I survived. I spent 3 months; 92 days to be exact in this continent and I lived to tell about it. I did not get murdered or sold as a sex slave. I did not get kidnapped; I barely even got a sunburn. I learned how to take a bucket shower and use a squatty potty. I survived living with rats, bats, and cockroaches and I did not get anything stolen from me.
I used the public buses to get around and hopped on random motorcycles (boda bodas) to take me from place to place. I survived countless boda boda rides. I am writing this now (after leaving) so you do not worry about me. But I have never felt so close to death as I have riding on those bodas. I rode on the back of bikes with broken gas gauges and broken speedometers. The driver would swerve in and out of traffic, inches from buses, into oncoming traffic, and through red lights all while driving much too fast. I have been on those things through the wind, rain, and lightening and yet I lived to tell about it. I prayed for protection every single time I got on a motorcycle and I usually prayed the entire time I was riding on it. I won’t be missing those boda rides.
I did not get malaria, typhoid, or any other deadly disease. I barely had a stomach ache the entire time I was there. I was able to use the internet on a consistent basis and I talked to my family often. I did not starve or have to eat ugali every day. I found awesome coffee and also took great adventures.
Africa is not this terrible untouchable place that no one should go to.
I will say that being in Africa is not always easy. Living with no running water is annoying. I hate having dirty hands so baby wipes were life savers. It’s a good idea to bring a mirror with you also if you ever plan on looking at yourself while you try to get ready in the mornings because there is no mirror hanging up in the outhouse.
I sat through 3-4 hour long church services multiple days a week. These were long, hot, and loud. Church is so different than it is at home. They are in no rush to get home in time for kick off, the preacher can talk as long as they wish and no one seems to mind. One preacher is never enough either, at least 3 people speak in addition to other people giving “testimonies” or long winded talks filled with lots of “Amens” and “Hallelujahs”. Worship is not a nice well practiced band with words projected on the wall. Nope. Instead we have a keyboardist with the preprogrammed drum beat turned up as loud as possible with half the church in front dancing around like they are in a club. This includes lots of yelling and sweating. The sermon is not a nice 3-5 pointed messaged with a few jokes thrown in. Nope. Instead it is an hour or more yelling session with lots of repeating the same thing over and over.
Time frames for activities are never accurate. I really do mean never. I could ask the day of what time we need to be ready for church and be given an answer and still be waiting for 1-2 hours after the said time to leave. Then when we actually leave there is no apology or explanation as to why we didn’t leave when they said they just say “ok let’s go” and don’t think anything of keeping us waiting for hours.
Women walk around with babies on their backs held in place with fabric. They can swing that baby back there by its arm and leg and the baby doesn’t seem to mind at all. The women also walk around with big baskets full of fruit or vegetables balanced on their head along with their baby on their back.
African people are very hospitable. They will invite you into their home without a second thought. They will offer you the best chairs and give you their undivided attention. They are not too busy to talk or pray with you. Everyone has been extremely welcoming in each country I have visited. Not many people have a lot but they want to give what they have.
African children love white people. As soon as they spot you, even from a distance you will hear them yelling “Muzungu, Muzungu!” This will continue until you acknowledge them, then they will either run away laughing nervously or run to you and wrap their arms around your legs
I will miss Africa; I have really enjoyed it here. The kids are so cute and everyone is so welcoming. I won’t miss being stared at everywhere I go or being asked for money constantly but this is a special place and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to be here and pour into the lives of the people I came into contact with.
“O Squad” will be venturing to Asia for the last leg of our journey. I leave Tuesday afternoon and will be landing in Hong Kong Wednesday afternoon. After obtaining our visas I will be spending the month in Xining, China I can’t wait for all that God has for our team as we go into a country that is currently closed off to Christianity. Please be praying for safe travels these next couple of days.
This is me with the class I helped teach this month.
