Africa is still here

For the past two weeks I was honored to have one of my dear and good friends at home. He recently came back from Africa. He served there as a missionary for 9 months as the hospital administrator in Gimbie. I learned so much about life and the Christian walk by many of the conversations we had, the sermons he preached and the testimonies he shared. I was also able to witness what living in a third world country does to a person. It has the power to transform a person’s heart and mind! While his visit here I vividly remember one day when my friend was deeply sad and home sick (Africa home sick) because he didn’t find people in the US to be as spiritual as people in Africa. I was touched when I heard him preached on Isaiah 58. After the sermon I felt as thou someone had taken me by my shoulders and had shaken me. My heart had been shaken.

I remember that preaching made my friend passionate, happy and sad. Passionate because of the message he was sharing, happy because once again he was having the opportunity to share with others about what he had learned, this time he wasn’t preaching to thousands of people like in Africa, but he was still sharing, and sad because he wasn’t sure if the message he was delivering was being applied by the audience the way God wanted them to.

 I learned many lessons this past two weeks and I was reminded of others. Here are some of them.

 While biking for 4 hrs on Tuesday and 4 hrs on Thursday, getting a free taco and walking in D.C. the whole day I was reminded that in life we don’t need lots of money to have fun, in fact, we do not need money to have fun.

While kayaking on the lake and having pouring rain fall on us I was reminded that a free spirit and a spontaneous heart can take you to places you never thought of visiting.

 While visiting the General Conference and having a humanly unplanned, divine appointment with the Adventist World Radio vice president, I was reminded that God has amazing plans for our lives. He takes care even of the little details. An adventist radio station might be started in Gimbie because of that meeting!

 While talking and hanging out with our mutual and new friend Wilmer I was reminded of the power of soul winning. Jesus sent His disciples two by two (Luke 10:1).

One morning I prayed “Dear Lord, please help Paul have a great time today, even if I don’t” lol! While visiting the Air and Space museum in Washington D.C. I was reminded that God answers prayers according to HIS will. I wasn’t really crazy about the museum but he loved it.

 While walking on the streets of Chinatown we noticed a gentleman that was trying to help his wife move her car by pushing it. The car wasn’t working. My friend didn’t know hesitate one second and went running to help this couple pushed the car.

Another day while getting ready, at the gas station, for our biking adventure, an African America man approached us asking us for a donation. He said he didn’t have enough money for gas and he had his family in the car waiting for him needing to get home. My friend immediately reached his pocket searching for money that he later found in his camera case and gave him a donation. What impressed me the most is that my friend didn’t have much money because he had just arrived from Africa yet he was willing to share the little he had. How many times I have thought I can’t share because I lack resources… ha!

 Africa, you have done some real good stuff to many of my dear friends. This time I was just very lucky and bless to witness it face to face. Thanks Africa. One day I will visit you!