I Need Africa

I need Africa.

What a weird title to an normally humorous blog, right?

Stick with me and you'll see what it means.

I was asked my Mocha Club to write about the concept of "I need Africa more than Africa needs me". Mocha Club is a community-based website where members can start a team and invite people to join them in giving $7 a month (the cost of 2 mochas - hence the name "Mocha Club") to support special projects in Africa. Mocha Club's vision is to use ordinary people, who don't have thousands of extra dollars, to make a difference in Africa.

That's a good thing, because I'm a regular joe-schmo, who doesn't have tons of extra cash lying around. I do, however, purchase several mochas per month. And the cost of 2 of them would help fund a seriously important project in Africa.

Seriously, how easy could that be?

Mocha Club's new campaign is called "I Need Africa More Than Africa Needs Me."

I have been thinking about this concept for a while, as I got ready to write this post. And I realized that I really didn't get it. Which could be a problem if you're supposed to sound purty smart about something.

Then it hit me. I don't get it. That's precisely why I need Africa more than Africa needs me. I have read about the poverty in Africa. I have seen news stories and even a few pictures from friends who have been there. But understanding it first hand? Nope. I don't get it.

But I need to get it. I need to realize that this world isn't made up of pretty neighborhoods, minivans with DVD players, playdates, and a Starbucks on every corner. I need to be able to look beyond my little suburbian world and see the big picture. There is poverty. There is opression. There is suffering.

Why do I need to get it? Because I am commanded to. Jesus doesn't command us to think about the poor. He doesn't command us to feel sympathy for the poor. He commands us to help the poor.

1 John 3:17 "But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help--how can God's love be in that person?"

Do you need Africa? Think about it. Pray about it. Write about it on your blog. Share your thoughts in the comments. On Dec 1, come back here and I'll be telling you more about what Mocha Club is doing to help Africa.

And watch out. Because we won't be just talking about it. We'll actually be doing something about it. It's gonna be cool and you will definitely want to be a part of it.