This isn't America

My husband and I arrived home this afternoon after a four week road trip across the beautiful USA. It was an absolutely amazing experience to see this great country. Yes it is the land of the free and the home of the brave and the freedom, opportunity, and luxury that is at our fingertips is immeasurable. We spent our days crossing state borders, hiking national parks, refilling our cooler at local supermarkets, swiping the AMEX at gas stations ($5.55/gal), and pitching a tent wherever our hearts desired. While it is so easy to take our daily lives for granted, there wasn’t a day that went by where we were not so thankful for the abundant blessings and opportunities we encountered. We were proud and very grateful to be Americans.
Tonight, I rushed to make the final meeting about our journey to Africa and was hit clear in the face that it is nothing like our world. They have nothing. They want for little. Their hearts are pure. Their life is simplistic, their community strong. And the need for our service is so great. As Drew talked more about our comfort zone, my pulse started to race with excitement as my heart was filled with the chance to touch and change lives. Yet in my mind, I know that our friends in Africa will change my life more than I can imagine. I looked at all the anxious faces in the room. Not anxious with expectations but with the desire to learn, grow, and serve. This was awesome. While the packing may seem tedious, the travel tiring, and the work ahead daunting, none of us really know what to expect, nor what wonderful things our sovereign God has in store. But every one of us has a gift to give and all are up for the challenge. See you in six days.
Rachael