Day 15 "we are very close, very very close or very very very close....we dont know the difference!!!"

We woke up early at 700am to go on a morning safari to see many animals. We also got a very close up look at 3 lionesses who had just missed their morning breakfast of zebra so they were relaxing near eachother! Unfortunately, we found out that we had to be out of the park before 10am otherwise we would have to pay another $560 for another 24hour park pass! So we hurried up our morning safari and raced back to pack our things!

As we gathered all of our belongings (whatever fited into our tiny backpacks for the past 3 days) we met for breakfast, another amazing meal and were on our way to the gates of Amboseli park! Unfortunately, as we got to the entrance we realized that the other car (with Duncan, Michael, Elijah, Naomi, and Kuria) had gotten lost. So the rest of the team in the 9 passenger van had to get out and wait for Lance and Simone (our driver) to go back and find them. As we waited we were bombarded by the many sales people selling african artifacts and Masai beadwork. However, after 1.5 hours of waiting the team arrived but without the other car. We found out that 2 of their tires had blown and they had flipped the car sideways! Thanfully nobody suffered great injuries just minor aches! However, now we had to wait for the mechanic to fix the tires. By the time we were on the road again we had lost 3 hours of time and were quite ready to get to Muchakos!!!

Thankfully, I slept most of the 4 hour drive to Muchakos! However, the rest of the team was very restless because they had been in the car for sooooo long! We were all ready to get out and with the many bumpy roads needed some fresh air and food because we hadn't eaten since breakfast!!Also, there was a running joke with the team and Simone, everytime we said how close are we he would responde with very close, very very close or very very very close! By the end we think he was just tired of the question so kept adding a certain number of "Verys" to tide us over!!! We did finally arrive at Elijah's Orphanage in Muchakos despite us all being tired and hungry we were sooooo excited to see all 24 children. They all had wide smiling faces and were just as excited to meet us. They surprised us by showing us the many things they were growing in their garden such as: pumpkin, maze, green beans, mango trees, carrots and kale! They also had one large sunflower : ) They then made us all dinner of rice, lentils, chicken and chapati (my favorite), followed by Kenyan coffee! It was so kind of them! Then they went on to sing for us and even made us all gifts!!!! It was so humbling to see them give us so much when they all have so little! They then showed us their rooms, in which they share 4 to a bunk bed! One even told Rachel that if she wanted to stay they would make some room in their bed! The team then sang right back to them and then we gave them all that had been donated! They were so grateful for all of the toys, books, toothbrushes/toothpaste, and school related gifts! It was the least we could do for them. One thing that I did notice from the beginning that this didnt feel like an orphange it felt like a family and we all hate to leave them because we felt a part of their family even if it was for a short time!

As we left teary eyed and restless we said our goodbyes and traveled the 4 more hours it took to get to Athi River where we had plans to spend the night at Lukenya Getaway! It was beautiful but because we were all so tired we quickly ate dinner and headed to bed! We took time to reflect on all the children and to pray for every last one of them for their future and their courage! We then finally went to bed once again excited for what the next day would bring!