Growing up in America there are so many things that we take for granted. I have come to realize this as Africa has become a second home to me. Transportation is a huge privilege for any one that has it. My family owns two very nice vehicles that allow us to go where we want, when we want. There are times when it seemed hectic to coordinate two vehicles with six people, but now I see it as two vehicles as more than enough. In Ocean View, one of the townships in Jeffreys Bay, that mode of transportation that people use is walking. For many the fee to take the bus, or as it is called here “the taxi” is too much for people to spare. As I look at my life I think of all the times I complained if I had to walk home from a friends house or school. Would I have complained if I didn’t have a choice? Would I have complained if walking was how I traveled everywhere? Would I have complained if I knew the money I used for the bus meant I couldn’t eat later?
These past few weeks we have been studying “Searching for God Know’s What” by Donald Miller. As the book came to an end we challenged the students to look at their view of the world and how it has been changed since coming to Africa. I was greatly impacted by one of the girls and the words that she had to share. She reflected back to America and how coming from there she felt so blessed. God has really blessed the people in America by all that he has provided for us. She felt that the way in America was really the only way and she pitied the people of other countries. After living in Africa for a few months she began to wonder, “Are we really blessed in America?” We have all that we need, but we are never happy. People here have nothing compared to us, but they are so blessed in the Lord. The people here need God, the people in America don’t need God. She then played a song by Chris Tomlin that brought me to tears. Here are the lyrics:
You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are
You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are
There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
My heart was broken to see that God is so visible here in Africa, but not in America. I also really have felt blessed by the Lord lately in bringing me to Africa. He has taught me lessons I never could have learned staying in America. Jeffreys Bay has become my home over this past year. But as it has become my home I am always reminded of how blessed I am to have a family that truly loves me and wants me. As the Christmas season is coming, I keep thinking about my family and how I will be away from them. In America this is a time for families to come together and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas is coming that we anticipate, and look forward to all year long. As my heart yearns to be home for Christmas to be with my family, I am excited as to what God will reveal to me in a place where the holiday is not so commercialized. It will be back to the basics. I know that I will long for Christmas carols, snow, and fellowship with my family. But God is the God of this city Jeffreys Bay as well as he is the God of America.
If you think of me and would like to send me some Christmas wishes, I will eagerly await them. The address is:
Adventures in Missions
Attention: Chelsea Short
PO Box 921
Jeffreys Bay
South Africa
6330
Merry Christmas!
