Africa Recap

Our final two months of the race have been spent in the long-awaited, much-anticipated continent of Africa. We spent last month in Swaziland working at El Shaddai Children's Home, and this month my team has been in Port St. Johns, South Africa, working for Living Hope Ministries.

Africa has definitely been very different from both Asia and Eastern Europe, and I'm happy to have ended the race in such a beautiful continent. Our home in Swaziland had one of the most beautiful mountain views I have ever seen in my life. And just minutes away from our home in South Africa is one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever encountered.

But not only has Africa been physically beautiful, the people and the cultures have been beautiful too. One of my favorite aspects of African culture is how music seems to be such a key element in their lives. My top three moments in Africa were centered around music. One was a night in which I got to jam out with three local drummers and play djembe with them around a bonfire under the stars. Another was listening to students belt out praise and worship songs during their free period in the middle of their high school. And my most cherished memory from Africa was listening to a group of young men sing with such sincerity and humility during our first church service in South Africa. It seems as though everyone here can either sing or rap or drum, and I have loved it so much.

What God taught me in Africa:
1) He is my rock and my redeemer. 2) I must not only dream big dreams, but I must pray big prayers.
3) And I need to pray circles around those prayers!

Ways to pray:

Swaziland – Please pray against the increase of HIV, which is primarily being spread through polygamy. Pray for the education system to be improved and for God to raise up local teachers who can and want to make a difference.

South Africa – Please pray for an increased level of equality, since slavery just ended in 1994. Pray that God would use the young men of Port St. Johns to revolutionize this country, and please pray for God to provide the resources for them to go to university (many of them want to become doctors!)

Here are 11 of my favorite pictures from Africa: