Lessons from Africa ~ We’re All the Same

  I do want to clarify something.  In my "Lessons from Africa" series I’ve been pretty hard on us North Americans but I also want to say that Africans and African Christians are also far from perfect.  When I went what I was expecting is to be in awe of the Christians, to be amazed at their faith and boldness.  What I found is that, when it comes right down to the heart, there’s not a lot of difference between us and them. 

  What do I mean by that?  Well, in Romans 3 we read things like, "As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."  And then, "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."  When it comes to where we stand before God, we’re all in the same boat.  Even with the cultural differences, the heart conditions were the same.  There were those who had no use for Jesus Christ because they wanted to keep living in their sin.  There were those who disbelieved because they wanted to see facts.  There were those who were interested but could not wrap their brain around the message of salvation.  There were those who gave excuses.  There were those who were just passive and didn’t really care either way.  The very same attitudes that are present here in North America. 

  Also, in the church.  I am told that even in the church there is a spirit of greed and adultery.  Sounds familiar.  As it says in Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  This means we are battling the same enemy here that they are battling in Africa.  Whether here or there we are battling the spirit that tells us the lie that "I am god.  I can do whatever I want, whenever I want to do it.  I am free to make any choice I desire."  And that is what it boils down to.  The biggest idol world round is not money.  It’s not popularity.  It’s not power.  It’s ourselves.  No one is exempt. 

  The battle is as strong in Africa as here so let us pray for each other and encourage each other. 

  "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."   

Lessons from Africa ~ We are Wimps

  I first began to see how wimpy we are as Canadiens as I watched how children are treated.  We are so careful with our babies and toddlers.  That’s probably a good thing.  But kids are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for.  I often saw loving mothers pick their several month old babies by one arm.  If a kid wasn’t behaving either the mother or, more often, another kid sitting beside them would whack them across the head.  They are down right rough with each other and yet I only remember once that a child cried in that context.  They are tough. 

  Another way that Africans have us beat in the toughness department is the amount of physical labour they do.  Everything is done by hand: mixing cement, farming, building roads, etc.  Almost everything is carried either on their heads or on the back of bikes. Sometimes we would see men with a few 2x4s on their heads running barefoot.   It seems that there is nothing to big.  Even up to a whole carcass of a cow on the back of a bike! 

  One last way in which we are by comparison wimps: one of the churches I worked with has a weekly all night prayer session.  One of the men from Uganda who works with youth and singles told me that every Monday as youth they have an all night prayer meeting.  All night.  Every week.  My brain doesn’t fully wrap around the concept of that.  Youth leaders, pastors, can you imagine your youth group or church meeting all night once a week for the puprose of prayer?  If I’m not mistaken, few churches maintain a weekly prayer service and those who do still have one are mostly lacking in participants. 

  I agree that prayer is important, it’s vital, but am I ready to sacrifice a night for the sake of prayer?  When I think of that I quickly begin to wonder, would I have enough things to pray for?  Wouldn’t I get bored?  Is it even possible for me? 

  …I’m a wimp.

Lessons from Africa ~ Food

  In the last few days before leaving Burundi I couldn’t help thinking, "If it wasn’t for the food I would love to stay longer."  Without any comparison the food was the biggest obstacle for me.  (I’m sure my good friend Dave is pretty amused at this, and not surprised…) 

  Now, the problem with the food was not that the food was bad.  Au contraire, my first meal in Burundi I was like "The food is great.  I don’t see how anyone could have a problem with this."  So to all of my African friends reading this, it’s not that your food is bad. 

  The problem is that I’m spoiled by variety.

  From when I was little food has always been an important part of my life.  I quite literally love food.  Now, let’s not confuse that with ‘I love eating.’  ‘I love eating’ would mean that I would eat everything in sight, didn’t matter what it tasted like.  No, it’s not that I love eating.  But I do love food.  And that love has been encouraged and nurtured by my dear mother.  Perhaps you’ve heard of love languages?  Well, my mom’s love language is food.  Not for herself, but that’s the way she gives love.  I remember countless times growing up when she would ask us what we would like for supper.  It didn’t matter what we would suggest, if she couldn’t make it that night we would have it within the week.  

