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Unexplainable

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by Julia Greif Julia was a team member on the 3-month Namibia IMMERSION term in the summer of 2016.

Africa Mission Trips

I've been back in America for almost a week now and I'm having trouble gathering my thoughts. Many have asked how my trip went, some have even gotten some details. It's so hard to put it into words; God moved so big in the school we were at, in host homes, and in my own heart. It's almost unexplainable. We didn't go to build anything or give something out, we simply went to be.

While I'm having trouble trying to explain to people what the trip was like, I've had a lot of time to think and reflect. My answer may still not be good but our God is an unexplainable God and the way He moved is just that, unexplainable. I can try my best to put it into words, or I can simply tell you my heart.

My first few weeks in Africa were so anxiety-ridden. So many questions in my mind like, "What am I doing here?" "Why is this so hard?" "Are we doing anything right?" This is quite possibly the hardest concept of IMMERSION because sometimes you do nothing but love and, in return, learn about people loving us. But what does "loving" look like?

Loving looks like our first week in Africa, meeting our community partners who called us by name and knew about us without ever meeting us. Loving is the first moments at the desert when hundreds of kids ran to us with smiles and hugs. Loving is a teacher who at one point didn't want you there later inviting you into her house to just talk. Loving is sweet kids reading the Bible with you and having a hunger for the Lord. Loving is endless dance parties, soccer games, and hikes to the dunes even when we were so tired. Loving is a sweet baby cuddling you at night while having a big sleepover in the girls block. Loving is a high five, a hug, crying and laughing together, and learning that although we are different, we can love big.

Africa Mission Trips

There are different ways we experienced love but the love we felt in return was unimaginable. We also experienced growth and change in our communities. We saw hearts soften, classrooms light up, and teachers who learned to love more because we loved the kids and them. "We love because He loved us first." One of the many lessons I took away from my time in Africa was what it looks like to love.

I went to Africa because I saw a need to help. And, yes, we helped in a relational and community sense, but the way my heart changed says it all. The way my heart longs to still be there is what our God feels for us. He longs for us to know Him and to love Him. Just like we pursued loving the kids and went to a remote desert community, God longs for us to pursue him in everything that we do.

So, no, I don't have a good answer yet for "How was Africa?" I can only hope to show you how it changed me.

I want to carry the love I received with me and let God shine through me. My heart will forever hold a special place for Namibia because it's where I saw God move in all ways for the first time. This time in Africa has opened my eyes and changed my view from negative to one of hope. A hope so deep that it can only be explained as love: The love of a Father for His children.

Africa Mission Trips

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