the dark continent

Tonight I smirked as I got into my warm car, giddy as if I'd beat some system just because I'd warmed it up while I was inside the newsroom putting the finishing touches on my pages. The cold does weird things to your head.

I've been working on a book lately called Emma's War. It's the story of a humanitarian aid worker who went to Sudan. She was more of an adventure seeker, I guess, but a lot of aid workers are. She eventually married a rebel SPLA leader. Then she was killed. Clearly I'm lacking important details on that part. But only because I'm not there yet. And that's not even my point. :) I've taken a couple things from the book so far. First, it's given me some more background about Sudanese history -- the history of the slave trade, Islamic rule, British colonialism, etc. It's all very complex, very deep, very... human. I guess I'm hoping to not only gain knowledge about Sudan, but perspective. The author talks a lot about how Africa can just seep into people's hearts, that they never want to stray too far. I hope that happens to me, that God places -- well, continues to place -- a love in my heart for Africa and Sudan.

As I've been reading more about the famines, the mass killings, the children sold into slavery, I find my heart and my mind more and more burdened by what I'm going to do for these people. What can I bring them, feed them? I think physical needs. And I want to know details about my trip. Are we going to build wells? Show them better ag methods? Teach the children? I have to force myself back to the bare reality: As deep as these people's physical needs are, their spiritual needs are far deeper -- even more urgent. And that's just hard to swallow sometimes. But I know it is true. As it is written...

One thing I know I've slacked off on preparing for is the spiritual warfare that I'll undoubtedly be facing. I blew through those two books and have put it aside since then. If you will, continue to pray that God would prepare my mind and my heart, the hearts and minds of my teammates and the hearts and minds of the people in Lopit. I cannot let the Devil have his way -- I will not forget how very real, how very present he is, here and in Africa. Pray I do not neglect to recognize life for what is it -- a battle.

Here's to you.

So, Lisa and I went to the Rascal Flatts concert Saturday and sat fourth row. That is, until they told everyone to do whatever they wanted and we found ourselves right at the stage -- close enough to snag a couple guitar picks, a drumstick, some star-to-fan contact and some great pictures. Now, neither Lees nor I is the go-crazy type, but we certainly did our share of crazy things. Call it the mob influence... or a couple of country gals just having a swell time.

Oh, and we also came away with some concert injuries. Lisa's was way worse/cooler because it involved a rabbid fan's fingernails and blood. She's my hero. I only took an elbow to the eye and have nothing to show for it. However -- and this is strange -- I've discovered a painful bruise just below my ribs that I'm sure I got at the concert, but not sure how I got at the concert. Mark it up as a Rascal Flatts mystery.

This (totally cool and awesome and great) picture is from our pre-concert Pizza Hut adventure. It makes me smile because a) we're wearing cowboy hats (and boots, though you can't see them), b) we're wearing cowboy hats (and boots, though you can't see them) at Pizza Hut, and c) we're wearing cowboy hats (and boots, though you can't see them) at Pizza Hut after having paid only $4.65 for one of the most delicious meals ever.

Oh, and Lisa taught me how to knit. I'm the Michael Jordan of knitting. Awesome.

Aaaaaand I got to go with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, neice and nephew to the Illini game in Chicago earlier that day. Allie was so stinkin' adorable. She danced, she cheered ("Go I-ny-ny!"), she entertained the surrounding sections. She was a doll. She was the only good part about the first half of the ballgame.


Alright, I'm done. I've got so much to blog about -- so much going on in my mind about Africa -- but absolutely no time.