I Give to be a Light
by Josie Uecker
Africa. The dark continent. A place of stark poverty, and for many, little hope. I traveled to this place that would appear, for most of us, to be uninhabitable- where such basic needs as food, water, and education, are scarce and often unmet. It was here, in this dark place, that my eyes were opened. Perhaps it was because of the bleak darkness that any glimmer of light- the stars in the night sky, a dim bulb powered by a humming generator, or the smile of bright white teeth on an ebony face, shone even brighter. In a country of nearly 15 million, 95% are non-Christians, people live on less than $1.25 per day, and the literacy rate is only 33%. I realized my purpose while serving on a medical mission to Mali, West Africa, a few years ago, and I give now to remind myself what I witnessed while I was there. I give to keep a light shining somewhere deep within me, a light that I hope others will see. I hold it high, and hopefully it will be so bright they won’t be able to look away.
Traveling to Africa allowed me to see a world that I never knew existed. Ironically, the greatest ‘burden’ of witnessing such poverty and extreme darkness, is returning home to life in the United States, attempting to reconcile the two worlds within my own mind. I have struggled to find words to describe the experience to my family and friends. I’m reminded often when I turn on the faucet and clean water is at my fingertips- knowing that at the same moment in Mali a woman is spending her day searching for water. I’m reminded of it when I see a beautiful school building and a bus that effortlessly delivers my child curbside, while in Mali a 9-year-old girl is willing to walk for miles to go to school, often without a meal in her tummy.
I see advertisements for things I will never need but am persuaded in gluttony to desire. On my side of the world, there are warehouses full of food, endless electronics, giant stuffed teddy bears, pills to make me skinnier and better looking, and gadgets to think for me, all the while blinding me to pursuing anything beyond securing my own ridiculous comfort. From time to time, I wonder why so many Americans are enthralled with all of this shallow hype, why I, myself, am sometimes taken by it, and how it goes on and on, while others suffer in a world of ‘darkness’ and poverty. But then I wonder which place, here or there, is blinder than the other.
And I wonder what I can do to make a difference.
Now that I have seen it, I can’t look away. I’d be a fool to look away. My eyes have miraculously been opened. I want to help others recognize what they are missing- both here, in this land of numbing comforts and unappreciated indulgences, and in Mali, where even a small donation towards a Christian school can provide life-changing hope for children and families in need.
It is this eye-opening experience that has made me realize God’s plan and why Jesus came to this world for us. He IS GOD, He IS LIGHT, He IS LOVE, and he knows and sees ALL. Yet He left the comfort of Heaven to come to us in this dark world and be a light so that we might be cured from our blindness. He came to share, to lovingly give Himself for us, so that we might also see God’s GLORY and praise His name. I want to GIVE to be a light to the nations and to give glory to God in heaven.
Along with our family and precious friends, we founded Grace Missions, Inc. to support Ibrahima Kodio, an indigenous Christian missionary and his school in Mali. Grace Missions improves educational opportunities for children in Mali, Africa and provides a Biblical foundation to their lives by sharing our abundance with those that have very little. We provide hope and confidence for a better tomorrow. We feel that education with a Biblical foundation is the key to a hopeful future, a lasting peace, and personal fulfillment in developing countries.
Traveling to Africa allowed me to see a world that I never knew existed. Ironically, the greatest ‘burden’ of witnessing such poverty and extreme darkness, is returning home to life in the United States, attempting to reconcile the two worlds within my own mind. I have struggled to find words to describe the experience to my family and friends. I’m reminded often when I turn on the faucet and clean water is at my fingertips- knowing that at the same moment in Mali a woman is spending her day searching for water. I’m reminded of it when I see a beautiful school building and a bus that effortlessly delivers my child curbside, while in Mali a 9-year-old girl is willing to walk for miles to go to school, often without a meal in her tummy.
I see advertisements for things I will never need but am persuaded in gluttony to desire. On my side of the world, there are warehouses full of food, endless electronics, giant stuffed teddy bears, pills to make me skinnier and better looking, and gadgets to think for me, all the while blinding me to pursuing anything beyond securing my own ridiculous comfort. From time to time, I wonder why so many Americans are enthralled with all of this shallow hype, why I, myself, am sometimes taken by it, and how it goes on and on, while others suffer in a world of ‘darkness’ and poverty. But then I wonder which place, here or there, is blinder than the other.
And I wonder what I can do to make a difference.
Now that I have seen it, I can’t look away. I’d be a fool to look away. My eyes have miraculously been opened. I want to help others recognize what they are missing- both here, in this land of numbing comforts and unappreciated indulgences, and in Mali, where even a small donation towards a Christian school can provide life-changing hope for children and families in need.
It is this eye-opening experience that has made me realize God’s plan and why Jesus came to this world for us. He IS GOD, He IS LIGHT, He IS LOVE, and he knows and sees ALL. Yet He left the comfort of Heaven to come to us in this dark world and be a light so that we might be cured from our blindness. He came to share, to lovingly give Himself for us, so that we might also see God’s GLORY and praise His name. I want to GIVE to be a light to the nations and to give glory to God in heaven.
Along with our family and precious friends, we founded Grace Missions, Inc. to support Ibrahima Kodio, an indigenous Christian missionary and his school in Mali. Grace Missions improves educational opportunities for children in Mali, Africa and provides a Biblical foundation to their lives by sharing our abundance with those that have very little. We provide hope and confidence for a better tomorrow. We feel that education with a Biblical foundation is the key to a hopeful future, a lasting peace, and personal fulfillment in developing countries.