T.I.A – This Is Africa
This is Africa. We leave the airport in two bright,
multi-colored buses with 25 huge packs on the top of each increasing the height
of the bus by a good six feet.
This is Africa. As we pull out of the airport, we see
giraffes grazing in the horizon.
This is Africa. Sunday morning, we woke up to get ready for
church. Less than two hours before the
service was to begin, we were informed that we would be giving the message. Brandon
took charge and in just a few minutes time had a sermon ready to go.
This is Africa. In one week, I have now preached twice – in
front of twenty, and in front of a hundred or more.
This is Africa. There is a very distinguishable odor that
lingers in the air, especially in the crowded buses, the busy streets, and
anytime you get close to someone.
This is Africa. There are 20 World Racers staying with our
contacts in a home normally inhabited by just them. Most of us are sleeping on the floor, with a
couple beds and one couch to fight over each night.
This is Africa. We wanted to have chicken for dinner one
night. Our contact went and found a live
chicken. On of our girls chopped the
chicken’s head off, leaving a small pool of blood on the ground, and then
proceeded to pluck the feathers.
This is Africa. The first day at our contact’s home, the
water of the home – and the village – was cut off and there was no running
water to be found. So naturally, four of
the other guys and I prayed over one particular tap outside like it was an
altar for a couple hours in the hot African sun. Shortly thereafter, water returned to that
tap and that tap alone in the entire village, actually frightening our pastor’s
wife because she felt the presence of God so clearly. One more hour later and all water had
returned.
This is Africa. The next day the exact same thing happened,
with water going out, the guys praying over the same tap and water returning
first to that tap and then to the rest of the community. A reminder that He is still in control, and we
can never get prideful or complacent after we have seen Him move. We must be on our faces before Him every
single day.
This is Africa. We go door to door every day with a
translator, preaching the good news and have welcomed dozens into the kingdom of Heaven.
This is Africa. During one of these missions, my translators
and I came across a woman who had been experiencing severe migraine headaches
for a couple weeks and was having trouble seeing out of her right eye. We prayed and we prayed with the authority of
Jesus. She was instantly healed, at
least according to her. Of course she
was, right. After all, this is Africa.
This is Africa. There are no restrictions on worship. We sing and we dance. And I mean we DANCE! You don’t party like we worship here.
This is Africa. It is surreal and yet it is normal, day to
day life just like anywhere else. We
eat, we sleep, we work. The sun rises
and the moon shines at night with all the stars that are not hidden by the glow
of city lights. This is home for the
next 3 months and God is here.
T.I.A.
