Day 1: Arusha, Tanzania
Today marks the beginning of an incredible journey! Everyone has arrived safely at the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania and we are staying at the Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania. Similar to Mount Kilimanjaro, which is comprised of three volcano cones, Mount Meru is also a dormant volcano and stands at 14,968 ft. Lets hope our climbers have good weather on Kilimanjaro, because on a clear day you can see Mount Meru from Kilimanjaro which is 43 miles west! (See the map below).
CLIMBER BLOG ENTRY
Why would someone willingly choose to come on a trip like this? How does Drew convince people Year after year to do it? After all, you spend a lot of money, travel nearly half-way around the world, endure severe jet lag caused by flying against the rotation of the earth across 7 time zones, experience numerous travel inconveniences, including shrinking airplane bathrooms, cramped seats if you’re not in first class, and that forever ubiquitous airline food. Sounds enticing …. doesn’t it?
We each have our different reasons. But all have made the choice. I submit that when you scratch beneath the surface, each of us contain in our inner core, our DNA, a God-given desire for adventure. To go, as Drew describes it – “beyond ourselves“. Oh yes. There are other reasons as well. Couples wanting to experience a major life event together, fathers and mothers seeking to grow closer to their children, and sons and daughters wanting to grow close and experience something special with their parents. …. and maybe still get them to pay for it.
Our modern culture works against each of these things. What things? Time in honest conversation. In community. In relationships. The relentless onslaught of technology that consumes our time, also prevents the fostering and nurturing of deep relationships. In many ways, we think iPads, and smartphones improve our life and makes things easier, but in other ways they rob us of the simple joys of living. The space in our days that used to be filled with face to face communication, or listening to the radio,or reading a book. Or simply thinking, or even better ….. meditating. That time margin is now gone…… and with it some of the rich personal relationships and depth of character formation that was a mark of our forebears.
If we observe closely our brothers and sisters in Africa, we see that time margin we have lost. As the African proverb says – “Westerners have the watches, but Africans have the time…..” Not contented with the perceived lack of productivity in the Sub-Saharan portion of the continent, however, we have forced on them our way of doing things, and with that, their time margin is slowly being stolen away as well, as they embrace all the modernities of western technology, communication, and “civilization“.
Well…… Into that sociological and anthropological maelstrom, each of us has found our way – through New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, and even Addis Ababa to our ultimate destination – the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, Tanzania. And then to the Mount Meru Hotel for day one of our journey. Ranging in age from 19 to 67, with a variety of backgrounds, incomes, and family experiences, 24 adventurous souls from around the country hailing as far as California, New York, and Southern Indiana with a large group from Atlanta, are now here ! And several of our wonderful senior Young Life national leaders from Tanzania, including Alexis Kwamy, and Southern Africa/Zimbabwe leader Nkosi Sampindi, have joined us for the next 14 days of trekking and travel.
The Mount Meru Hotel is a definite step up and quality from the earlier properties Drew’s teams have stayed at. Although in need of a few capital dollars spent on FF & E – the real estate industry term for furniture, fixtures and equipment – the hotel is a first class property, with great food, abundant amenities, beautiful grounds, and a staff eager to please. Definitely a nice launching off point for the adventure we have ahead of us – our Band of Brothers……