Africa

This morning a team of people, many of them members of our former ministry "The Calling" left for Zimbabwe on a two week mission trip. Josh White, Emily Buurstra, Tim & DeAnne Nichols, Chris Schmidt, and Andria Ramsey are part of this present team. Josh and Chris were part of the team that Julie and I were on two years ago. In fact, it was two years ago this week Julie and I left on our first mission trip together since getting married in 2000. I had traveled on mission trips previously, but this was our first since getting married. It was a great trip for us in that it opened our eyes up to another world. A world we are still in contact with, supporting in various ways, and praying for as it continues to crumble under the weight of corruption and abuses of power. Zimbabwe is a much different place and a much more difficult place than it was even two years ago.

Zimbabwe Team - April 2007

Just like we did on our trip, this team will host weekend retreats for the youth of the area; they will visit the orphanages and feeding centers Vital Connections continues to sustain and support. The country is so bad that no one uses its currency any more. Rather they trade in Dollars or the neighboring countries currency. Our friends there are suffering and yet I get emails stating that they are pressing on in the midst of all the injustice and difficulty they face each day. Another former member of The Calling wrote a blog of his own about how important our trips are to our dear friends in Zimbabwe even if we don't feel like we are able to so all that much. Know that each of these trips is a cup of cold water to a country dying of thirst...and that my friends is worth whatever price...

Julie's Small Group at Youth Retreat - April 2007

In America we like to fix things, plan and then watch our plans work out, expect effeciency and results, and yet in Africa it is a whole different world. Schedules rarely work, plans always have to be adjusted...it is enough to drive a Westerner crazy. And yet, God loves Africa and the people of Africa. It truly is a different world with a different set of values then ours...some better, some not so. Most importantly though, on this trip there are hundreds of fellow followers of Jesus Christ who will be encouraged, prayed for, built up in their faith, and strengthened in their endurance of life they presently live and have no power to change.

As tumultuous a place as it is, Julie and I love Africa and having visited twice now, I can see that God loves and has richly blessed Africa as a land and people. Maybe this is why they find themselves always in the cross hairs of evil and so much turmoil. If you have a moment or two, pray for this present team, pray for Zimbabwe, and please pray for Africa.