TIA: This Is Africa

As much as I love what I do here in Africa, there are many times when I have to ask myself why I chose to come here and had dreamed of living as a full-time missionary ever since I was in 10th grade. Life as a missionary in South Africa is not easy, in fact, it is really hard. It has required that I don't rely on the conveniences that so many in America take for granted. Afterall, our grocery store has no variety, an empty place on the shelf for weeks on end where the longed for item belongs, and to get there takes 25 minutes, using gas that costs approximately $4.50 per gallon. Repeated power outages that last hours at a time at the worst times of day often delay my work and, worse yet, forces businesses to shut down, leaving people jobless in a country where finding employment is already a challenge. Entertaining oneself on the weekends and after work is even a challenge. Being on a farm, 2.5 hours from a large city, means going to the movies is rarely an option, going out to eat is limited to very few choices and shopping at a mall is a commodity. So, many would ask why I would ever choose to come to South Africa as a missionary. The truth is that, as I see it, I actually have it really good out here. I have learned that life is not about having those things that so many people in various corners of the world take for granted. Plus, I never would have found myself to be as prosperous as I am, had I not surrendered my life completely to Christ offering up to Him the only offering He desires, my life, and allowing Him to do whatever He wants with it. I would not be able to look back on who I was before I moved out here and look at who I am now, and be in total amazement at the growth and spiritual maturity that I have achieved. Don't think me a saint, but this is what I have to remind myself of in those moments of greatest weakness. When I lose sight of why I am here. When I miss my family and friends in the States. When I crave a double tall nonfat one-pump iced mocha from Starbucks. All of these things come to mind at some time or another, but I would not trade the opportunity to see a Basotho's life transformed, an intern grasp hold of the vision that God has for their life, or to be blessed in so many ways by those whom I live and work with for anything. This is Africa-where I am supposed to be for NOW! I may never get another chance to do what I am doing, and I feel so privileged to be chosen by God to accomplish His mission in Africa!