This is Africa

5/12


Our day had a late start today as we accidently all woke up a couple hours later than planned. Needless to stay, still adjusting to switching our nights and days. When we all got ready, we walked the streets to find a restaurant for lunch. Crossing the streets was a new adventure, with the advice we were given beforehand, “Be careful and move fast. They WILL hit you.” We found an Indian restaurant, which despite being the only costumers, took two hours. We are officially on Africa time.

After lunch we headed back to Cornerstone to meet our driver, Douglas. We then rode to the Bukesa boys home. Spending the afternoon with the boys was such a blessing! One boy, Kennedy, who looked to be about 19, walked up and started talking to me. I asked how old he was, but he didnʼt know, nor has he ever known, because of the situation of his early life. He went onto explain that one of his parents had died, and the other was alive, but he had no idea where. He told me that he was passionate about preaching the gospel and wants to be a missionary. He said his friends at school call him “pastor” or “bishop,” and that he did not mean for these nicknames to come about, but they did because his friends see how he lives his life and what he loves. I loved to hear his passion, but also hear him own his gift by saying, “I am really good at preaching!” I know that Kennedy will reach so many people because his love for God, how he lives his life, and that he recognizes a gift, owns it, and wants to use it.

This is only one of so many stories that happened just today! The boys are so friendly and fun! We have all already been incredibly blessed by them. We spent an hour tonight debriefing with the team and it was so encouraging to hear stories from interactions on the planes, to worship last night, to the boys home today, to just being in Africa. We talked about being intentional in relationships and expectant that God WILL work. I know we have so much more to learn and see, and I know we will be blessed far more than we ever have the capacity to be a blessing.

On a side note, African English is a lot harder to understand than I anticipated. Jake has started talking in an African accent and Haley and Stevi say its only a matter of time before all of us pick it up. However, for the time being, we laugh at Jake every time. Also, today at the Indian restaurant Katie found a bone in her chicken fried rice. She just picked it out (and switched with Jared who had ordered the same thing.) As they say, TIA, this is Africa.