My first post...and it's from America. How boring!

Well, I'm finally entering the world of blogs. And to tell ya the truth, I have no idea how this stuff works. Should be interesting to try to figure it out. It would be fun to to a blog about politics, or music, or tennis, theology, or books, or...oh, even better...my life! Ha. Perhaps those will be future endeavors. But the actual reason I started this blog was to have a nice place to share about my everyday experiences and struggles in Africa. I leave September 14--only 10 days away! At this point, I really don't know much about what I'll be doing and where I'm living. I know that I'll be in the Kibera slums where over 1 million people live in dire poverty. My team of 12 and I will enter into the lifestyle of our neighbors as much as possible. Our focus is on discipleship, not just sharing Christ with people, but working with them to them grow and learn to study God's Word on their own.
There are so many missionaries all over Africa, which is wonderful, and the Gospel is spreading, but it's roots are only an inch thick and a mile wide (to borrow a poor
colloquialism for lack of better phrasing). I think a primary reason for this is the perspective many people take on the "poor African people." Americans look at the pictures of hungry children and oppressed people. We feel compassion for them (which is good and from God), and some even take proper action on their emotions by sending money or even going to help these people. Through these heartfelt efforts, many Africans have come to know Christ. The problem is that through our compassion, we begin to view those we help as less than ourselves.
I'm sure as you read this, you are thinking that couldn't possibly be you. Yeah, well, I used to think that too. Until I really started looking at my heart and my motives on other mission trips. I wondered why it was so hard to make deep, heart-to-heart friendships with the people I worked with. Not that my friends didn't put their whole heart in it, it was ME who felt constrained by something. Then I discovered that I had unconsciously placed myself above the people I worked with. I LOVED them. I cared for them. With every piece of my being I wanted them to come to Christ. And God loves them, just like He loves me! So why did I get the task of sharing God's love with them? Why did God show Himself to me first, and then use me to reach them? I start to think about it and I still don't completely understand. But I allowed myself to get sucked into the mindset of, "thank God I was born in America and can come help these poor people!" The people in the slums may not have much money, and they may be dirty and diseased, but they are NOT POOR. They have life and a soul, which is no less valuable than ours as Americans. Often when missionaries spread the gospel, they try to spread the "wonderful freedom" of the western world. DON'T DO IT! Why would we want to spread our culture to these people? They have their own amazing culture. Let's spread the GOSPEL of FREEDOM. Christ's love! His death and resurrection! And the full, joyous life that He gives. Granted, democracy is better than what many of these people experience, but let's not bring in our western ideals, values, and technology. It does not make life more fulfilling, and it does not place us at a "higher level." Ha, I know that may sound funny because I'm sitting here using this great technology to type on the internet and keep in touch with my friends, but if I didn't have it and was forced to spend more time with my family and friends who are here, I would be equally as fulfilled because God's joy is the only thing that brings fulfillment, and that never changes. Besides, that's not even the point. The point is that the ONLY thing that will fulfill and bless people is a RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. That's it. All the rest is just blessings or baggage. Too many missionaries bring with them the baggage of our culture. For example, Kenya is a very modest country. Women don't wear tight clothes that show a lot of skin. Long shirts. Long skirts. How wonderful! They don't listen to all of the trashy rap music available in America, and don't have to be polluted by pornographic images everywhere they turn. That's what freedom and technology has brought to America. That's what the western world is known for, and what a tragedy that often times missionaries are assisting in spreading the very things they despise about American culture...and they don't even realize it.
Don't get me wrong, I don't believe any missionary would ever intentionally do any of the things I've written above, but through the mindset of "going to help those poor people," much damage has been done. I am grateful that the Gospel has been spread, and I don't want to discredit the amazing changes I've seen in countries all over the world. These are just my thoughts, and my warnings that perhaps a few people will read and dismiss...but I had to get it out there. Actually, I only planned on typing a few sentences for this first post! Guess I just got going and couldn't stop! Hope at least one person takes the time to read it...
So, as I go to Africa, I am looking forward to learning from the wonderful people I will be surrounded by. I am not going to help the poor, but rather to interact with some amazing individuals and gain incredible friendships. Together, we will learn about God and teach each other, and hopefully I can even introduce some of them to Jesus if they haven't met Him yet. Or if they have, I am excited to hear the things God is teaching them in the context of their culture and life, while I share about mine.