Africa

Last night we arrived at the Mennonite Guest House in Nairobi. We first spent the night here in 1995, and have returned many times since, whenever we have been in Nairobi. It's a peaceful, quiet place with beautiful grounds, a respite from the noise, smoke, and confusing bustle that is Nairobi.

We're thankful for many small things today. For Dave and Mary seeing us off at the airport amid many tears. For bags being checked through all the way to Nairobi, saving us trouble and expense in London. For a maid who knocked on our door yesterday morning at our hotel in London, sparing us from sleeping through our flight on to Kenya. For a customs agent who, after learning of our year of service at Kijabe, waved us through without a question. God has been with us.

Today we went shopping. There are so many contrasts in Nairobi! Lavish, upscale stores that cater to the few Kenyans who are in the upper class, with dirty, potholed streets outside. Many are very , very poor, and the slums are enormous.

We recently read how someone else summed up existence in Africa:

"It’s hard to imagine living as if you're not in control of your life. Africa will teach you this very quickly. Humble is the first word that comes to mind. You come here with the best intentions, ready to change the world! Well, you soon find yourself on your knees, hands in the air, asking yourself what am I doing here. This is the beauty of it all! It’s not about us. It’s about the “Glorious Unseen.” God! He is the one in control.

Humanity, throughout history, has found it difficult to relinquish control to the maker of the heavens and earth. In Africa, you realize that everything is in Gods hands. Your health, immigration status, work ability, driving on the roads here, police checkpoints, healthy food, clean water or lack thereof, lack of Internet and power, etc… Oh right! These are our personal selfish issues. The comforts of living in blessed country become very evident.

But this is not about us. It’s about extreme poverty, AIDS, malaria, treatable diseases, child sacrifice, witchcraft, lack of opportunity, lack of education, wars, rebels. Or about a history that has left a continent with wounds and scars that we as Americans will probably never experience. This is when you can start to feel really small in a rather large world. You find yourself asking why? What can I do? God has a way of weaving in and out of our own understanding. Getting us to rely on him for hope. There is hope in Africa."

Kathy and I both know that Africa will teach us anew how little control we have over the details of our lives, how much we must trust in God, and how rich is the hope that He provides for the people of Africa.

- Doug