You're going Where?!

When I tell people where we will be going, I often get a look of stunned disbelief, while their response is a cautious "Ohhh....neat. Wow." And that's it. End of discussion. I usually say something like "Yeah, we are really excited to be going", hoping to keep the conversation alive. I want to share with people what we will be doing, why we are going, the plans God has for us. But mostly the conversation is over at that point.

Africa. It's that place that we hear so much about, but seems so far away and so scary. Pictures of half-naked children, flies covering their faces, extended bellies and a look of hopelessness. Stories of dirty water, tiny huts, AIDS and death. The news tells of corruption, civil wars and genocide. Africa seems so bleak. Africa. So needy. So broken. So hopeless.

It's almost like people are hearing us say that we are going to live on a different planet. I would expect their reactions to be that of disbelief. I would expect people to think we are just a little bit crazy and not want to talk about it anymore. That makes sense. But Africa is not a different planet.

Yes, there is still a need in Africa. But it's not a desolate and hopeless place. It's a beautiful place, full of hope and a longing for the Gospel. When I tell other Christians that we are going because there are still people that have never heard the Gospel, they are shocked. But yes, it's true. It's a heartbreaking reality that we talk about a second coming, when half the world has never heard of the first (that's a quote by Oswald Smith).

So yes, Africa. It's in our line of sight because there is a desperate need there. It's a need that matches up with our passions and our gifts. It's a need that God wants to meet. Through us. So we will go.

Africa...we are excited to call you home.