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Why I am not an African?? (part 1)
I have been asking myself lately – “why was I born an American??” Why am I not a Kenyan or Ugandan? As I travel throughout each county I see people time and time again working under the hot sun from early in the morning to late that night using the most basic of tools to till up the land for farming. They don't have the luxuries of power tools which require an 1/8 of the effort and do the same task ten times as fast. Seeing these type of things has brought a turmoil within my soul. I ask myself……”Why am I not the one working day after day in the fields? Why is it that I pass person after person who has little hope of ever leaving there poor ridden country while I travel to 11 countries over 11 months? Why am I who I am?”….
I don't believe in superstition or in chance. I can't help but believe there is a reason for the time and place where I have been born. As I travel in Kenya and Uganda people are always talking about America, “America is a superpower” they say with huge smiles and an unspoken longing to experience life in a country where things are luxurious. Compared to the standards that the majority of these people live at even the poor in America seem to have much more then most of these people. I have been in many homes here in Africa where their entire home is smaller than a small room in our American homes. Running water? No. Bathroom? Outside. Shower? A community one. Electricity? Not common. Stove? Nope…use coal to cook everything. Shoes? Sometimes. Clothing? Whatever you can find. But when I look at the people I am still so impressed.
The people here are strong. Physically, mentally and emotionally. Guys here, while skinny, are “ripped” physically because of labor they perform on a daily basis. So many of the people I meet are extremely educated. If you just look at the living standards you might think they are uneducated and un-knowledgeable but I have found the opposite to be true. They take education very seriously. Many times in talking to youth I would find that they are waking up early in the morning (5am after going to bed after midnight) to study….on their summer vacation!!! That is unheard of in America!! They are a smart, educated people. So why are they struggling so much? Why aren’t they a “super power” in the world? Why are things the way they are? Why are they who they are and I am who I am?….an American.
Serving Him
Billy
