Africa – this continent of paradox. It always does this. It gets in my head and heart.

So much brokenness yet so much beauty.

The intersection of hopelessness and hope.

People weeping yet people dancing and singing.

The scandal of wealth exploitation and poverty.

Climate crisis and yet abounding natural beauty.

Bureaucracy yet innovation.

Colonial overhang, the new Africa and global fusion.

The sound of the rubber stamp on my passport.

What seems impossible yet what is being realised.

Huge challenges yet creative, imaginative people pursuing a different tomorrow.

The why and why not questions.

The danger of “quick fix” thinking, yet people planting trees whose shade they will never sit under.

Most of all – it’s the beautiful people I meet and that I have the privilege of walking alongside. I am inspired again by courageous, resilient, creative, determined, serving, loving people. I see their deep faith and hope, which challenges my comfort and shallowness.

Enoch Sontonga’s words come to mind again:

“Lord bless Africa, may her horn rise high up …. Descend O Spirit and bless us.” (Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika)