Where do I begin describing the myriad of thoughts and impressions that followed me home from Africa...?
I'll begin with a few of the indelible pictures in my mind:
the laughter of Archbishop and Mrs. Desmund Tutu....watching him dance on a small stage after dinner at The One and Only Hotel in Cape Town.,,,laughter and joy.
Drinking hot coffee with hot milk almost every morning before the sun came up...watching the sunrise...reconnecting with the One who made it.
Driving through sugar cane fields on a rich red dirt road. then leaving the vehicle and starting the climb up to Damale's house (did I spell that right?) Sitting in her mud hut with a thatched roof (the whole structure smaller than my kitchen) as her welcomed guests.
I cannot begin to say all of the ways that I am changed, expanded, shrunken...
I'm trying to internalize the experience before I try and articulate its impact so that I don't scatter the precious "smoke signals" that my heart is trying so desperately to read.
wow that is amazing you had a great trip wow you rock girl so happy you got to do this its great from Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | July 20, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Thanks for sharing, Amy! Look forward to hearing more about it later. It is amazing how God uses such experiences to reveal Himself and teach us about love in ways that He never has before.
Posted by: Amelia McNeilly | July 20, 2009 at 11:25 AM
I have heard from other people that Africa touched them the same way-closer to God-what an amazing experience for your kids!
Did you have a connection with the family you visited?
Posted by: dianacc | July 20, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Amy I am so glad that you and yours had such a special time. Thank you for sharing...the photos of the trip are really lovely. I particularly like the one where you met the child you and Vince Sponsor....how's about comin' to England!! Big hugs
Posted by: Zoe W | July 20, 2009 at 01:02 PM
I just stumbled on your blog and am so glad I did! Sounds like you had an amazing time in Africa!
Posted by: Tracey (real estate girl) | July 20, 2009 at 01:22 PM
The last part you just wrote sounds like a great song for you.
Posted by: Leigh Gang | July 20, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Love this picture! The kids all look so beautiful and happy. Matt is smiling and he's gorgeous! Can't wait to hear more.
Posted by: Laura | July 20, 2009 at 02:35 PM
Your pictures of Africa are beautiful! Usually when one thinks of Africa, they don't think of 'greenery', but there seems to be a lot of it in the pics you provided. It's gorgeous! What an experience for you! I love nature and going out in it...brings one so much closer to God. Love the pic of your family with your new friends from Africa. Your daughter at the opposite end of the couch from you looks JUST like you! ;)
Posted by: copperhead | July 20, 2009 at 03:03 PM
Amy,
Thank you so much for sharing. I am headed to Ethiopia in November. I am excited about how God is going to work in my life.
Thanks
Paul
Posted by: Paul Martin | July 20, 2009 at 03:35 PM
What a great experience! Can't wait to hear more!
Posted by: Amy Autumn Brooker | July 20, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Thank you for sharing...I've been blogging about my trip to Liberia last month here: http://elisabethcorcoran.blogspot.com/.
Posted by: Elisabeth Corcoran | July 21, 2009 at 05:27 AM
What an incredible experience for you and for your children. Glad you had time to reflect and connect with God.
Posted by: Suzanne Schaffer | July 21, 2009 at 06:25 AM
Oh Amy:
You are right - some times stand you still on the inside.
God can wreck us with smoke signals too. I'm glad he sent you that precious Damale. She may not know about you the way we do here - that you are an accomplished compasionate singer/songwriter - pretty famous. But I bet she's feel'en the same way you are. I bet she cried a tear or two over you too. You guys look like two crackerjacks. Um Um Um - Jesus works.
We had a sunset about like your sunrise here in Texas. We went about 40 days without rain with temps around 100 and indexes far above that. My son mentioned - it must be as hot as Africa. Maybe it takes that kind of heat to produce those works of art. The sunset was so beautiful - had to run out the front door and back door to see it all. I wonder if it was the same one, Amy - only a sunrise for you. I'm not that educated about clouds and stuff - so don't tell me if I'm wrong...
Sigh.....
Later Alligator. I'm happy for all you guys who made the trip. Tell Vince he better put that camera down and get in the pic next time!
