Salzwedel Family Adventures: I Need Africa More Than Africa Needs Me

Monday, March 2, 2009

I Need Africa More Than Africa Needs Me

8 comments:

livingpurereligion said...: So very true, Stephanie... I think this video really explains a lot about the appeal of third world countries. Why so many people react so strongly to going to places like Haiti and Africa. Why so many of us fall so in love with places like these (besides the really cute kids:) I love how Haiti makes me feel, how everything comes into focus when I am there, how I feel more alive there then anywhere else, how sad I feel when I come back to my plenty knowing that I would trade my air-conditioned house and trips to Target in a heart beat just to keep the peace of heart and mind that I feel when I am there. And I cannot figure out for the life of me why that all fades so quickly here and how easily it is to slip back into life as usual. Everytime I go, though, it sinks deeper into my bones and I can see changes being made. We go on short term mission trips and think we are helping, but the truth is that they are helping us. Indeed, we ALL need Africa. Thanks for sharing this!; March 2, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Lena Just Lena said...: Beautiful, and right on. Thanks for sharing this truth.; March 3, 2009 at 1:37 AM
Michelle said...: That is a great video! Loved it!; March 3, 2009 at 6:25 AM
CG said...: This is FABULOUS! I can relate perfectly. When in Haiti with my husband I can distinctly recall thinking at one point that I did not want to come home. Not because our boys were there. Not because I hadn't gotten sick yet on that trip. But because I remember thinking of my days at home and seeing them as empty, meaningless, joyless. My cares were so trivial. My highs were so low. I have peace in most places, but JOY- that's an altogether different struggle for me. I find it hard to be in the middle of the excesses of America. I go grocery shopping and I have to consider price, by whom and how things were manufactured, quality, and overall health value. I have literally spent hours praying in places like Wal-Mart and Target because I get so overwhelmed. Do I need this? Is it a good value? Could I find it cheaper elsewhere? I wish life were simpler. That is the appeal of Africa, Haiti, central America, etc. for me. I would much rather see my kids laughing while they draw in the mud with sticks than see their eyes light up when they see a shiny, new toy. I would prefer to leave this country. But the prosperity here has created a spiritual void- making America as great a mission field as any place else. In many ways, greater and much more challenging. People here have too much to see their need for God. Having little leaves more room for Him.; March 3, 2009 at 6:52 AM
Bill and Christina said...: Yes thank you for sharing the video and I whole heartedly second livingpurereligion and Greg'swife.

Christina; March 3, 2009 at 7:06 AM
Amanda said...: Thanks for sharing, Stephanie! Humbles my thoughts.; March 3, 2009 at 8:57 AM
BSC said...: A powerful message. I noticed the same thing during my first trip to Haiti. Despite overwhelming poverty, there was a joy that didn't come from material possessions.

Blessings,
Beth; March 3, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Kathy Eden said...: Cara & Cara said it very well! Thanks for sharing Stephanie!; March 3, 2009 at 2:02 PM

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Faith is BELIEVING the Word of God and acting on it no matter how I feel, believing that God will bring a good result.

Faith is not a belief that everything will turn out to please us; rather it is the confidence that no matter how things turn out, God will somehow use the events in our days for His glory and for our good.

Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.

Faith is being willing to trust God - turning your hopes and problems over to Him and trusting in His wisdom - and knowing that somehow everything will turn out for the best. No matter how difficult or dark things become, there is always a light.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.

Faith is a reasoning trust, a trust which reckons thoughtfully and confidently upon the trustworthiness of God.

Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.

Timeline

Fall 2007: Called to adopt from Haiti. Plan to adopt from COTP
11/15/07: 1st Home Study Visit
2/7/08: 2nd Home Study Visit
2/26/08: 3rd Home Study Visit
Feb 2008: Saw Anchise on Website
3/14 - 3/15/08: Adoption Education Training Program
3/26/08: Applied to Three Angels
5/13/08: Received approval from Three Angels for Anchise
6/18/08: Mailed in I-600A to USCIS
6/25/08: Dossier to Translator, Documents to Secretary of State for Authentication
6/27/08: Authentications Received
6/28/08: Stephanie Passport Received
7/5/08: Translations Received, Documents to Haitian Consulate for Legalization
7/7/08: Jeff Pasport Received
7/9/08: Documents Arrive at Haitian Consulate
7/14/08: Documents back from Haitian Consulate
7/30/08: Fingerprinting
8/16/08: I-171H Received
9/29/08: Filed I-600 in PAP
11/3/08: Anchise taken back by birthmom
1/26/09: Start making inquiries to Ghana programs
2/20/09: Commit to adopting Mercy
4/30/09: Dossier on it's way to Ghana
6/3/09: Receive I-171H with Country Change
8/21 - 8/28/09: Travel to Ghana
8/27/09: Court Date - Mercy is Legally Our Daughter!