A large chunk of my heart is buried under a tree that looks like this.
A Jacaranda tree.
They turn my hometown of Pretoria, South Africa lush purple every October.
I miss that piece.
It’s been two years since I buried it under a tree and boarded a plane for the States. Two years since we were last home.
I have strong roots here in America, that’s true.
But the ones that pull me back to Africa have a lifetime’s head start. They have burrowed deep into the hard, cracked soil of the country that the rest of my family still calls home. And when the wind blows me about I feel the tug of those roots and the ache of that stubborn bit of my heart.
It wants me to come home, “Now!” (to paraphrase my two-year-old).
I expect that this week the ache will be worse than usual.
Because this week Compassion International is providing a walking, talking window into Africa. A team of bloggers is in Kenya this week to share a firsthand look at the work that Compassion does there.
I dare you not to tune in. Because, once you do, you won’t be able to change the channel.
Follow the team on twitter; they’re using the hashtag #cbkenya (Compassion Bloggers Kenya) and there twitter group is here.
Let your own heart ache and break a little bit.
Read their stories here.
Leave encouragement in their comments. They are gonna need it. Because their hearts are about to undergo some major knocks.
Tell them I sent you. Tell them I told you a tiny bit about Africa and you wanted the first-hand version.
Tell them I said, “When you think of Africa you think of:
hot, sweat-running-down-between-your-shoulder-blades-sun, red dirt, dust roads, and open pick ups with folks crammed in back. You think veld fires and the smell of cooking in the open. You think of sunsets that burn up the sky like no where else and faces that could light up the night they are so full of hope and good humor when they have every reason not to be.
You think of purple Jacaranda trees and mealie meal and chickens.
You think of mangos and watermelon and giraffes carved out of wood.
You think of the very middle of the heart of God when you think of Africa.”
Tell them you want to know if that’s true.
And, like you, I can’t wait to hear their answer.
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Oh how I wish I could write like you! Beautiful. We’re glad you’re here with us! But I understand the homesickness!
Seriously, thank you for that. When the tug of home feels so strong it’s so lovely to feel there’s a pull on this side of the ocean as well!
oh how i love your heart and how this post made me completely teary-eyed…
There really is no place like home.
What a beautiful post! I have never been to Africa and your description makes me want to go there. I am only 1100 miles away from my family; just a 2 hour plane ride. I couldn’t imagine being at the distance you are. I think it’s lovely tha instead of putting up a post that comes across as you feeling sorry for yourself, you inspire others to cherish your homeland. Hope you get to go home for a visit soon.
Totally visit Africa this week via the Compassion Bloggers – they will give you a first hand look into the nitty gritty!
I understand both pulls – the pull of homesickness (Germany, even though I’ve been here for over 5 years now is still not “home”) and the pull of Africa (lived/worked there for a bit over 3 years). Oh, the red dirt, the sweat, the big toothy grins. It is the middle of God’s heart. And has a big chunk of mine too.
Yes, the big toothy grins. They can light up the place like no where else I’ve been.
dear and lovely Lisa-Jo,
what a nice “surprise” to see your tweet at #cbkenya this morning! i’ll be following their progress, and love the fact that you will be following it too!
may the team’s trip capture the heart of many,
help many to see thru God’s eyes…and His heart…
love and blessings,
Michelle (Mack) Fiore
Worlds collide in the most unexpected ways, don’t they? This trip sure is a wonderful one that I hope will make sparks in all kinds of unusual ways. It’s so lovely to hear from you!
Having lived in Europe I know that undeniable homesick force. I have cried My eyes out over it too many times…
But you worked to turn your tears into our joy. Thank you. Following them now on twitter…looking forward to witnessing miracles…
So glad you’re following them – I think they will take us all unexpected places!
What beautiful, beautiful trees! I hope you get to go back soon, because being homesick for long is never fun.
Oh, I wish you could feel the hot Cape Town sun, and feel the Suid-Ooster blow on your face. Hearing the flower sellers on Adderley street. The sounds of South Africa. I wish I could send you some pieces of Africa, to make you feel like you were home. I would never want to be anywhere else. We must get together for a koppie tee en beskuit and some Afrikaans, when you come to the Cape again.
Sunny love and blessings from the Homeland
Goeie genade – but your words were like little bottled up bits of home floating to me on the wind. Thank you for that!
I can’t help but think of the verse in Ecclesiastes that says…He has put eternity in the hearts of men…He has created us with a longing for Him. No matter how long we remain here on earth, we know it isn’t our home and so we long…
This post made me think of the ache in every believer’s heart for home…
Yes, I think of that often! It’s the one thing that helps with the ache – the fact that I know it’s pointing me to a bigger home.
I watched the Compassion group on twitter as they headed out to the plane for their trip and I thought of YOU! Sniff, sniff. I know it makes your heart ache.
