Tuesday, June 09, 2009
According to his family, Burhan Hassan was a fairly normal American teenager; bright with a promising future in either medicine or law. And yet, somewhere along the way, Hassan was recruited to travel back to his native Somalia to fight in someone else's war.
He was only eight-months-old when his family left Somalia. They lived for a few years in a refugee camp in Kenya. I don't know for sure, but I would bet it was the Dadaab refugee camp that I have visited in the past. It is a desperate place and many of its inhabitants are desperate to leave. Some that I met begged me to help them come to America or give them money for college so they could get out of Dadaab.
The Promised Land
Hassan's family beat the odds and made it out of their refugee camp. They made it to the U.S. But why would a young man with so much ahead of him leave "the promised land" of America to return to the dry and dangerous land of Somalia?
I don't know. I haven't personally talked with Hassan's family. But from media accounts, they're not too sure either. Only the man and God know what was in his heart.
Looking for a Cause
Hassan was one of about twelve men to disappear from Minnesota, assumed to be in Somalia. Many of the men who went had good jobs. Hassan's uncle tells the Associated Press that the men were "doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists and leaders of the future of our strong and prosperous nation."
Many in this next generation of Americans are looking for a cause to believe in; to live and die in its persuit.
Many recruited into terrorism around the world are lured by promises of money for their destitute families. But not these men. They had good jobs or were at least on their way to getting them.
It seems the thirst for a cause goes deeper than a profession or lack of anything better to do.
The need to be a part of something greater than ourselves is hard-wired into our DNA. Nearly everyone feels a need to fill the vacuum with something. It's up to us to decide what that something will be.
Prayer Needed
I feel for Hassan's mother. She survived losing her husband in a tragic accident years ago. She got her family out of Somalia and a refugee camp. She built a new life in America.
Last Friday the family got a phone call. A disembodied voice told them Hassan was dead and buried.
He was only 17.
Regardless of Hassan's motives for going to Somalia, he leaves behind a grieving family in need of our prayers.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
June first was the official start of this year's Atlantic hurricane season! Experts predict the U.S. will be hit with two or three major hurricanes this season. Some of those storms may start where you least expect...off the coast of Africa!
Hurricans and tropical depressions are a good example of how what happens in Africa effects the lives of Americans. Many storms are spawned off the coast of Africa and make their way across the ocean, heading for the Caribbean…and then…who knows? Hopefully back out to sea.
I am not a scientist, but here's a really, really condensed version of what happens….
The monsoon storms can cause huge amounts of problems for the people of Africa - drought, floods, diseases, etc. This and much more can plague those in the path of an African monsoon. But that's sometimes not the end of the story. Sometimes the storm gets big enough and spins out in to the ocean. That's when it begins its trek over to America and the islands in the Atlantic.
An article in the Herald Tribune discusses a research study about what part the waves off of Africa play in how many of those storms hit the east coast of the U.S. It says:
"About 70 'waves' are born off the coast of Africa every season, but only about 10 to 15 of them become tropical storms or hurricanes. Among them were hurricanes Andrew and Katrina."
Did you know that NASA has been talking about starting a project that studies African storms and their effect on the U.S.? Or how about that there's a whole organization that studies African monsoons? If scientists can learn more about the birthing process for these storms, they will be able to one day predict which of these storms will make landfall on America AND how strong they will likely be. This could help save lives and property.
On a side note, did you know that African sand has actually traveled across the ocean before and created "sandstorms" in Florida? Isn't that weird?
Yet again, I realize the amazing way in which our world was made…and just how small and interconnected this planet really is.
Here are links to all sorts of resources to learn more about this process:
Africa Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis
Earth & Sky: "African Storms Spawn Atlantic Hurricanes"
St. Petersburg Times, 2005: "Desert Sandstorm Heads Toward Florida"
Friday, May 29, 2009
It was just a small article listed on the DrudgeReport. I almost missed it...
A parlimentarian from Swaziland is making an apology for making the suggestion that people living with HIV should be branded on the buttocks to warn future partners of their health status! As if living with a deadly disease isn't bad enough, this official wanted them to be forever physically scarred. (Click here to read the full story)
This is an interesting and sad story. There are, however, many ministries reaching out to people living with this disease; giving them hope, healing and dignity. A quick Google search shows many Christian ministries that are aimed at meeting their specific needs.
