Africa.
It's the continent of miracles.
And the continent of BIG expectations.
When I landed in Entebbe, Uganda and looked around the surrounding area of the airport, I stopped short of hyperventilating.
We were surrounded by . . . nothing.
Absolutely nothing on every side.
Not like America "nothing" where they cleared out land to make room for runways.
It was literally, nothing.
I remember thinking: "Oh God, why am I here?"
We piled into a van and headed to our debrief location.
Down a dirt road, where we were certain we'd flip over to our deaths, and into a cute little hotel for a few days of rest, and relaxation.
I ventured into "town" to pick up a few gifts for our team moms.
The "town" consisted of a market place, a bank, and a few other nifty locations to shop.
(Think "western era" and you're almost there.)
I was surrounded by men dressed in business suits,
women dressed in traditional garb.
My senses were overwhelmed by the smell of corn cooking,
the screeching of horns honking,
and the cry of children looking for comfort.
At the ATM, I found myself being backed into a corner by a grown, definitely-high-on-something,
African man who kept repeating, "Good muzungoo, goooood."
After promptly being rescued by one of my fearless men squadmates, I found myself wanting to return to the
airport and board the next flight off of this continent that everyone spoke so highly of.
Unfortunately, the boys I was with took me straight back to the hotel.
Where I wanted nothing more than to shower away the dirtiness I felt I was drowning in
and therefore became the one to discover that our shower didn't actually work.
Cue "break down."
Or more appropriately titled: "Culture Shock."
Thinking back on that first day on the continent of Africa, I can't help but giggle a wee bit.
I was so overwhelmed.
So uncomfortable.
So unsure of why God would call me here.
I found myself questioning so many of
His promises for me while on this continent.
And I failed to see the attacks that were
being thrown my way by the enemy.
I had to stop myself from falling into the self-pity category.
I was determined to enjoy debrief, and spend time with the children that pooled around our gates everyday.
So, I decided to pick myself up, dust off my bottom, and keep walking.
Which, I failed miserably in.
(Unfortunately, when we try to do things on our own, without God, it usually ends up a complete mess.)
And a mess was what I was quickly becoming.
The 7 hour drive from Uganda, to Kigali, Rwanda turned into a 14 hour ride, landing my team into our ministry hosts hands around 12:30AM.
The first few days in Rwanda were a blur for me.
I remember walking to the village, hanging out with the kids, and WANTING to enjoy myself but
struggling against the bad taste that Uganda had left in my mouth about this continent.
I cried out to God, begging to enjoy this place, but not truly meaning it.
Then, God gave me an epiphany!
I was attending a fellow team's church service,
and enjoying the African worship surrounding me.
As I was laughing at the kids doing one of their 'traditional' dances,
God spoke to me a subtle whisper.
He gently reminded me that the continent shouldn't matter.
That all people are His people, if they choose to accept Him.
That I'm here to do HIS will, not what I think I should be doing.
That this is AFRICA, the land of faith and He WILL give me faith
like Ezekiel; if I just believe.
I stood, in shock, at the fact that I had allowed myself to be so blind to the blessing in front of me.
God had placed something so beautiful right under my nose,
and I refused to smell it.
But . . . now I am.
I let Him pick me up and dust me off.
I let Him show me the beauty He'd placed before me.
I bask in it's fragrance everyday.
We are in AFRICA.
The continent of MIRACLES.
In a way, I feel like Rahab must have felt.
To be a woman of her profession, so profusely believing in God that she is willing to put her own
life in danger, in the hopes that God would allow her to become one of His children.
I bet she was super overwhelmed and unsure of herself but STRONG in her FAITH and BELIEF.
I believe she was attacked by the enemy on all sides.
But she held strong because she knew her purpose was about more than her comfort and security.
Her purpose was in God's hands, and she was okay with that.
And look at Rahab. She helped Israel take their very first piece of the promise land.
AND, God used her in the lineage of the blood line of the Messiah.
He is forever faithful.
He is forever sovereign.
And He is forever present.
Whilst in the land of Africa, I will pray that I never forget that.
Ever.
<3tasha.
