Dear the United States of America,
Hey, I’ve been thinking about you.
You’re home to me.
You’re freedom.
You’re privilege.
You’re nicely paved streets with driving lanes.
You’re good hamburgers and fries.
You’re the rolling hills in Tennessee.
You’re a strong military.
You’re modern technology.
You’re well developed cities.
You’re toilets that can flush toilet paper.
You’re full of famous celebrities.
Hey, USA! A little bit ago in South Africa my heart ached for you. I had been away for about a month and I felt more hurt for you than I did for South Africa. America, you need missionaries too. A lot of people in your churches are asleep and they need a wake up call. You need to give more space for the Holy Spirit to guide your people.
Hey, USA! Can you believe that a lot of people in other countries think you’re perfect sometimes? The other day at ministry, a girl asked me “are there bullies in America too?” And I had to give her a rude awakening that, yes there are actually bullies and mean people in American schools. A lot of people think you’re perfect because of your movies and pictures. You can put on a good show. But I think you should try to live up to the good expectations outsiders have of you. Is it too much to ask your people to be kinder? You can set an example for the world. You already have a great influence around the globe, so why don’t you use that for only good & kindness? Showcase love and peace, not hate and violence.
Hey, USA! Everyone wants to know about your president. It’s incredible how many times I’ve been asked, “what do you think of Trump?” Whether it’s a cab driver, a student at ministry, or the man I sat next to on the train. Everyone’s curious.
Hey, USA! I know you know you have a lot of money. And so does everyone else in the world. When I’m oversees and people know I’m American, they don’t hesitate to ask for money or a gift. USA, you’re viewed as “wealth” by many other countries. But can I also tell you something I find really encouraging? Someone in South Africa told me that they think you’re the most generous country. Let me explain. The school I served at (Ithemba) and the school property that I stayed at (Global Leadership Academy) were BOTH majorlymajorly funded by the United States. Lots of kids from the squatter camps were able to go to school because of you. Kids were given 2 meals a day because of you. They have the opportunity to get an education. Churches were built by your donations. USA, you’re generous. Your people give and it doesn’t go unnoticed. . You may be a wealthy country, but you’re also a generous one. Keep it up.
Hey, USA! There’s a lot that’s broken about you but there’s also a lot of great things about you. Now that I’ve lived in a few different countries, I realize there’s a lot of things about you that I love and took for granted my whole life. Like the respect for personal space that Americans give one another in public. Or the fact that if I needed to call the police, I can rely on them to respond and take action because they aren’t extremely corrupt (like in South Africa).
Hey, USA! That’s all for now. I’m proud and thankful to be a citizen. See you in 4 months, but for now I’m enjoying my time away from you.
Sincerely,
Morgan Crowley
