I need Africa more than Africa needs me

So who is our neighbor? Who are we called to love like ourselves? Isn't it everyone? We are called to love like ourselves..that is a lot of love, a lot of things I do for myself. Do I treat others the same? Or do I choose to ignore the struggles? Many times, it seems as though it is easy to just ignore them. We have been taught, they are homeless by choice, they are homeless because they don't fit in our society...but then that small still voice says...did Jesus fit in our society? Would he be found in an office going to lunch, and walking by the hungry? Would he drive his Tahoe by the guy on the corner? Would he engage the lowest of the low? I think we know the answer.

I need Africa more than Africa needs me from the Mocha Club

When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. "I am needed here," I think. "They have so little, and I have so much." It's true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in those same people. It's a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day.
The images spilling out of my television showed circumstances that could seemingly only equal misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. The truth is, in Africa I find hearts full of victory, indomitable spirits. In places where despair should thrive, instead I find adults dancing and singing, and children playing soccer with a ball crafted of tied up trash. Instead of payback, I find grace. Here, weekend getaways are not options to provide relief from the pains of daily life. Relationships and faith provide joy. Love is sovereign.
My new reality… I know now that my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I'm ashamed by my lack of faith, but at the very same moment I am excited by my new pursuit. I'm forced to redefine the meaning of having much or having little. I'm uneasy with the prospect of change and of letting go, but just the thought of freedom is liberating. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head into my heart - I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy.
I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me.

I need Africa, more than Africa needs me

Africa is a place with beautiful people, and a beautiful spirit. Everyone I know who goes comes back with such an appreciation of the simplicity of the land and the hope of the people. God tells me to love all people, I do not get a choice. I need to step outside of my cocoon and learn that not everyone has running water, and two or three cars outside. Not everyone has a drugstore just around the corner. But these people, despite the current civil unrest continue to fight with all they have for their dignity and their future. God, open my heart, open my eyes, open my spirit to those who are needy throughout the world. That is my prayer today.

How can we not

I wonder how we as a body can miss the need to reach out to all those in third world countries. How can we not help people who don't have clean water, or who have to walk for hours just to get water. I am supporting Blood Water Mission

They are a group, started by Jars of Clay to support clean water and blood in Africa, they have already reached a third of the way to their goal of 1,000 wells. How can we turn our back, how can we as Christians miss a chance to minister the the least.

Please Pray for India

One of my favorite sites called Pyromaniacs, had a couple of troubling posts in the last few days about the war on Christians by some of the Radical Hindus in the state of Orissa. The acts that are described are unbelievable. We just don't understand what the missionaries still face these days. We think of things happening like this in previous centuries. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ! He can overcome all, we know that.
Here is a list of things that have happened in the last week-

1. On 24th of August Pastor Jeebaratna Lima from Khurda District, was attacked and beaten up mercilessly. The miscreants doused petrol on him and about to set him on fire but timely arrival of Police saved his life. He was in Police custody but later was released on bail next day.
   
2. Pastor Bahumulya Paik of Bamandei, Patpur Police Station. Ganjam District was beaten to a point of death by a mob of around 100 people. He vomited blood and later gained conciousness and managed to flee from the place while the group was engaged in attacking the local believers. Since the hospitals were closed no medical help was available. On August 26, the police escorted him to some distance by their vehicle and left him on the way to take a bus and go away.
   
3. Pastor Bishnu Kumbhar and his pregnant wife of village Dutta, under Madan Rampur Police Station of Kalahandi district, were chased out. To save their lives, they ran away in the darkness and hid themselves from the attackers.
   
4. Pastor Susanjit Beero of Tengada Pathar under Tikabali Police Station of Phulabani, was attacked by a group of Hindutva miscreants. Along with few believers he is still reported to be taking shelter in the forest though without food and clothes from the last 48 hours.
   
5. Pastor Dillip Koshla of Tiangia village, under Raikia Police Station was attacked by the mob. His house and property are burned and looted by the unruly mob.
   
6. Pastor Birendra Harijan, of Nakapolo Church under Dharmasala Police Station of Jajpur District was beaten up badly. As the miscreants were about to set his house on fire the timely arrival of police saved the disaster.
   
7. Pastor Amit Pani of Ampani village, Koksora Police Station(PS) under Kalahandi district was chased out and locked in a house but they manage to escape.
   
8. Pastor Lebiyo Raito of Kanjamendi, Nuagam PS, Phulbani, was attacked and chased away from his house. He is still hiding in the jungle.
   
9. Pastor Jatan Nayak, of Bhadrak district was attacked and his house ransacked. He is in the Police protection at the moment.
   
