Walla Walla, WA - Learning the Ropes
Apparantly Walla Walla means water in a language other than English. I have no clue which one or if that is even actually true. But it is a good attention getter when you are working for a group that is trying to provide clean water for people who don't have access to it.
Today was show number two. We have been learning the ropes alongside Matthew Provo thus far. Matt is an amazing guy that got involved with Africa through 'Invisible Children'. He met his wife through his work in Uganda and Jena Lee the executive director of Blood:Water Mission. After coming back home, he began working for B:WM.
Joe, Matt and myself had a chance to drive him from Vancouver to Mt. Hood today and talk to him about what he has seen firsthand in Africa. Since I started volunteering for B:WM I have noticed that as an organization, (Dan, Charlie, Matt, Jena and the other folks I have gotten to know) do not view themselves as helpers to the poor in Africa. In the states we are susceptible to fall into a hero mentality and the belief that the Gospel is a way to promote our way of life. SUV's, flat-screen TV's, Suburbia and the American Dream. Matt's thought is that most Africans, if they had a chance to live our lifestyle would hate it. They are more relationally focused and while we tend to think of ourselves as bringing knowledge of Christ to them, many of them have a profound faith in Christ and a deep trust in Him to provide for their needs. Even in the midst of such physical poverty, it is possible to be spiritually rich.
I was able to read a blog by and speak Charlie Lowell today. Charlie is a member of Jars of Clay and co-founder of Blood:Water Mission. While reading what he wrote about his experience in Africa and looking at the pictures he posted I was hit with the beauty of Africa. It seems to me that everything there is beautiful. The people, the skies, the lands. I don't know why that is the case. People are people, no matter where they are. Skies are blue. Grass is green. But as my heart is opening up and I am coming to better understanding of the people of Africa and God's heart for humanity as a whole, I suppose that is natural for everything to be more beautiful. More meaningful. More tangible and real.
Tomorrow we head to Montana. Big sky country. But now it is time for me to get some sleep.
-David
