WATCH THIS VIDEO FIRST.
I am back in the good ole United States! I must admit I faced a bit of culture shock today riding along driving on what I now consider the “wrong” side of the road, not seeing a legion of honking taxis breaking every traffic law, no African ladies carrying large loads on their heads, no kids jumping up and down at the sight of the Impact Africa van. It’ll take some getting used to!
I am here in the states for about a month as I make preparations to head back out on the field. Some of you were aware I was planning to go to Thailand next but a few things have caused that plan to be postponed! I know I’ll get there someday but for now I’ll focus in on getting ready for Christmas for the Orphans.
Earlier I was thinking of the beautiful African people and just the suffering they face all the time. Each day is another drama or another trauma. Maybe it’s no money for food, death of a friend or family member, friends caught in a shack fire, intense racism, so many kids with aids, a lack of medicine, cults around every cornering trying to convince you that they are correct (so you should give them your money)…even with all these things facing them they have hearts to praise “the God.” Even through the trials, every person is greeted with a huge smile and each handshake is given with honor. There’s such a deep joy and such a depth of hunger for God.
What a beautiful people, truly a gift from God to know them. The joy of the African people really is unmatched. I thought of 2 Corinthians 4.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b] Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
I am so grateful to have been and to be a part of an organization who loves people so well…providing a safe place for kids to learn, jobs for people in communities where jobs are so scarce, classes to equip and counseling to strengthen new moms, plus consistent friendship and discipleship on an individual basis in the squatter camps. What a blessing to know all who work for Impact Africa, both the Americans and Africans! This tour of a duty is complete but praying and looking forward to more. If you haven’t been to Africa yet, get your passport, and you are going next summer!
p.s. Sala Kahle means “stay well” in Zulu. Kind of a way of saying goodbye.
p.s.s. I’d love to visit you or speak at your church as I’m headed to a few states to find some new partners in this journey of international ministry. Send me a message!
Find the World 