So, Africa. Do you have any idea what some of the injustices are in that continent right now? Do you know how many Muslims there are, particually in North Africa? I didn't at all. Through a series of things, God has put this country, but particularly the children on my heart. The first week of class we learned about intercession, and it was amazing. Guess what we interceded for on the last day of class (where we applied all we learned). Africa, muslims, and the children in Africa. Two days later at the church I go to here, they were going to do a service about Exodus, but instead, they had a few people from Africa in town. One was a man who had been through a lot during the wars that have taken place there, the other two were orphan children who had been rescued from their circumstances. They all went on to share about Africa and how children don't have any reason or time to dream of becoming something because they are too worried about if they will get to eat tomorrow. It was like God put a face for what was on my heart. I believe God will use the kids in Africa to begin a huge movement for His name, and that many unreached people and muslims will come to know Him through children. I mean, they are the generation that will be leading Africa in about 10 years. Africa seems to keep popping up everywhere down here, and it has such huge problems that I can't help but not think about it often. Here are a few things I learned about some things going on in Africa:
- Children soilders are forced into service every day across Africa, and are expected to number around 300,000. If they do not join they have limbs cut off or are killed.
- Over 6500 people die per day from Aids in Africa, many of them parents of soon-to-be orphans.
- The number of orphans in africa is well above a million.
- Only 3 percent of children in Africa will get proper education.
- AIDS can be prevented from spreading from mother to child, yet many women don't know this and pass it on to their children every day.
- It is not uncommon for women to be raped multiple times in Africa throughout her life.
- There is a myth in Africa, a widespread myth, that if a man with AIDS has sex with a virgin, he will be cleansed of it and she will get it.
- This myth ties in with a belief that the younger the girl, the more potent the cure.
- This leads men to rape girls below the age of 2, many of whom are 5 to 9 months. (example-a report of 6 men raping a 9 month old girl is not unheard of).
- An average of 5 children are raped every hour of every day.
That's a big part of why Africa is on my heart. There is not education available to many to dispel these sick myths and to stop the spread of AIDS. This place needs help. I've never been so Idignant in my life. My heart breaks for the loss of innocence and all the atrocities that are being commited daily. I hate it, and I want to make a difference, because I know I can. A school, an orphanage, education for as many as possible. Anything that can help. They need help, but they also need Christ, because so many are living without any hope. Waking up knowing death and hunger and war and nothing else. They need hope. They need help.
Love you guys,
-Nate
4 comments:
Wow. I did not know it was so bad in Africa. I knew it was bad, but not THAT bad...I am glad that you are fired up about this and are hopefully going to learn how to help the situation. Please do!
My roommate Christine went to Zambia this past summer to work with some of the orphans there, they have a thing called "camp life" and it's basically like summer camp for the kids who have or have had a parent with AIDS. She has some really interesting stories about the kids, especially from the one on ones with them. I don't know if you have learned this yet, but witchcraft is pretty big in Africa. The kids have dreams about it, and they say that their parents were killed by a curse put on them, and they are afraid of being posessed. It's really weird how prevalent it is there because although there is some in the US and other places, it is commonplace there.
pretty much if you want to learn more about her experience she is obsessed with Africa and talks about it all the time, so, ya know.
okay so, that "comment deleted" was me because i had a spelling error....and it looks like a creepo wrote something, so i am just clairfying.
ok bye
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