two months ago today i left for cape town, south africa. i had no idea what was in store for me. today i decided to sit down and write a blurb about my experience there (at the prompting of a church newsletter of all things). considering all my conversations and discourses about my trip tend to be extremely long, i felt this was a good exercise. here's what i came up with:
once you drink the water in south africa, you will never be satisfied until you drink it again. and it's true. god blessed my life unbelievably during my two week stay in cape town, south africa with my college (belmont university). i had the opportunity to experience life from an entirely different perspective and to see god in the eyes of poverty-stricken south african children during our bible clubs. but i learned more about god's love and provision than i ever knew was possible. from safe travels and health to deep conversations about god that crossed cultural divides, my experience with "mother afrika" profoundly revolutionized my faith and strengthened my relationship with my creator.
there is so much packed into those sentences, i feel like they are bursting at the seams. how can i describe my time there to anyone who wasn't with me? i can't. it's not really possible. i can tell stories and look at pictures, but i can't help anyone see what i saw or experience what i experienced. i have no words to describe how god worked in me.
but it's good to stand here two months later and be at peace with being home for the first time. yes, my soul still longs to be back. but my memories of africa have melted into who i am, instead of being surface-level conversation pieces, high points that no one can comprehend. cape town is a sacred space for me now, and one day i'll return to again meet with god under different rules and circumstances. the encouragement now is to do the same thing right here. spend time in my sacred spaces and meet god in new and inspiring ways.
once you drink the water in south africa, you will never be satisfied until you drink it again. and it's true. god blessed my life unbelievably during my two week stay in cape town, south africa with my college (belmont university). i had the opportunity to experience life from an entirely different perspective and to see god in the eyes of poverty-stricken south african children during our bible clubs. but i learned more about god's love and provision than i ever knew was possible. from safe travels and health to deep conversations about god that crossed cultural divides, my experience with "mother afrika" profoundly revolutionized my faith and strengthened my relationship with my creator.
there is so much packed into those sentences, i feel like they are bursting at the seams. how can i describe my time there to anyone who wasn't with me? i can't. it's not really possible. i can tell stories and look at pictures, but i can't help anyone see what i saw or experience what i experienced. i have no words to describe how god worked in me.
but it's good to stand here two months later and be at peace with being home for the first time. yes, my soul still longs to be back. but my memories of africa have melted into who i am, instead of being surface-level conversation pieces, high points that no one can comprehend. cape town is a sacred space for me now, and one day i'll return to again meet with god under different rules and circumstances. the encouragement now is to do the same thing right here. spend time in my sacred spaces and meet god in new and inspiring ways.
njalo!
(always!)
siya thandaza
(we pray)
siya nilela
(we give)
siya dumisa thina njalo
(we praise the lord always)
(always!)
siya thandaza
(we pray)
siya nilela
(we give)
siya dumisa thina njalo
(we praise the lord always)
No comments:
Post a Comment