Life As I Live It... » stories

I Will Make You

chadb_ca — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:42:54 +0000

We’ve been in Lethbridge for a week shy of a month now, and we’re settling quickly. The new house is really nice, and we have such an amazing group of friends here. God is providing in amazing ways for our needs in a number of ways. Janna started a new job today, and I’m praying for God’s direction in that area.

I wanted to share the experience I had during the last hour and half of our drive into Lethbridge. As we neared the city and the beginning of this season of preparation and training, I listened to a sermon Todd preached (10/2/11) at River of Life a couple months ago. The sermon was a part of a series He’s teaching right now on what it means to be an apostolic church. As I drove the message began to pour over me… it’s easy to get overwhelmed with personal expectation heading into a season like we’re in. I found that I was feeling the need to ‘make the most’ of our time here, and in turn started to own the journey in a way that made it feel heavy. Todd’s message, stemming from Mark 1.17, encouraged me with these simple words:

“Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

This simple invitation from Jesus rang out in my heart. Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. As I sat listening to Todd’s words, God spoke to deep places of me bringing life and peace to this new adventure. It is an incredibly powerful and freeing thing to remember that the ‘making’ is not up to us, but is the continuing work of the creator of creation!

We are so excited to be here, and to quietly embrace the plans of God for us in this season. It will, without question, be incredible to see what God does. With great faith we let go and simply follow knowing He will be faithful to accomplish everything on His heart for this time.

While resting in this promise, I listened to a song that has become my hearts cry in the past year. It’s by an incredible group of guys known as Ascend The Hill, and is titled Spend It All.

Ascend the Hills stuff is all available for free on their site at: ascendthehill.com

The Adventure Continues

chadb_ca — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:29:54 +0000

Well, it’s been a while since my last post… and so much has happened in the past couple months! Ever since our move to Comox from Calgary 5 years ago, God has been leading us with such intentionality. The past season here in the valley has brought incredible restoration, deep friendships, and growth in our lives that we never could have expected. Our move here started with a month sabbatical followed by the passing of my sister. The year that followed I worked at Starbucks and was able to focus my time on grieving well. At the end of that year I took a position with the Salvation Army as an outreach worker. That job allowed me to really get to know this Valley through the lives of the broken, those who serve them tirelessly, and many of our local churches (both congregations and leaders.) A year ago, I finished a 3 year position with the Salvation Army, and have loved the healing journey that God brought about as I stepped away.

About eight months ago, we clearly heard God ask us to get ready for what He had planned next. Through a process of prayer and shared journey (with friends and each other) Janna and I have made the decision to move to Lethbridge for a time of preparation. We will be working with Todd Atkinson and the community at River of Life who have been a divine gift of relationship, encouragement, and hope for us as we look to the next season of life.

On of the things God has revived and restored in our hearts is a deep love for Him and His church. This and the growing revelation of His love for us and others, has ignited a passion in our hearts. His life changing work in our lives (both as individuals and as a couple) has left us with a deep desire to share this gift of love and grace with the world around us. We are so excited about all that God has in store! At this juncture, it looks like we will spend 1-2 years in Lethbridge preparing to start a church. God’s plan for us is so perfect, and it’s been awe inspiring to see Him lovingly lead us to this decision.

Though it’s impossible to say with 100% certainty, our desire is to return to the Valley after our time in Lethbridge. We have come to really love this Valley, and would be so excited to see His Kingdom come here as it is in heaven.

A week ago I received an incredible Christmas gift from a dear friend. It was a T-Shirt containing a graphic that I believe to be of deeply prophetic significance for the journey we embark upon later this week.

The graphic contains a windmill in the one corner (Lethbridge) and a tree in the other (Comox). A closer look shows the prairie grass turning to ocean waves! This coupled with a word from God a couple weeks ago has so clearly affirmed for us our decision to move forward on this journey. We are so excited to walk the path God has set in front of us, knowing that ‘He will guide us along the best pathway for our lives’ ps 32.8 We’re so thankful to all of you who have shared our journey this past 4-5 years, and ask you to continue as we pray:

Holy Spirit Come for Christ’s Sake

Inspiring Music – Jonathan David Helser

chadb_ca — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 05:18:26 +0000

Last weekend I had the privileged of helping to lead worship at a conference at North Gate Foursquare Church here in the Valley. The community there have become dear to us, and are an incredible part of the kingdom here. I was excited to partner with Corey and others leading in worship, and was blown away by all that God did to teach me and stir my faith.

