Africa: My Journey His Calling

Africa: My Journey - His Calling “Are you crazy?” – Yes. I’ve already heard it all and I will try to articulate the answer to what will undoubtedly be the biggest question “Why AFRICA?”. See this…. That’s a bridge and I’m figuring I need one of these (forgiveness) to get into Heaven. For me, that is a realization that Jesus Christ paid for my Sins. He loves me that much. The other thing that it means for me is the realization that in life there are ‘Relationship Bridges” and they are important. Throughout my journeys, I have developed wonderful relationships with people. If I introduce you to those people, than I have extended a ‘bridge’ to that relationship, too. I experienced this at Woodlawn where I attend church. I am fortunate enough to know, Bill and Ellie Spivey from Panama City. He is Warden of the prison and she is the principal at Patronis Elementary. Long story (somewhat short) is that Bill has spent the last 11 years traveling back and forth to a place called Arusha, Tanzania. He has developed relationships with the local community – Pastor Kelly and his congregation and the nearby Massai tribe. Pastor Kelly visited Woodlawn and showed a slideshow of the work we are doing over there, particularly with wells. You see, it seems, that fresh water is scarce inland. The women have to walk miles and miles just to retrieve it from dung infested water sources, thereby exposing their newborns to dysentery, who then die. So for $3,000, our church started building wells. There is a well and there is a gathering of Maasai. But the women and infants are missing from the picture because they have to stay in a hut with the newborn for six months to protect them from infectious diseases. So we are going to take them ‘birthing kits’ to make them more comfortable. But there is something else that we noticed. When you build, they come. So Pastor Kelly has sent four young men from his congregation (in the ‘city’) to seminary and we are sponsoring them, too. His intent is to spread The Good News at the wells, sorta like a portable church. We’ve committed to 12 wells so there is a lot going on. And that is sort of like the short answer of why I am going – relationship bridges and I think that I can help. The other big reason, is – I just can’t help it. Sitting in that presentation with Pastor Kelly – I knew I was going and I knew every door would be opened to get me there. I relate everything back to water and fishing, so it felt like I was a remora and there was a huge Whale Shark going by. Something a lot bigger than me that was going to take me places I’ve never been. Gil and my sister are going with us. I can’t wait. What do I want from you? Prayer. There may be other things you want to do and you can contact me, but most importantly; please pray for us. This is not the end of the journey. Every 30 years, all the Elders from each tribe in Tanzania meet at The Hill of Slaughter and that is the only time they all get together. Sort of like a big UN meeting. It is eight years away. Since that is a once in a lifetime event, God willing, I’m sure we will return.