Day 13: Departing Arusha, Tanzania and trip reflections
TRIP REFLECTIONS BY JOHNNY VRBA
“ΣΑΕ on Africa Maiden Trip”
Jambo Friends & Family!
The opportunity to offer supplies, service, and smiles in Legho Village, ahead of our epic adventure together summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, have proved to be the very most rewarding achievement of my life.
I learned more about myself and the world during this trip than sitting inside any classroom could have ever taught me. I learned that laughter truly is a universal language which connects the world even in its darkest hours. I learned how easily addiction can lock the soul into submission and that only God has the keys to unlock it. I learned that money alone could never solve the problems third world countries face. I learned that a really really really long walk can free the mind from all stress and worry. I learned how there is no stronger bond than family. I learned that the easiest time to breath is with the least amount of oxygen. I learned how being cheap ends up cheating years out of your life. I learned how it is never to late for someone to “get it”. I learned that the Earth is certainly NOT flat. I learned that out of fear comes the greatest reward. I learned that the gift of life should never be taken for granted. I learned what it feels like to have nothing. I learned that you may own a watch, but have no time. I learned what it takes to be the largest mountain on the continent of Africa. I learned to be more human and less being. I learned that this trip was the start of something huge. And finally, I learned to love everyone and everything.
Thank you to the Beyond Adventures Team, ΣΑΕ, Young Life Africa, my family, and everyone who supported me and “LIVE LIKE JOHN” on this forever life changing, once in a lifetime experience.
Pamoja, Pamoja
Together, Together
TRIP REFLECTIONS BY STEVE JOHNSON
“Reflections in Humility”
Since returning from Kilimanjaro, Tanzania my mind has been churning over this experience. How does one write a cohesive blog when there are so many random thoughts? How do you segue so many separate experiences? Please pardon this feeble attempt to put a story, my thoughts and emotions into words.
Upon arriving back from Africa at the Chicago O’Hare Airport I was overwhelmed by a news overload. In Chicago, IL shootings over the weekend left 7 dead and 46 wounded. In Dayton, OH another shooting left 9 dead and 27 wounded and then in El Paso, TX another shooting left 20 more people dead. Suddenly, I realized how much safer I felt in Africa. Isn’t it peculiar that we refer to Tanzania as “Third World” in our civilized nation.
After clearing Customs at the International Terminal I shuttled my way over to Terminal 2 and through the TSA Security search (the fourth such search in less than 24 hours). Immediately after clearing TSA I spot a Starbucks and like a miracle (at an airport Starbucks) only two people in line. I asked the barista for the best & tallest cup of coffee she had and she typed my request into the register and it was $3.00 plus tax $3.35. My mind couldn’t help but wander back to Kilimanjaro and my journey off the mountain. I found a place to just sit and just be quite for a few minutes to ponder life’s irony and count my blessings. Will the humility that I experienced stay with me for life? Let’s hope.
For the past several days I have been trying to explain to my family and friends about the people we met in Tanzania. The mountain porters for example how strong and enduring these men are and how hard they worked. These men were always asking, “How are you doing Steve?” Always giving a word of encouragement and always ready, willing and able to find a way to serve. These porters went up and down that mountain for seven days. The average pay for a porter was 120,000 schillings; $51.60 USD plus $21.00 USD in tips. (The guides, cooking crew and toilet crew received more in tips.) Somehow the word “humility” comes to mind once again.
I spent my three days climbing Kilimanjaro in the company of two men, Samia Tarimo our lead mountain guide and Paul Michael an assistant guide aspiring to become a mountain guide. These two men were always patient and when they wanted to tell you something it was more of a suggestion than an instruction. We shared stories and compared our life experiences. Samia once held the long standing record of climbing up Kilimanjaro and coming back down in 18 hours. He has climbed Kilimanjaro over 500 times, summiting over 360 times. But, you had to pry this information from him, he’s not one to boast. The only word I can use to describe these two men is “humble.”
What about the incredible people with whom I shared this journey? Johnny, Brian, Keith & his son Kole. True Gentleman who shared the common bond of Fraternity; sons of Minerva who Rise Above adversity like the Phoenix. Men who said, “Phi Alpha” knowing the power of those words to a Brother in the Bonds of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. How quickly we came together sharing our common purpose.
Then there was the rest of the Kilimanjaro team - Drew, Grant, and the Young Life Team; Kasey, Trevor & Adele. Drew our Beyond Adventures Trip Host always paying constant attention to every detail in order to ensure an outstanding once in a lifetime experience for all of us. Grant serving as Drew’s intern, who demonstrated the true heart of a servant, always making himself available. Kasey, Trevor and Adele are each fine examples of Christian young people each with promising futures. They sure seemed to “Like” a lot! Enough said.....
