Why Africa?

Great question :) I thought I should take a minute to write about missions, especially considering I just emailed almost everyone I know asking them to support my upcoming trip to South Africa. Of course, there is more than just one reason, but I'll start with this...

Why ask people to give you money to travel to another country to help people? There are plenty of people here who need help – physically, spiritually, financially. Especially now. I won’t argue with that. There are a lot of wonderful organizations that help support those in need in America and I’m thankful for the people who are dedicated to these organizations. But let me share a little bit about why Africa is so important to me.

I feel a burden for Africa. I can’t quite explain it, but after spending just one day there two years ago, something changed in me and for some reason it’s impossible for me not to “do something” about it.

I don’t deny the fact that there are people in America in need. I know a lot of people, people who are very close to me, who are without a job right now. And it’s heart breaking. But everyone in America has this thing called “opportunity”. No job? You can collect unemployment. Hurt? You have access to healthcare (whether you have insurance or not). Can’t afford food? Sign up for a program. Living on the street? Visit a shelter. Hungry? Visit a soup kitchen. Want your children to learn? Send them to school. Want to further your education? Take out a student loan. I think you get my point.

We take these opportunities for granted and too often forget that there are millions of people who don’t get these “opportunities”, and that’s why I want to serve them. I want them to know that the fact that people are literally dying because there are no doctors, or starving to death because there is no food, or spending 2 or 3 hours of their day walking just to get to clean water… I want them to know that “that is not ok with me”. There is nothing in our country or our culture that points to the fact that those things are not ok with us.

But what good does a short term trip do really? They seem to impact the people who go more than the people overseas. And that’s true. Also, another reason why the trips are important to me (we’ll save that for another time). But you have to start somewhere. You have to start by showing up. By encouraging. By saying without words, I’m willing to travel half way around the world just to show you that I care. And the people who need to see that the most are the children. They don’t need rich Americans showing up with new clothes and toys. They need rich Americans showing up and loving them. Teaching them that love exists and that there is purpose in this life.

I believe the only way to save Africa from the hell and suffering that has taken place there for so many years is to raise up a generation of honest and compassionate leaders and to get them into government positions where they can change their own countries. Where they can get rid of the government corruption. They need to know this is possible. They need to know there is hope. And the only way for them to see this is to walk along side them and show them you support them.

And none of this is meant to make anyone feel guilty, but to feel grateful. If we all sold everything we had and moved to Africa, it wouldn't do anyone any good. But we need to realize that the reason we have more than we need is so we can help others IN need.