Five Things I Love About Africa

Headlines often paint one image of Africa—a portrait of poverty, AIDs, and war.

That’s unfortunate. There is so much life, vitality, and beauty.  I recently had a chance to visit three countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Burundi, the Republic of Congo, and Rwanda, and I came away with images of hope, not of despair.

Here are just a few of the things I loved about visiting these countries:

1. Dancing. From a HOPE community meeting to church services, the Congolese I met took every opportunity to break out in spontaneous dance. I know that I can’t dance, but it doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy trying.
2. Relationships. At the end of staff devotions in Brazzaville, I saw each staff member shake hands with every other person. A striking contrast to our “let’s get things done quickly” culture, this simple act was a beautiful way of valuing each person.
3. Maracuja juice. Made out of passion fruit, simply there is no better beverage in the world. If anyone knows how to get some of this liquid gold in the U.S., please tell me. I’m an addict.
4. Ceremony. When we went to church, there was a whole team of individuals assigned to “protocol.” We greeted the church leaders before the service and then followed up with the proper greetings afterwards.  The ceremony accorded an atmosphere of respect to everyone.
5. Hospitality. The archbishop of the Anglican Church in Burundi welcomed us with a meal of rice, beans, chicken, and gracious enthusiasm. It was obvious that he had a love for his country and a plan for how the Church can contribute to rebuilding this nation.

While there is suffering, war, and poverty in Africa, we must remember to look beyond the headlines and see its beauty and that we have many reasons for hope.

If you are interested in learning more, watch the incredible Ted talk by Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story.