Africa is not the Adventure

I get a lot of comments from people to the tune of "wow you have such an adventurous life!", "Africa? that must be wild." Or "you guys must be really brave." I don’t quite understand that last one, but for the others I don’t think I’ve ever had a reply that fully pleased the masses.

Here’s the thing. We live like most people that read this blog.

I get the feeling that some people think I see elephants, and giraffes daily and use a zip line to get to my car from my rainforest tree-house or drive a safari car from my mud hut in the game park to the drop off zone for food. Honest to goodness, no matter how many photos of my home I put up I still have people asking if I have water coming to my house (yes, I do, and I have a week supply of backup water too).  With a few differences, you and I probably have the same life. I live in a nearly normal home. I just have vents on nearly every outer wall that allows for airflow. Laundry still has to be done, food for myself and for my family needs to be made, time with the kids, time with Facebook, my calling, cleaning up my house 4 or 5 times throughout the day, daily walks, and searching for a park takes up most of my day and finally I brush my teeth and my kids’ teeth. Now I’ll give in, I do import my cheese.

Juan’s sister came out this last month and I’m willing to bet she was surprised, and maybe slightly let down by how ordinary our lives are.

 

Adventures aren't about Africa

When Juan and I were first married I really wanted to see the newest movie coming out, Saving Mr. Banks. Man! I HAD to see it. I couldn’t wait for the general opening I HAD to go to a pre-screening! I registered to win tickets to prescreenings in three different states! And what do you know, I won one, in Kansas (This happened to be while we were living in Utah). If we left on our drive that afternoon we’d made make it in time for the showing the next day! Spoiler alert—we didn’t make it to the prescreening. But we did make it to Missouri and ended up driving on to Indianapolis to check out Perdue University. That road trip became the template of our many road trips and flights to come. What has made our life adventurous are the choices we’ve made, often in the moment, that are high impact or unusual. I dare say it has nothing to do with living in Africa.  

 

Now let's get real

Last night my neighbor got drunk. Her daughters were playing with my kids and when they needed their mom later she couldn’t take care of them. So, they came to my house, got a bath, dressed, fed and put in bed. There was some playing too, but that’s the gist of it. In the moment I was overwhelmed, but then, it wasn’t that big of a deal. And here’s the thing, this sort of thing actually happens everywhere. We choose how we will respond in the moment and that’s what makes a difference.

From College Station, to Provo and on to Africa, we’ve learned to take initiative in critical moments of emotional difficulty, could be stopping fights, or someone from beating or hurting someone else around us. I won’t lie, Africa has made me more confident in approaching people anywhere in the world when they are having a hard time or giving someone else a hard time and need help.

The first time I approached someone in the States doing something unkind to another person, I was so nervous I was shaking with fear. I was freaking out and yet wanting and choosing to do it at the same time. Some people would say getting involved in that sort of situation is too much.

The adventures we have often make a difference to the people involved. They potentially have long lasting effects if we are willing to take a few risks. But at the end of the day it’s more because of our choices and the level of involvement we have invested with others that make the adventure not where we live. Africa has encouraged me to be bolder, but also has taught me that what I do here I can do anywhere in some way or another.

There are young women and men who need mentors, young children who need advocates when they are in trouble or hurting. There are people struggling with loss and are overwhelmed with responsibility that could use love and support. Those are my real adventures. They are far more exciting and rewarding than a tour in a game park.

I encourage you, after you read this, to rediscover the adventures you’ve had. Find your new adventure! Claim the challenges at home and meet them head on. We’d love to hear about them.