Chris Gore from Bethel in Redding, CA was sharing, and Sunday night of the conference he used his time to speak out with passion the love of God for us. Part way through his sharing we were encouraged to find a quiet space, and soak in a track that beautifully declared the truth of God’s love for us. I was blown away, and have since looked into who recorded it…. that led me to Jonathan David Helser. I’ve been listening to more of His music, and it is stirring deep places in me. The fresh and powerful voice that Jonathan brings to this faith journey needs to be shared… so here it is – a gift to me this week, and now from me to you. Check it out: www.jonathanhelser.com

Specifically, check out the song ‘inheritance’ featuring Graham Cooke. This is the track that Chris played Sunday night… may the Holy Spirit minister to you as he did me.

Download audio file (Inheritance.mp3)
Inheritance (Live) featuring Graham Cooke – by Jonathan David Helser Purchase Jonathan’s Stuff Here: His Site .. iTunes .. CDBaby

Divine Connections

chadb_ca — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:48:51 +0000

It's been just shy of two weeks since I finished my job at the Salvation Army. Already I've been deeply encouraged by the intentional work of God in my life. I spent the past 4 days in Lethbridge with the community at River of Life . We got connected with ROL in November when we went to Lethbrdige to visit Janna's brother Rob and his family. Rob and Sarah are in Lethbridge training to plant a church, and we went shortly after the birth of our newest niece. Part way through our visit we went to a training evening ROL and reconnected with Todd Atkinson (their lead pastor and a man that I originally met when I was about 10.) That encounter saw us surprised by God in the most amazing way.

I've come to see that Todd and an ever growing group of friends at ROL are a direct answer to my prayers for help. When God spoke to me of the priority He places on my heart, and Janna and I both discerned together that we were to make significant room for that heart journey, I began to pray two things specifically. First I began asking God to show me how to respond practically to His invitation (a prayer that ultimately led to my leaving the job at the Salvation Army.) At the same time, I realized my inability to walk the way of the heart, and began to lift up a short, simple, but heartfelt prayer to God for help. He has so faithfully been answering that prayer. The connections I've made in and through ROL are a significant way that answer has worked itself out.

I find myself coming away from my visit in Lethbridge feeling so blessed and cared for by God. Saying yes to this heart journey was hard, but He has been ever faithful in response. Already He is meeting our needs and doing it with great extravagance. I find that again I am being deeply impacted and amazed by the faithfulness with which God connects people. In His divine grace and wisdom He has brought people into our journey. These 'divine connections' are for me the most significant sign of God's attention and active participation in this Heart Journey. I am deeply grateful knowing that the way of the heart, while experienced alone at the deepest levels, is also lived in the presence of community established by God in our lives.

I pray that as you read this you too would be given eyes to see the incredible ways God is working to fill your journey with divine connections. I pray the blessing of friendship would be one that causes you deep joy today.

It’s All About Heart

chadb_ca — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:49:10 +0000

This past couple months have been amazing. In late September Brent and I traveled to Kelowna to meet with others on a faith/church journey similar to ours here in the Valley. We spent our time as a group sharing our community journey's, and praying for each other at length. Personally I went expecting this to be a time of rich encouragement that would ultimately launch us in a 'new direction' as a community here in the Comox Valley. I think in many ways I was right in that it was to be the beginning of our next season, but I couldn't have been more wrong in my expectations for what the season would look like.

For the last 4+ years we've lived here in Comox, and have known that in coming God was taking us into a season of rest and restoration. We have grown to deeply love this place, and feel very at home here. God has blessed us with rich friendships, a home that we enjoy, and a future that is filled with possibility and excitement. Throughout this past few years we've really connected with the church as a whole in the Valley, and continue to pray about our connection/place within it. Presently we meet with a small group in our homes, and our lives lived out together continue to be a rich treasure. The intimacy of this smaller group has challenged us to press into greater depths of what it is to be real, share life, and really take hold of what Christ calls us too as His followers. I'd be lying if I didn't share the wrestle we often have as a group. Inside of each of us (myself more than most) is a tendency to feel too small or too insignificant. Should we be 'growing' in number? Should we be joining a larger community? Should we be creating ministries, opportunities, etc?

As I traveled Kelowna, I went hoping to encounter some divine wisdom that would launch us into what's next. To my humble amazement, God did speak very clearly, but what He said couldn't have been further from what I expected (or perhaps wanted) to hear. "The season of 'waiting' isn't over". I clearly heard Him call me back to the depths of a heart journey that He's had us on over the past number of years. I realized that I had begun to think the season of restoration was over. In reality God wasn't finished. As I pressed into this prayerfully with friends, I heard God speak the words that I believe will shape the immediate future for Janna and I. He said "Your heart is my number one priority, and whatever you choose to do next be sure to make it yours as well."

