I Have Learned:
I have learned to endure 17 hour plane rides and how to deal with jet lag. I have learned to get over bugs and how to kill cockroaches the size of a small fist. I have learned what my left hand means and what not to do with it. I have learned a collection of Swahili words. I have learned to share Christ with total strangers. I have learned what to do when you are peed on. I have learned to walk miles on end with a 15 lbs backpack. I have learned how to give a bible away and how great the need is for one. I have learned how to listen, even if I can't understand. I have learned to smile more, because it displays universal happiness. I have learned how to cry. I have learned to how to walk barefoot in mud, stone, gravel, and sand. I have learned to appreciate many things including ice cubes, air conditioning, paved roads, stop signs, stop lights, and houses not made out of mud. I have learned that fruit is always better without preservatives. I have learned that clothing is clothing wether it is miss me's or a plain t-shirt. I have learned the meaning of respect. I have learned to enjoy chapati's, oogali, beans, rice, and to fully appreciate the wonders of peanut butter. I have learned what starving looks like. I have seen death and learned sorrow for those I don't know. I have learned just how small a coffin can be. I have learned how something small can inspire so much joy. I have heard the angels sing in the form of children. I have learned what happy means. I have learned the magic of shaving cream and thousands of ways to use it. I have learned how to be unselfish. I have learned to allow my hair to be ripped out for the sake of ten little girls all trying to braid it. I have learned to haggle and to avoid camel poop. I have learned not to run on uneven and slippery stones. I have learned how to teach kids who don't speak the same language as me
and how to entertain them at a moments notice. I have learned to truly appreciate teachers and what they do. I have learned the meaning of welcome. I have learned the meaning of excess and to never waste food. I have come to question the "American Way". I have learned the meaning of hospitality. I have learned how to be a minority and how many cows I'm worth. I have learned not to be picky and how not to match. I have learned what starving animal look like and the simple joy of a piece of candy. I have learned to calculate shillings into dollars and dollars to shillings. I have learned the meaning of beautiful and how to stretch money. I have learned to be a teacher's aid and to enjoy beautiful sunsets and roaring lions. But most importantly, I have learned to love. I have learned the meaning, purpose, and plan of love... Of His Love.
I have learned to endure 17 hour plane rides and how to deal with jet lag. I have learned to get over bugs and how to kill cockroaches the size of a small fist. I have learned what my left hand means and what not to do with it. I have learned a collection of Swahili words. I have learned to share Christ with total strangers. I have learned what to do when you are peed on. I have learned to walk miles on end with a 15 lbs backpack. I have learned how to give a bible away and how great the need is for one. I have learned how to listen, even if I can't understand. I have learned to smile more, because it displays universal happiness. I have learned how to cry. I have learned to how to walk barefoot in mud, stone, gravel, and sand. I have learned to appreciate many things including ice cubes, air conditioning, paved roads, stop signs, stop lights, and houses not made out of mud. I have learned that fruit is always better without preservatives. I have learned that clothing is clothing wether it is miss me's or a plain t-shirt. I have learned the meaning of respect. I have learned to enjoy chapati's, oogali, beans, rice, and to fully appreciate the wonders of peanut butter. I have learned what starving looks like. I have seen death and learned sorrow for those I don't know. I have learned just how small a coffin can be. I have learned how something small can inspire so much joy. I have heard the angels sing in the form of children. I have learned what happy means. I have learned the magic of shaving cream and thousands of ways to use it. I have learned how to be unselfish. I have learned to allow my hair to be ripped out for the sake of ten little girls all trying to braid it. I have learned to haggle and to avoid camel poop. I have learned not to run on uneven and slippery stones. I have learned how to teach kids who don't speak the same language as me
and how to entertain them at a moments notice. I have learned to truly appreciate teachers and what they do. I have learned the meaning of welcome. I have learned the meaning of excess and to never waste food. I have come to question the "American Way". I have learned the meaning of hospitality. I have learned how to be a minority and how many cows I'm worth. I have learned not to be picky and how not to match. I have learned what starving animal look like and the simple joy of a piece of candy. I have learned to calculate shillings into dollars and dollars to shillings. I have learned the meaning of beautiful and how to stretch money. I have learned to be a teacher's aid and to enjoy beautiful sunsets and roaring lions. But most importantly, I have learned to love. I have learned the meaning, purpose, and plan of love... Of His Love.
I cannot explain my trip more than this. However, I will tell you that you need to Go. Nothing compares to this journey that has hopefully changed my life. I plan, with God willing, to return as soon as possible to my new favorite place on Earth: Where people are poor in riches and rich in all-consuming love. I miss my kids and my Africa already! I pray that God blesses you as much as He has blessed me. Having just returned to a country were everything is bleak, unfeeling, concrete, and grossly excessive, I hope to appreciate what I have been given and to try to bless others and spark the same flame that has be ignited in me.
Come to Africa and see what you will learn,
Madeline
Come to Africa and see what you will learn,
Madeline
No comments:
Post a Comment