Following the Winding Road

Thank you to my newest followers:  Ray Lindsey of the Forgotten Vet,  Kay L. Davies and  Rhonda , who is back :-) Welcome everyone.
I encourage my regular readers to check out their blogs by clicking on their names.

We follow a long and winding road under a beautiful sky.  The road leads toward Lake Nakuru, Kenya from the Menengai Crater.

Click here to see more wonderful skies around the globe.

Finally at Lake Baringo

Leaving the borehole, we carried on to Lake Baringo.  The Soi Safari Lodge was my destination.  The lodge was recommended to me by the staff of the Bontana Hotel.  A sister hotel located in Nakuru, Kenya.

I was exhausted by the time we arrived at the lodge.  The day's expedition was quite arduous for me as we started our journey in Nakuru; travelling north to Marigat and carrying on the same day over dusty, bumpy roads west of Marigat for hours to see the borehole.   I was not even able to spend time with the pastor at his home due to the lateness of the hour and the need to get to Lake Baringo before dark. As it was, by the time we arrived at the lodge it was already very dark and we were lost for a short time.  Thankfully we were headed in the right direction and it wasn't long before the driver asked some locals for directions. It turned out we were very near the lodge. But by the time I stumbled out of the vehicle and into the reception area, I was in need of a good stretch, some food and drink, and a good rest. Checking out the lodge and surrounding area would have to wait until morning.

The next day was a busy one.  I was only going to be one night at the Soi Safari Lodge and there was a lot to do before continuing my journey in the area.  My camera was to be my trusty companion that day.

It wasn't long before I found myself enchanted by the lodge.

By light of day I could see the grey crowned cranes and the resident ostriches, as well as the African woman statue posted outside the lobby doors.  All this made for a very unique reception area.

Oh, and don't let me forget the crocodile skeleton! Another very unique addition to the reception area.

 I very much enjoyed the casual decor of the lodge with the African themes and patterns.  I appreciated  the cosy seating arrangement and spent a lot of time relaxing on the sofas after breakfast and a massage.

 

The lodge also has a well stocked gift and souvenir shop.

Throughout the lodge there is an abundance of beautiful wood.  I didn't think to ask what kind of wood was used in the building and on the ceiling but it was absolutely stunning work. I would imagine that the wood is from trees which are indigenous to Kenya.

The reception area had access to the outdoors in every direction and beautiful stone paths and steps. 

The ironwork was also more elaborately patterned than what I usually see in Kenya and several touching picture posters about saving the lake were displayed.

On the evening of my arrival, Sylvester, the amiable and charming tour guide, greeted me and tried to let me know what was available in terms of nature walks and boat tours. However, as I was tired I told him I would think about a boat trip the next day and that I was too tired that evening to even consider it.  I did end up on the boat tour and I'm so glad I did. More about that later.

The lodge has a charming dining room and dinner was served before I headed for the comfort of my pillow. In the morning, breakfast was ready well before I was and the food did not disappoint.

I enjoyed these murals of the African countryside displayed in the dining room.

Here is the stairwell to the bar.  From the top (2nd) floor there are beautiful views of the lake. It is also the way to the beauty salon where I had a wonderful massage from Petty.  Sadly she is no longer at the lodge and has returned to her home near Mombasa.

I ended up buying a sisal bag just like the one you see hanging on the wall.

 

I stayed in the older part of the lodge.  There are two suites to each of the buildings you see and they are set among gardens and pathways behind the building which houses the reception, dining room, beauty salon and gift shop.

I thought the lodge  setting was quite pretty though the rooms are getting a tad dated (just a tad) and they do not feature the primary advantage of the lodge.  The spectacular view of Lake Baringo.

Another view of the "cabin" area of the lodge.  A new annex has been built also and every room in the annex has a view of the spectacular lake. If I had stayed for a second night, I would have taken one of the rooms in the annex.

This was my room for the night. It was comfortable and had mosquito netting for both beds as all the rooms do.

Given the high temperatures, you will be happy to know that the rooms also have air conditioning.

The bathrooms were also nicer than many I've seen in Kenya. I had just taken a shower so the towels and the floor mat are wet.

Part of the parking lot. 

The lovely pool is comfortably situated and has ...

... loungers for relaxing poolside.  This day it was rather quiet though they were expecting a tour group later in the day.  I did actually end up going  in the pool because my driver who had to come from another town was running late.

Lovely gardens

Fantastic views....

...of Lake Baringo. (The new annex is located just to the left of the photo. Sorry I did not think to get a photo of it).

It is very quiet and serene at the lodge and I could sit and gaze from the open veranda at the bar for hours at this beautiful scene.

Peter, the Lodge Manager. I started chatting with him while gazing out at the lake, enjoying the scenery and waiting for my driver.  That is how I found out he was the manager.

