My eyes flutter open at the crack of dawn – a rooster crowing, people worshipping, babies crying, African beats playing over a loud speaker. I fumble out of the mosquito net that surrounds our bed and slip my sandals on to make my way to the “squatty potty” – a small concrete structure with a hole in the ground. I think my leg muscles will be stronger at the end of this trip! I greet the local women, bent over a fire, preparing the morning “chai” as I fetch some water to brush my teeth. The sun is beginning to warm up the cool air (it’s winter now in the Southern Hemisphere).
Africans do an exceptional job at serving – they are eager to welcome us into their homes, cook meals, do laundry, clean and offer a drink; we are certainly well-cared for. The pace of life is much slower and their days are filled with simple activities to sustain life, rather than enjoy it.
I walk down the dusty, red dirt road, pass goats, cows, and chickens. The locals wave and say “how are you?” (to which the only acceptable response is, “I am fine thank you”). Children in their frayed school uniforms come running towards us with open arms and big toothy smiles. The sole indication of gender is whether or not they wear a dress since nearly everyone has a shaved head.
Bathing is a chore that requires a little bit of planning ahead. The water must be brought from a well some distance away, by bicycle, to fill the big black reservoir outside our house. We then fill a basin, go behind a simple structure made of sticks and a tarp and use a mug to pour the water over ourselves. Water is scarce, so we find creative ways to preserve the amount that we have. Something I will never take for granted again is access to a clean, hot shower, with high pressure and a bathtub whenever I want. Although I must admit, I do love showering with cool water under the hot African sun.
Most Africans are intrigued by “mzungus” (white people) and love to practice their English and ask questions about what life is like in North America. Many are naive to the world around them and don’t know where Canada is or how to fathom the concept of indoor plumbing. It amazes me how under-developed this continent really is. In Kenya, I was reading a book that took place in France during WWII; life was so much more advanced there then (70 years ago), than it is here now. I believe this is due to a lack of education and corrupt government systems. Many children can’t afford to attend school, and even when they can, many schools don’t have proper resources. There are often two or three error-laden books for a room of 20 students and the overall organization of the institution is extremely deficient.
Ministry in Africa has been unlike anything else I’ve done. Our contacts take advantage of the colour of our skin to pave in-roads in their communities. They are hard working men and women of God who are passionate about reaching every last soul and sharing the word of the Lord. They say that their neighbours need a fresh face and that they are more willing to listen to a mzungu. So we enter their homes, share bible verses, teach about Jesus, pray for healings and fellowship together. One day we even sat outside a lady’s home and helped her shell thousands of beans before going inside.
Africans are passionate people who experience the reality of God in every facet of life. They need God; sometimes they don’t have anything else. They need food, but they rely on their crops, so they pray for favourable weather and growing conditions. They need medicine, but they can’t afford a doctor, and even if they could, he might not be of much help, so they pray for healing and wait for it to happen. Africans worship for hours upon hours; they dance like they’re made of jello, and lift their voices, like a wild animal searching for a mate.
Waking up in Africa for the past two months has been a crazy, eye-opening experience. I’ve recognized many things that I take for granted at home and yearned to change the lives of many. I’ve seen injustice and poverty like never before, and met people who can’t do anything more, but rely on the strength of the Lord.
