When Elephants fight

(Note: We went to the park on Thursday April 30, 2009)
During the youth training week, one of the presenters, Boni, an evangelist from a nearby town,
shared about the great controversy and spiritual warfare. It was really interesting for us all.
I very muched appreciated the way he described our position in the war over souls. He said
that when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers. Thus we have two big elephants, God and
Satan, both have been battling for Kingship of earth, through Jesus, God has already won,
but the defeated elephant (Satan) is still trying to kill as much grass as possible. He explained
that the grass did not really choose to suffer like this. While humans did choose to follow Satan,
we could still be considered innocent grass. In the end though God wants to save us from Satan
trompings.
This is an odd introduction to my actual story but what I saw today is why I mention the illustration.
Today we hit the road at 5AM, we being our missionary team of Uli and her husband, Toussaint, Suzy,
her two charges, Donné and Severen, Manny and I. We headed out in a burgundy and white Toyota 4Runner
for Pendjari (pronounced Pend-jar-ee). What's Pendjari? Ah a very interesting question indeed; of which
I have no answer (I really should have asked that at the front desk). In any case, despite not knowing the meaning
of the word I do know where it is. It is the Pendjari National Game Park of Benin. Just about two hours north of
Natitingou. We hired a guide, well Toussaint talked to a friend of his who takes "tourists" up there (far be it from us
to be called tourists, we do live here). It was a nice trip, bumpy once we hit the dirt road. Coming back I was
actually wondering if we took the same road, because it seems I conked out at our departature and did not
wake up until later.
We entered the park with gusto and fervor, on our way to find lions, cheetahs, elephants, crocodiles,
water buffalo (everyone has one already, but at least these ones are wild), antelope, cantelope (just kidding),
and more. Unfortunately this park is animalist againts giraffes and rhinos and zebras, or something
like that, in any case there aren't any. Less than five minutes after entering through the big gates, we
saw the rear of large grey animal, an elephant. It was fleeing across the road, and we watched it disappear
in to the loose forest. We purchased a map at the front gate, that told us what time the animals come, of course
our driver probably could have told us in his sleep. But for our eyes it was good to have information.
We continued along and some antelope and deer.
Our first destination was a local watering hole. There was an observatory there, where we could wathc the
whole thing. There wasn't amazing animals you could say, but to me just looking out over a real in the wild
watering hole was pretty nifty! We did see some crocodiles, as a large hippo with a baby. But mostly she had
her large rump turned toward so we did not see much of the head, but neat-o none the less.
We continued our journey, and things go real exciting. We spotted more antelope, this one we saw sitting on
the ground, didn't move or anything, then we heard a whistle, I told the person whistling to be quiet, knowing
Severen unique ability. But then we saw that the antelope was whistling through his nose. He would strain his neck
and blow very hard, you could see his whole body tensing up. It was very amusing. We then saw some waterbucks,
like deer but with slightly twisting horns, pretty cool looking. We also some big animals of whom I do not know the name, but
they were also like deer, but much larger and stockier. We got a look at some wild boars (Poomba, but no Timone), then we got a real
good sight real, elephants! And lots of them. We counted something like 11 or 13 of them, some babies, and some adults. There
were quite a distance, but with our binoculars we could see them well! Our driver said some people spend several days in
the park and never see a single one! We kept driving and the road turned and we were able to see them even better.
Because of the presence of little ones we gave them space and kept on going. But right up ahead another elephant
was crossing the road, a male and female. The crossed and we watched the big male have a nice meal of leaves. Well we
didn't stay to watch the whole feast, as elephants can eat alot. We continued to another watering hole this time without an observatory,
but we were still able to see some birds and some more hippos.
Our drive continued (there are something like 500Km of road in the park and so we had plenty to drive, and we still
did not see it all), and we saw a family of baboons with papa baboon leading the way, while the little ones play en route.
We some more wild boar too. Antelope were all along the way, herds grazing. We traveled some distance along the Pendjari river
for whom the park is named. The other side of the river is Burkina Faso. (I always seem to end up in or near B countries, went to Belize
and Benin as overseas trips, maybe next is Bahamas or Barbados, fat chance!)
We returned to the original watering hole, and waited some time for what the Africans call, "The King", no not Elvis, but "The king of the forest", the lion. No lion, but we did get a better look at the hippo and crocodiles. We also were treated by five water buffalo that
came for a drink, and some antelope too. The crocodiles got in a fight and one made a rapid swim through the water that was interesting.
But too soon the time to go had come. We hoped in the 4runner and headed for the exited, did not see much on the way out, but
we were all quite tired as well.
The trip was a great one to be remembered. While I've been to African Lion Safari in Cambridge, and lots of zoos, and such
this was special because the animals were really wild. They could really kill us! Well that was the exciting part, it was more so
just to see them in their natural habitat. We were really in no danger with our vehicle we could speed along, well and protected.
And the park stictly prohibits you from getting out of your vehicle. God must have a heavy heart over his creation, so tainted from
its original beauty, but yet there are still amazing sights, that attests to God's wonderfulness and love!