WHAT IS AFRICA REALLY LIKE?
Whether we've visited a zoological park as a child, read a National Geographic
at the dentist's office, or seen Dicaprio's Blood Diamond,
every American ponders the question, "What is Africa really like?"
If you're a Christian, you've probably been wondering
WHAT IS IT ABOUT AFRICA that changes the hearts of visitors, pastors,
and missionaries who travel through this great continent.
Well,
My favorite thing about Africa is Jesus.
No, seriously.
He is the best part of Africa.
Like every continent I have visited this year
The best part of all creation is the Creator.
Africa
The second largest and second most populated continent on earth, contains about 1 billion people and covers 20% of the earth's total land area. There are 57 countries in Africa, 53 of those 57 have thier own professional futbol teams, and the main religions in Africa are Islam (45%), Christianity (40%), and Tribal (15%).
Africa is also home to the world's largest, hottest, driest landscape on earth-
the Sahara desert. The Sahara covers one third of the continent of Africa,
about the size of the United States, and receives less than three inches of rain per year,
one tenth of (STL) Missouri's annual precipitation. While seventy percent of the landscape of Africa consists of rocky plains covered in limestone and gravel, the rest of Africa contains plateaus, mountain ranges, and sandy-red dirt. Truely, Africa IS God's country!
It is true that African culture is very different from American culture.
However, it has not been difficult to make adjustments here- maybe because we are in months #7, #8, and #9 or maybe its because my Father graces me to feel 'home' in Africa. Home is not a location on earth, home is a Heavenly dwelling as I live in the Presence of my Maker. Amen.
What is the African culture like???
Africans are never late and never early, they just show up A-T- Africa-Time-
Africans entrust their children to strangers, even those they've never met
Africans don't wear make-up, and you won't find a mirror in an African house
Africans think Americans are crazy for owning dogs, naming them, buying them dog beds
Africans don't ever see snow, they may not see rain for years
Africans will ask you for your bracelet, shirt, shoes, or bag and expect you to hand it over
African men must provide 2 cows ($4000 USD) for the family of his bride on wedding day
Africans eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner their entire lives.
African children don't cry when they fall, don't complain about hunger, know how to work
Africans play futbol from 6am-noon, work the fields until sunset, and go without water for 3days
Africans can compete with a 7man-band with their hands, feet, and tongues
Africans will share a coke between 10 people, and serve Fanta Orange to celebrate marriage
Africans don't like exchanging money with neighboring countries, but love American dollars
Africans welcome Americans, Christians, and visitors to experience their culture, MAMBO!
THIS IS AFRICA!!!
Three months in Africa, my teammates (and/or) I have experienced: Waterfalls //
Amazing Kenyan safaris // Snuggling a baby giraffe // Elephant riding // Tiger petting zoo // Horseback riding on the beach // Volcano surfing // Ocean surfing // Mountain hiking // Scuba/snorkeling // Bungee Jumping … And Jesus was glorified in all of it!
The great thing in Africa is that these Off-Day-Activities are mostly under $20 USD!
During the last week of Africa, E-squad will be camping in the Serengeti National Safari Park and/or boarding a two hour ferry to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar, Tanzania.
I am having THE TIME OF MY LIFE on the WR African routes.
FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT AFRICA…
1. Smiling with your eyes
2. Acknowledgment with your eyebrows
3. Pointing with your lips
4. Greeting with three cheek kisses
5. A stranger's stare
5. Walking at a pace of a Bride coming down the isle
6. Being rushed into Tea Time, three times a day
7. Children running to greet you with a huge hug
7. Worship without instruments
8. Friendship is holding hands
9. Rice, beans, and bananas
10. You looks smart
11. Fasting lifestyle sunrise to sundown
12. Children worshipping
13. Clouds, mountains, beaches, safaris, tribal villages, jewelry, weather, flowers
14. The words: Sure, yes, hmmm, OK, fine, good all signify 'maybe.'
15. Baby goats, baby chicks, baby cows, baby Africans.
16. Muzungu! How are you? I am fine. Hakuna Matata!
17. Colors worn on Sunday's best
18. Being asked when the last time I shaved my head was, and if my head is hot.
19. An African woman's laughter, and the joy of futbol.
20. A-T- Africa time (5 hours late, 5 hours early, no call no show, spend the night)
I won't necessarily miss…
1. Mosquitos, flies, no-see-em's, tarantulas
2. Jack and Jill bucket showers
3. Cow pasture soccer fields
4. 11PM sweating, 5AM freezing
5. Parasites, typhoid, malaria, Doxycylene
6. 5AM choir practice with Boom-BoomPow-speakers
7. 5AM goats
8. 5AM roosters
9. 5AM sirens
10. 5AM construction
11. 5AM street venders
12. Breast feeding in public
13. Public trash, children littering
14. Chanting from local tribes
15. Prayer from Muslim towers
16. Preaching from mega-phones
17. Fans that don't work
18. A WR'er learning guitar
19. My accidental African accent
20. Being overcharged because I am American.
HOW CAN YOU BE PRAYING FOR AFRICA?
When God made Africa, He was so sure of the plans that He had for each country that He wrote it down in the Holy Scriptures and called it Isaiah chapter 40.
This is how God is teaching me to pray for Africa, According to
His good will and His perfect nature.
In Africa, I am learning to FIX MY EYES ON JESUS, the Author and Perfector of ALL FAITH. I am learning to see people, problems, poverty, societies, economical mountains, warfare, culture, and continent(s) with ETERNAL perspective rather than carnal understanding.
Isaiah 40
Surely the nations are like a drop in the bucket
They are regarded as dust on the scales
He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust
Before Him, all the nations are as nothing
The Islands are regarded by Him as worthless
And less than nothing.
It has been told from the beginning,
Since the earth was founded.
God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth
And its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy
He spreads them out like a tent to live in.
The Lord is the everlasting God
The Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary
His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
He increases the power of the weak
Even youths grow tired and weary
Even young men stumble and fall.
But those whose hope is in the Lord shall renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles
They will run and not grow weary
They will walk and not be faint.
Two weeks in Africa, Two months in Nepal and India, Then home to celebrate Christ!
