Lessons Learned in Africa

A guest post from Megan Irwin, one of our 2007 interns:

Living with, working with, eating with, and hanging out with the same group of people for a year has its challenges, but it also has many benefits. That close-knit community is one of the things I miss most from my time as an intern with Thrive Africa. Yes, it was challenging at times, but I wouldnʼt change it for the world. The friendships that developed were the most genuine relationships Iʼve ever experienced. As an intern class, we experienced our share (sometimes more than our share) of trying times, heartache, and transition. We also shared many laughs, fun times, and ministry opportunities. But, most importantly, we kept God at the center through it all and allowed Him to shape our friendships. My year with Thrive Africa mirrored to me what true Godly relationships are to look like. And it reinforced the importance of community in my life.

When I came home, that close-knit community of people that had surrounded me for a year was suddenly gone. And I knew the community I was coming home to had also changed, along with the people in it. At debriefing, I remember Alece telling us that reconnecting with people takes effort. I didnʼt want to believe that. I wanted things to be the way they had been. When I realized the reality of change in the community I found myself in, I felt overwhelmed and found it easier to hold on to the Thrive family that I had come to know so well. And thatʼs just what I did. I found myself living on the memories and stories of my year in Africa. But living on memories and the relationships of the past left me feeling empty and even more disconnected.

Iʼm not saying my Thrive family became extinct when I came home; Iʼm just saying that theyʼre no longer the community in which I live. When I came to that realization, I knew what I had to do. I had to start putting the lessons I learned in Africa into practice. I needed to step out, put some effort in, and start reconnecting with people and rebuilding relationships. Putting that effort in has been scary and challenging at times, but it has been greatly rewarding. I was made for relationships—with God and with His people. And I thank God for that.

At Thrive I felt and experienced what it means to have friendships centered on God and bringing Him glory. That is one of the experiences and lessons that I treasure most from my internship. Because of the friendships that developed, I know that I have the support and prayers of my fellow interns and the staff at Thrive as I step out and start living the lessons I learned and implementing them in my life. And I pray that my Thrive family knows my prayers are with them. We may be miles apart, but prayer can cross the ocean and touch the heart.

One Response - Add yours below

1. Hannah says:

   wow, Megs, i love you so much! thanks for writing this in. I don’t have very many memories in South Africa without you.
   “We may be miles apart, but prayer can cross the ocean and touch the heart.”

   that is so powerful. thank you.

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