Africa

Years ago, I read I Dreamed of Africa and The Poisonwood Bible, and I became enthralled by this vision of Africa as a hot, dangerous, beautiful land. The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series is also fabulous. For years I have been planning my future trips to Kenya and Tanzania to climb Kilamanjaro and go on safari. After watching The Endless Summer, I also want to go surfing in Jeffrey's Bay in South Africa. Africa seems beautiful, and parts of it are, but the reality of what the majority of Africans face every day is horrific.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to east Texas for a week to chaperone a group of about a hundred junior and senior high kids from my church at Student Life Camp. We had a great time, and I think I got as much from it as the kids did. One of the things that really affected me was a video we saw by an aid group called Compassion International. The video showed the work that Compassion does in Africa, and it was amazing. Not long after, I saw the Brad Pitt interview with Diane Sawyer that focused on the One campaign. The more I learn about Africa, the more my heart breaks for these people, especially the millions of children caught in the crossfire.

I can't do anything for at least a year, but I am seriously comtemplating mission or foreign aid work in Africa in the next few years. We have SO much in this nation. Even our poor are the richest poor in the world. Please visit the sites above, as well as the One campaign's partners page to see how you can help. Even small donations make a big difference.