These words brought tears to my eyes as I felt immediately overwhelmed by the love and care of God. In a time where I was starting to feel self expectation to be and do more with my life, my situation, my gifts, etc… He gently came and reminded me that His agenda isn't driven by a desire to see me accomplish or achieve anything. He simply, completely, and unconditionally loves me, and that love shows itself in His deep desire to see me whole and free.

Janna and I have taken this revelation very seriously, and over the past few months have prayed long and hard about what this call was to mean for our daily lives in a practical way. How do we best allow my Heart the space it needs to encounter that life changing work of the Holy Spirit? Specifically, we've prayed about weather I was able to obediently peruse what God had planned while still in my role at the Salvation Army. Over the course of a couple months we came to see that God was asking me to lay it down, and to follow Him into a healing journey. So, it is with much prayer that I've made the very difficult decision to leave my job at the Salvation Army as of January 1st. While the leaving is sad on so many levels, it is filled with hope and excitement knowing that God has so clearly asked it of me.

Janna knew before I did that God was asking this of us, and we're really thankful to Him for the peace that He's provided us in the midst of this transition. I don't know what's next job wise, or how God will meet our needs. I do know that He will continue to faithfully care for us. Verses like

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalm 23.1-3

and

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of Godabove all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6.31-34

have struck me in a fresh way during these past few weeks. God is so present in our lives, and it's with great anticipation that I wait on Him today. He is so faithful, and I love Him more and more for that.

Addiction… What An Injustice

chadb_ca — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:05:43 +0000

This morning I received an email from a colleague informing me that a mutual client had passed over the weekend. This client was a guy I've known since shortly after I started my work with the Salvation Army here in the Comox Valley. Many times in our relationship we spoke of life, the struggles of addiction, and the desire to be free. Through out this mans life addiction cost him dearly. He had lost jobs, money, possessions, dignity, relationship with both friends and family, and ultimately His true identity as God intended it. In the end addiction stole his very life.

Since I received the email, my heart has been sad. I am moved not only by the loss of a friend (troubled as he was), but by the injustice of it all. It's like the enemy literally had him by the throat, and wouldn't let go. Many times we talked about God, and I know He found great peace in prayer and in Christian community when he was able to attend local services. He also worked with many of us to get to multiple treatment facilities over the years, but time and again found himself unable to secure freedom.

The following scripture takes on new meaning in light of this morning:

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sistersall over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. I Peter 5.8-9

On a daily basis I talk with men and women about their lives, decisions, and direction. We work to find housing, physical and mental medical attention, addictions support, financial means, and the list goes on. Often I realize (and from time to time point out) that the issues facing them are a matter of life or death (both physically and spiritually.) Though I often speak these words of caution, it is always difficult and somewhat shocking when those words are met with reality in someones life.

Writing this, I can't help but turn these musings around in an introspective way. To realize that in many ways I fight with addiction, temptation, and the presence of the devil in my own life. Time and again I fail to 'secure freedom' and too easily forget that the Devil "looks to devour" me. The honesty of it all is that the Devil isn't taking His agenda lightly. He plays to win, and His methods are the epitome of injustice.

I'm not able to draw a ton of conclusions from all this today, because it's hard to reconcile moments when God's kingdom is so clearly 'now, but not yet'. However, in the tension of it all, I am sure of this: We desperately need a Saviour. Jesus, needs to be our Lord and our salvation. To that end, we must be people of deep prayer. Only in prayer are we able to 'Stay Alert, Stand Firm, and Be Strong' in the face of our addictions, temptation, and personal weakness.

I will miss Jeff. He was a very cool guy and I was blessed by His journey more than once. The painful part is I know that He could be free, but we never got to see that. May the God, who was His deepest source of peace and strength, have your undivided attention today. May the freedom that only He can give be yours. (I'm pretty sure Jeff would say a big AMEN to that prayer.)

Published

chadb_ca — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:11:49 +0000

My post on 'Trendy Justice ' has garnished a fair bit of attention since I posted it. Recently it was published in the Island Insight section of the BC Christian News .

(I will say I wish they hadn't titled like they did… but that's the media for you – HA.)

Trendy Justice

chadb_ca — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:27:32 +0000

Not sure if you've noticed, but social justice is the new black! What I mean is, it's become really trendy to get involved, to make a difference, to embrace justice. I love some of what's resulted from this collective social conscience. Organizations like Invisible Children and Bono's ONE campaign are examples of an ever growing and incredibly impressive list of groups deeply moved to 'do something' having been made aware of the great injustices facing our world today. The fact that people across racial, cultural, and socio-economic borders are being made aware of injustice globally, nationally, and in our own back yards is nothing shy of incredible. Youth groups strive to 'go green' at their schools, our fridges are covered in $30/month children, and every year hundreds of Canadians go without food for the 30 hr famine. In the past couple years pop culture has helped to fuel the fire as celebrities adopt children, build schools, and throwing huge concerts to raise both awareness and finances in the collective fight against poverty, AIDS, and the injustices of war around the world.

