Mission Possible: Africa

These words are the caption for this photo, "Clutching her Zanu PF membership card required to claim treatment, Destiny, 25, delivered her baby at Bulawayo's Central Hospital two weeks ago. She was separated from the child to be treated for her own malnutrition. She is slowly starving to death" (http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/)

I have dreamed of Africa all of my life.

I have dreamed of looking over to the horizon and seeing a beautiful sunset.

I have dreamed of sitting under a baobab tree watching animals in the distance.

I have dreamed of the Africa that I have seen in movies and the images I have chosen to see.

I have dreamed of a peace-filled Africa.

And I believe that those dreams are real in many ways and I have not been ignorant completely to the atrocities that Africa has faced. But today I also see differently. I see Destiny... and my dreams are coupled now with the reality of what many face today in Africa.

I see in my dreams my sister Destiny and she is Africa. I don't know her and I have no biological ties but there is a bloodline that seems to transcend time and space that draws me to her. She invades my dreams and calls me to a different vision of Africa...

She calls me to a different calling.

Destiny calls me to pick up my paper and pen something that I have been afraid to do because of "teachers" telling me I have a third grade understanding of writing. Destiny calls me to pick up paper and pen because as Zap Mama says, there are causes to defend. Destiny calls me to my destiny. She calls me to realize that truly "I am You As You Are Me"

Destiny is Africa today in many regions especially that of Zimbabwe where as I read more - people are starving and there are mass abductions. I mean, did I ever hear this on the news...I don't recall. Granted, there are many things that I don't pay attention to when it comes to the news because it seems to be the same story different day - but did I hear this? And if so, how did I/We miss it or do we choose to overlook it because its "not personal" or happening here...

The reality is I know that I am hyper sensitive about the issue now because of a pending mission trip. Now, don't get me wrong it is not a trip to "save the heathen" as many think - but it is an opportunity to journey alongside with sisters and brothers on that side of this big Earth in the place that I have dreamed of called Africa and to be perfectly honest - learn from them - to learn from Destiny.

In Destiny's eyes I see pain but I also see strength to press forward as best she can in a situation that is beyond words. In Destiny's eyes I see more than I can begin to articulate and my hope is that through these pages, I can begin to unravel the mystery of the calling that I have to and with the people of Africa.

Blessings and remember

I Am You As You Are Me