The Africa Experience

Connection Flight…. 8/13/09

As I write this I am in seat 48G on a plane in route to Frankfurt Germany. Two seats to my left sits a man who is reading (out loud) what looks to be the Quran. The seat directly in front of me sits a man who is diligently reading a newspaper that is written in German. I find myself feeling extremely vulnerable and out of place…..and I love it! Never before have I engaged culture in the way that I am about to in the next ten days. I feel extremely molded and shaped by the American culture and in a way it makes me feel awkward and inexperienced. I so badly want to experience life in a different way. I want to be a part of a culture that doesn’t focus on “self.” A people group that is not concerned with careers, cooperate ladders, dollar signs, 401 k’s, and stuff. My mission trip to Costa Rica in 2006 gave me an incredible perspective change on life. For one week I was immersed in a people group who had nothing, but yet had it all. They lived in homes made out of debris and trash, placed on a small river bank that was filled with more trash and thousands of tadpoles. My American dream theology told me that these people were broke and miserable. But the joy and happiness that they outwardly expressed showed me otherwise. They had all they needed. They had their family and they had Jesus Christ as their foundation. That’s all they needed and no one could tell them anything different. All of that to say, I am excited to be on this trip. I’m excited to be the minority. I’m excited for stinky clothes and cold showers. I am excited to engage people who have never owned a pair of shoes before. I am excited for the Lord to break my heart for Africa. I am excited to get closer to my Creator, The Creator.

Psalm 119:29-32