Update #6 Southern Africa

Hey there, it’s Eva! Today has been such a blessed day, definitely one for the books! From it being our last day with the kids at VBS to having the most incredible time at the Lion Park, it’s been non stop excitement.

We started the morning off with a delicious breakfast with the kids. The food has been so good and pretty healthy, in my opinion!

After breakfast, we headed out to the field for one last group photo with all the leaders and kids. Soon after, we played with the kids one final time before sending them off. It’s been such a heartfelt week, from helping them learn their memory verse to teaching them new games and them teaching me new things along the way.

Once the kids left, we packed up and headed to the Lion Park! It was a bit of a drive, but absolutely worth it. As soon as we arrived, we drove through this massive “park,” and the first thing we saw was a gazelle, followed by some pretty zebras. It really felt like we were in another beautiful country.

We made it to the top of a mountain where you could see everything God truly created the most beautiful places! On our way down the mountain, we ran into a giraffe, which was the cherry on top (it’s one of my favorite animals). We kept driving a little longer and finally entered the lions’ enclosure! It was a huge cage you drive through, and we got as close as possible to the lions of course, keeping the windows shut and the doors locked. Don’t worry, we were as safe as possible!

As we turned into the enclosure, boom there were two lions lying on a rock. We kept going, with my car and the other car (because there were too many of us to fit in one vehicle). We got within five feet of those lions, it was AMAZING to see these majestic animals up close! The closer we got, the more lions we saw, both males and females. Now that was the real cherry on top.

After this incredible experience, we went to the park’s animal area, where we saw everything from hyenas to crocodiles, monkeys, more lions, and so many other species.

After this long but amazing day, we headed back and had dinner. Later, we had a short but meaningful devotion led by Olivia about encouragement. Now, we’re winding down and about to head to bed, feeling so full of gratitude for everything today brought.