If there's one thing a hate it's injustice. Our world is packed full of it. But there is one continent that is known for it: Africa.
On our beautiful continent you can pick and choose. Which cause do you want to champion? Which problem do you want to face? Which injustice do you want to be redeemed? It's all here. Every single one.
If you hate forests being destroyed, this is the right place. If you can't bear the afflictions of animals, come to Africa. But the one that trumps all is the injustice towards human beings.
People are being displaced all over the place by wars, clashes and governments. Plunging them from poverty in starvation.
It was because of this injustice and my love for adventure that I dreamt of discovering Africa. I wanted to see and experience it. I wanted to see if there were opportunities for us to fight against injustice and poverty.
When I was a small boy growing up on a missionary station in Northern Mozambique my dream was to overland from Cairo to Cape Town. Over the teenage years this dream faded till I saw a documentary in my 3rd year at University on the injustices happening in the DRC. At the same time I read a book called King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochshield. It was about the history of the Belgium Congo and the atrocities comitted by the Belgiums in the dark heart of Africa.
Something strange happened to me in that time. I had strong emotions welling up inside of me raging against the injustices happening across the continent. I had a burning desire to do something about it. I repeatedly prayed for the nations across Africa. The adventurous dream I once had of over landing from Cairo started to relive again.
All of these emotions and dreams kept building up but there was no outlet. I begged the Lord for something to happen or an opportunity to go somewhere, but nothing happened. I remember somewhere in my 4th year of University sitting in a car with a friend and just venting my absolute frustration at the situation. Passionately wanting to go somewhere but no opportunity. It was somewhere after this that things started to happen.
I came across a group called Global Challenge Expeditions. They were busy marketing a one year expedition that would criss cross the globe. It looked great, especially the part were they were planning to cross from Cairo to South Africa. My excitement was quickly dimmed however by the big price tag and I pushed it into the back of my mind. But it kept coming up. Finally, one evening in church two future participants of Global Challenge Expeditions (GCEX) excitedly shared their participation in the program. That was it- in that moment God clearly told me to take part in this adventure.
The next morning, after a quick talk over the phone with Stefan Kleyn at GCEX, I submitted my application. By now the excitement within me as so overwhelming I could barely help myself. Even before Stefan confirmed that I was accepted on the expedition I knew that it was what God was planning for me. I took on the challenge of raising the funds and jumped right in.
By the next week I had 1 appointment lined up and two dinner invitations from church members. At each one of them I received R5000! It wasn't nearly enough to cover the R65 000 but it overwhelmingly confirmed God's plan. Two weeks later by the 1st of December I had raised almost 60% of the money!
To be continued...