"Praise God!" - guest post by Jane Slatton

Following is a guest post by Jane Slatton after her first visit to Africa with a CARE for AIDS vision trip:

“Praise God!”
“Amen!”
“Praise God!”
“Amen!!”
"My name is Jane..."

Though this introduction might never happen in the States - in fact I’m sure it wouldn’t - it was just one of many Kenyan-isms I learned about during my two weeks visiting Nick and participating in a CARE for AIDS vision trip. And while I love the fact that Kenyans switch their l’s and r’s, making “lesson” into “resson” or “coloring” into “coroling,” this Kenyan-ism affected me far more. As Nick and his mom have both mentioned, we spent our first day on the vision trip celebrating with a group of clients as their nine months with CFA came to a close. All of the center workers, all of the Americans, and some of the clients introduced themselves, and as I sat listening I realized the beauty of a Kenyan introduction. Before even stating their own name in front of the group, a Kenyan would shout “Praise God!” to the rousing response of “Amen!” It started to take on a significance of what should come first and who deserves the first recognition. I am so quick to state my name or where I’m from or what I do when someone asks me about myself. But while I was declaring my identity as an American student, I was humbled by others in the room who declared their identity in Christ first and foremost. It was a simple act, and possibly one that is just normal for a group of Christian Kenyans, but for this American it was a lesson about where I’m finding my identity and how I should boldly express that.

Later in the week, the vision trip headed south to the Maasai Mara for a safari! I never quite understood why Nick was still so excited to go on safari, having already been four times, probably because I thought it was like watching the same movie four times in a short period - it gets old. But wow, was I wrong. We saw some amazing things, but one evening in particular stands out...

We drove earlier that day to the Mara River to see Hippos and Crocodiles, which was beautiful, but a pretty far drive. An hour into our drive home, we were all pretty antsy to see another animal, especially since we only had one remaining drive. After our repeated reminders to our driver that while Crowned Cranes are neat, we realllly want to see a rhino, he set off in a new direction. Unfortunately, this direction was pretty wet. Out in huge grasslands, we kept driving down a road, then creeping along only to find that the road was too wet to cross, and we would have to turn around. After playing this game for about an hour, someone spotted an elephant up on a hill. Our drivers took off, and in 5 minutes we found ourselves spending dusk with 12 elephants. Our drivers cut off the vans and we sat listening to the elephants chew and hearing their huge, canvas-like ears scrape against their backs. I doubt any animal has ever been so mesmerizing. The mothers moved slowly, ripping huge chunks of grass up with their trunks and swirling it into their mouths. The babies followed close to the mothers, working just a bit harder to get their food. We all just stared until the light started to disappear.

Now I get it- no safari could be like a movie, and no safari could get old. Encountered that closely with God’s incredible creation, you can’t help but be in awe of our Maker.