Prepare a Highway
December 20, 2007
I've ridden the horribly bumpy back roads of Africa. Heck...I've taken rides where there are no roads. I think I might even still have the bruises from banging around in the back of trucks to prove it! I can personally attest to the fact that the giant gorges found in those roads will rattle the teeth out of your head!
Cameraman Moses and I once rode in a Land Rover in South Sudan. I have NO idea how the driver knew where he was going. It seemed it was literally a case of "turn right at the black goat, left at the tree with the broken branch." We got lost once because the herd of goats that had been grazing on the way to one village had moved when we were on our way back!
In any event, perhaps one of the very best ways people can help Africa is by building up the infrastructure of its countries. Think about it...humanitarian aid needs to be flown in to most places because it cannot be driven in due to a lack of proper roads. Lifesaving medicine is held up due to muddy quagmires that double as roads. Commerce is slowed due to an inability to get goods from 'Town A' to 'Town B.'
Chris Tomlin of the Associated Press has written a very excellent article examining the highways-or lack thereof-in Africa. I highly suggest reading it!
American Christians often use the excuse that they have no skills that God can use on the mission field. What hogwash! If you work in road construction, has God got an opportunity for you! What a needed skill! Pray about how God might have you work, short-term or long-term, in His harvest fields.
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