Wow tomorrow I leave for Africa!

As I am packing for my trip it has hit me just how dependent I am on technology. I need this charging cord, that backup cord, this plug-in adapter, these batteries. I have needed to charge battery paks, load batteries, download music and movies to the borrowed Ipod (my son's - thanks Doug), had to get a global phone (just in case as my wife says), etc, etc etc. Wow it can be really overwhelming. We don't realize just how connected we really are and the price we have to pay for that.

Now contrast this with where I am going. Ouagadougou (wa-ga-dough-goo)in Burkina Faso (burr-keen-a faa-so), Africa. Most kids won't have shoes let alone an Ipod. From the reseach I have done their life looks so simple, yet they have so much freedom and joy. Maybe they have it figured out.

Why do we get all these gadgets that allow us to set schedules, keep our schedule, listen to music, watch videos, take pictures and video, download pictures and video, post blogs, facebook, etc, etc, etc? To be more connected and efficient?

Is it that we are just so busy running around in this world that we don't take time out to enjoy the freedom, beauty and peace of God's creation and people? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for staying connected and everything, but have we really stopped to think about all the stuff we have in our lives that make it so complicated?

I was reading last night in my "Prepare Your Heart - A study booklet for your short-term mission trip" and there was a quick comparison of vacuums vs. brooms. We in America use a vacuum cleaner, because it is efficient, does a great job picking up dust, and we can get onto the next thing quickly. Compare that to a third world country that for thousands of years have cleaned the floor the same way - with a broom. Their not looking for efficiency. They are are happy to sweep and may choose to spend time talking to family or a friend who just stopped by (ahh -a form of multi-tasking). But efficiency never enters their minds.

All this to say that I am sure this culture places a high value on relationships while placing a lesser value on technology and doing tasks efficiently. A lesson I am sure to learn while I'm there?

So pray for our team. That we are servants with humility and the love of Christ. That we can slow down to show openness and acceptance of our hosts' way of life. And that we can take time to work on our task with efficiency, but also take time to focus on relationships. After all that is why we are going over there. We are going over there to learn, to serve, and to build relationships that honor God.