This Is Africa (TIA)
Key of World Race Terms:
Squad: 36 people we are traveling country to country with around the world
Team: 6 people that are living, doing ministry, and growing together month in and month out.
First and foremost, thank you to all of our supporters out there! I wouldn’t be writing this if it wasn’t for your generosity.
So, this is my first blog post, ever. What you are about to read isn’t going to be ground-breaking, earth-shattering, or even life-changing. It is simply a glimpse into what our day to day has looked like for the past couple of weeks.
Bethany and I left Phoenix for Atlanta on the 7th of January. We had a few more days of training before we left the country headed to South Africa on the 10th. After a 16-hour flight, 4-hour bus ride, 4-hour “nights sleep” in a hostel and another 4-hour bus ride we had arrived at our first pit stop, Maputo, Mozambique, which happens to be the capital of the country.
Maputo was only a few of our squad mate’s ministry host location for the month. Most of the teams were dispersing to some smaller cities around the capital. Though we were only at the ministry, Beacon of Hope, for a couple of hours, I got some of the best advice from Angie, the ministry host. She said, TIA: This Is Africa. Basically, it applies to everything. Let me show you what I mean.
When you tack on another 4 hours to your 18-hour bus ride because it breaks down a block from where you departed. And then you remember, TIA.
When we arrive at our ministry for the month, Kedesh Santuario, a boys orphanage, and a member of another team passes out from dehydration. Yep, TIA.
When one of our team members, Eric, gets bitten by a dog, TIA. Don’t worry though, its vaccinations are up to date.
When you wake up after your first night’s stay to see that your teammate Chris has puked all over the ground before he could make it to the toilet, TIA.
When I realize I won’t really feel clean this month because I’m bathing in pond water, TIA as well. You find stuff on yourself after you bucket shower.
When I find that I can’t sleep past an hour before sunrise because that is when the roosters crow, guess I’m up, that’s TIA.
When it sounds like someone is hammering a metal stake in the middle of the night but never finishes, TIA. Apparently it’s called a Night Jay here. Check it out on youtube for me.
When you find out your honeymoon suite has been double booked and the other occupants are two mice, you guessed it, TIA.
When you wake up to all the boys the floor below screaming in Portuguese, “Thief! Thief! Thief!”. This IS Africa.
When the power goes out daily for 2-14 hours at a time, TIA.
When the you are reminded of a Texas summer and realize how terrible the world is without air conditioning. TIA. But really, 100 degrees and 80% humidity is lovely.
When the well runs out of water and there is nothing to drink, TIA. It is safe to say we know were the best places are to buy bottled water.
When you find out you are riding in style on a bed bus for your 18-hour travel day, TIA. It’s seriously awesome.
When you find out every night after dinner is movie night and popcorn on the make-shift projector banner, TIA.
When you realize a boy of 13 knows twice as much as you about everything handy, TIA.
When the rains come and there is an almost audible sigh of relief heard throughout the community, TIA.
When your team gets beat by a bunch of adolescents in volleyball 6 games to nill, TIA.
When you help the boys with their chores like chopping wood, herding cattle, fetching water, and prepping dinner, TIA.
When you fit 5 Americans in a 3 passenger Chapella and all the locals can’t stop staring/laughing, TIA.
When you come to appreciate the blessing of Sabbath, TIA.
When you are struck by the unbelievable beauty and pureness of an African sunset, TIA.
When you find the perfect place to hang your hammock in the shade of the cashew trees, TIA.
When you see Gods Word at work in the lives of 35 boys and 6 adults, TIA.
When your team begins to feel like a family and not six strangers, TIA.
When you realize that ministry isn’t about what you build but about what you impart, TIA.
When God shows you that “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” TIA.
This is Africa.
Bethany and I head to Malawi in about a week for our next month of ministry. We will post an update on that soon! In case you were wondering we are still about $5,600 short of our final fundraising goal of $33,124. We are fully confident that God is going to get us to that goal and fully confident in our calling to be here on the World Race. God is already doing incredible things and it is such a blessing to be able to witness His Spirit working in Mozambique.
If you feel led to join us in our journey by financially supporting us, please click the orange “Support Me” tab at the top of our blog page to donate online. Obregado! (Thank you)
P.S. I had some pictures along with this post but they wouldn’t upload. I will try to include them in future posts!
