainly frightened. Slowly and timidly, the six of us scrambled over the fallen tree, one by one, to catch a glimpse of those threatening pupils.



Crawling carefully back out of the hippo's view, I suddenly heard splashing water and crashing bushes behind me. Turning around I saw Colin, Dad and Trevor panicking to rush out of there. When realizing what was happening, I dashed through the trees, sprinting for my life! The bunch of us fled in seconds. My heart pounded and my lips spoke prayers that we would come out alive.

Finally, at a safe distance away, we came to a stop. With stunned, pale faces we looked into each other's eyes with astonishment to find that we weren't dead. The hippo hadn't trompled us! In fact, it hadn't even chased us. Instead, it was merely swimming away from us. Beginning to giggle at ourselves, the adrenalin in our bloodstreams faded back to normal.

We Lived a Little Better Last Week

Ole Siloma is possibly the oldest Maasai man alive today. He was our neighbor during the years we lived in Loita, the grandfather of a boy who grew up with our boys. Ole Siloma's family has asked around fairly extensively and there doesn't seem to be any other remaining age-mate from his age group, Ilderitoi. His older brother, another of our neighbors from those years, passed away in the last 12 months.

I wanted to post this photo of our old friend because we saw him last week and truly, deeply, thoroughly enjoyed chewing the news and catching up with him. Ten years ago he gave Byron his beautiful snuff carrier as a gift when we were leaving Kenya. One of my favorite moments in the last week was Ole Siloma chuckling and saying to Byron, "Look what I have to carry my snuff in now!" as he pulled out a little plastic herb bottle that he's recycled from somewhere. It's true, his current snuff container is pretty awful compared to the antique he gave Byron!

I was also very touched that he asked after our kids and wanted us to bring them round so he could bless them. We didn't end up doing that, but I knew it was a priceless gesture.

Other priceless moments from last week include... Meeting an old acquaintance on the road who grabbed my hands and kissed my fingers. Let's be honest, he was drunk as a skunk, but it was sweet just the same. I loved a particularly beautiful evening with new friends... Chai at Ngoto Milai's, whose health I never take for granted so I always wonder if this is our last time together... Seeing Byron and Ole Mesenka, a couple of real brothers, together... Listening to the Colobus monkeys in the trees... Playing in the river with Heather... Conversations with Hennie and Becca... Knowing that a leopard had just strolled across the entrance to camp. Shame I didn't get to see him! I loved reading aloud to the family by the fire and that Colin did such an excellent job driving us over the way-less-than-perfect roads.



There are many challenges and terribly frustrating things about life in Loita but it was a good week. Good work. Good times. Good beauty. I like the kind of exhausted I get from days like that.

It's Good to be Outside

We leave today for a week of living outside. We have some small projects we're involved with in distant places and we need to get round to visit and catch up with folks from time to time.

Happily for us, this means we'll be in Loita this week. The roads are hard and long to get there but..

Being out in Creation is very soul-restoring.

Looking forward to that.

Stars

It's just that I wasn't expecting it
In my gauzy mesh tent
With the warm breeze blowing through

I wasn't thinking of anything but
You know, rolling over in the night
Finding a new comfy spot

But I happened to open my eyes
And, oh!

The thin black lace of tangled thorn tree
Held back a vibrant sky
So heavy and bright it startled me

Breathless and suddenly awake
All I could feel was
Thank you

Heading Out

4:44 a.m. and I have that pre-trip wakefulness. Getting up in an hour anyway to make sandwiches and do a last minute list check. Looking forward to joining the fam and a little team. They've been helping at a very rural elementary school many hours off the road. Now they're shifting camp and going to spend a few days hiking and adventuring. Off line now till next Wednesday. Hurrah!

By "Beautiful" I Mean BEAUTIFUL (and Byron's back hurts)

It's beautiful at the springs. We camped there Saturday night with Tait and Hunter and Tehur (and Colin and Heather.)

Byron's back has taken a nose dive after the last 3 weeks of too many long hours on bad roads and too much heavy work, but even he was happy to be there. Better to rest on a blanket under the trees than to lie on the rug in the living room and get tempted by all the work he thinks he should be doing. But the drive home was painful for him.

We saw the physical therapist today and she was very good. We travel on April the 1st and so the goal is to have Byron out of pain and able to handle the long hours of travel between here and LA. The therapist had Byron figured for sure...

"The problem with people who have a history of back trouble," she said, "Is that they are used to it and they expect it to get better if they push through and so they don't necessarily do what they should do to treat it."