There was also four other Young Life Team members who went on Safari. Their YL leader Rip Gibbs, his son Ben, Daniel and Jacob. Three Midland, TX high school football teammates who just graduated. These three young men were so quiet you hardly knew they were around.
You can’t really reflect upon an experience like this trip to Africa without being influenced by those with whom you traveled. Being able to share a common bond of Fraternity with these men and a common faith in Jesus Christ with others was a blessing. I want to take this time to acknowledge what a joy and privilege it was to meet each of you, spend time with you and briefly get to know you. May GOD Bless each of you.
In closing, if I may, I want to share a Bible verse. This Bible verse was reinterpreted by Dennis Jernigan a contemporary Christian music artist. He has a remarkable personal story from sin to salvation and it’s worth reading if you choose to take the time to “Google.”
Zephaniah 3:17
(As Rewritten by Dennis Jernigan)
The Eternal, self-existent GOD
The GOD who is three in one
HE who dwells in the center of your being
Is a powerful, valiant warrior
HE is come to set you free
To keep you safe
And to bring you victory.
HE is cheered
And HE beams with exceeding joy
And takes pleasure in your presence
HE has engraved a place
For HIMSELF in you
And there HE quietly rests
In HIS love and affection for you.
HE cannot contain HIMSELF at the thought of you
And with the greatest of joy
Spins around wildly
In anticipation over you
And has placed you above all other creations
And in the highest place in HIS priorities
In fact, HE shouts and sings in triumph
Joyfully proclaiming the gladness of HIS heart
In a song of rejoicing...
All because of YOU!!
Blessings upon you all!!!
Phi Alpha Brothers!!! You Did Rise Above!!!
TRIP REFLECTIONS BY BRIAN MEYER
When all of this started, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn’t know anyone I was going on the trip with, I had never hiked or climbed anything close to what I was about to do, and I only had a month and a half to prepare. Because of this, I came into the experience with no expectations and open and excited for whatever awaited.
I’ve spent the past week since coming back from the trip to reflect on my experience. I’ve discovered some general truths. First, you can’t appreciate and understand a culture until you interact with its people. Whether it’s playing sports with school children (they crushed us in soccer but we won in volleyball), spending time in a local village, or having long conversations with guides and porters on the mountain, those individuals have stories, memories, and experiences that tell you more about their culture than any picture, article of clothing, or food (although those are all important parts of ones culture nevertheless). The people I met and interacted with in Tanzania were what made the trip particularly special and meaningful in my opinion.
Second, oftentimes ones struggles are all mental. While climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro was undoubtedly the most difficult thing physically I’ve ever done, what kept myself and I’m sure everyone else climbing was mental fortitude - a combination of determination and perseverance. Staying mentally and emotionally strong required encouragement from fellow climbers, songs and cheers from our guides and porters which lifted our spirit, and undoubtedly prayer to keep us humble, level headed, and spiritually sound. Physically speaking, climbing the mountain was only part of the journey. Having the mental and emotional strength to climb Kili was just as important if not more important.
Lastly, I deepened my understanding about what it means to be a brother in Sigma Alpha Epsilon. While Steve, Keith, Johnny, and myself shared letters, that’s not what made us friends. We shared a common understanding about what it means to be a True Gentleman, a common appreciation for our ritual, and a wealth of stories and experiences we were able to share and laugh over (and we did a lot of laughing)! Did we always see eye to eye? Of course not. Did we come from a common background? Not even close. However, our brotherly bond transcends those differences and made this trip an enjoyable one with my fraternity brothers.
These are only some of the lessons and truths I learned. I also learned not to pee in the wind, I learned how to negotiate with merchants about prices, and I learned how coffee is made! Anyways, I digress. I can’t finish this reflection without thanking Drew Voyles and his team at Beyond Adventures for planning this trip and making it the experience of a lifetime. Thanks to Young Life Africa and its partners in Tanzania for their hospitality throughout the trip. Thank you to the numerous guides and porters who without them we would not have summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. Thank you to Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the Supreme Council, and staff at the Fraternity Service Center for helping spearhead and facilitating this trip.
Most importantly, thank you to all of the amazing and kindhearted people I met during this trip. Rest assured we’ll keep in touch and who knows, maybe a reunion in 2020? Mt. Kilimanjaro anyone?