Out of Africa
What a journey! I hope you were at Crossroads this past weekend as we shared (jet-lagged and all) our experiences in Africa. Before we left Swaziland, I jotted down 5 "I Am statements":
1. I am disturbed (at what I saw...at how the AIDS pandemic has brought so much heartache)
2. I am blessed (to meet the World Vision staff and see the work they're doing in Swaziland)
3. I am hopeful (through partnerships with church's like CR and through child sponsorship, much can be done)
4. I am honored (to have met my sponsored child and hang out in her hut with her family)
5. I am responsible (to use my resources to be an answer to the prayers of many in Swaziland and to use my influence to encourage other Americans to do the same).
Thanks for your prayers for our safety and health.
I'd love to hear and respond to your questions. Blog away...
Phil
1. I am disturbed (at what I saw...at how the AIDS pandemic has brought so much heartache)
2. I am blessed (to meet the World Vision staff and see the work they're doing in Swaziland)
3. I am hopeful (through partnerships with church's like CR and through child sponsorship, much can be done)
4. I am honored (to have met my sponsored child and hang out in her hut with her family)
5. I am responsible (to use my resources to be an answer to the prayers of many in Swaziland and to use my influence to encourage other Americans to do the same).
Thanks for your prayers for our safety and health.
I'd love to hear and respond to your questions. Blog away...
Phil
posted by Pastor Phil Print at 2:40 PM
1 Comments:
Maddie, I think the thing that will "stick" with me more than anything is the orientation day we had on HIV/AIDS. I was pretty ignorant and had some major misconceptions about those infected in Africa. For example, 1 out of 4 South African women between 15-24 are HIV positive. That's horrific...but what makes it worse is that 39% of them were forced to have sex. I learned that I was asking the wrong questions about the disease. It's given me so much more compassion--it stretched my heart. For that I'm grateful.
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