As my team and I recently transitioned into Europe this month, I wanted to give everyone a little snapshot of my three-month experience in Africa and the different things the Lord taught me in each of these unique countries.
The first thing I was reminded of before I even set foot in Africa this year was that God often has plans that don’t match up to our own. He also reserves the right to change already scheduled plans in favor of something greater. And although we sometimes kick and scream and get disappointed when this happens, He will lovingly remind us that he knows what He’s doing, and then ask us, ‘Do you trust Me?”
With that, right before we launched, the Lord decided to change our route from Southern Africa to Eastern Africa. This was kind of a big deal, but our squad handled it with grace and excitement for this new opportunity. The World Race had not been back to Eastern Africa in a significant time, and we were now given the privilege to venture back into these waters.
When we were told we were headed to Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, I was simultaneously excited and in disbelief. In 2013, my first international mission trip had been to Rwanda, and it had also been my first experience with the World Race. I went through the AIM Exposure program, and spent a month serving with Racers. It was an incredible experience and helped confirm my decision to do the full 11 month trip. Since then, I had a soft spot for Rwanda, but I honestly did not know if God would ever send me back.
However, I know that even before I was born, the Lord knew exactly what plans He had for my life, and had every intention to send me back to East Africa. And after the last three months, I could not imagine my Race any differently. Jesus could have taught me the lessons He did during these three months anywhere around the world, but He chose to do so in Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.
Speaking of which, here are a few incredibly valuable things Jesus taught me (and some things I just needed a reminder of) while in Africa:
1. You aren’t meant to only rely on your own strength. In fact, Jesus says that His strength works best in our weakness. Not only does He give us the strength to do what He calls us to, He actually loves when we recognize our own inabilities because that’s where His strength comes in and He can use us. If we think we can do it all on our own, where will He fit in?
2. Rest. Even when you don’t want to. Even when you think you’ve done it enough. Rest. Don’t rest more, rest better. Recognize the things that fill you up and pursue them. Don’t confuse rest with laziness or a lack of productivity- they’re different. When you keep running, keep filling your schedule, keep ‘doing,’ it’s possible to do more things. But, resting allows you to do more things well. And hey, if God rested for a whole day after six days of work, I think it’s safe to say we can too.
3. You really can live on less. Less money, less clothing, less showers. And you won’t die, I promise. Actually, as cliche as it sounds, you will appreciate everything more because of it. They say less is more, but we seldom pursue that idea. We usually stop ourselves right outside our comfort zone. But when you don’t always get to control your meals, your access to modern amenities, your entertainment, your time and space, you learn what you actually can live with. And instead of feeling restricted by what you can’t do or have, you find a glorious freedom to invest in things that matter a whole lot more: relationships with your teammates, with the locals, and with your God.
4. When you think your heart can’t take any more, ask Jesus to give you more. He will sustain you and it will be worth it. It’s hard to love people with all you’ve got each month, and then have to leave after 30 days or less. Sometimes you don’t even get to know them until halfway through the month and then the days seem to slip by faster and faster. But even if the time is short, Jesus calls us to love and serve with all of our heart. And it’s always worth it to form that friendship with the older woman in your English class, or randomly go run around outside with the kids in the front yard, or take a few moments to talk to the ladies in the kitchen who selflessly clean and cook for you each day. Because even though you know the sum of those moments will make it even harder to say goodbye, would you really trade it all for an easy transition?
5. Your team can always go farther and deeper. And that goes for any relationship in general. Team Teleo has been together since the beginning (currently Month 7 of 11) and I love these girls with all of my heart. But I DAILY learn more from them and about them. Before the Race, I had come to assume that our team would change at some point because that’s what I’d heard from experiences from other squads. However, I could not be more thankful that our team has had the opportunity to continue on this journey together for seven months. From living in community with these women of God, I’ve learned so much about myself, about other people, and about this crazy awesome relationship I get to have with Jesus.
There’s always more to say, but these are the major lessons Jesus taught me in Africa. And even on a new continent, he’s continually reminding me of them each day. I’m still learning and growing in these areas and in others, but praise God, He is eternally patient with me. He never gives up on me, and loves me too much to let me sit stagnant. Each day, He calls me to step into the plan He’s set before me. And I get the joy of choosing it each time.
