Dear one,
“Joyful.”
“I’m sorry …?”
“Joyful. My name is ‘Joyful.’”
Ah, I thought, I’ve returned to Africa. I’m pleased to meet you, Joyful. After 31 hours in transit, your brother Stan is pleased to meet you. I look forward to 4 hours of sleep, and another 3-hour Cessna flight in the morning, but for now, thank you for your greeting. All good.
And it is good: somewhere over the Atlantic, and then again over the Mediterranean, I marveled at the ease with which I was experiencing this return visit. Oh, the hours of sitting numb both mind and body; nonetheless, that I am able to trek in hours what David Livingstone navigated only after many months is remarkable.
This noted, during the hours of flight, I also pondered the significance of Africa and its peoples: recently I read that Africa is now populated by 1.2 billion people and that 500,000 million identify themselves as “Christian.” Whether or not these statistics are accurate, they are telling. Within its great land mass, the continent of Africa can easily contain the whole of North America and Europe with land to spare. And however “Christian” is defined, the number of Christians in Africa is obviously much greater than the entire US population. Pause for thought.
Equally, I also pondered my meeting with Denis Nzirorera, whom I know only through a brief email exchange. Recently, as we learned of Denis’ ministry among the very poor of Kampala, I shared with him my return to Uganda. Almost immediately he emailed:
“Could you (Stan) meet with me and those I am seeking to train?”
“Well, I’ll be in Lira and you’re in Kampala.”
“Yes. I will come to you.”
Really? I thought. You’re willing to travel 8 hours one way, in order to meet with me—believing that I might have something of benefit to share with you?
Here too I marveled, keenly aware of African hunger, a hunger which cannot be filled by the produce of their fields, orchards, and vines, and the labors of their hands. In this regard I was reminded of Jesus’ words:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God … Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:3,6).
I wonder: when we Americans sing, “God bless America,” do we seek the blessing that poverty, hunger, and thirst encourages—or have we become sated by our pursuit of happiness?
Blessed to be in Uganda,
Stan
Ps. Today’s high will be 93F.
Joyful ...