1/28/08 - CAMEL ATTACK!

I am retroactively updating my blog since I couldn't access it from overseas. All the headers were in Arabic for the first half of my trip, and then poor internet access became the issue. This post was from an email I sent to my supporters on Jan. 28th...

Hi all,

I miss you so much! I don't have too much time to write, and it's overwhelming to try to tell you all that's going on. I've been away from email from several days b/c we went on an excursion to the desert. I have lots of stories to tell, most of which can be told better through pictures, but I'm having a hard time uploading my pics onto my blog and onto a Picasa web shared album b/c I'm on the hotel lobby computer. So for now I'll just attach a few here and there.

The first pic attached is of me getting henna this morning from a Bedoin (sp?) woman out at the desert camp we stayed at last night. The Bedoins are gypsies of various tribes. We stayed in their region for two nights at two different desert camps. Yesterday we were able to snowski and snowboard on the dunes and then went dune-bashing in 4-wheel drive SUVs, which was INSANE. You won't believe it til you see the pics. I was really scared at first b/c I was in a car being driven by one of us Americans. It wasn't until I switched to a car being driven by the local guy that I was able to relax and totally enjoy it. He's been driving these dunes since he was nine, so that just put me at ease. This is a camp that our local friends here take groups to several times a year. Pray for the people who run the camps, for blessings on their families, and that God would draw them near to Him.

The other pic is of a village boy we saw on the drive to the desert. We were driving slow through a little village and stopped for something and saw this boy playing with four kittens that couldn't have been more than a day or two old. He was soooo happy playing with them and was excited to share his joy with us on the side of the road.

I have a scary story to tell -- mom, dad, Carolyn, and Kathy: close your eyes for a minute -- on the first day of our drive to the desert we stopped the cars to take pics of wild camels that were on the side of the road. Long story short I think there were too many of us too close to one of them, and I was the closest to him and happened to maybe look him in the eye too long or something, who knows why but he all of a sudden charged me. In an instant I knew I had to run for my life or be trampled by this huge beast. Something told me to suddenly zig-zag ala my powderpuff football quarterback-style moves (as seen in the BHS class of '90 yearbook). Just as I zig-zagged I threw my arm above my head and behind me to block just as his hoof or head or something came down and hit it. My arm hurt all day and is now bruised, and I was really shaken up for an hour or so, but overall I was not hurt considering how dangerous the situation was.

Since then it's been hard not to think about it, and in a weird way I've been pretty deeply affected by the incident. It's the first time I've ever had to run for my life, which is a weird feeling. One time when I was 13 I had to swim for my life when a boat was coming straight at me in the lake, but since then I can't recall feeling this feeling, and this camel thing was definitely worse. For the first day or so I kept replaying the scene over and over in my head, not being able to shake that moment of fear when I knew he was coming after me. It all happened so fast that I didn't really have an accurate picture of what went on. It wasn't until the next day that I actually got all the stories from the others about what they saw happen. The first day everyone was just trying to let the dust settle and get my mind on other things.

Apparently when the camel started to charge he was practically on me within just two big steps of his long legs. Then he reared up, which is (I'm told) right about the time I did my zig-zag. On the way I threw my left arm up and behind me to protect my head. Either his head or foot (they think his head) hit my arm and then somehow I got away and he went the other direction chasing some of the others briefly and then stopping. I know the holy spirit was what prompted me to zig-zag at that exact moment, but I literally shudder when I let my mind go to a place of wondering what would have happened had I not moved in that way in that instant. It's not healthy or productive to think about that, but naturally I was shaken up and kept thinking about that the rest of that day and the next. I'm always looking for spiritual metaphors in things lately, and I can't help but equate it to my spiritual walk. I think of the certain death I was headed towards before God rescued me, and I shudder to think of what would have been had he not stepped in. But I shouldn't fixate on that, rather on his mercy and love and promises of future grace. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Another interesting side note about the camel incident is that I didn't even have my sandals on all the way. I had slipped my toes into my Teva straps but hadn't fastened the strap around my heel. And we were on this bed of little rocks, in what they call a Wadi, which is a dried up river bed. So, the footing was shifty and insecure. How I was able to turn on a dime the way I did I'll never really know.

This morning I conquered my new fear of camels by going on a camel ride. This one was muzzled and leashed, so it wasn't so bad, and actually I really enjoyed it!! I'll send pics in a separate email so they go through.

Please send me updates on your lives and what's going on in Austin and cities you live in. I'm already feeling a tiny bit homesick and really really like hearing about you guys b/c it helps me feel connected. I may not be able to respond one-on-one, but know that I am reading them all!!

Attached is a picture of the guilty camel. You can tell by the look on his face that he is about to go postal on me.

Love to all,
Susan

1/28/08