It’s hard to believe I’ve been back in Africa for almost a month now.
It’s so strange how five weeks ago I couldn’t imagine a life across the world, and kind of feared it, but now my South African life just feels normal. I wake up every morning, workout, have my coffee, read my bible, eat breakfast then start my day. This seems normal enough. The next steps of my day are not hopping in my car and driving to the office anymore though, now I start my day by squishing into a van with a big group of friends and driving into the schools, communities and townships around Johannesburg, South Africa to spend time with the people who call this area of the world home.
My South African life fills my heart and I’m able to see different passions inside of me come alive. When in America, I love marketing and working in a corporate setting. I love challenging projects and seeing hard work lead to success. I love community at home and pouring into those around me but in Africa, I have the opportunity to live and love differently. I can walk into the communities and love hurting people firsthand. I get to pour into people who have little room for the hopes and dreams that are readily available to us in the United States. I love holding children who don’t get the love and affection they crave. I love mentoring my squad through the emotional hardships that come with walking through the World Race. I love it all, and I wonder how The Lord will squish all these loves together when I return to America in four months. I have no idea, but I’m excited, knowing His plan for my life far exceeds anything I could ever think up – it certainly has so far.
As I experience more of life and my eyes are opened to different facets of what this world holds, I’m constantly reminded that all humans are really just the same. Whether in South Africa or America, people are people and my life abroad is teaching me how to truly see those around me.
Initially, the first aspects we notice about people are their behaviors. How they communicate, work, relate to others and decisions they make. Often times, after we observe those around us we begin to draw conclusions. In our minds, we begin to place people in boxes – our peers are strange, nice, rude, inconsiderate, confident, self-conscious, selfish – and the list goes on and on. I’m learning though, that people’s behaviors are not really who they are at all. All these behaviors are a result of something much deeper than that, behaviors are a result of life experiences, and hurts, that no human is immune to.
How many times have you met someone who immediately rubs you the wrong way? Maybe they’re loud, abrasive or opinionated. Those are behaviors that can push people away and cause you to quickly write someone off. I believe though, in those situations there is always a why. Typically, it is a past wound that has been hidden over years and years of life and the behavior is simply the fruit of a very deep root. This person could have grown up in an unhealthy home where their voice was never heard, or opinion was never acknowledged. Years of striving to be seen can create an abrasive personality – but underneath that facade is just a little kid that wants to be seen, known and heard.
During my time in South Africa I’ve noticed something about the children we visit and spend time with. Some of these little ones love to be loved on. They crave attention and will crawl all over us, seeking love and physical touch from the crew that comes to sing, dance and play with them. I love the sweet moments of having multiple little ones sitting on my lap and playing with my hair. We experience these excited and expectant children but I’ve noticed there is also a second group and demeanor present. Some of the children keep their distance and seem aloof or even scared of our presence. They look at us wide eyed and don’t approach or seek attention. They participate, but with a cautious and suspicious nature. I believe that both approaches are a result of upbringing and life circumstances. Many of these children come from extremely hard places and the roots that are being planted are beginning to build behaviors. My time here has allowed me to witness the process of some of these deep roots beginning to form.
My role in South Africa is to love those around me during the time I have here. To pour in and to leave them with the hope of Christ that can certainly sustain them through life’s challenges and hardships. I can’t help but think of these little children though, when I encounter adults with abrasive behaviors or hard personalities, and the roots that are formed at an impressionable age that made them this way.
Focusing only on the behavior can cause us to write people off before giving them the chance to show us who they really are, to show us the person behind the behavior. I am moving forward with intentional eyes to see more than what’s on the surface. I am challenging myself to look deeper because everyone has walked through something hard – in Africa, America and everywhere in-between.
My time in South Africa has been unbelievable and I will be sad to say goodbye to Johannesburg in a few days. My squad and I will be heading to Nelspruit, South Africa on Thursday and will remain there until we arrive in Zimbabwe mid-September.
Thank you for all your love, prayers and support! All my love <3
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
James 19-21
