(Prayers of a Teenage Boy)
A Letter to God
Please don't make me go to Africa!
God,
Last week we watched a video at youth group about what's going on in Africa.
All those kids are starving and dying of AIDS - it was tough to watch! How do they do it? How do they live there?
I wish I had a million dollars so I could send them a boat so they could all come to America to live. Granted,
a million dollars in this day in age wouldn't buy much of a boat so I would probably have to get one of those older ones,
like the ones you see in the movies about the pilgrims, just so that everyone there could fit. Also, I would probably
expect that money back in some way, so all the Africans that make their way over would have to work off the money I've lent
them. That's the LEAST they could do for all of my troubles.
(side prayer: God, if you are going to give me a million dollars, can I have just a little bit more to be
able to pay Jimmy the money I owe him for the Game Cube?)
After the video, Pastor Mark invited this guy Matt up to talk about the missions work he's doing over there
in Africa. It was pretty amazing stuff!
he's bringing food to the parents so they can feed their families. He's building schools for the children
so that they can have educations just like us. He even built a bunch of playgrounds for the kids to play on. This
Matt guy is doing so much over there. It's really cool that you called him to help out.
And that brings up the reason why I'm praying tonight. I don't know how I can ask this in the right
way without offending you and what you're doing in the world. I've been thinking a LOT about this lately and I hope
you don't get mad when I ask you. Anyways, here goes:
God, can you please, please, PLEASE, not send me to Africa?
There I said it. I'm sorry if you're mad. I know that what you have for me in my life is ultimately
the best thing. I know that your will is perfect. I'm just saying that if you'll hear my side of things that you
might not even want me over there.
First of all, I'm awful at building things. I tried to make a shelf in Shop class and it fell over instantly.
If you see my report card, you'll see what I mean. I wouldn't be able to build a school or a jungle gym if you paid
me to (which I assume happens when you go on a missions trip - you get paid right?) I'm so bad at measurements and tools -
I would just mess everything up. We might get halfway through a school and then realize that I forgot to put in a screw
somewhere and then we have to start over. That would be awful for everyone involved.
Second, I do not like outdoors, I get so fed up being hot. It gets really humid here in Ohio. I sweat
easily too. I would hate trying to give food to some African family and I smell like B.O. That would be so embarrassing!
I hate bugs too! Every time I walk through the patio I get hit by a spider web and that makes me CRASY,
I can't even imagine the types of bugs they have in Africa but the spiders here in Ohio are HUGE. At least the size
of a dime - EASILY.
Third, I get easily depressed by poverty and famine. It makes me sick. Whenever we help out at the
homeless shelter downtown I just get so uneasy and uncomfortable. There is so much depression there. So many people
there can't take showers and can't even brush their teeth. I just feel so bad that they can't get clean. Now,
is that the type of person you want in your mission field? The guy that can't even keep his emotions straight?
I would fall to pieces!
Fourth, I would miss my friends SO MUCH. I love my friends. You've really given me some great people
to hang out with. they are always helping me with my homework and encouraging me to get involved at church. I
probably never would've joined the Bible Quiz team if it wasn't for Tim. He really pushed me to get into that.
And think about that? What if Tim wasn't around? What if I went to Africa andI wasn't constantly being encouraged like
I am here? Ask yourself Lord. If I was in Africa right now, would I have joined the Bible Quiz team and memorized
all that scripture? Probably not.
Finally, I feel like I can do all of that stuff here in America. There are plenty of people here that need
my help. Take John at school for example. He doesn't have any friends of his own. I sit with him at lunch
sometimes because no one else will. Sure, it hasn't won me any friends, but again, if I was in Africa, who would sit
with John? Probably just a teacher and no one wants to be caught dead sitting next to a teacher. Not even a little
African boy (who would definitely understand what I mean now that they have schools there.)
Look. If it comes down to it, I'll go. I'm not saying I won't. I'm not even saying I won't
like it. Who knows? Maybe if you call me there I will really feel different about it and not care about all of those
things that I just told you about. maybe I'll learn how to be handy with tools. Maybe I'll learn how to deal with
the smells of poverty. Maybe there's a local Bible Quiz team in Tanzania - I don't know ( I'll email Mark).
I'll do whatever you call me to do Lord. I'm just asking that it's something
I can be more comfortable doing here in America. Amen