One ministry that particularly caught my eye is the Micah Network, a group of 300 Christian relief, development and justice organisations from 75 countries. They have a great discussion paper on thier web site offering a Christ-centered theology on HIV/AIDS. It's worth the read. Click here to read the paper.
You may or may not agree with everything contained in the article, but it will certainly make you think about how Jesus would treat victims of the disease...and encourage us all to treat them accordingly.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
(Editor's Note from Sarah: I wrote this post back in November of 2007. It got a lot of response from readers. In light of the ABC story by Dan Harris, I thought I would repost this...)
Can a child be a witch? How about a demon possessed kid? A recent New York Times article reports a growing phenomenon in Angola, Congo and the Congo Republic. Parents and families call a child a witch and kick them out on the street. They beat these children and worse.
Sharon LaFraniere's article is a startling and compelling read. She goes on to explain that it's not truly a matter of the children being witches or being demon possessed. It is more a case of families being unable to care for their children. It seems calling your kid a witch is the surest way to "divorce" yourself from your child; some go so far as to beat their children. The families cannot pay for the children, so they get rid of them. Witchcraft seems to be only an excuse. This is so heartbreaking.
The article continues on to say that there are not enough places to care for these children. I am telling you, you've got to read this article!
Here's where true believers in Jesus Christ need to step in. God's best is for His people to take care of widow's and orphans. I cannot say for sure, but my guess is that if there was a big humanitarian push to bring aid to these regions of Africa, this strange practice would be nearly obliterated.
Couple the aid with the teachings of Jesus. All are precious in His sight. Children are a blessing. That God loves us as a good, all-caring Father. There is hope for the future.
The Bible does talk about children being possessed by demons, but in every instance, Jesus casts out the demons with a word. He heals them and sends them home. There are several of these cases...
Mark seven recounts how Jesus heals a little girl from demon possession. All it took was the mother's faith in Him and a word from the Master.
In Luke nine, a boy was possessed by a demon. As Jesus came nearer, the demon "threw him to the ground in a convulsion." Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
In Matthew 17, a boy was being thrown in fire and water - literally being destroyed by the demonic spirit. But Jesus healed him.
In the case of these children in these various countries in Africa, I hope and pray there would be those who would reach out to these families in Christian love. And help meet their physical, mental and spiritual needs. This practice of abusing children in the name of "religion" must end.
I'd love to know your thoughts! Please leave your feedback or e-mail me directly.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
First off, I hope you all like the slick new look of our web site! The web team has been working for months to revamp our web site. In the process, a few of my postings got "lost." But now that everything is running normally, that shouldn't be a problem.
On to today's blog...
I hope you all got to see the story we ran on Christian World News this week about the Africa Mercy. The ship is a converted ferry that recently entered service as the world's largest privately-run hospital ship. It's a fantastic story that offers hope and healing!
Please check out the story. I think you will be encouraged by it. (Click here to read and view video.)
In my opinion, the most exciting thing about this trip by the Africa Mercy is that the crew and medical staff is committed to in-depth ministry. The ship will be spending ten months in Benin.
Not to discount short-term missions, but spending quality time in one place gives you an added advantage when you minister.
The local population gets to see how the Christian crew handles adversity, heat, critters, exhaustion over the long term. It's harder to keep up a brave face after four, six, ten months away from the comforts of home. My bet is they will see the love of Jesus shining through...and that will make all the difference.
To borrow a phrase from my Australian friends, "good on ya!" Africa Mercy. May God richly bless your ministry...
Thursday, May 07, 2009
The lone Somali "pirate" who was captured by American forces last week is on U.S. soil. He sees a New York judge today. The teenager is expected to be charged with piracy and hostage taking.
(Editor's Note from Sarah: Today's blog (below) is written by Tony Das. He will be contributing to Africa Matters from time to time. Das has decades of reporting experience from Africa. Enjoy reading his article...)
