I truly do not have any words to summarize my trip. I kept thinking that if only the jet lag wore off, I'd find the words to sum up my trip to Africa. If only this dern kidney stone would go away, I'd find the words. If only, the stomach bug would leave us alone. If only, if only, if only.
Three weeks later, I still have no words.
I ran into a friend at church that I had not seen in a long time. She grew up in Africa. She asked how my trip was and I told her I had no words. I was shocked when she replied, "You aren't supposed to; you were in Africa."
I was relieved. I've been walking around for three weeks trying to find a nice, neat little way to package up my thoughts from this unexpected, most amazing trip. To Africa.
On the one hand, it was full of joy....I met my daughter. MY daughter.
On the other hand, I saw things I had, up until this point, only read about. I think I know more than the average American does about this particular country in Africa and so I thought I was prepared. I wasn't.
My heart was broken on this trip. Not because I had to say "see you soon" to my daughter....believe me, that hurt. But my heart hurt even more for the people of her home land. And I didn't even see the worst of it.
I have been trying to process what this all means....for them, for me. And I still don't know. I only know that I will never be the same. Oh, how I pray I will never be the same.
PS - I was NOT in Rwanda as in this video. Just wanted to clarify!
5 comments:
I completely know what you mean. It DOES change you, in a completely good way. I went to Africa summer of 2007, and to date, not a week goes by that I don't think about the people I met there, the country I was in, or the things I saw there. I'd never heard it put the way your friend put it, but that really does sum it up well.
I remember telling Anyra before we left that I thought something in me was going to "come undone" from my trip to Africa. It did. I find myself homesick for a place where I only spend 15 days. A place I know little about yet I long to be. I don't know if that is because of the sheer enormity of need there, God needing me to stay connected because there are things for me to do there, or both. You are not alone, I still struggle to define what my time there meant and is supposed to mean.
Thank you . . . thank you. I've never been but can't wait. For some strange reason, maybe now I know, I have always had some deep connection or something to this continent. Thanks for the song and video and your "words".
Ahhh, that video!!!!! Crying so very much right now! I can't tell you how my heart longs to be in Africa. With all the stuff that has been going on with Sammy I didn't think that I would be able to tear myself away from my own issues to fully focus on you guys and this trip. But, God has done things to my heart the last few weeks that I am in awe of and it only confirms that Africa is where I need to be/go. I truly feel a longing. Thank you for allowing me to help your family and share in this unforgettable journey. Counting down the days!!!!
Love you guys!
It's sooo true...it's sooo hard to put into words what you see over there. I was in Ethiopia...I think that's where you're getting your daughter, right?!? It's unreal. You should check out my blog from Ethiopia...it's a work in progress, though. www.aleciaethiopia2008.blogspot.com
Blessings to you all...I'm so excited you got to go and see your little girl! Can't wait to see pictures of the day you bring her home. :-)
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