I was intrigued by his unique beaded pin demonstrating support for AIDS awareness.

I hope you enjoyed my tour of the lodge. Please return soon and I will show you the wonderful adventure on the boat tour of Lake Baringo.

Pelicans Seem to Float on Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Pelicans on Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
I say they seem to float. Or perhaps their little feet are paddling away under the water.

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Dreams

All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
T.E. Lawrence

"He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds."
Job 33:15 (NLT)

As a child, I had dreams; lots of dreams and a vivid imagination.  Money and material things were in short supply in our household.  That meant my family didn't own a car among other things and we lived somewhat out of the city district of my small city. I had lots of time to myself each day during the school year, walking to and from school.  I remember walking through vast fields in Fall, Winter and Spring through all the seasons of the school year. My imagination came in handy.  I would hold conversations with my imaginary friends and keep myself company on the way to and from school.  It was a long and lonely walk, especially when I started junior high school and my brother was still in the elementary school so we had to take different routes.  Don't get me wrong.  I wasn't living in a fantasy world and "seeing" people that weren't there and believing that they actually existed.  I was simply imagining a different life; a life full of adventure and travel and exciting things.  I had no real idea of what I might do in future. I only knew that whatever happened, life would be better.  At the same time during these tender years, I was going to Sunday School.  I believed very much in God and looked forward to Sunday service as well as services during the week.   It was there that I was introduced to missions and to the continent of Africa. I even envisioned that one day God would send me to Africa  as a missionary.

Then life happened.  And indeed life was better. God gave me many rich experiences and blessed me in many ways. He enabled me to gain a university education, one of the few people in my extended family who has been blessed with a rich university education.  He also enabled me to travel and see many of the things that I always wanted to see.  However, I was very much tied to my family and the extended family and their needs.  Thoughts of Africa became a very distant memory and an almost forgotten one.  A place that I would see on television when it came time for public appeals for funds to assist drought stricken or poverty stricken places.  It seemed Africa was no  longer much on my mind.

It wasn't until much later that my dream of Africa came to life again. I can't explain exactly how it happened. Suffice to say it was a God thing. My latent dream of helping in Africa came back to life and I've never been more thrilled.  However, instead of going as a missionary who lives in Africa and raises funds to spread the gospel, I have a more modest calling.  One in which I've been involved for a few years now.  I've been helping widows and orphans in small villages in Kenya in various ways as God leads and provides. I've been to Kenya several times and have been able to help in a number of ways (food, education, medical, jiko stoves, planting).  Some of the work has been featured on this blog.

It gives me a great deal of pleasure to assist there and to assist directly those people who have needs.  I do work through pastors and lay leaders in the communities where I visit and through friends who are Christian.  My deepest desire is to "see" the aid reach the people who need it and to know that I am really making a difference in one person, or several persons' lives.


My God opened efforts have taught me too the real meaning of the biblical teachings on "giving" and "helping" the widows and the orphans. Scriptures like

"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

1 John 3:17 

and

 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." 

James 1:27

Although I got a late start in life in missions to Kenya, I know that with God there are no limitations and there is no such thing as impossible.  Through God's grace I pray that He grants me many more years and ability to do what I can and perhaps even to inspire others to join me.

I had gone to this village in Kenya to see first hand the jiko stoves I had made for some of the village women. We decided to do a food distribution as these were widows and it was close to Christmas.  There were many more woman than I expected.

We had purchased food for several stops at different villages to meet with widows and orphans but this first stop required much of the food we brought. The male leaders said we should not distribute more than we intended but I could leave this first group of women without food.  At my request, the pastor kept going back to the car to bring more food.  Somehow God made enough for the other stops we had. Kind of like the loaves and fishes story.

Everyone is making their way to where food has been prepared. We were invited also but due to the inclement weather and needing to make several more stops before the day's end, we couldn't join in the feast.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with emotions when I think about where God brought me from and how much he has done for me. I can't even believe it myself sometimes. He has surely been with me all the days of my life.  I can't thank him enough for it.

I have burdens for others and sometimes those get overwhelming too.  It is those times when God lets me know that He is in charge and I need to trust in Him.

What are your dreams?

My blogging friend, Shanda Oakley has started a new meme called "On Your Heart Tuesdays" and this is the very first edition of it.  I do hope you've enjoyed my contribution and that you will join Shanda and others here in this new venture. Happy reading and sharing.

Life is Beautiful

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”

Ashley Smith

 Despite the thorns on this cactus, it's flowers are very beautiful and delicate.
Euphorbia milii var. splendens (Crown of Thorns)

Enjoy a beautiful week!

This is my first submission to PicStory hosted by Tina. Please join in by clicking on the flower widget!