Experience Africa

I put together this short montage, it is a good portrayal of how I experienced Africa. I hope you enjoy the experience.

There are two versions, a large and small.

http://www.inflictlove.com/africalg.mov

http://www.inflictlove.com/africasm.mov

Misunderstood Mosquitoes

There is a welcoming in Africa that sings to the note of a mis-strung violin. It's the sound of mosquitoes as they ravage through the pink mosquito net surrounding my bed, attempting to feed their larva with fresh, foreign blood and potentially leaving malaria behind. You wouldn't think the sound of a lulling generator would be inviting until it becomes the only noise that deafens the whine of the night invading insects.

While the mosquitoes are frustrating, who am I to condemn them. In my mind they leave nothing more than a remnant of sickness, but the mosquitoes are simply trying to survive. It's from the mosquitos that I'm learning a most valuable lesson, not only about the significance of a good mosquito net, but about people and the importance of understanding. The more I experience the more I believe understanding is the foundation upon which wisdom flourishes, without it our efforts will be without affect.

There is a hebrew proverb that says we should call wisdom our sister and understanding our intimate friend, and I assure you it is with good cause. If we fail to fully understand people before introducing new ideas, we can fall prey to arrogance and the thought that our own views are right. We quickly loose trust and our efforts are dissolved.

Contrary to popular belief, probably given through misrepresented media, people in Africa aren't always looking for the help we are often eager to give. The solution to poverty and oppression, however hard it may be for me to grasp, is not giving Africans, or any other nation for that matter, a life similar to ours. I find myself thinking, "I'm going to help them so they don't have to live like that." I even find myself hoping to help my closest homeless friends so they can get out of the "situation" they're in. In reality, if I were to seek to truly understand people, not as I think they should be understood, but as they desire to be understood I may find they want to get out of their "situation" and live as I live no more than I want to wear your underwear. Sure they may be comfortable to you, but I'll keep my own thanks.

Oftentimes we believe people in undeveloped nations need what we have. While the heart behind the idea is beautiful, genuinely desiring to give people a better life, I'm realizing how ignorant and egocentric it can be. We think people would be better off if they had access to our technology, education, government, medicine even our money; I've caught myself saying "their country could operate so much more effectively if they had access to our medicine or if their government operated in such a way." It could even be true, we may even have technologies and ideas that are able to shift nations, but without understanding and an attitude of humility we will see no progress. (If you're not familiar with the history of tropical medicine, it would be worthwhile looking into how distributing medicine in undeveloped countries can actually be more harmful than the diseases themselves if not introduced properly.)

Again, I'm not saying what we have is not of value, in fact I believe the revelation and technology we have will change the world if we learn to advocate them properly. It also doesn't mean I hate poverty and oppression any less, it simply means the tactics and revelation for bringing unity is far more complex (or perhaps simple depending on how you view it) than I first imagined.

What if instead of stressing for people to live as we do, we lived brilliantly, fully valuing what we have and earnestly seeking to understand others. Would people not to see our lives and begin desiring to learn how we live in such fullness? Not a fake life where we always appear happy, but an honest life where even amidst difficulties we operate in such honesty and humility that people know what we have is of value. The things I believe required to achieve such things are simple: discipline and persistence, continuing on and being genuine when we least feel like it. This and only this will be the cause of a lasting reformation.

Who would have thought a brief encounter with a mosquito and the people of Sudan would arouse such thought? Or maybe this has been budding in my heart for awhile, but hearing the African people firsthand has been the water that has allowed it to blossom. Take or leave what I say, but may I learn to understand why you chose what you did.

Unfamiliar Familiarity

After 45 hours of traveling, we have arrived in the beautiful country of Uganda, one flight away from our destination. There is something about a new place that brings with it familiarity. It's the uncertainty of the roads, the smell of the air, the color of the lighting fixtures and fear of the water that take you to a place you first discovered, wondering what adventure awaits. It's staying in a room with bars on the windows knowing it's safe, but hoping within that an experience just scary enough to be safe takes hold, affording itself to be shared with everyone within earshot.

