I was on a mission trip with my parents church in Kenya. 

We did what you would imagine you would do on a mission trip in a third world country.

We built shelters, painted buildings, told Kenyans about Jesus. You know, followed the mission trip playbook.

All of that was great. But what I didn’t know (at the time) was about the experiences outside of the mission trip playbook that we were going to have. 

We spent two nights in glorified tents at a Safari Lodge. 

The place had a watering hole on the property that was protected by a fence and ditch. 

We could see all types of wild animals come to get a drink. Rhinos, Elephants, Gazelles.

The first night we were there, I saw a gazelle run laps around the watering hole and then jump right over that fence and ditch onto the “safe” side of the fence.

My first, and most important thought I had was… If a gazelle can do that, I am pretty sure Mufasa can too!

I did my best to keep that thought suppressed so I could at least enjoy the rest of my time there.

(As far as I know, Mufasa never made his way to our side of the fence)

On the day of our safari trip, I saw things and experienced things I never thought I would.

We saw more elephants, rhinos, a couple of lions, and different types of monkeys.

Then we stopped at the Giraffe Center…

That is when it happened…

An event occurred that may have changed the course of my life from that moment on…

I kissed a giraffe.

What a rush!

I don’t think you have ever truly lived until you have had a giraffes lips and freakishly long tongue make contact with your face.

It was like a rite of passage. 

I gained an enormous amount of Kenyan street cred that day.

The locals were shaking my hand and giving me hugs as if I was one of them. 

Now, I didn’t and still don’t speak the native language of Kenya. They could have been saying I was a dumb white boy who just made out with a giraffe.

I choose to believe that as soon as I swapped spit with that majestic African creature, I became a honorary Kenyan. 

I have the street cred…

I am one of them…

-Matt Webb