Reality Check, Africa Style

I am writing this the night before, yes, the night before I move to Austin to attend the University of Texas. I am so excited, but it really seems like the moment is never going to actually get here. I’ve had boxes stacked in my room for a week, and a few days ago I finally began to fill them with my junk…er, things. Once I got started, it’s like I couldn’t stop. I probably have too much to fit in my tiny dorm room, but we’ll see tomorrow. My roommate moved in today so she gets one relaxing night to herself before I bust in.

The past few weeks have been absolutely nuts. I went to Senegal, West Africa at the beginning of the month. Honestly, I think it was harder to come home to the states than it was to go there. I didn’t really have a problem adjusting to life there, but that’s probably because we were only on the ground there for seven days total. Coming back home was completely weird though. I should probably tell you a little about the trip and maybe that will paint a picture for you, at least so you won’t be completely lost with what I’m going to say at the end.

We landed in Dakar around 5am. A friend that is serving in Senegal picked us up and drove us to where we were staying. And let me tell you, it was an interesting drive – speed bumps on highways, huge holes dug in dark spots in the road, people walking down the middle of the highway (in the dark), buses/taxis stopping without warning to pick up passengers, and lines that are just suggestions of where to drive. We finally made it to our home for the week after stopping for breakfast – donuts (yes they have donuts in Africa), pan au chocolat (basically bread with chocolate on it), and some kind of juice. I even tried powdered milk…not so great. After breakfast the team I was on rested for a while back at our place. That afternoon though, we were in the villages greeting and introducing ourselves and hoping for an invitation back so we could share God’s word and truth. The rest of the week was absolutely indescribable. Being in a mostly Muslim country was such a change from the environment we have created in America, especially the “Bible Belt.” The people in Senegal are some of the nicest, most hospitable people in the entire world. They may be Muslim, but their culture is that of hospitality and graciousness. Completely different than America. Here, we are too “busy” to sit down to lunch with someone, let alone put off our work. We don’t even know what work is compared to the people in Senegal. Although they live in a more modern African nation, they still have to work the fields and cook all of their meals (there is no McDonalds near the villages). And even though they have so much work to do, they took time out, sometimes even whole days, to sit and visit with us. Would you be willing to do that for someone that just happened to walk into your town? As an American follower of Christ, are you taking time out to really let people get to know you and see what your life is with Christ a part of it? Are you really following Christ?

One day we got the chance to visit a village that has a number of believers in it and worship with them. I have to tell you, that was some of the most honest worship I have ever seen. They were excited to get to meet believers from across the ocean, and they were excited to worship the one and only God who sent His son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for their sins and ours. After listening to the people sing praises for a minute, I was able to identify the songs because of the melodies and was able to sing along in English. After a few songs though, I was really convicted about how little I had been trying to make God. I have underestimated Him so much it’s not even funny, but listening to a group of believers in a mainly Muslim African nation, believers of different races, genders, nationalities, and anything you could imagine, completely changed my view of God. He is huge. Even with our jumbled English and Wolof praises, He understood every word. Our God is not limited by anything, even if we as humans are. That just makes us rely completely on Him, as it should be.

After worshipping with the believers in that certain village and coming home, I was again convicted. We in America have it so easy. There is just about zero sacrifice for us to worship God, other than our time. In Senegal, those people risk losing their family, their social stature, everything if they believe that Jesus Christ is their savior and openly communicate that. That is why it is so exciting to see those believers worship in the open. Worship without inhibition. It was extremely hard for me to come back to a worship service in the states because it seems as though no one is excited to really worship and learn about God. We put on a show every Sunday and go to church because it is expected of us, because it is our routine. A friend of mine always says, “If your faith hasn’t changed you, it probably hasn’t saved you.” Has your faith changed you? When you sing songs with words like, “Hosanna,” or “Hallelujah,” do you really mean them or are they empty words that you sing because someone put them up on a screen for you to read?

I personally am not content with being part of a church that is willing to sit back and “worship” on Wednesdays and Sundays, but not think about God the rest of the week. I want to be a part of a church (and by church I mean, all believers, not just a group in a certain town) that is on fire for God. And by on fire I mean actively seeking His will, not theirs. People often say they don’t know what God’s will is, but Jesus tells us outright in the Word. He says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the Age.” Matthew 28:19-20. God tells us what He wants us to do. Are you doing that? And it’s not even something we are doing – it’s God working through us. We as sinful humans cannot save anyone else, but God chooses to use us to reveal Himself to those other people. It says so in this verse. I know that in America, there are just as many people dying and going to hell as there are in Senegal, but being in Senegal really just shows a bigger picture. With statistics of over ninety percent of its inhabitants being Muslim, that means ninety percent of its inhabitants will die and go to hell because they have not accepted Christ as their savior. But how can they accept Christ if no one tells them about Him? Even if you never go to a foreign country specifically for a mission trip, there are people right here that God has been preparing to hear the Word from you. You just have to be obedient to His call and the guidance of the Holy Spirit that lives inside you if you are a follower of Christ. And don’t be afraid to go somewhere you’ve never been. If He calls you there, He will provide. Granted, God never guarantees us physical safety, but wouldn’t it be so much better to die doing His will and go to paradise knowing you did all you could, than to die living a mediocre American “Christian” life knowing you could have done and were called to do so much more?

