The Africa Blogpost

Seeing as the name of this blog is “Alyson In Africa”, it’s only fitting to have at least one post directed at that topic: Africa.

In case you live under a rock and only come out to read my blog, the World Cup took place in South Africa this year and ended last night with Spain’s victory. South Africa is one of the dearest countries in the world to me. Even though I’ve only spent a total of three months of my life there, God did amazing things in and around me in those short months. Also, He blessed me with some dear friends! Hopefully, those three months won’t be the only time He allows me to live there for a season.

Anyways, back to the present. The World Cup brought international attention, athletes, and attendees to South Africa. For those watching the matches on television, you saw large crowds gathered in nice stadiums. While there are definitely people in South Africa that lead comfortable lives, there are many in that wonderful country that do not. Just this morning I was catching up on a friend’s blog. He and his family live in Cape Town, South Africa, and work in some of that city’s townships. One of the recent stories he posted of his experiences describe lives ravaged by drugs, abuse, and violence. As Claud put it (with a bit of my added touch, of course), his friends from the townships have stories that make gangs in America look like kindergarten playgroups.

When I went in 2008, I arrived in the midst of intense xenophobic violence. Xenophobia is the irrational fear of people from other countries, meaning that xenophobic violence is violence towards those from other countries arising out of fear. Unfortunately, it looks as though threats of this type of violence have escalated after the World Cup. It breaks my heart to be so far away from a country I love while there is so much to be done there.

Please pray for foreigners living in South Africa. Many of the past attacks have been targeted towards people from Somalia, so especially remember them in prayer. As Claud describes, they live in a constant state of fear because of what’s happened before and what is being threatened now. Pray for the believers in this country, that God would open up doors for the Gospel to truly take root. Pray that good soil would be found and cultivated in the hearts of South Africans. There is good happening there, don’t be mistaken: God is working! Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ being used in that country!

Another heart breaking update from Africa comes from Uganda, another country that’s close to my heart. Invisible Children, an organization I’ve worked with here in the States, has a team working in Uganda for the summer. One of my NYC roommates, Raysa, is actually serving on that team right now.

For the last World Cup game, the IC team and many Ugandans had gathered in restaurants and a rugby arena. A terrorist group from Somalia used this chance to detonate explosives in both a restaurant and at the field. If I remember correctly, the New York Times has reported that at least 50 people died in the attacks and many more were seriously injured. One of those who died was a young man named Nate who worked for Invisible Children. He was a believer and had worked for IC for a year and a half. Because he had caught vision of the Father’s heart for orphans and the oppressed, Nate had surrendered his life to serve the child soldiers and those affected by the violence in that country. He spent the past year and half working to see the people of that country freed from the violence that’s plagued them longer than I have been alive (literally). His dream was to visit and work in Uganda, alongside friends he had made through IC. He died in the explosion living this dream, expanding the Kingdom, and glorifying the Lord.

I work for a church organization this summer. I live with believers. I work with fellow Christ-followers. I have food to eat and clothes to wear. I have not been threatened or attacked. I am extraordinarily blessed.

Sometimes though, those blessings blur my vision of the rest of the world. I seem to forget about those who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. I lose the sense of urgency to share Him with them. The state of the world around me is too easy to let slip from my mind.

As I heard my friend Carrie say once, “We don’t have time for this. People are dying and going to hell.” Even though she said this in a comedic situation, the point is still valid. Some things aren’t worth worrying about, because something so much more important is at stake.

May we refuse to allow our blessings to cause us to forget those who are suffering and hurting. May we renew our commitment to lifting up our brothers and sisters around the world. May we remember that life is short and unpredictable.

Dear Africa, I love and miss you. May your current events be used for the glory of the Father and the good of your people. May you find peace in His love.

Read Claud and Mary Crosby’s blog at claudandmary.com. Read Nate’s story from Invisible Children at blog.invisiblechildren.com. Read the story of the attacks in Uganda at nytimes.com/2010/07/12/world/africa/12uganda.html?_r=1