On April 2nd, I left Africa and I’m not sure of the next time I’ll be back. I spent the past three months working alongside three different ministries, getting to know three different countries and three different people groups.
As I reflect on my time in Africa, I find there is one common theme I saw in all my travels and in all the different churches and ministries I visited: joy.
Coming on the race, I thought I had an idea of what joy was, what it meant, and what it looked like. But then I got to Africa and I realized I had no idea what truly rejoicing in the Lord, making joyful noises, and dancing for the Lord meant.
During many of the church services, there was dancing, there was yelling, there was singing at the top of your lunges, and generally not caring what people around you thought. The people in Africa really truly embodied what joy is.
So, as I leave Africa for the time being, I want to take that joy with me. I want to leave here changed, and changed for the better. I’ve seen true joy, and now I really can never go back to the imitation of joy I lived in for so long.
I’m going to dance for the Lord, I’m going to sing for the Lord, I’m going to make joyful noises to the Lord.
Thank you Africa for what you’ve taught me. I can’t wait to bring that joy with me and spread it across all of my other travels this year.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118: 24
