Well -- today was another crazy day! Unfortunately I don't have long to type (about 7 minutes!) but I'll make it quick!
This morning at 8 we got a SMS from Mike and Kalyn saying "6 baby whales beached at kommetkie! They need help! If you hae swimsuits, come!). We within five minutes loaded the VW microbus (which comfortably seats 10) with 21 of us and headed to the beach. They were actually wrong about the number...there were 55! And they were full grown. Most of us immediately jumped in the water and started helping trying to drag the pilot whales back into the water.
Juli (being the magnificent reporter she is) found the head of the Environmental department for this part of South Africa and got the scoop. They were full grown. They were waiting on the alpha male to lead the rest out. Some of them weren't strong enough to even get past the breakers.
We did what we could and spent a couple hours helping get most of them at least in the water. As we left all of our team was so excited for the experience. a) most of us got to touch whales (i helped carry three out to the water, for example) and b) we felt like we were seeing God's redemptive power work in His creation in a way that we hadn't before. If people like us weren't there to help, they would have died on the beach. While they are whales and not humans, there is something about stewardship (particularly creation care) that begs us help in this small way.
This afternoon we are tying up loose ends and getting all of the hungry (for Jesus) people that we've met together and introduced in some way to long termers. Tomorrow we will be saying goodbyes, debriefing, and heading back to the states.
Pray for favor and safety as we finish up and as we travel tomorrow and Monday.
Look for pictures too when we get back!
Brandon