Africa

Growing up, (I'm still growing up) I used to think going on an African safari would be so much fun. I loved watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom each week. The thought of getting to see those lions in the wild, while "safely" peeking my head out the top of a Land Rover seemed like the perfect adventure.

Now I'm not so sure that's the kind of African adventure I'm seeking. In fact, I know it's not. I still love wildlife and seeing the beauty of the Savanna the grandure of Victoria Falls, or going on a gorilla expedition in Rwanda would be amazing-but not nearly as fulfilling as working with the African people would be. Let me just put this out there-if I wasn't such a weeny, if I didn't have commitments to uphold here, if someone said-here's a "free year", here's a plane ticket, here's the know-how, here's the money, the place, go now and serve in an African orphanage with your family for a year or help with the Music For Life program (African Children's Choir) I think I'd go. yeah, I'd go.

Alan's away right now and I've had lots of time to think, to get stuff done, and yes, to watch TV late at night when I can't sleep because he's not here to cuddle with, to listen to his snore, and to keep my feet warm. I can't sleep with my freezing cold feet. I even put a heating pad on my feet-it's not nearly the same as my cozy warm hubby. Ok, I'm getting off topic- the point is that I've been watching some TV And last night on Anderson Cooper 360 the show was about Oprah's Leadership School in South Africa. AMAZING. I know that some Christians have a problem with Oprah-I don't want to get into that controversy-but I believe this is a woman who is changing the world-and in this case-it's for the better. She's giving girls a chance to learn, to change their lives through education-through having food in their stomachs each night! Oh, God we take for granted SO much in this country.

On the same show they showed a white South African who has given her life to running an orphanage for children stranded by the AIDS epidemic. Beautiful innocent children who have done nothing wrong-but are left with no parents and now are stigmatized by their own people because they have parents who died of AIDS. Wow, what a complete joy and heartache it must be to love those little ones-If my heart is going to break, let it be for innocent, parentless children God. I love children so much, and I could easily see myself cooking, cleaning and caring for these forgotten ones.

My life, as you know if you've been reading this blog, has been deeply touched by the African Children's Choir and the ministries they provide for children-many of whom have lost one or both their parents due to disease or war. Please pray with me that if it is God's will for Alan and I to further our involvement with this ministry at some point that we will have the courage to do so.

Friends of ours at church are headed to Kenya in May-to work with some missionaries there at a hospital, on computer "stuff." Wow, a couple who have commitments here and yet are willing to set time, money, and comfort aside to love others in Africa-hmm.... I think I have a lesson to learn.

My brother-in-law is about to spend a year in Africa-he just got called up out of the reserves to serve in Djibouti. It's right next to Somalia. He doesn't really have a choice in the matter at this point, but he's putting his life in the USA aside-leaving a wife and school, and the possibility of starting a family, to serve his country. I don't know what kind of danger he'll be in. I pray his role in Africa will be a positive one for the African people. I pray he comes home safe, I pray his life will be touched in a profound way by his mission. I pray his mission is your will God.

God you know me, you know my heart, you have put all these things in front of my eyes. You've given me your Spirit to guide me and light my path. I feel the excitement, I can sense the adventure-now if I just didn't have cold feet.