AFRICA!!!

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." - Corrie ten Boom

As I landed in Nairobi, looking out of the window to the beautiful red roads and rows of fluffy-looking maize I remember thinking, "What in the world do You have in store for the next 6 months, God?"  His answer? "Trust me."

So I hit the ground running.  After staying at a beautiful guesthouse in Nairobi for short-term orientation on the Africa side of things, Lizzy and I traveled for an 8 day stay at Kapsowar with Philemon's family; who are all growing very dear to me.  Philemon and his wife Helen have 5 kids; Lawrence, Dickson, Titus, Mick and Ruth.

Left to Right: Elkanah (groom), Helen (Philemon's wife), Ruth, Lizzy, Me, Lawrence, Dickson

Left to Right: Mick, Titus, Ruth, Lizzy, Me, Lawrence

These pictures were taken at a wedding.  That's right; in Africa, everyone in the community is invited to a wedding, so that means Lizzy and I got to experience one of their celebrations African-style.

Some of the many VERY LARGE pots of delicious food to be served at the wedding.  This was not even half of it!!

 One of the many pleasures of African cuisine; I get to eat without cutlery!

They dance everywhere!  I love it!  This pic is of one of the groomsmen dancing to his partnered bridesmaid, where they link arms and dance to the front.

The bridal party dancing to the head table.

 The bridal couple, you guessed it; dancing!

 They even danced the cake in :)

And then it's everyone's turn! Party!

The reason we went to Kapsowar was to see first hand what a mission hospital in Africa looks like; how it works and how it doesn't.  I learned some of the challenges mission hospitals in Kenya are facing and how MSI Africa plans to meet their needs in a sustainable manner; starting with Kapsowar Hospital.  I even witnessed a c-section (ok, so for some of the time I started to feel lightheaded and needed to sit down :D, but it was still absolutely amazing) when we followed Dr. Jones around for the day.  He is the only full-time missionary doctor at Kapsowar Hospital and practices pediatrics and oversees the maternity ward.  This is one of the many challenges mission hospitals face today; insufficient number of doctors.  As the number and length of service is drastically decreasing of missionary doctors going to African mission hospitals, there are weeks, and sometimes even months, where some mission hospitals don't have a doctor or surgeon to provide the necessary services.  As a result, many people die during that time waiting for medical treatment.

To see the people the hospital cares for, to have the community so welcoming, and to experience their generosity is truly humbling.  Having a day or two to walk in their shoes, miles around beautiful rolling hills, enjoying 1, 2, 3, 4 or even 5 cups of chai a day (did I mention they are very, very generous), buying food at the markets, meeting dozens of people and eating African cuisine was a wonderful blessing.  Yes, materially, most of the community is quite poor.  That is also one of the major challenges for the hospital, as most people can't pay even a portion of their bill.  But they are rich in other ways.  One of their phrases is, "You have a watch, but we have the time."  They make time for people and consider relationships more important than time.  Yes, at times it most certainly isn't the most efficient way to do things, but I think I have some lessons to learn in that regard.  They have a real sense of community, depending on each other and providing for each other's needs.

Kapsowar was a tangible way for me to experience how cultures are different.  No culture is right or wrong. All cultures have things morally right or wrong in their culture, definitely, but that doesn't make that culture wrong. And by observing different cultures, I'm learning to appreciate the good things about my culture and recognize the bad; to question my traditions asking, "Is this biblically wrong or right, or is it just part of my culture?"  "What traditions in this culture are biblically moral that I can celebrate and make a part of my life?"  "What changes do I need to make in my life to better reflect Jesus Christ to the whole world - in any culture God places me in?" I think we so easily get stubborn and stiff-necked like the Israelites were proned to do.  What does God say about that? David observed that God did not request tradition for the sake of tradition when he committed the notorious sin of adultery and murder. "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;  you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." - Psalm 51:17+18  Tradition would have him making a physical sacrifice.  What God was asking for was an emotional and spiritual sacrifice; breaking David's will and giving his heart to God.

Thank You, Father God that You are the Creator.  You are the Creator of cultures; languages, skin color, accents, social gestures, art, food, faith, worship and everything else that makes up a culture.  Thank You that Your Goodness is evident in every culture, even among wickedness.  Let our different traditions cause us to praise You and celebrate how You have created people.  Break our stubborn will when we choose harmful traditions and mindsets that divide us as people as division, more importantly, always results in harm to our relationship with You.  Teach us, Holy Spirit, what the sacrifice of our heart and life looks like in day-to-day situations within the culture you have placed each of us in.  Teach us to go beyond culture to love all people, as You have loved us. To trust You.

For those of you who would like to check out the organization I'm working for check out this website:
msiafrica.org

On August 21 with bags packed, all goodbyes said, and an adventure ahead I flew to Toronto for short-term orientation.  There was a group of us short termers;

Jacklyn, myself, Abby and Tom - all heading to different countries.  We stayed with Diana and Murray

who directed our orientation, giving us needed wisdom and answers to our many questions.  It was a double blessing for me, as they been to the same country I was headed to, and had some very specific answers to some of the very specific questions I had :).  August 24 came quickly with my mind buzzing with information, possibilities, anticipation, excitement and a little nervousness.  We had a privilege of flying together as a group to London where we spent our 12 hour layover downtown taking in the classic Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. James Park, fish & chips and Buckingham Palace.

 From there we went our separate ways and I flew to Nairobi. 

At short term orientation Diana gave me a list of questions to answer in my journal throughout my time in Africa to make the most out of my time journaling but also to record what I'm learning.  One of the questions was "What or whom is the Lord leading you to pray for?"

As my seat was seat "B" (in between 2 people) on my flight to Toronto, I felt the urge to pray for the people sitting beside me.  You might wonder why, but it's because I get antsy flying.  I enjoy getting up during a flight as well as peering out the window, asking questions, rummage through my bags, etc. so I knew they might need prayer :)  But seriously though, I didn't know them, I don't know where they're going, but God knows them and knows where they're headed and has great things in mind for them, wherever they are headed.  And I felt the urge to pray for those journeys and plans.  Little did I know the opportunity God had in store for those prayers.  About half an hour from landing my neighbor pulls out a Bible and starts reading Psalm 135-140.  Curiosity got the best of me and I said, "I hate to interrupt a good read, but I noticed you're reading Psalms, and Psalm 139 happens to be one of my favorites" and thus opened the door to a very encouraging conversation of sharing what God's doing in our lives and where He's taking us.

When you pray for someone or something, be prepared for God to answer, keeping your eyes wide open, because most likely He'll answer it in ways you won't expect.  What am I learning so far?  God has so many opportunities in our everyday situations.  It doesn't take going to another country to find them, just know that wherever you go, whatever you're doing, listen to God's urging.  Pray, seek, obey and watch Him come through.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."