I Need Africa More than Africa Needs Me

I listen to a lot of Matt Wertz's music.  And Matt Wertz loves Africa, which makes me like him even more.  He supports an organization called The Mocha Club and while browsing around through the Mocha Club's website, I found this:



"When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. "I am needed here," I think. "They have so little, and I have so much." It's true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in those same people. It's a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day.

The images spilling out of my television showed circumstances that could seemingly only equal misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. The truth is, in Africa I find hearts full of victory, indomitable spirits. In places where despair should thrive, instead I find adults dancing and singing, and children playing soccer with a ball crafted of tied up trash. Instead of payback, I find grace. Here, weekend getaways are not options to provide relief from the pains of daily life. Relationships and faith provide joy. Love is sovereign.

My new reality… I know now that my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I'm ashamed by my lack of faith, but at the very same moment I am excited by my new pursuit. I'm forced to redefine the meaning of having much or having little. I'm uneasy with the prospect of change and of letting go, but just the thought of freedom is liberating. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head into my heart - I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy.

I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me.

Bucket of Confidence

*3/9 update - SHE PASSED!  :)

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, then you have met my friend Alex.  While I was making the trek to Kenya, she was off to Germany to do research for Ohio State. 

Alex is getting ready to give what feels like the test of her lifetime.  She is in the Material Sciences program at Ohio State (don't ask me what that actually entails - I generally fudge my way through that question when people ask me) and is getting ready for her Ph.D. candidacy test on Tuesday.  The test basically determines whether she will continue on to the Ph.D. program and receive her Masters in the process or whether this is the end of the line for her, stopping with a Masters.  It's a several hour long verbal exam in front of a committee comprised of various faculty from within the program.  The girl has been hacking away at material by studying about 12 hours a day, all while still doing research, and trying to remain somewhat of a normal person who hasn't completely fallen off the face of the earth. 

It's proven to be a challenge. 

A girl I used to mentor, Leah, told me that she had a school teacher who told her one day after battling some insecurities, "Leah, you just need a bucket of confidence!"  Meaning, despite whatever insecurities you have, you just gotta have some confidence in yourself and your abilities!  

I decided Alex needed a bucket of confidence in preparation for her test on Tuesday.

So I put one together.  

I e-mailed friends, family, and colleagues, asking them to write Alex an encouraging note for the upcoming exam.  E-mail after e-mail came in from various people, most I had never met, who offered words of encouragement and affirmation.  I printed them each out, glued them to cardstock, stuck a popsicle stick on the back and stuck them in the bucket.

 I bought some of her favorite bags of candy and stuffed those in the bottom, along with some bags of popcorn and a gift card to some favorite places.  On one of the bags, I wrapped it in a piece of paper that said, "Just remember...you're great at giving hugs!"  The story behind that being one day Alex seemed to be having a bad day and I mentioned to her that she gave great hugs.  We laughed about this and then she said, "So if all of this fails, I should just sell my hugs on the street corners?  Does that make me a prostitute?"  Thus, now every time she tells me she's not sure about how this is all going to work out, I remind her that she's great at giving hugs.  There's always hope, my friend.

So, to you, Alex.  I have no doubt that you'll knock this test out of the park.  Despite whatever misgivings you might have about your knowledge or abilities, I am confident in you and the God we serve.   As one of the notes to you mentioned, you've been a good steward of what you've been given.  And just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said when they were standing before the fiery furnace - even if our God doesn't save us, we'll still worship him.  Even if this doesn't turn out like you think it should, still worship him.