I love what is going on in this way, and am excited to be a part of this movement in whatever way I can. That said, I do have some questions and concerns:

Why? What is our motivation in 'doing good'? I fear that for many, the desire to get involved is rooted in a very selfish place. "We give because it makes us feel good." I have talked with countless people who can strongly articulate the idea that they give because it 'feels good'. The truth is that for many of us, christian and non-christian alike, 'if it feels good… do it' is at the core of our world view. At first glance this motivation seems harmless, if not logical. The reality is, it does feel amazing to see justice come to a situation, and to now you were a part of that process. There are huge issues though when this becomes our sole motivation.

First of all, our efforts will be very short lived and inadequate when it comes to accomplishing anything in the big picture. I am daily reminded of the fact that Justice is only a 'feel good' experience on the surface. Handing out sandwiches will only cut it for a short time. Eventually these exchanges will connect us with a person. A person with a face, a name, a story, and a deep need for much more than a sandwich. Suddenly the reality of the situation jumps up and slaps us in the face, and it no longer 'feels good' to give. In fact, it threatens to become incredible scary, messy, and costly. This is the 'Justice Ministry' that God has called us to, and it will never be 'Trendy'.

Earlier this year I found myself in the middle of a mind blowing situation. A woman named Marg approached me on behalf of a friend who needed help. Marg's friend was an elderly woman who had recently undergone a hip replacement. She had been taken to the hospital for surgery, and Marg needed help getting her house cleaned so they could move her back in. The task of cleaning this house was no small order, because Margs friend had lived the past number of years in severe depression. The effects of this deep depression had kept her from doing even the most basic of household duties. Marg described the state of her friends house, and challenged me over and over with the fact that I really had no idea how bad it was.

I put a call out to our local churches to recruit some help, and made no attempt to glorify the request (knowing that if things were half as bad as Marg was saying I'd only get myself in trouble if I was anything but upfront with the details.) 2-3 days went by without a response, and so I took it up with the Pastor at the church we're attending. He asked me to share the need on Sunday morning, and in turn I was able to gather a group of 6 to go and clean the house on the following Wednesday. When we arrived the state of the house was beyond what any of us had expected. Filled with four years of garbage, rotten take out, and human urine in milk jugs, the smell almost made me sick a number of times. We separated the empty pop bottles from the rest, and were able to use the $150 in returns to pay for one of the three dumpsters we used to have the garbage hauled away.

At one point I was standing knee deep in garbage with a shovel, when a client of mine who'd joined the clean up crew asked me: "so… this woman was just depressed!?" His eyes filled with tears, as this man who has fought with depression personally, connected with the magnitude of what this lady must have experienced for things to get this far. I couldn't help but think that He had somehow connected with Christ's heart for the situation in a way that I hadn't.

It was in that moment that I realized how far I have to go towards understanding God's heart for justice. It is a justice that goes far beyond trendy, or an action of self gratification. It is the very act of setting right the wrongs in this world, and it is far beyond our ability to accomplish. It is an answer to the call of Isaiah when he said:

"learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1.17

In addition to the fact that Trendy Justice tends to be very fragile when the rubber hits the road, there is a much larger issue at it's core. Trendy Justice lacks hope. Ultimately a sandwich, 30/month, school fees for a year, clean drinking water, AIDS drugs…. it's just not enough. What we need is a saviour. We need someone who can bring complete justice, and not one of us can fully be that for another. The good news however is that "light has come into the world". There is hope, because in the darkness of injustice there is a light! True justice shines when our actions and efforts are flooded by, filled with, and pointed towards light in the midst of darkness.

