My mind has been working overtime since we farewelled Africa last Friday, trying to digest the beyond-words-African-experience I've had over the past two weeks. Somehow, the video that was played during Africa Mercy's community meeting last week is now on repeat in my mind.
I can hear the words from the video echoing and moments we had in Freetown flashing in my mind, like a heartfelt reminder of the precious things I have gained from this trip.
"...Often there is a level of suffering here that is unimaginable.
But it's hard to reconcile the challenges many Africans face, with the joy I see in the people.
The images spilling out of my television showed only misery, and I was fooled.
I bought into the the lie that circumstances defines happiness.
In places where despair should thrive, I find adults dancing and sing.
Children playing soccer with a ball tied of trash.
Relationship and faith provide joy.
My new reality...My joy should have no regard for my circumstances.
I want what I have learned to trick down from my head into my heart.
I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy.
Africa does need our efforts and partnership.
But for me, I need Africa more than Africa needs me.
Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hand will never be as valuable as peace in my heart"
While the world may never understand the logic behind the sacrifices many volunteers make, giving up their time, finance and comfort to serve the forgotten poor in Africa, the timeless truth continues to stir the hearts of more than 1200 volunteers over 40 nations to serve on Africa Mercy each year. The truth is - we need fulfillment more than comfort. .
The delight of being part of His miracles to the desperate and the sense of deep satisfaction when hope is made tangible to the despair will always make serving a rewarding experience and encourage the human soul to seek serving others over personal comfort.
The inspiring conversations and stories I have heard of individuals faithfully serving with Mercy Ships has only made me realize how much I had underestimated the magnitude of the reward that comes with following the 2000-year-old model of Jesus. The fulfillment from serving is well described in Isaiah 58:9-11 "If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always. He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails."
The good news is, we don't have to travel half a world to Africa to serve others or to live out the example of Jesus. If we can just pause and look around our immediate community, we will find more than enough reasons to be a beacon of hope and love to others. It sure is easier to see physical poverty like what we were confronted with in SIerra Leone, however, many in our world today are actually suffering from emotional, mental and spiritual poverty which are easier to hide but equally damaging as physical poverty. The needs in this world can seem so overwhelming at times and it's tempting to throw ourselves into everything and everyone in need of our skills, love and time but I have come to learn that lives are best changed, one at a time.
Afterall we are all equally imperfect and equally in need of His grace to live out the life He has purposed. God is faithful and our relationship with each other makes all the difference. Simply instilling hope in another human being when hope is most needed may just change someone's world forever.
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