America. The home of....

the depressed?

Man, I've got to be honest with you - it's hard coming home. I mean once you see the face of love through the hands and feet of fellow Christians serving each other amidst the simplicity of life everything else just seems to fade.

I went to Target yesterday and not a single person smiled at me. I was just walking through the store and I'd catch people's eye so I returned it with a warm smile. Nothing. If you go anywhere in Ghana and don't receive a smile plus a wave, hug, or hand shake then something isn't right. No matter where we were or what we were doing people were happy.

Before I left, some were confused as to why anyone would even bother to go to Africa. They said things like "That place is hopeless. Why bother?" Well, that's exactly where Jesus would be- with the hopeless. Even so, that is not what I found in Ghana. I saw more passion, love, sacrifice, service, and life than I have anywhere else including America.

Don't misread me here. Our country is an amazing place and God has blessed us more than we are able to understand. The missionary at the Village of Hope talked to us on the last night and said "I don't want you to go home and be ridden with guilt and shame for living in America. What I want you to know, and God wants you to know, that He's blessed you with a purpose. You know what you have because it all came from the Father and with that blessing comes responsibility. Use what you have been given to bless those around you as much as you can."

I sat there in mud huts with people who had nothing but the shirt on their back and say "God is good." I heard children who said "I am so lucky. Both of my parents died but they passed peacefully. I have food. I have water. I have a bed and a place to sleep. I am with people who love me. I am so lucky." From the mouth of an 8 year old. Doesn't that just floor you? Doesn't that make you wonder how much we take things for granted? Doesn't it simply grab your heart with the question of - have we missed what life is supposed to be? What is it really all about?

I walked out into the parking lot of Target and wanted to scream at the top of my lungs "America this isn't working!" We have everything at our finger tips yet so many of us have yet to find true happiness. All of the clothes, big houses - not it. All of the money - not working. All the food, cellphones, and to do lists, - nope. All of the cars, TVs, iWhatevers - not even close. Being obsessed with if we are successful enough, pretty enough, smart enough, rich enough, or simply believing the lie that we aren't enough for anything or anyone. This can't be the way things are supposed to be. There has to be something else.

Ghana showed me something. That thing is Jesus. He IS love. Living, walking, talking, breathing, serving, teaching, dying, resurrecting love. Through love comes true happiness. That is what I saw in Ghana. That is what I see in the hearts and eyes of the children at the Village of Hope - what we all need is the love of God. Regardless of race, gender, or geography the common thing that we hold is the need to be loved by our Creator and His creation.

And that, my dear friends, that is what I learned from Africa.

Well...that's just the beginning...

I say all of that to myself as a challenge to do something with my blessings instead of just "Thanks God that's nice of you". Hopefully it has made you think or at least encouraged you by the work that is being done for God's kingdom in Ghana.

Once again, thanks for stopping by.