One thing I have always dreamed of doing is traveling the world. For me, this included Antarctica but not Africa. From what I’ve noticed people every where just want to go and help Africa, but this is not really a place God put on my heart. I get it though, especially for Gen X. The poverty and corruption and other atrocities that happened in Africa became widely public because of new technologies. No Africa is the most evangelical (born again) Christian continent in the world (pewforum.com). Africa has found hope but Africa still has it’s struggles and people still want to meet the needs of those suffering from AIDS, poverty, lack of education, and the list goes on and on. But I was not that person.
I think part of it for me was that Africa was so BIG. I think most people hear Africa and think it’s about the size of the U.S. It is definitely not! And having a father who played the Geography game with us on long car trips, I was acutely aware of this. If I had a dollar for every time I said, “That’s not a real place” and he responded, “It’s in Africa.” and was right then I would have my trip paid for with all of those dollars. I guess it was hard for my heart to break for a group of people that really was many groups of people.
So here I am. A girl who doesn’t want anything to do with AIDS (because it attacks your blood cells and blood makes me vomit and pass out). Here I am – A girl who can’t comprehend why my mom’s best friend is dying to go to Rwanda or why hundreds of people dream of helping the invisible children in Uganda. Here I am – a girl who wouldn’t set foot anywhere in Africa except Cairo and and Giza and only for historical interest.
And here I am – A girl who picked her new route based on a country in Africa . . .
SOUTH AFRICA:
I think most people know about South Africa and Nelson Mandela and the Apartheid, but I think what most people don’t know is that the wounds from this period of discrimination and oppression have not healed yet. Not only has God opened my heart up to these people and given me a given me a desire to help these people heal, God also has sent me to a country where I can use my past hurts to reach out to these people. When I was in elementary school the other students parents forbid them to be friends with me because I was a Christian and that meant that I was going to convert them. The other half of the students didn’t speak English and that left me friendless. I was discriminated against because of my religion and even though I haven’t been a victim of years of discrimination and oppression I can promise you that It is awful and that it is hard to live in anger with toward the people who singled you out. I want to help the people here find the healing and the joy that I have found.
SWAZILAND:
This one is a hard one. Swaziland was one of the two countries I HAD to go to. And the crazy thing is, I don’t actually know why. It’s like there are hundreds of little hands pulling my heart to Swaziland. Swaziland has been so affected by the AIDS crisis that it’s population is predicted to be completely decimated by 2050. The current population is made up of orphans. Because of AIDS a majority of the population (60%) is under the age of 20. Swaziland is a country of orphans. More orphans than can be taken in. These orphans need to know what love is and I want to go there and just love on these children. I want to play with them and hug them and teach them. I want to pay attention to them so that they know how important they are.
MOZAMBIQUE:
This country is absolutely beautiful. It is filled with rich landscapes, beautiful people, and severe poverty. Since poverty is one of the global struggles that really breaks my heart, I’m excited to have to opportunity to reach out to these people. I can’t wait to experience the beauty within this country and be a part of the process of transformation in Mozambique’s economy.
If you would like to support my trip and help me head to Africa to reach the wonderful people in these countries please click the link below.
