Rainy season has arrived!

Yes, it leads the way for the cooler season (majira ya kipupwe) but it also brings all sorts of trouble catalyzed by the very small percentage of impervious cover. This might seem contrary to logic at first, but as it rains daily during rainy season the landscape cannot absorb it efficiently. And in the absence of sufficient sewage and drainage systems, water and mud collect everywhere and it floods. Rainy season is a wet reminder of the various differences between Tanzania and the Western world.

It is so easy to get things accomplished at home. You prepare your to-do list for the day then set out to accomplish it. Yes, you may encounter some traffic or forget something at home, but you can always stop at a convenience store to pick up whatever you left behind or relax at a Starbucks if you’re beginning to develop road rage. Here, not so much. And to add another level of realistic complexity to your day, your destination might not have power or water when you arrive. The person you’re looking for could easily be gone and of course they didn’t call to let you know because, we have nothing but time here in Africa. Now imagine this playing out in the rain, as you wade through mud.

Tired, yet?

Frustrated, yet?

After enough days like the latter, africanization sets in and you learn to go with flow, bestow grace and receive it with open arms.

As a lover of to-do lists and scheduled days, I resisted africanization until the Lord freed me to experience one of its simple, beautiful benefits – the beauty of being available. How many times in the States do we see or know a person that needs help, but our own busyness or desire to stay on schedule inhibits us from expressing a little grace. Sidetracked by a million petty annoyances, we become unable to simply give somebody something they need. We’re always calculating the impact it’s going to have on you and me. In Africa,us takes precedence over me and people value relationships above tasks. With this adjustment in mindset and daily living, you become less rigid and focused on yourself, and more flexible, willing and…”africanized”.

Africanization helps bring the gospel alive in a country and continent that sincerely need it. If a person has never known what love is, how can we expect him to accept the love of his Savior until we first make that love tangible? The gospel liberates us to live a life of scandalous generosity, unrestrained sacrifice, uncommon valor, and unbounded courage. This is the difference between approaching all of life from salvation and approaching all of life for salvation.

Take a second and ponder the glory that would be a country of Africanized Christians.

Endurance and Grace

A note from Alecia: James and Endurance Myers are missionaries in Tanzania, Africa whom we dearly love and support.  My daughter and I spent a week with them last summer serving women in Tanzania.  They have such a heart to see the people of Tanzania experience the transforming power of God’s love.  They have a heart for all people.  To read more about them and the work they are doing, go to: www.1520unreached.com