Thursday, February 24, 2011

Reflections

Yesterday night I was watching the world pass me by as Ben was driving me back from church.  The neat rows of corn harvested, the bare trees, the perfectly lit signs, the even roads, the lack of clutter and garbage on the streets... I was memorizing it.  I am saying, "good-bye" to all the safeness of America.  Everything is so clean and orderly.  In Africa there is nothing that is arranged or in rows.  Everything seems scattered and more like nature; unorganized and sometimes chaotic. 

But there is something different about stepping outside into that place versus my tidy suburban life.  There is adventure waiting around every corner.  There is usually someone who is desperately needy only 5 steps from my door.  Of course, this can happen any place in the world.  But for me, there is just something special about living in the craziness of malaria threats, poisonous snakes, huge bugs, healthcare that is hard to find, typhoon rains and even threatening government situations.  After hearing that you may think I have a death wish!  However, this is what the precious people of Africa live in every second of every day.  I want to be close to them and understand them as well as I can so that I can be worthy of helping.  Without living in this constant fear, it is hard to comprehend how to serve. 

God help me serve well.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi, new to the site, thanks.

Ben Pahlow said...

Thank you for your comment!