  So, going to a place like Africa where variety is just not there was hard on the palate.  Heading into the second week I had almost no appetite.  (Of course, the anti-malaria pills making me nauseous didn’t help the situation)  It was then that my Canadian counter-part and I discovered two treasures: heinz ketchup and peanut butter.  That tied us over until we got to some North American food.  (The first thing I had in Canada was ice cream, but that’s just because I was warm.  What I craved most in Africa was pizza.)

  As I watched my African counter-parts and the way they enjoyed food, I began to wonder what it would be like for them to come to Canada.  What would they think of our food?  Would they not like it?  Or would they get so spoiled they wouldn’t want to leave?  In a way they are blessed for their lack of variety.  You eat or you don’t eat.  We have enough variety to get picky and in our pickiness we struggle to be thankful to God for His provision when the food is not what we want to eat. 

  So when I was being served rice, meat and potatoes once again rather than hawaiian pizza or pancakes or soft shelled tacos or a cheeseburger with fries or garlic beef enchiladas… I should have remembered a verse like this: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  1 Corinthians 10:31

Lessons from Africa ~ Evangelism and Money

  I had several conversations with a fellow Canadian team member about the role of money in evangelism, specifically to a third world country.  A quote from him: "Giving them money is the worst thing we can do for them."  That sounds harsh. 

  For one thing, there is great need.  People are starving, living in ridiculous conditions and without work.  School fees and books need to be paid for children.  Secondly, the Word of God CLEARLY tells us that we are to give to the poor.  The poor are very close to God’s heart.  Economic issues are addressed many times in Scripture.  Several places in Scripture one of the major accusations against a people is their neglect for the poor.  I am becoming more passionate about this all the time.  It is very important.

  BUT I agree with this Canadian gentleman in the context in which the statement was made.  There is a very big danger in always connecting evangelism with physical help and monetary gifts, especially when going to a foreign country.  Very quickly what can be created is a mindset that all whites are rich and whenever they come around there’s free stuff.  What that leads to is a lot of people ‘listening’ and ‘receiving Christ’ so that they will be given money.  

  So whenever I gave my testimony orally, I spoke about money.  I told them that although they may think that having more money, a bigger house, a better job, or whatever, will make them happy, it won’t.  I come from a wealthy nation.  Here in Canada we have everything we need.  Yet I met more happy people in Burundi than here in Canada.  I would sometimes tell them that if I gave them money or food, it might help right now but tomorrow, next week, next month it would all be gone.  So it is not money that makes us happy.  It is not money or financial security that makes our life good.  (As a side note, if anything money is a curse.  Yes, it’s the love of money that is the root of evil, but I think in some ways simply having it is a curse.  It tends to make us apathetic and stressed out.)

  At that point Jesus comes into the picture.  He is not here to be our genie in a bottle.  Being a Christian does not mean financial stability or an easy life.  But it means a good life.  Jesus says in John 10:10 that "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  With Jesus in our lives it doesn’t matter so much whether we have a lot of a little, whether we have furniture or not, or even whether or not we know where our next meal will come from.  (Philippians 4:12-13)  It doesn’t matter because we have the best thing we could ever have: Jesus Christ, through whom we can know God.  This possession far exceed any other we could ever have!  Everything else will pass away but an eternity with Christ will never pass away.  

  To bring this full circle, there is a place for money in evangelism.  There is a place for helping the poor and the destitute.  We have a lot of wealth here in North America and we should be using it for the Kingdom of God but we also need to be doing that strategically.  The greatest need people have is the need for Jesus, not their next meal.  If we are to do everything to the glory of God, we also need to think and plan what role money should play in evangelism so that it does not cloud or distract from the message of Jesus Christ.  How that should be done is up for discussion.  I have a few ideas and maybe you do as well. 