But how fun that we can all travel with them and get a glimpse into the wonders that God is doing in Kenya! Whoot whoot!
You are a gifted writer! I found your blog because I am following Compassion International’s trip through Kenya, a place I lived for 8 years doing missionary work. (You might be interested in my just-published memoir, “Grandma’s Letters from Africa” — see more at http://www.grandmaslettersfromafrica.blogspot.com.) Saturday I’m blogging about a book entitled “The Dust of Africa” by Shel Arensen. There’s just something about Africa, and especially the people, that burrows down deep into your heart and soul and spirit, right? Thanks again for a lovely post today. It touched my heart.
Now there’s a book I will be adding to my reading list!
I hope you get home soon. This post makes me home sick for you!
God bless you my friend and my prayers are with the Compassion team!! My heart breaks….
I know your heart is hurting. I think you will enjoy this poem. I hope you will. – Jen
My Life is but a Weaving
My life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors,
He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow,
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.
Not ’til the loom is silent and
the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
in the Weaver’s skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
in the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares,
nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
who leave the choice with Him.
~Author Unknown
Gosh, thank you for this. I have read the poem before but never had someone offer it to me as a reminder that all my criss-crossing, gypsing ways are part of a bigger more beautiful pattern than I could imagine. Thank-you for that!
What a beautiful post!! Thanks so much for following our trip and praying for us!!
Thanks so much for taking us with you!! It’s amazing to have such a walking, talking window into a country a world away!
Goodness, reading that made ME homesick!!!!
Good
Now follow this amazing team and enjoy a first hand look into what all that homesickness is about!
I love to see a new post go up on your site. Your words flow so beautifully across the screen. I have just read two books that are set in Africa and I told my husband that is where I want to go to do some mission work.
I am only 3 1/2 hours away from my family and what will always be my home and I get homesick. My heart aches for you and the distance you are from your home.
Thank you for sharing your heart with us today. I can’t wait to follow the team in Kenya.
Thank-you – and isn’t it so incredible how we can spend the day walking around in their shoes half a world away? Kenya takes on a tangible face thanks to these kinds of trips!
i was raised in west africa and even though i left over 20 years ago i still often feel a special heart tug when i smell certain smells or see pictures of african children. i will be praying for the compassion bloggers.
Really? Where in West Africa. I’ve spent time in Ghana. Hot, humid, amazing place.
I have never been…. but I would love to go. I have a son there… stuck for nearly three years -
Your blog is lovely.
Compassion gives us an amazing lens to view it through. I hope you get to go in person one day too!
Lisa-Jo, when I see that you’ve posted a new article, I don’t rush to read it. No, I save it for the end.
Because while I may skim through the many of the other 100+ blogs in my Reader, I know that your words are going to move me. And I know your words are going to need time – time to settle into my mind and my heart, time to change me and inspire me and challenge me and encourage me.
This post is no different. Thank you.
i feel the same as mary. i saw your comment on brad’s site last night, and i got your message about this post going up… but i needed to wait. i needed to give my heart some breathing room because i wanted to be able to read with all of me…
i’m glad i waited.
you described our africa so beautifully. you captured her in the most perfect word pictures possible. i love your heart for home. i wish it wasn’t too years since you’ve been there, and i wish you had a trip planned for your return. (knowing the when, regardless of how far away it is, always helps me…)
i’m sorry for the ache in your heart, but i’m grateful for it too. you keep me connected to my there-home, and you help me understand her in new and different ways.
and you cause the ache in my heart to grow.
which is a very good thing, even though it hurts.
Thank you so much for the beautiful picture of my new daughter’s homeland! We’re going in 3 weeks to complete our family & bring her home. And then starting to plan when we will return.
My son put it so beautifully…”I’m Chinese in the blood, and South African, Mennonite, and Chinese in the heart. She’ll be South African in the blood, and Chinese, Mennonite, and South African in the heart.”
Amen, little man. Amen.
Oh goodness – blessings and traveling mercies on you! Thank you for stepping out in courage like this – I promise you Africa will melt your insides in all the right ways! {And gosh, your son has some wise and beautiful words – thank for sharing them with me!)
Love this…I only spent three months in South Africa back between 03-04 but still hearing it calling back to me and consider it a second home. Beautiful writing.
god bless
Oh, where were you? I am from Pretoria and have family in Jo’burg and all over the Cape. It’s an amazing place, isn’t it?
Just had to say…. this post reminds me of a song I’m coming to love titled Jacaranda Tree by Josh Garrells. It’s written by his wife, who is an mk from Ecuador. I believe it’s about the tension of being from and loving one but being planted in a different place.
Lyrics here, I highly recommend you listen to it as well!
http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858747572/
Oh my goodness, I am soo excited to go and find this song – Jacaranda Tree – just wow! Love it. Thanks so much!