Um, yes. That is the trouble. She held her tongue nicely and didn't come flat out and just call him a dork for not taking better care of his back. He's fifteen and half years post a very successful back surgery... and he should know a little better.

So, back to beautiful.

Tonight, I feel 2 things simultaneously. I feel deeply content after a 24 hour stay at the springs with people that I love. (Tait and Hunter made us all crepes with multiple delicious toppings for breakfast on Sunday.) But I also feel sad about Byron's back pain. He looked lively this evening for a while when he was excited about some very cool solar lights he was looking at that are designed to save Africa. But he soon faded again. I've tucked him in now with a hot pack.

Heat, rest, stretches, brisk walking, ibuprofen, cold packs if he wants them... these are his orders for the next few days. With prayer added, I think we've got the bases covered.

I'll put this photo up as his desktop to bring on the memories of a happy weekend. I'm certain those will be good toward the healing.

Walking in Loita

We've been away for a week in the lovely Loita Hills.

There is something very magical to me about Loita. Maybe that's because our 10 years there mark the longest I have ever lived in one location. Or maybe it's just because it's so beautiful and hard to get to and far away and unspoiled. Alternately, it could be because I have very dear friends there who are now family or the fact that my boys grew up there. In reality, I know that it's a combination of all these things that makes Loita shimmer slightly in my mind.

Our trip was not uneventful. We stopped for lunch on the way up, climbing out into the dusty heat to stretch our cramped legs for a little while. When we climbed back in, the car said a simple no to starting. Happily, she push-started quite easily. Good thing because we continued to have to push start her after every stop for the next week. I didn't like the idea of being stuck out there, much as I love it, since we had to get my Dad to a plane on time upon our return.

Loita sings colors of blue of green
Her mist is soft and grey.
I like waking up to her mornings.

During our time there last week, we visited in homes and listened to the struggles of families who are dealing with a hungry season. These are difficult days for our friends.

We hiked for hours all up and down the slopes and in and out of thorny brush and under trees and beside streams. We were plotting some dens on the map with our Walking With Maasai friends who are studying the range of certain critters. We saw lovely forest secrets and sad forest casualties. I will be quiet, holding all those things in my memory.

It was good--so much more than good--to connect with friends there. We are encouraged and discouraged along with them as we share the realities of life there these 9 years after we've moved away.

So we are home in Arusha again, hearts quite full from a pleasurable week of working and walking in a prime showpiece of God's dear Creation. And while it's very nice to be home, I miss the depth of connection I feel with the Creator when I am there.

Just What We Needed

I could feel myself spiraling last week. I was tired and cold (so grey and miserable in Arusha these days) and, as previously noted, I was too aware that time was rushing on and there was not much give in the weeks ahead before Jesse and Trevor leave again for California and college.

So... We grabbed the opportunity on the weekend to run away together for 2 nights. I had looked at the calendar and noticed that it was the last truly open weekend before their departure so we said, "We're outta here!" It was Friday when we made this decision and we left at 6am on Saturday.

This little camp-out with the 6 of us may well turn out to be the highlight of the summer in terms of our family life.

As we sat around the camp fire on that first night, our conversation turned to Europe. We called Europe home for about 7 years and we've only been based back in Africa for 14 months now. It was really good to laugh and talk about good memories of people, places and events. We grew so much there. It was a priceless season in our lives and it good to talk about what we miss.

It was so life-giving to recall those times together. It's healthy to give recognition and remembrance to seasons and passages of life. I found it particularly healing because I am feeling lonely for the family of friends we shared life with there very acutely right now as I know they're all in Hungary for their annual gathering. Each email from one of them, letting me know we are missed as they come together, brings me twinges of separation and loss pain.

On Sunday we spent about 8 hours hiking up to the source of the Engare Sero River and back again. It was a stunningly beautiful hike up out of the desert sands and into lush gorges and under plunging, thundering waterfalls from springs pouring out of jagged cliffs.



It wasn't entirely easy but we saw no one all day and we worked together, enjoying each other's company, for hours and hours.

Now we've returned to Arusha-town replenished. I am most re-filled spiritually when I am able to be out in Creation. Creation helps me connect with my Creator and I love that.

I'm just so thankful for the tanked-up feeling and fact that we didn't let short notice stop us from getting what we so badly needed.

Thank you, Creator God.



Photos by Jesse and Trevor Borden

The Trek aka All Boys Safely Home (Updated)

The boys arrived home safely on Saturday evening and now it's time for a little photo log of their 16 days. They walked 93 miles but completed a 368 mile circuit when you include the public transportation they used.