In 1979 as a junior officer in what was then the United States Information Agency , I visited with a senior US Cultural Affairs Officer. We drove along a scenic corniche lined with classic Italianate buildings and overlooking the ocean. We dined and drank excellent Chianti at a fine Italian restaurant and spent the rest of that weekend with his family at a gorgeous beach where we ate fresh seafood and fruit. It was Mogadishu, capital of the former Italian colony of Somalia.
Today Somalia is a failed state, its recent iconography being the movie "Blackhawk Down" that horrified us with images of the bodies of heroic US peacekeepers dragged through the streets of the capital by rabid thugs and video of what has most recently been termed "piracy" off the Somali coast.
Mainstream American media focus on what they call "piracy" by Somali terrorists, and we contemplate "taking the fight to the pirates" by attacking them in their home ports. The waters from the Suez Canal in the north through the Gulf of Aden to the Indian Ocean are critical to commercial shipping and the right of free passage by legitimate warships from all nations. Taking the fight to the mainland is a legitimate tactical option.
However, long-term strategy that would preclude us from facing these tactical situations in the future lies in an approach that combines "three Ds": diplomacy, development and defense. That's the foundation of a "smart power" concept conceived by the administration of George W. Bush and openly embraced by President Obama and his current Secretaries of State and Defense.
The commander of the Pentagon's newest unified command, the African Command based in Stuttgart, Germany, General William "Kip" Ward described to the Senate Armed Services Committee in written testimony last month his command's unique mission. AFRICOM's ultimate goal is to achieve three "end state" scenarios through US training:
1.) African militaries can provide their continent's own security;
2.) African nations can deal with extremists;
3.) Africa can boast professional militaries subject to democratic civilian control.
It may not be politically correct to say so, but when bad things happen in Africa, Africans don't want to rely upon white guys with guns to keep the peace, and leaders of the US and its western allies don't want to have to explain to their constituents why their loved-ones in uniform are being sent to African countries that they've never heard of to prevent Africans from ethnic groups they've also never even heard-of from killing each other.
AFRICOM's strategy is to utilize very few uniformed troops while emphasizing the role of military partnership with civilian US government agencies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations and contractors. Those partners have expertise in "capacity building": the nurturing of civic and physical infrastructures that would turn failed states such as Somalia and reconstructing states such as Liberia and Sierra Leone into stable nations. Young men whose societies offer jobs and basic financial security do not risk their lives by joining Al-Qaeda-supported organizations in the Maghreb or taking to small boats to attack international shipping off the east African coast.
Real pirates are thieves who gain remuneration from the value of the ships and cargo that they capture. The thugs who seized the Maersk Alabama and other vessels in the Gulf of Aden took hostages for ransom. That makes them terrorists, no different from those who have seized airliners and demanded the return of jailed terrorists and/or money in return for sparing the passengers and crew. Had they been true pirates, whey would have taken the Alabama's cargo - food aid from the American people to Africa - and shared it among their starving Somali countrymen. Ironically, mainstream western media would likely have afforded them some Robin Hood panache and they would have saved the US taxpayer the cost of shipping that food from the Alabama's intended destination of Mombassa, Kenya overland to Somalia. The history of US-African relations is a collection of ironies. The namesake of the destroyer USS Bainbridge, which led the rescue of the Alabama's captain, was Commodore William Bainbridge. He was a hero of the first Barbary Wars more than two centuries ago after the United States refused to pay ransom to those who seized American ships off the north African coast and took hostages. There may be some honor among thieves - but none among terrorists.
Tony Das is President/COO of Global Markets Consulting Group and has more than 30-years of experience in Africa as a journalist, diplomat and businessman.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Reuters is reporting that more than 20 people were killed Easter Sunday when a fight broke out at a livestock market in Central African Republic. Click here to read the whole story.
Monday, April 13, 2009
I guess my blog on Friday wasn't too far off...you mess with America, you pay the consequences. Three of the four Somali pirates holding the captain of the Maersk Alabama are dead. The captain is freed. And everyone cheers a victory for the "good guys."
Friday, April 10, 2009
In the U.S., we have a saying when someone becomes overconfident and conceited, thinking they are above everything and everyone else.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
A new study by Stanford University shows that President Bush's African AIDS initiative-called PEPFAR-works.