Lessons from Africa ~ Evangelism Perspective

  The organization I went to Africa with is called Disiciple Making International (DMI).  This is DMI’s evangelism strategy.  A team of Christians goes into a city.  They are teamed up with Christians from the local churches who take them door to door.  The local gives an introduction such as, "This is my friend Debbie, she’s from Canada.  She is here to share about what Jesus has done in her life.  She doesn’t understand Kurundi so I am here to translate for her."  Then, if they do not understand English very well, they read the testimony.  If they do understand English I will tell it and they translate.  After the testimony is given, a series of questions are gone through: do you believe that God exists, do you believe that Jesus is God’s Son, do you believe that Jesus died for your sins, etc.  Opportunity is given for the people to pray a ‘sinner’s prayer’ and then we have a prayer of thanks.  If people respond through prayer, their name and contact information is written down so that the local Christian can return with a Bible and lessons for further growth and understanding. 

  When I first learned about DMI’s strategy of door to door evangelism I was a little skeptical.  Shouldn’t we at least be doing events with music and drama?  Or building houses?  Or feeding people?  And why did they need other people to come?  After all, all my job was going to be was going along with the locals and praying as they did the speaking.  Couldn’t they do this evangelism on their own?

  Through the two weeks of door to door evangelism I began to see that there is something about simply going and talking about Jesus and the gospel.  The reactions were mixed.  There were those who pretended to be sick or busy so that they wouldn’t have to listen to us.  There were those who only debated and discussed rather than listening.  And there were those who were eager to hear, who’s eyes were riveted on the speaker, hungry for more truth.  Those who were excited knowing they were getting a Bible and looking forward to the follow up visit.  And there was the bulk of the group who listened, answered yes to the questions and prayed ‘the prayer’ as a matter of course.  To be honest, I’m not sure how many of the 6000+ people who prayed with us were sincere or even understood exactly what was going on.

  But this is the first link of the chain.  The first step of the process.  Our presence as foreigners gave the churches a reason to go out and talk to people and created an object of interest for the listeners.  Now that initial contact has been made, I can see how if the volunteers we worked with go back, they will have amazing Bible studies!  They will teach those who first responded so that they understand what it means to be a Christian, how to read the Bible and how to pray.  While they teach them their neighbours will listen in and see the changes in their friends and they too will come to know Jesus Christ.    There were many young men that I saw responding to the gospel who will become great leaders among their peers. 

  When I analyze this model of evangelism, it’s excellent.  To just look at what was accomplished by our team of 20 it’s not much.  (Even though thousands prayed, there is very little understanding.)  But to look at the bigger picture, it’s a program of longer term discipleship and integration into a church family.  It’s a model that will produce many disciples and lovers of God.

  The next lesson I share will be in regards to money and the physical in relation to evangelism.  

Lessons from Africa ~ Simplicity & Hospitality

  I’ve only really thought about the lesson of simplicity now that I’m back in Canada.  Life in Africa is very simple.  At least what I saw of it.  The complication factor was absent.  Along with it, stress was no where to be seen, except in my fellow Canadians. 

  We would go from house to house and, especially in the poor areas, people would flock around.  We would great them and they would greet us and usually offer us a seat.  It was not uncommon to have 8 to 10 people gathered to listen.  Most of the time  I had no idea who was married to who or who were the parents of what kids.  Whatever was being done was not so important that they couldn’t take a few minutes to listen.  Of course, they may walk away at any time as well but all very leisurely.  There was no scurry hither and thither getting in a tither about doing this or that. 

  The food was simple.  I really don’t think they eat for the purpose of enjoyment there.  A typical meal was rice, meat, beans and matoke (cooked bananas) or potatoes with a banana for dessert.  Basically you eat or you don’t eat.  To drink the choice was water, coke or fanta and at breakfast coffee, tea or milk. 

  The way they drive is simple.  The biggest vehicle gets the right of way.  And if you think you deserve the right of way just honk your horn; everyone will move over. 

  Their houses are simple.  No extras.  If anything a few pictures or a calendar.  Wooden furniture.  Light from the windows. 

  Their lives are not cluttered.  They are free to spend time enjoying each other.  Their major concern is the basic nessecities of living.  When I think about that and about life here in North America, we make life way too complicated, too busy, too isolated.  They are so community oriented and we are so busy that we have no time for each other.  And even if we do have time, we don’t take time for each other.  We could definitely learn something from that simplicity of life.

  And the result?  These people love to smile and laugh.  I wonder if even in their poverty they are not the ones who truly enjoy life.