This trip has affected every single person, without a doubt. However, it has touched each person in a special way, and left a mark that each person will take home with them. Some people will take home the experience that they had with the friendly African children. I myself learned a great deal about friendship from the Gabonese people. They were so incredibly friendly that even now in Germany, I can feel their love.
I am an extremely quiet person, and few people realize that I am present. When I told people that I had attended BCC for almost 2 years, they scoffed, and thought that I was lying. This may lead many people to the idea that I am extremely shy. I too thought that I was a generally shy person up until maybe a week ago. No, the true motive behind my silence is that I hate to offend people. So, I stay quiet so that I don’t say something that will offend another person. The Gabonese people have shown me a new way of not offending people, but being a good friend at the same time. Gabonese people are extremely open and friendly. They say “Bonjour” or “Bonswa” to many people, and the friendliness is contagious. It leaves little room for negative feelings, and creates a generally good mood. The openness of the Gabonese people helped me to settle another struggle that I had been wrestling with for some time.
Several years ago, my mom told me that I would probably never see the friends that I make in high school ever again. It made me sad, and I sought a way to hang onto my friends. But I knew even as I searched that we would slowly, but surely draw apart until we could no longer connect. It happened before to me, but I didn’t want to be without friends. I felt that it takes me years before friendship develops, but the Gabonese people opened my eyes. The people I had known for only a few days, became great friends that were as meaningful to me as the friends I had clung onto since elementary school. The only way this was possible was because the Gabonese people were open, and friendly. The positivity spread, and soon, you were willing to be as open as they were. And somehow, I’m still not sure myself how, love became present and overflowed.
When I apply this to my life, I pray that others can experience the love of Jesus Christ, and see how I have changed. It is all still affecting me, as I still find it hard to believe that we have left Africa, and will soon come home. But I just pray that in the days that follow that God would continue to show me his glory and greatness.
Tim Song
Tim, I am so glad to hear that God has met you, and that you have been able to face that fear! I love you, and pray for you daily. Love, Dawn
Amen! I pray that God will continue to show his glory and greatness to all of us.
I am going over all the blogs again. I feel like I was so scatter brained when first coming home. I really enjoyed reading your blog Tim as it touched me deep inside. i too am careful when making friends, and find it hard to dive in. Shyness and worried I might be obligating myself to something I have no time for. That sounds so terrible doesn’t it? I want to change that part of me and your blog is what made me see that about myself. The Gabonese way is more of Jesus’ way. Thanks for sharing.