Posted by: Mary Kean | July 21, 2009 at 05:19 PM
A couple days before you left, we got back from taking a group of teens to Honduras. It takes a while after coming home to wrap your mind and heart around "normal" life, doesn't it? Every time we go somewhere, I come back richer and broken and healed. I'm so glad you were able to share such a world-shifting experience with your kids.
Posted by: Beth Matheson | July 21, 2009 at 06:34 PM
Just to clarify -- Vince was only on the first part of the trip (South Africa) and did not go to Uganda for the Compassion part of the trip because of work commitments he had in the States.
Posted by: Jen | July 22, 2009 at 01:52 PM
Amy,
What joy it is to read what you write about your experiences in Africa; you’re meeting all those wonderful people that will forever change the way you look at them, and fell in love with the beauty that is within them. Savor everything about that experience you can remember, and after you have relieved it within yourself so it does not fade from your memory, then share all that you can with us so we may enjoy your experiences as you again remember, and then relate them to us.
So happy you are again safely home, and I know you family grew closer with everything that you all shared together.
God bless you Amy Grant.
Jim Allen
Posted by: Jim Allen | July 22, 2009 at 04:05 PM
Amy, Congratulations on your odyssey of compassion & Agape. I apologize for this intrusion, but as I know Vince is a passionate golfer, I have a song I'd like him to consider as a birthday present to Arnold Palmer who will be 80 on Sept. 10. I'm a professional songwriter & Vince and you can view my song on the Arnold Palmer Memory Book page of the U.S.G.A. website. Vince will get a kick out of it. Please have a view & ask Vince to check it out. Thanks & God's blessings to you & Vince. - Kindest regards, Will
Posted by: Will Ruha | July 22, 2009 at 10:17 PM
The pictures are gorgeous ... I can't wait to hear more! Sounds like a phenomenal trip.
Posted by: Kelly H-Y | July 27, 2009 at 03:10 PM
The emotions you experienced coming home from Africa are very familiar to me! My family is part of a small group building an orphanage and community feeding center in Ghana, West Africa. There are simply no words to describe it...the people there have so much less than us materially, but are richer than us in so many ways!! I'm still searching for the words to adequately portray our experiences this past March when we took our children for the first time!
Posted by: Tammy Garrett | August 02, 2009 at 08:57 PM
I enjoyed reading some of your initial thoughts/impressions about your time in Africa. I haven't been to Africa (yet) but love to read stories from people as they intersect new cultures and engage in the process of reconciling it with their own.
I will do this soon as my husband and I move back to America, and my foremost prayer continues to be that I wouldn't leave unchanged.
Posted by: Michelle Ferguson | August 04, 2009 at 01:58 AM
Amy: What a great pleasure to see you in Africa.......I have an old college friend who lives there, with her husband and family, working to help their neighbors with fair market trade, dealing with HIV/AIDS, poverty, and spiritual hunger. Her website is: www.wildhopeinternational.org/ It might be something you'd be interested in. Blessings to you as you assimilate all that you took in on your trip!
Posted by: Carolyn | August 12, 2009 at 11:03 PM
Wow, Amy Grant in South Africa, my beloved country I was born and spent my childhood at, that's so great. South Africa and the United States are the two best countries in the world.
Posted by: Roy | August 30, 2009 at 09:04 PM
Perhaps next time you come to South Africa you'll do a concert? [beg] [beg] :)
Posted by: Mozie | September 02, 2009 at 02:40 AM
It's great to see you in Africa, Amy!
May our King of the Universe continue opening doors for you.
Posted by: Juan Carlos Berrios | October 21, 2009 at 03:42 AM
Hello Amy
I am Werley from Brazil.....for years you have a great public here on this country...and when I sow you in Africa...I imagine how it would be great have your presence here in Brazil....
Come on...Michael W. Smith came here 2 or 3 times...what about you?
The brazilian people is waiting for years to see a great show..all generations that grouw up with you ...
In 2006 I was near Mobile AL US..waiting for your show...it was canceled...later..in 2009 i had visited your star in hollywood during the oscar cerimony...again....no show to sse you....so in 2 times I can not see you in States...now it is your turn..come on to Brazil
Hugs...
Posted by: WERLEY QUEIROZ | October 31, 2009 at 01:07 PM