Why Tanzania

Some people have asked me, Why Africa? Why Tanzania?

How do I even begin to answer that question? If you ask a couple who are in love, why they love each other. They might say things like: 

"She is always there for me, supportive and encouraging me in all areas of my life." 

"He makes me laugh, even in my worst moments."

"She gets me, even when I don't get myself. "

"He makes me feel like I am the most important person in the world."

Of course, the list of reasons can go on and on. But when you really boil it down, why two people are in love with each other is a mystery - you can't really explain it, it just is. 

That is how I feel about Africa. I don't really get why I am so drawn to Africa, but I am. It is interesting the moments that highlight this to me. Like during our trip to Nigeria, I was talking to my friend Chris and asked if he would come back. He said "No." "Why not?" I asked, intrigued because this was not the answer I was expecting.  "Because it is dirty, crowded, noisy, and I can't stand that there are no traffic laws!" I couldn't help but laugh. Yes, this was all very true but somehow it does not faze me one bit. Yet, after 8 days, Chris had his fill and was anxious to get home. During that trip, a missionary was addressing the whole philosophical question of "being called to the mission field". Do we need to have a special sign, or experience, or call to come be on the mission field? Her response, "If you can picture yourself living here, then you are probably called here. There are many people who wouldn't  be able to make it more than two weeks living here." I most certainly can picture myself living in Africa and that has been growing over the years. 

It started in high school when I had this urge to leave behind all the modern conveniences and live in the jungle with some tribal people. At that time, I really wanted to go live in South America, most likely because my heroes at the time were missionaries in Ecuador. It really wasn't until my senior year of college that Africa came into the picture...

"So honey, I have been thinking. You don't know what you are doing after graduation and I just got some inheritance money. What do you think about taking a trip to Senegal to visit Herma?" Wait, did my mom just say that? This is going to be the best graduation gift ever! So off we went to spend a month with my mom's friend who has been a missionary in Senegal for 25 plus years. I can describe that trip in two words: culture shock! Coming from Colorado, where it is predominantly white with a few Hispanics sprinkled in, I couldn't help but be intensely aware that I was in a vast sea of dark-skinned people. We stood out like the floodlights at a sports stadium on a dark night. Not to mention, they speak French, Wolof, countless tribal languages,  and very little English. I didn't know how to communicate and I was completely, totally dependent on the people around me. A startling experience for someone as independent as I am. Yet, I was captivated with the people, the culture, and the lifestyle and already drawn to come back.

After my mom and I made the decision to go to Senegal, it was like everything Africa opened up to me. I spent that night in a mock displacement camp with Invisible Children, a friend introduced me to BeadforLife, and then I found out I was going to Nigeria... This time it was part of LIFT, a Christian leadership program in the Adirondacks in New York. We spent 2 weeks partnering with different ministries including, prison ministry, medical outreaches to rural villages, and hanging out with street children. For me, that trip was about the stories of the people. Since many of the Nigerians I met could speak English, I was intentional about hearing about their stories and I loved every minute of it. This trip only whetted my appetite to learn more about Africa and the incredible people there.

In fall of 2007, my friend Katie told me about Village Schools. I read through their website and their updates and I was awestruck. These people in the rural villages really, really, really wanted their children to go to school. So  much so that the people of the village would donate the best land for the school site, the parents were out there hauling stones, the children carrying buckets of water to make bricks, and even the grandmothers were out there in the hot sun, making bricks.This organization was not about Westerners telling Africans what they needed to improve their lives – this was Tanzanians deciding what they wanted for themselves and going for it! Village Schools is a Tanzanian organization with Tanzanian leaders making the decisions – all the non-Tanzanians are there in a supporting role only. Reading this update from Village School had me thirsty to be a part of this work and incredible vision!

Of course there is more to this story, it will be continued soon =)