Eric In Africa: the blog

Africa has been inundated of late by movie stars and celebrities.  U2 singer Bono has highlighted the plight of the impoverished in Africa, likewise Bob Geldorf organized his Live8 concerts to promote relief and development in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Now the latest star-turned-activist, Paris Hilton, wants to come to Africa.  Uggh...

Fortunately, according to the AP story, her trip has been postponed until next year.  That gives us a little more time here to figure out how to keep her out for good.  Ms. Hilton is quoted as saying, “I'm scared, yeah. I've heard it's really dangerous.  I've never been on a trip like this before."  I will personally do whatever I can to make Africa more dangerous, if it means that Paris Hilton doesn’t come here.
According to the press release she wants to use her celebrity status for good causes.  She will be visiting schools and health-care clinics.  Paris says, “There are a lot of bad people in L.A. Before, my life was about having fun, going to parties -- it was a fantasy.  But when I had time to reflect, I felt empty inside. I want to leave a mark on the world."
Sure, the things sounds well and good, but as one who stays here, I can say that Africa doesn’t need more celebrities coming and visiting schools and clinics.  Their trips seem only to muddy the water of development more than to actually help things.  What Africa needs is for people to leave us alone.  Let Africa solve its problems.  Let Africa come up with solutions that will work here.  Let Africa work for itself.  The answer to the problems in Africa is not more money, it is not more relief food, it is not more condoms.
The answer to the problems in Africa starts in the heart of man.  Man’s heart needs to be regenerated before it can do anything good and praiseworthy.  Africa needs God, specifically Jesus Christ.  Any supposed answer that tries to bypass the working of God in an individual’s life is doomed to failure.  Why? Because the world is not a good place, people are wicked in their hearts, and life is short and full of hardships.  Without Jesus Christ, Africa has no hope.

So, sorry, Paris, but you’re not welcome here.  Please don’t leave your mark here.  Your advice and assistance are superficial at best.  We want real and lasting solutions to life’s problems.  Come back when you’re walking with the Lord.

Posted by eric77 at 06:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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So it is election season in Kenya right now.  Politics is a very interesting (and sometimes entertaining) thing in the Third World.  While Kenya is leaps and bounds ahead of some of its neighbors, it can’t shake the fact that politics is often about power.  In a land where so many have next to nothing, perhaps the leaders can’t be faulted for exploiting their positions for their own personal gain.  In fact, the former President is reported to have shaved off the top more than $2billion just for himself.  So it’s no wonder that candidates fight hard to win seats in the government, it’s a move that will financially pay off at the expense of the rest of the Kenyan tax-payers. 

Things are beginning to gear up for the December elections.  Was does that mean?  That means each day the newspapers will report the goings-on of high profile candidates.  It means there will be rallies held across the country for political gain.  It means the University students in Nairobi will undoubtedly protest something about the government.  And unfortunately, it means people will die in the election process. 

            It was said to me once, “There can be no election in Kenya, without the shedding of  blood.”  It may sound cynical, but history proves it is true.  People will die in the next few months.  Some will be shot by trigger-happy police.  Some will die at the hands of political henchmen trying to make a statement.  Some will just be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Whatever the case, get ready for a few months of bloodshed. 

            It’s sad that in a supposedly Christian nation, violence is the easiest way for people to get things done.  Didn’t Christ die to reconcile us to God?  Isn’t He the Prince of Peace?  Isn’t there a better way to walk as a nation?  The fault lies not with our Savior, but with us.  Kenya is Christian-ized, but far from Christian.  There is a form of godliness, but a denial thereof.  In other words, there a lot of church-goers, but a whole lot of them are unregenerate – they’re not born-again.  The answer for Kenya is not more aid from the West, nor more sanctions on corrupt powers.  The answer for Kenya, like the rest of the world, is Jesus Christ.  Without the transforming power of the Gospel in individuals’ lives, you will see no change in the greater sea of humanity.  The prayer for Kenya, and Africa, is that the Holy Spirit will come in power and convict people in terms of sin and righteousness, and regenerate them into new creatures ready to do God’s will.  That’s my prayer, I hope it’s yours too.

Posted by eric77 at 09:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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