I like the new, but even more I like how it reminds me of the old. A wise king once said there is nothing new under the sun and the more experiences I have the more they remind me of how blessed I am and have been all my life. I could take time to explain what it's like here, to tell you about the mysteries of the bush and the hearts of the people, but I won't. That's something you need to experience for yourself so you can create your own experience when you come here one day, rather than living off my vague depiction. It's odd I'm saying this, being a storyteller, but I I'm learning even as I write that my job isn't to tell you the full story, but rather give you enough of it to intrigue you to discover it for yourself.

As my journey continues may what I share be just enough to stir within you a unique passion for people, exploring their hearts and desiring to genuinely understand.

The Struggle

The struggle in life isn't going some miraculous place like Sudan and loving the people, returning with a desire to change the world. No...anyone can do that. The struggle is living right here everyday in love and knowing every action has an influence on every person.

As I sit here looking at my things that need to be packed yet, I wonder if I've even learned what it means to love people where I am. My family just left and while family will always be family it still makes me ask if I've learned to love them in a more genuine way than the last time. It's tough, after all what defines my love for them? How much I talk to them or maybe simply how much I listen? I also recently realized how much I miss talking to a friend after not seeing her for 8 years. 8 Years! That's a long time to be in touch with someone, but not see them. You want to express love, but what does that mean? Is the occasional talk on the phone enough or does love asks you to jump on a plane and take a visit just to break the eight year gap? Don't let anyone fool you, love is tough and brings with it difficult questions.

Just some thoughts before I take off. My hope for this trip isn't so much to learn to love again, but to remember the love I've already been blessed to learn. It's joy in knowing my life has potential to love everyday, it's just a matter of being aware of the potential . While I could look at things as though I could love "more" or be "better" at it I don't want to. I simply want to know that everything I did, even on the crappiest days, was in excellence with love.

Faithful Friends

The people that mean the most to you are often the ones you don't even realize mean anything until they leave. Last night a few people I live with and myself attended a going away party for my friend Jimmy. It was such an awakening to how blessed I am and how many delightful people I have in my life. We were all hanging out and then they boys and Robin went in to have a little jam session. It was such a delightful time. It was one of those oh so good moments you don't want to end; kind of like eating ice cream on a hot summer day under the shade of a weeping willow by the creek. Yea, it was that good.

My hope is that we can learn to enjoy what we have now, not only when we look back on it. Contentment is key and if we forget what we have, we'll forever feel as though we lack.

Here are a few stills from the filming I did just getting familiar with the camera for Sudan. Please pray for us even more, we found out there have been more killings just recently by the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army - the terrorist group using child soldiers) very close to where we are staying. When I get the audio I will try to edit a short piece from their wonderful jam sess.

RAW

Sometimes I forget how fun my career is until afterward. It's kind of like parts of life I think haha, but it's great to learn from. I directed a project for school the other day and this is a still from the shoot. The camera we are using is beautiful to say the least. Can't wait to see Africa on screen.

Vitality of Encouragement

Encouragement is, without doubt, necessary for us to fulfill our destinies. Without it we are simply meandering around without any certainty that people are invested in our lives.

Now I ask for your encouragement. During this journey to Sudan, I've come across one of the most phenomenal stories. A story of love, healing and forgiveness. As I begin this endeavor I feel it pressed upon my spirit to write such a story so the world can share in the experience.

The problem is I have difficulty in writing, not what to write, but keeping what I write. Even in these blogs I find myself deleting ten times over so it is "just right." Well I'm trying to kick that habit, and this story is the beginning. Starting now I'm working on a feature script of the story I will be apart of documenting in Africa. and if I don't learn to simply write, I'm afraid it will never be written and therefore never shared with the world. A tragedy at best.

I need your encouragement in knowing that its worth it and to press on. I wish I could express how it makes me feel to know someone is cheering me on and desires to read what's posted. Even the slight remark now and again to change something or try it a different way inspires me continue on and take risks.

So as you read, may you be so kind as to encourage me and take part in the fullness of this journey. May we both look back three years from now astonished at what we've both accomplished and what the world was able to take part in from the encouragement and blessing of my friends.

Thank you and may you find yourself blessed with abundant grace, mercy and peace as you yourself endeavor on toward the great destiny before you.