Safari Day

Thursday July 5, 2007


We left Colombo on Thursday at 4 a.m. and traveled to Kataragama. That bus ride took approximately ten hours. It was an adventure to say the least. When we arrived in Kataragama, we were greeted by the hotel staff and an elephant that had a gift of flowers for us which he gave to Pastor Davis and Sister Vicky. Along the journey south we traveled along the coastline. The view was breathtaking. There were mountains and waterfalls that we could get lost staring at.We stopped several times along the way and saw many places that had been destroyed by the Tsunami. Many of them have been and are now being rebuilt. The Tsunami left 900,000 homeless and 41,000 dead. The water rose to as high as 280 feet. We passed by a clock tower that had been completely covered and not visible when the Tsunami hit it. One evidence of this destruction was a portion of a solid concrete railroad track that was twisted and lifted from the ground by the Tsunami killing 1400 people. The train was taken off the track and dragged one mile. I couldn’t believe we were driving through the exact place where the Tsunami hit. It was heartbreaking yet hopeful at the same time, as we saw the people rebuilding and restoring their homes.

We stopped and ate breakfast at a restaurant on the beach that had been destroyed by the Tsunami. In fact, this was the same seaside resort that Brother and Sister Mathiasz usually go to for vacation every year right after Christmas to spend a few days of rest and relaxation. Many of you may remember Brother Mathiasz's testimony on the reason why they were not there at the time that the Tsunami hit Sri Lanka. Since December 26th fell on a Sunday that year, they did not go to the restaurant because Brother Mathiasz insists on never missing a Sunday service. Because of his faithfulness, God spared their lives. However, because this resort had such sentimental meaning to the Mathiasz's, they have given money to help rebuild so that the business could get back on its feet. The family who owns the restaurant are Buddhists and they appreciate Brother and Sister Mathiasz's kindness and generosity so much. They fed us a wonderful breakfast right there on the beach which we really enjoyed. After breakfast, we all gathered around and prayed for the owner and her family. They smiled and shook our hands in appreciation.



When we arrived at the hotel in Kataragama, we were greeted by the
staff and an elephant that had a gift of flowers for us. The elephant
gave Pastor Davis and Sister Vickie a flower. There was a sign hanging
in the front of the hotel welcoming Pastor Davis and all of us to
their hotel. After our welcoming greeting, we had just enough time to
collect our luggage, freshen up and have a quick lunch before our 3
hour safari ride. We rode in the back of Safari-style Land Rover
Jeeps along dirt roads through the Safari. Needless to say, we all
got a good amount of dirt on us. We saw monkeys, deer, water
buffalos, elephants, Jackals, eagles, crocodiles, rare birds, and a
leopard. There were not as many animals out as usual because of the
hour of the day. The animals are usually seen roaming around in the
earlier hours of the day and since we arrived in Kataragama in the
late afternoon, the animals were resting in the shade.

Thursday night, we visited many Buddhist and Hindu Temples and
Shrines. We visited the most sacred Shrine in Sri Lanka. As we walked
toward the temples and shrines, we passed many stands selling flowers
and fruit. These things were not being sold as food to eat. They were
taken as offerings to their gods. Also along the way to the shrines
there was a river where the people wash before they step into the
shrines. There was a sign that led into the fenced off area that read
when translated, 'This is holy ground so come in as a holy man.' We
saw the way they worshipped, sacrificed, and gave offerings to their
gods. They spent hours sitting outside their temples bare-footed and
knelt before the shrines of their gods. We will not forget the incredible devotion and sacrifices that these people have to their gods.