I thought it would be fun to start a regular Friday feature that is all about dream getaways… Kind of a bucket list/inspiration list of places that I want to go, things I want to do… Want to come along?
I have always wanted to go to Africa. Well that is not true. I used to be afraid to go to Africa. I was afriad if I went to Africa I would have to wear bad clothes. The church tradition I grew up in was a great supporter of foreign missionaries, always handing out prayer cards and book parks with the pictures of missionary families on them. And in every single picture the families clothes were at least a decade out of date. To me. at that age, I almost couldn’t imagine a worse fate, and I lived with this knawing fear that God was going to call me to be a missionary and that I would have to wear ugly clothes. Thank God I grew up. And met some missionary kids who had perfectly nice and modern clothes.
In High School I feel in love with the movie Out of Africa, and a few years ago I fell in love with The Number 1 Detective Ladies books and series on HBO. But I know that neither tell the whole story. That Africa is so vast, and so varied, that it would take a lifetime to know it all intimately. But still I hope to know a small part of it one day. I hope to take my shots like a big girl and get on a plane and go. I want to see for myself, I want to know for myself, at least a small part of Africa.
For now I connect through support. We help support missionaries in Swaziland who work with with the C.H.I.P.S, Program – Children HIV Intervention Program in Swaziland, to help the orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS pandemic in Swaziland, Africa. These are some of Ian and Jenny’s kids. I want to hop on a plane and go adopt them all. We also support a Rwandan child through Compassion International. but still. I want to do more. I want to know more.
I see pictures like this and first I think it is beautiful and majestic and then I think that it probably doesn’t feel beautiful and majestic to that mother. Then I make a promise to myself that I will never complain about having “just” one INDOOR bathroom with RUNNING WATER ever again. I will never complain about taking my child to the store that has a CART and FOOD falling off the shelf again. If I do, please slap me silly. Please.
Africa is beautiful.
and complicated.
Africa is wild.
and all too familiar.
Africa is big
and small.
And I want to see it all.
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Until I can get there, myself I will have to rely on the stories of those that have been there to help understand better the joys and challenges, the beauty and the pain of this large continent. I will watch movies like Praying the Devil Back to Hell and I will listen to the stories of those who helped make the film and maybe gleam a little more understanding of how I can be a better neighbor, even thousands of miles apart.
If you are reading this, then you have access to the internet, which means that you can watch the Women, War and Peace special on PBS, and specifically Praying the Devil Back to Hell , a film about the astonishing story of the Liberian women who took on the warlords and regime of dictator Charles Taylor in the midst of a brutal civil war, and won a once unimaginable peace for their shattered country in 2003. (You can also read more about this series and episode HERE)
If you live in Central Arkansas you have the chance to join me at a special preview screening of this film followed by a Q&A with the producer Abigail Disney. The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, who is putting this event on, has graciously given me two tickets that I would love to giveaway.
The film will be shown at 6:30pm, on Friday October 21 in downtown Little Rock.
If you are able to make this event and would like two tickets please enter this giveaway by leaving a comment here on this post. And if you have been to Africa, please tell me – what did you see?
**THIS GIVEAWAY WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 AT NOON**
Africa breaks my heart. It is so rich in diversity, resources, beauty, flora and fauna, and the most incredible people. But so much of it is lost to war, financial poverty, and the resulting lack of education and illness. I hope that you find yourself in Africa one day, helping to make it more of what it can be. I have had the pleasure of meeting many incredible Africans, from all over the continent, and they have only made my life richer. Thank you for sharing this post.
Crazy weird- I came over from Annalea's blog and find a post about Africa- where I live and have for over 3 years!! I am annie's good friend from high school days and now live and work and love for jesus on the East coast of Africa- stop by sometime and I will be sure to check in on you- we have chickens around our house too 🙂
You will go… someday… and it will forever become part of who you are. Africa never leaves your soul. Trust me, I know, and I would love to be at the event Friday. ~Beth