On trail


In camp


The soda flats of the desert


Looking back over a section of the desert they crossed


Up in Loita


Loita again


And home :-)

They have some great stories... But those are theirs to tell.

"Leggy Blondes"

Here they are--the six trekkers as they left yesterday for their 16 day walk across the dessert and into the hills of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya.

From left to right we have: Colin Borden, Chase Russell, Skyler Russell, Trevor Borden, Jonny Pollard and Jesse Borden.

(For those of you who don't know Jonny, he also grew up in Kenya with this group of boys.)

OK, am I nervous that they are off on their own in not-exactly-domesticated country? Yes.
Am I happy for them? Yes.
Will I be relieved when they get home? Yes.
Would I appreciate your prayers for their safety? Yes.
When do we expect them? Around July 5th.

For now, we miss them--our "leggy, leggy, leggy, leggy, leggy, leggy, leggy, leggy blondes."

PS They buzzed their hair for the trek; an initiation ritual that they allowed Jesse to opt out of :-)
PSS The rest of us Bordens and Russells will be away now till next Friday, 27th. Signing off till then...

Photos from Recent Days...

It was hot on the roof near Natron, but there was a great view.


We got up early to watch the sun rise over the lake.


Then we saluted the sun.


We crossed into Kenya...


And made our camp...


And found our river...


And played in it.


We walked all over...


Discussed bead work...


Held Nalotuesha's baby...


And made new friends :-)

Photos by Jesse Borden--with his Nikon D 70 S.
(Got a Nikon camera... Mama, don't take his Kodachrome away!)

Back from Beyond

We returned on Sunday night from a week outside.

I can't possibly tell you how good it was for my soul to be in the remote Loita hills, sleeping in my little tent, making tea over the fire and living under the open sky for days on end.

We visited in many homes and drank gallons of chai and caught up with many Maasai friends. We also hiked the hills, walked in the river, stalked elephants, watched the sun rise and set, bathed in the stream and slept soundly in the brisk night air. We sat around the fire every evening and generally felt overcome by the goodness of Creation and her maker.

Quiet now, Lisa. There is no way to convey the strength and joy and beauty of the week.

A photo log to come soon.

I promise.

( PS The "we" included 6 of us Bordens plus 1 Darrelle Good!)

Photos by Jesse Borden

Too Small, My Words

I am trying to call up the words to talk about this last week away on safari with our kids and the Wild Hope summer crew, but it's all too rich and wild and good and big to figure out which words will paint for you this most excellent time.

Plus, I'm dead tired. Dead tired but very happy :-)

I think the beauty came from the mixture of traveling through dramatically varied landscapes, having deep conversation around the issues of being whole and free, launching into adventurous exploits, cross cultural friendships, exploring Creation and discovering the bigness of God.

Were there any troubles along the way? A few. My emergency pit stops by the side of the road on the final long day of travel without "facilities" reminded me that it's not just visitors to Africa who need tummy soothing meds from time to time. But over all, it was pretty dreamy.

Our first day's (very dusty) drive delivered us to the foot of the rumbling volcano, Oldonyo Lengai, where we pitched our tents on the somewhat stable shores of the saline Lake Natron. We lost track of how many tremors we felt and wondered which part of sanity told us to make camp at the epicenter of recent quakes that are making news in East Africa.

We traveled on from the heavy heat of those prehistoric vistas (where we thought it would be fitting if a dinosaur appeared from behind a big pile of rocks) and made our way through wide open plains, up into softly rolling hills and into forests that still befuddle many a wanderer.

And that's just the geography of where we went. In community we went into honest, raw conversations and prayer times, looking together into the unspeakable love of God and finding such freedom there to become ourselves, the selves He has been dreaming of.

He dreamed us, as he made us. He dreamed us free and full and givers of grace and life to those around us.

This wild safari we call life is getting us there. These final ten days with our summer team gained us all new ground and we are grateful.

The house is quiet in a sad and restful way as Tommy, Dane, Carly, Christian, Gabby and Joel are no longer here with us.

What good traveling companions they made!

(Photos: Jesse Borden)

Off and Away

We head off tomorrow early, early for 8 days out of town with the summer team. We'll be heading toward Lake Natron in the morning and then venturing into the Maasai regions of northern Tanzania.

We've been having great talks and we thought it would be good to get into a whole new kind of classroom.

Incidentally, we've been having a lot of earthquakes. There have been at least three or four daily for the last six days. Here in Arusha we experience them as window rattler, bed shakers, floor rumblers. The epicenter is 100 km north of here. Right where we're headed. Oh dear!