Just some stuff to chew on that has been on my mind lately. I have to go finish packing up so I can move on to my new home and see what God has for me to do while I'm there!

In Christ,
Alicia

Economics, Schmeconomics

I had an interview at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and last week they called me back and I am now a part-time employee. During the school week I usually work a few days. With this job, that leaves little time for studying, which stresses me out because I am one of those students who likes to know they have time for everything they need to get done. That is also why this post will not be anywhere near as long as the last. I am taking a [short] break from my Macroeconomics studying to vent, if you'd like to call it that. I have a test tomorrow, but with work and UIL I haven't gotten home before 8:45pm the past week. I need all the time I can get, so this break is officially over! Wish me luck!
Alicia

Love God, Love People

So I am new to this whole "blog" thing, but I guess I will just jump right in. First off, I am a follower of Jesus Christ (also known as a Christian - I prefer 'follower of Christ' though because too often people miss that actual concept of Christianity). Now, I'm not trying to be forward or boastful or anything, but in order for the rest of this blog to make sense, that is a necessary fact.

This summer I plan on going on a mission trip to Senegal, West Africa. My family isn't too keen on the idea, but I am going anyway. As much as I respect my family and their worrying about me, that is where I feel God leading me. Tonight has proven that. As I looked at pictures from a trip many of my friends just took to Senegal, I was overwhelmed with a sense of urgency. The people there may never hear of Jesus Christ if we do not go. I live in America, but that does not confine me to interacting with only people in this great country. Christians are called to spread to gospel to "the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). I take that to mean, if you are able, you should go where ever you possibly can. It may be dangerous at times, but Matthew 28:20 tells us that Jesus will "be with us always, to the very end of the age." Although I am not guaranteed safety, I do have peace because of that.

I have said all of that to say this, even with that sense of urgency and peace, I still have a lot to learn about what God expects from me. Tonight I was given a swift "kick in the butt" so to speak. Here's what happened (I'll explain after that)...

As I was driving to Sunday night church and sat at a stoplight, a homeless man carrying a sign walked past my car. The sign read, "Family trouble" or something to that effect. Usually I convince myself that people like him are only looking for money for alcohol and drugs, but for some reason I had trouble doing that tonight. The light turned green, and I continued on with my drive, not looking back. Two hours later I took the same route home. The man was there. After driving past him all I could think was, "what if he is going to Hell?" As church-y as that sounds, it's true...On with the story... As much as I like to think homeless people could get a job if they really wanted it, this guy seemed to be in real need. And remembering that I have been looking for a job for four months now and still have had no luck, I decided to help him out, food-wise anyway. I went home and packed up a few snacks in a plastic bag and was ready to head out the door when I saw my Bible on the table. God has that uncanny knack for reminding you what's really important...the food would sustain him for a little while, but what about eternity? It was just my luck that at the moment I desperately needed one of those mini-Bibles that people always hand out like pocket-change, I couldn't find one. After a few minutes of searching I simply typed up a piece of paper with a few verses on it and the address of my church and headed out the door praying that he would still be standing there (it was getting dark at the time).

As I pulled up to the corner where I saw the man, he was facing away from me walking back up the street to start his begging over at the front of the line when the light turned red. I stuck the package out the window and yelled, "Hey, this is for you!" When he turned around, it wasn't the man I saw earlier today. It was a man who has been in the area for more than six months. A man who once harassed me at a gas station for some money. For a second, and I hate to say this, but I thought about pulling the package back into my car and tell him to get a job instead. I didn't. It was like my arm was stuck outside my car and I gave him the food.

While driving back home I remember almost being angry at God. The first thing I said was, "It HAD to be him, didn't it, God? This total stranger was a complete jerk to me and I'm being nice to him." And then it hit me...I know right from wrong because I have the Holy Spirit living in me. This guy probably has no clue. That piece of paper with a few Bible verses on it could be the only bit of Jesus that man ever encounters. And I thought to myself, I am wanting to go to a foreign country... Just because it is foreign does not mean jerks do not live there too. And anyway, those so-called "jerks" may be the ones who God put me on this earth for. I can't just tell people I like about Jesus, even though that would be easy. As a follower of Christ, I am called to love all the same. Completely. New. Perspective.

I've always been told to love God, and love people...but that took on a whole new meaning tonight.