10. Pastor Abinash Garjang, of Tattaguda, Malkangiriis attacked and the Church building was ransacked.
    
11. Pastor Aurobindo Sahu of Tumgurpada Church, Bargarh District is threatened to leave the place with dire consequences.
    
12. District pastor Anant Benya of Badibahal church, Luisingha PS, in Bolangir District was issued threat to attack the church on 26th August.
    
13. Pastor Pabitra Digal and Pastor Dharmendra Digal, of Sundargarh district have received threats to their life burning the church.
    
14. Pastor Thomas Bhoi of Petapanga church Raikia, Kandhamal district was attacked by the mob and their household items were damaged.
    
15. Pastor Ramakant Pradhan of Dotta Church and Pastor Sulaisng Barik of Hatibandh Church under Sinapali PS of Nuapada District was chased away from the village. Their whereabouts are not known.
    
16. Pastor Bijaya Surya of Penkam Church, Gunapur PS, Rayagada District is threatened and asked to leave the place.
    
17. Pastor Mothilal Sagar and his family, also along with 5 Sisters and two brothers in Madekela, Godphila block were attacked but they managed to flee and hid themselves. The miscreants are searching for them.
    
18. More than 15 church buildings of Believers Church alone and several churches of other denomination are damaged. The rampage is still going on unabated.
    
19. Church building and 60 houses in Tiangia village, Raikia, Kandhamal burnt. Two Christians named Dasarath Pradhan, Bikram Naik killed.
    
20. Church building was bombed and destroyed. 30 houses burnt in Tengdapathar, Tikabali, Kandhamal.
    
21. Church and parsonage damaged, 20 houses burnt, Two believers killed in Pettapanga, Saranggada, Kandhmal.
    
22. Chandrasekaharpur, BDA Church, Bhubaneswar damaged.
    
23. Tangupada, Bargarh District, the anti-Christians have threatened the pastor Arobindo Sahu to leave and they have a plan to destroy the newly built Church.
    
24. Audio Visual Team are hiding in the jungle in Chandragiri, Gajapati District because of the threats.
    
25. BOH (Education centre for Children) in Kuttenpalli, Bolangir District having 120 students was threatened to close down.
    
26. Tattaguda Church of Pastor Abinash Garjang in Baipariguda, Malkangiri demolished.
    
27. Bhatta Palla Church of Pastor John Naik in Madanpur, Rampur, in Kalahandi demoslished.
    
28. Tujung Church of Pastor Basant Digal in M. Rampur Kalahandi damaged.
    
29. Ladapanga Church of Pastor Rajanikanth Nayak in Daringbadi damaged.
    
30. The residences of Pastor Bijaya Kumar Surya, Pastor Susil Lima of Miraguda, Gunupur ransacked and looted. No police protection given.
    
31. The Church of Pastor Junus Digal destroyed and 180 houses of Christians burnt in Balkidadi, Kandhmal. Without food and drinking water the Christians are in the jungle from last three days.
    
32. The church building and all the houses of the Christians in Kurmingia of Kandhamal burnt. The Christians have fled to nearby jungles.
    
33. Church building and houses ransacked and later burnt in Tattaguda of Malkangiri District.
    
34. Churches destroyed and houses burnt along with 4 believers killed in Dadingia of Raikia, Kandhamal.
    
35. The church of Pastor Alif Nayak alongwith 12 houses in Ranipada, Kandhamal burnt. Pastor killed.
    
36. Houses burnt and Christians attacked in Madkela, Tusura in Bolangir.
    
37. Pastors Dandapani and Junus Diagal chased out of their place but they managed to flee to safety in nearby jungle.
    
38. Four incidents of attacks reported in Koraput. 39. Carmel English Medium School in Khurda threatened to close down by Hindu fundamentalists.
    
39. Houses in Khariapada, Udaigari were bombed by petrol bombs.
    
40. Unconfirmed reports suggests around 10-11 Christians were killed in jungles by angry and unruly mob.
    
41. Church in Balangir demolished.
    
42. Complete failure of Law and Order in violence affected areas. Police and Para-millitary forces are mere spectators.
    
43. 300-400 attackers burnt houses of Christians in Kurmanga, Raikia.
    
44. Nuagaon village dominated by around 50 Christian families completely burnt down.
    
45. Church in Nuagaon village burnt.
    
46. Grace Girls Hostel having 60-70 students in Kotagarh, Phulbani attacked by more than 1000 people. Just 10 Police personnel posted for protection were not sufficient to protect the Hostel.