¹ In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He existed in the beginning with God. ³ God created everything through him, and nothing as created except through him. ⁴ The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. ⁶ God sent a man, John the Baptist,⁷ to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. ⁸ John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. ⁹ The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." John 1.1-9

As the Church, we must not get seduced by the 'feel good' experience of Trendy Justice. Instead, we need to surrender our very lives to the cause (an act that will never be 'mainstream'). God is a God of Justice, and we desperately need to catch His heart for the injustices that surround us. Let us pray that His Kingdom Come in the face of injustice on Earth as it is in Heaven. The Bible challenges us to "not become weary in doing good". A deeper look at this passage in Galatians 6 teaches us that "the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Justice that is self motivated and self manufactured will not cut it. Instead it must be the result of the Spirit in us, for truly:

God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4.6-7

How He Loves Us – Romans 8

chadb_ca — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:33:32 +0000

Today is a hard day for me. A client I worked with for a couple months passed away about 3 weeks ago and the funeral is this afternoon. The situation is difficult not only because family and friends feel such loss and sorrow, but also because of the brokenness that surrounds this situation. I have to admit it's feeling very weighty to be Christ's hands and feet today. To know that He loves us so completely, but to be so unsure of how to best share that good news. One thing is for sure… I am desperate for God to move in my words, and even more so in my actions.

When the young man's mother asked me to help with this 'celebration of life' she asked if I could represent the 'religious part' of things. I told her I'd be happy to come and be of help in any way I could. I asked what she thought it would look like for me to "represent the religious part of things". She leaned into me and simply said… "I just want you to come and be you." In that moment I felt God speak words of release and peace to me. Today as I head over to the church to facilitate what is bound to be a very un-traditional funeral I pray for nothing more and nothing less than Christ in me, the hope of glory. (Col 1.27)

I'll be sharing from Romans 8, specifically about love. The love of a son for his mother, of a friend, of those here on earth for those who we've lost. I pray God breathes life into His word as I share the simple but life changing truth of God's perfect love. That so many who desperately need Him, I pray the unmistakable presence of The Father.

Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Romans 8.31-39

Let There Be Justice

chadb_ca — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:53:39 +0000

Last Friday evening I had the great pleasure of hearing Stephen Lewis speak. He was invited to the Comox Valley by the World Community Development Education Society (a local organization with a big heart for global social justice.) I have long been inspired by Stephen Lewis, and so I was incredibly excited to join 1699 other people for his visit. As Stephen shared his experiences, dreams, frustrations, and ambitions related to helping the continent of Africa I was again moved by a man who's heart beats so deeply for others. It was so incredible to hear detailed and educated accounts of the alarming and complicated injustices facing the African people. It would have been impossible to not be touched by story after story of how it's impacting lives. Just as moving was the response of the 1700 that had gathered to hear Stephen Lewis speak. The applause that filled the room multiple times through out the evening stirred me deeply. It spoke of peoples deep commitment to help the ease the suffering of others. I was in that moment reminded that as humans we are created in God's image and therefore have an intrinsic dedication to seeing justice come to the lives of the broken and the poor.

Over an over Stephen Lewis made reference to promises that governments have made and subsequently broken. He asked the question that is on so many of our hearts when we encounter the injustices of this world… "How can this happen?" In a day and age when solutions are available, people are still dying at a rapid rate. Why!? You could almost feel the weight and desperation behind that question as it filled the hearts and minds of each one present. This brings me back to the most significant thing I took away from the evening: people… Canadians… care. Often I have felt that our governments do not represent our commitment to fight injustice very well. That doesn't change the fact that when you get down to the grassroots of the issues we are ready and willing to do what we can. I celebrate the heart and passion that I experienced in that room Friday night. I don't often see it, but I believe that at it's core is the heart of our creator who admittedly came to

"to bring good news to the poor. …to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed." Isaiah 61.1

Stephen Lewis inspired me on Friday night, but more importantly, God spoke. I am reminded yet again that what the world needs desperately, what Africa needs desperately, is not only better government, access to schools, AIDs drugs, and money. We need a saviour, and it's only as we allow Christ to be that for us that we'll be able to really do something with the passion for justice that He gave to us when we were created. Stephen Lewis mentioned a conversation he'd had with an African woman that quite perplexed him. He asked her what she and others like her were doing to help meet the needs of their immediate surroundings. She simply told him "we pray". Today, I join that woman and many like her in prayer. I pray that God brings healing and justice to the people of Africa. I pray that his love and life come to that continent, and that they see Him as saviour. I pray too for Stephen Lewis and the thousands of people who so honourably give their lives and hearts to bring justice where there is none. I pray they too meet the God of Justice as they put their hands to the work of His heart. Finally, I pray that the inspiring commitment an passion for justice that filled that room Friday night would rock the Church.

For the next week I feel challenged to meditate on God's word as it relates to this heart for justice. One verse that stands out to me, and I will allow to permeate my heart is Micha 6:8

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Teach us God. Give us your heart. Fill us with mercy as we are humbled today in the face of injustice. To our great collective "WHY!?" we pray that you'd come and speak truth and understanding. Bring peace Father. Pour out mercy. Let there be justice.

If you're interested in learning more about what's going on in Africa I HIGHLY recommend Stephen's book Race Against Time