My Lesson

What have I learned from my 6 months in Africa. That is and will be the question. What knowledge have I gained that changed my life that will change your life that will change our lives and make us into people that help Africa. People that try to improve their conditions. What lesson did God teach me. What impenetrable piece of wisdom have I been imparted? What can I give you? What have they given me? What did He give me? To give back to you?

I learned.

I learned.

I learned.

I learned.

I learned.

Learned…

 Life. Is. Big. Life is big. Life is more. More than you thought. More than I thought. More than they can imagine. Life. Is. Bigger. LIFE. Is a gift. Is a burden. Is a challenge. Is there. Until it isn’t. LIFE. I’ve seen life. I’ve seen it wasted. I’ve seen it abused. I’ve seen it broken. I’ve seen it mended. I’ve seen it healed. I’ve seen it fixed. I’ve seen it improved. Me, Africa gave me proof of miracles. Africa showed me lives completely wrecked. And lives completely renewed. Those completely beyond repair. Fully and wonderfully repaired. I’ve learned that no matter what you’ve gone through you are lucky. Because someone has gone through worse. I’ve seen the bad.

Kids running away.

Kids beaten.

Scars.

Kids having kids.

Drugs.

Incest.

Rape.

Sodomy.

Bestiality.

Addiction.

Babies with no chance.

Women with no hope.

Men with nothing.

Kids with no innocence.

 I’ve seen their pain.

But I’ve seen their renewal. I’ve seen their redemption. I’ve seen repentance.

I’ve seen the good.

Kids returning.

Kids becoming staff.

Hunger fulfilled.

Thirst quenched.

Love granted.

Jobs given.

Hopes blooming.

Hopes becoming reality.

Smiles.

Laughter.

Love.

 So much love.

In fact, it’s not just any kind of love. It’s the real kind. The kind that you never thought you could feel for someone that you weren’t related to. The kind of love that makes you smile for no apparent reason and makes you worry that your heart might explode. The kind of love that swells up within you and makes you have to catch your breath. Yea, the real kind. For about 80 kids. That’s a lot of love. But there was no stopping it. It was inevitable. We were in Malindi at the beach last week. And we waded out into this clear blue ocean, the current fighting us the whole way. And I as stared out at the vast emptiness before me a hand grasped my own, and I turned to find Erick one of our new boys. He doesn’t speak much English and the look of sheer terror and excitement that filled his face was enough to bring tears to my eyes. It was the first time to the beach for a lot. And there I was, experiencing it. I got the privilege, to experience their first time to the beach. And I couldn’t have been more excited and proud of those goofy smiling kids than if I had given birth to them myself (although that would have been a ridiculous number of kids to give birth to!) And as he held his death grip on my hand and we waded out further his smile never faded and neither did mine and I just knew my heart would burst and I would drown. And I would die of happiness.

I thought I was coming to Africa to help. I thought I could be a blessing. But I have been blessed beyond all measure. I have given so little and been given so much. Who would have guessed. Africa didn’t need me. I needed Africa.

photos by Kristin Pizilate