All three months of our time in Africa were very different from each other. In South Africa, we lived in the suburbs of Pretoria, the capital of South Africa. We stayed on a large, beautiful, gated property with our hosts. We worked mainly with young adults living in the local township, Mamelodi. In Swaziland, we lived at an orphanage on top of a mountain, away from any city or store. We were isolated from outside contact and poured into our kids most of the month. In Mozambique, we lived with our host’s family while we poured into the church, community, and neighboring communities. We lived life with a family strongly structured in the spirit and what God has asked them to do for the kingdom.
From these three very different experiences, I have compiled a list of 11 new perspectives that I will take home with me from my time in Africa. Each country was so different from the next, so each new perspective does not apply to all of Africa. Enjoy:
- Africa is not just a huge village in the middle of the bush; there are modern civilizations!
We saw this very strongly in South Africa. My expectations of Africa were that we would be in the bush the whole three month, eating bizarre animals, and really “roughing” it. However, there were many comforts of the western world in each country: streetlights in South Africa, hot showers in Swaziland, and ice cold pop in Mozambique.
- Corruption is a human flaw. It knows no limitations.
There is corruption everywhere we wander. You hear about government officials stealing money and using it to buy fancy new cars or to build new homes, while their people go starving in 1-room tin shacks. It infuriates you that this can be happening, but, you can’t do anything except love on those who are suffering and pray for those who are stuck in the material things of this world. This same exact thing happens here in Africa. Government steal grant money that is supposed to go to the people, and instead uses it to finance their luxurious lifestyle, leaving the rest of their people hungry and barely scraping by.
- Always walk on the shady side of the road
The African sun is HOT! Going from out in the sun to under the shade of a large tree changes the temperature by at least 20 degrees. It’s even hotter if you have to work or walk around in its rays. So, you always walk and sit in the shade. Just makes logical sense.
- Luke warm Christians don’t happen often
There is such openness to the spiritual warfare in Africa. Most people have personally seen or experienced some manifestation of it, and because of such, they can’t live lukewarm lives. They are all in. They live their lives every day for Christ. They oray with authority, dance during worship, and when they sing you can feel the Spirit there.
- Church is wherever you are
We are the church. We can have church in the middle of a field or under a tin roof on a concrete slab or in a nice air-conditioned building. The church is wherever we are, and wherever we are is the church. We bring it with us everywhere we go.
- Flies, knats, bugs. Oh my!
I come from Minnesota, which is sometimes jokingly referred to not as the “land of 10,000 lakes” but as the “land of 10,000 mosquitoes”. I have dealt with their buzzing and bites for many years. I thought I knew it all… Surprise, I didn’t have a clue. My feet, legs, and arms are currently covered in small bites that carry an unsatisfying itch. It was brought to a whole new level in Africa. Along with mosquitoes, there were so many flies and knats. They would swarm you every time you brought out something to eat. I will never complain as easily about bugs as I had in the past!
- It is okay to rest
It is okay to just hangout. It is okay to just read the word and hang with your people. It is okay to not have a list of things to do each day. It is okay to take quiet time for yourself. It is okay to just go with the flow. It is all going to be okay if you aren’t constantly moving every minute of every day!
- Wi-Fi….?
What’s Wi-Fi? In America if the Wi-Fi is a little slow, we struggle, but in Africa if you can even afford to pay for the Wi-Fi, that is lucky. It’s even luckier if you can actually connect to the Wi-Fi! It has been three months of growing my appreciation for the little things especially the ease of communication in America.
- African wardrobe
African wear is a perfectly mismatched, matching, especially in Mozambique. They would wear tons of colors together, all different types of patterns, and somehow, it would look amazing each time. I watched as myself and a few teammates also began to open our clothing horizon. We became more comfortable breaking off the American “always looking perfect” façade.
10. Shaking it in church
The Lord loves when we praise Him. He loves it even more if we praise Him how we were made to and not just how we are told we should. One of my favorite experiences this past month was the dance break that would break out in the middle of church service in Mozambique. The first Sunday I couldn’t believe what was happening, but by our last Sunday, a bunch of us hopped up and joined. It is a way that God has given us to worship Him, and I plan on continuing with it!
11. Time is so important for love
Spending time with those you love is very important to the people we have met. It is a wonderful way that you get to know people. You find out their likes and dislikes by being around them. You hear stories from their past and understand more of who they are. You grow a fondness of whom they truly are. It is how we form relationships in community, on the race, and with our hosts. It is also how we form a relationship with God. He wants our time. He wants us to sit with Him and just rest.
Wonderful update! I received over $1,800 in donations last month while away from the internet. Thank you so much to everyone who donated! Your generosity is such a blessing!
I am still $1,425 away from being fully fund!! My deadline to be fully funded is the 1st of July. Please help by supporting me! Every penny helps advance the kingdom.
Many blessings.
