What’s it like to surrender?

For me, it was easiest to do in Africa. I was surrounded by God’s people who were committed and active in their faith.

What else did I have? All of the comforts I had in the West were at home. I could only bring what I could carry halfway around the world from California. Relationships and support helped ease my transition to this new land in Uganda.

There was morning chapel each day with lively worship. Sometimes I knew the words, other times I didn’t. I witnessed excitement and dancing and people waving their arms and I could see this was very good.

Those were the best years in Bwindi. With acquaintances and friends and new friends up the road in Kasese. There were weekends with friends in Kampala and lastly a family in Fort Portal.

The encouragement I received gave me room to grow and express myself–in the local languages!–and to meet people, and be delighted by that.

That’s what surrender was like for me. The facade that I wore in the West was unnecessary and quickly faded away. And I became authentic.

I surrendered and it was awesome.

I was happy.

In my ignorance I thought I was serving God by taking my cameras and skills, first to South Sudan and later Uganda, to serve him.

I felt like I was God’s representative on Earth. A friend told me that, instead, God was giving me a gift! He called me there so he could bless me in ways I never expected or imagined. Indeed he was right.

Thus began my work and blessings that became the greatest years of my life.

It was a wonderful experience.

I miss it. I miss the people. I’m in regular contact with my African friends every week, if not every day.

But I’m not, nor can’t be, in Africa all the time anymore.

I have to find and renew my spirit of surrender, anew.

That is my task.

My African family awaits, my friends await.

They’ll treat me well. They’ll give me the best seat to sit. If I’m a special guest, they’ll insist I get the gizzard of the of the harvested chicken.

So I have work to do. I need to surrender. I don’t want to be fighting God.

I need to surrender to God.

I want to surrender to him.

Amen.