People joke sometimes about Christians assuming that if they're "called to the nations" they're automatically going to Africa.
I dated a guy who grew up as a missionary kid in Nigeria. He and his roommates had a house with African art and photos on the walls. In America, there's something trendy about decor from other world cultures, specifically Africa and Asia. See: Pier 1. World Market. As a young professional, it says, "I care about the world." "I'm well-traveled." "I enjoy not being ignorant, but instead being educated about how other people think and live, and I accept that my way is not the only way."
It's easy to see something trendy, and resist just for the sake of resisting the trendy thing. I know from experience. Maybe its an over-acted version of "walking to the beat of your own drummer," ie., being yourself. Which, ironically, results in not being yourself, because the trend is still controlling your behavior. But in light of the joke I heard the other day, implying that Africa was something of a "trendy" place to go be a missionary, I wanted to just stop a moment.
True, not everyone is called to go to Africa to spread the Good News. But I would hate to see those who are actually called to Africa, resist for fear of just doing what's trending in Christian America. Could it be, that in this hour, so many are drawn to be missionaries in Africa because God is actually calling them, in a beautiful way, in this time and season, and He has great plans for this continent? Could it be that there is more there He wants to do than just convert believers? Could it be that Africa is ready for more of something we haven't even imagined yet?
. . . What could it be?
In summary: There's no shame in loving Africa, even if lots of other people do. Love what you love, be you, and give Africa a kiss for me.
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