I'm off to Africa!

I am going to AFRICA! I never imagined writing those words, but I'm so thrilled to be diving into another continent, stretching myself another step, and going to meet and learn from people who's lives are a world away from mine. I can hardly wait!

I'm going March 13-22, with a group of 10 from our church, flying into Amsterdam then on to Nairobi, Kenya. We'll stay a night there, then travel a couple of hours on bumpy roads to the village of Ilmamen, where we'll stay for five days before returning to Nairobi for a tourists safari to end our stay. While in Ilmamen we'll have no electricity, outhouse style potties, bucket showers, and mosquito net-covered cots to sleep on. (Yes, that's a first for me!) We'll lead a conference there for the Maasai people, though I'm certain we will learn at least as much from them as they from us. We'll taste new foods, hear new language, see new customs, and enjoy new friends. What a trip awaits us!

So, what in the world brought a stay-at-home wife and mommy of four little ones to the decision to travel across the ocean to visit another culture!? Well, I'm not completely sure to tell you the truth, but here's what I know...

As I've shared in other blog posts, God has given me a heart for missions, in particular international missions... meaning that when I hear of people who live their lives never having heard the good news of Jesus Christ, I am compelled to do something. And in the past year or so, many things on the continent of Africa have caught my attention, and grabbed my heart. I probably can't name all the things that have influenced me, but here are a few:

Invisible Children (This charity begun by college kids raises funds for the children in Uganda who walk miles at night to escape being kidnapped by rebel armies and forced into being sex slaves or soldiers. Our family walked for this cause in 2006.)

Everything Must Change (A book I read by Brian McLaren which calls for major change in - among other things - justice and equity for the world the way Jesus called us to.)

On the Move (Bono's speech about justice issues given at the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.)

Hotel Rwanda (I finally brought myself to watch this movie about the genocide that killed about a million Africans in 100 days in 1994.)

A Long Way Gone (Excellent, but emotionally hard to read, autobiography of a child soldier in Sierra Leone.)
ALARM (African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries, which seeks to empower the church in Africa to impact the African continent, through pastoral conferences, women's initiatives, training, equipping, and the like. Our church is beginning a partnership with this ministry.)

A Step Into Africa (An interactive experience by World Vision about the AIDS epidemic in Africa.)

So, as I ended 2008 reflecting on the hard year I had experienced, and looking afresh for what God might be calling me to focus on in 2009, Africa kept coming to my mind. At that time I thought I should become a volunteer for ALARM in their state-side office which happens to be in Dallas. I thought I would read more about issues needing addressing in Africa. And I thought I would just pray more and be open to how God might lead me in the future to become involved on that continent. But I really didn't think I would GO to Africa, at least not this year... until I actually prayed about this trip our church would be taking, and I found God opening doors and my husband encouraging me... and now I'm going!... and I'm hoping to do those other things, too.

Somehow I feel like this will be an introduction trip for me. In other words, somehow I am already feeling drawn to go again. Yeah, I know that sounds like I'm getting ahead of myself, or at least that I'm just filled with a little juvenile giddiness about the trip. But you know how you just know certain things sometimes... Well, at this point I just can't imagine this trip satisfying my interest in Africa. I can only see this trip strengthening the desire in my heart for this continent to be redeemed. The message of Jesus can do that, and I'd love for God to use me to help spread that message of love and justice and mercy and peace to the people there.

Thank you for reading my story. Thank you to those of you who are and will pray for us on this trip. And thank you to those of you who have contributed or will be contributing financially to make this trip possible. May this trip be just a beginning of a new road along my life's journey. And may God be glorified through it all!!!

PS: The picture at the top of the post is of some Maasai women - so beautiful! And the lovely woman in the next picture above is a recipient of a micro-business loan of just $20 from ALARM which changed her life, allowing her to now provide for her family!