I grew up in Kenya. Some of my earliest memories were running barefoot through the grass, climbing trees, and eating loquats the very moment they looked “ripe” to a hungry eight year old. More than a few stomach aches resulted from green loquats eaten when they were very much out of season. The lessons I learned in Kenya about relationships and the heart of the Lord have affected me to this very day.
When I remember my childhood in Kenya, I’m tempted to allow it to look totally rosy in hindsight. All running barefoot through the trees and no haunting images of poverty and violence. All safari rides and baby giraffes and no terrorist attacks or discrimination. But in reality, my brief time in Eastern Africa was not without its struggles.
I lived in Africa when my uncle and both of my grandmothers died. I lived in Africa when some of my family lost everything that they had. I lived in Africa when depression and self-hate began to control me.
But in the midst of all of that, Africa always felt safe. Simply, it felt like home.
When I was a Sophomore in high school, my family came back to America unexpectedly due to family health issues. What we thought would be a month long trip to USA ended up stretching into more than two years of change and transition. I began to regret not making the most of my time in Africa. By the end of my childhood in Kenya, outreach in the orphanages and hospitals had become ordinary. But even worse, it had become a chore. My relationship with Jesus was not one of my priorities and therefore loving others as he had loved me was not either.
Now, as a new creation and child of God, I craved ministry opportunities to love others more than anything. How could I not take advantage of my time and relationships in Africa when I had the chance? This question followed me for years.
Eventually, according to God’s faithfulness, Jesus brought me to a point where I dearly missed Africa, but I didn’t feel as though I was lacking as a person without it. This was a good place for me to be emotionally because it allowed my heart to become soft to the needs of the people in America who were living right around me.
Deep in my heart, I longed and prayed to God that one day he would bring me back to Africa. But I had also surrendered my own will and more than anything that I could dream or desire for myself, I longed for the Lord’s desires. I want His will to be done in my life, no matter what I have to lay down or step away from to seek it out.
Thankfully, Jesus has quite the sense of humor and a kicking sense of irony. He called me to this little thing called World Race Gap Year. A gap year that has brought me back to Africa, this place I call home. Walking barefoot through the dirt, the open sky full of bright stars, the silhouette of mountains bidding me goodnight at dusk and waving hello in the morning. I love it all. I love the little hands holding mine for hours of the day. I love Africa. I love that the Lord has brought me back to this beautiful place now, as a new creation where I can fully value the experience and love others as they Jesus loves me.
Through Jesus death on the cross, he has redeemed every area of my life. Now, my savior has even redeemed my experience in Africa. For my whole life, Africa has stood for comfort and beauty and home. Now, it reminds me every day of the redemptive love of Jesus Christ. In my life, it truly is a continent redeemed.
