"I live in Africa" moments

I was driving through Kawe the other day and I had one of those “I live in Africa” moments. Now, for those of you who have lived overseas or spent time in another country, you might relate to what I am saying (or maybe it is just me??!). But either way, even after being here for 3 years, I still have those moments when I suddenly realize that I live in Africa.

Let me back up a bit and explain…Kawe is an area of Dar that we often drive through but it is an area that is very “African” – lots of people around, little shops and dukas by the side of the road, daladalas (buses) whizzing past you. I was driving through there the other day by myself and I was listening to my music and enjoying my drive. When I am driving I don’t often get a chance to look around because I am so focused on avoiding a pothole, a person, the random animal or the car in front of me. For some reason, this day the traffic was moving slowly which usually is annoying, but I was enjoying taking in the scenes around me. That’s when it happened…I had an “I live in Africa” moment…now, I am not going crazy and I know that I live in Africa but it sometimes becomes so much a part of my life that I don’t realize that I LIVE IN AFRICA! It is hard to explain but it is at these times that I realize how blessed I am to be here and how happy I am. I realize that I am exactly where God wants me to be right now and that is so exciting. I realize that I love Africa and that it will always hold a special place in my heart.

The moments come fewer and farther between, but they are very humbling and a good reminder of why I am here now. I love waking up in the morning and knowing that I am here for a purpose. As I am preparing to head back to the states in a few short weeks, my mind is filled with thoughts of sadness, fear and excitement. But as all of these thoughts run through my mind, I am reminded of the blessing that I have had of living here for the last 3 years and I know that God has so much more in store for my future which is exciting.

These two quotes come from The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom and sum up whats going through my head now (definitely a book I would recommend)

Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our path, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see.

There are no “if’s” in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety. Let us pray that we may always know it.