South Africa Here I Come!

When God commands us to do things, we have to be obedient and follow his word. I would admit that I have been just as hard-headed as the next person. But for me, being a very able bodied under-employed mother of two has pushed me toward a closer walk with Him. Over the past 3 years, I have gone deep into my prayer closet and pleaded with God for favor. My most recent requests have been to increase my leadership opportunities and wealth. As so happens often, those prayers have been answered not in the way that I envisioned, but in the way that God sees fit for me to receive. Oooooh, but this time it has been relatively easy for me to be in agreement with what my Savior has asked of me.

A few weeks ago – three to be exact – my church received a visitor in Bishop Earl McCloud, Jr. of the 15th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. As soon as Bishop McCloud starting speaking, the Lord led me to him. Literally, “You can go back to Africa with him…” I had my pastor introduce us, we spoke later that evening (and frequently since then) and Thursday I’m on my way to Cape Town, South Africa! I will be spending 3 weeks with members and leaders of the AME churches in Cape Town on reconciliation issues and church growth. I have been blessed with skills that make it natural for me to bring people together toward a common goal and I look forward to using those skills in my church body.

I have a background in community organizing, particularly around food, agriculture and economic development issues but I got my feet wet organizing as a college student. As an undergraduate at the University of Louisville, I engaged in student organizing simply out of the need (without any formal training). We just knew things on the yard weren’t right and we organized ourselves to make that environment more student-friendly and focused, especially for Blacks and other students of color. Also while in school, I had the opportunity to train and work with leaders of the United Food and Commercial Workers – Local 1 Union in Syracuse, NY organizing low-wage grocery store workers with stereotypical Italian-American union guys! They taught me the basics, including the acquired taste of an ice-cold beer:-). In 2003, my whole life changed when Community Farm Alliance introduced me to the plight of Kentucky’s family farmers – the good and bad about tobacco and a vision for a local food system to feed Kentuckians and refuel our state’s economy. I then began organizing with CFA (getting formal training) to connect small farmers with residents in West Louisville who had limited access to food. And like President Obama, community organizing has become an essential part of who I am. To be able to use these experiences and skills to benefit people in South Africa is quite an honor.

This is the first of many blog posts over the next few weeks. Many friends have encouraged me to blog during my trip and so I’m using this as one medium to document my trip. I also hope to tweet much while I’m away and of course take tons of photos and video (some uploaded here). I am most excited about teaching Bella how to use Skype! This 5-year old is quite proficient with the computer (I mean, to be 5). Skype will also help me to continue my food policy work here in Louisville while I’m away, including presenting at the Sistah Summit, March 23-24 being put on by Bani Hines-Hudson with UofL’s Saturday Academy program. Yes, technology is a beautiful thing and helps make greater things possible.

I thank you for all the encouraging words – even the naysayers who believe I’m nuts for leaving my family for three weeks to pursue this opportunity. Besides the great work, I will use this trip as a way to re-center myself, become more spiritually connected and guided and to come back to Louisville with a South African glow ready to take on whatever it is God asks of me next!

Stay tuned…