Where are you from?
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I was on the phone with this particular customer service lady and while speaking to her about what i wanted done she said ” if you don’t mind me asking please where are you from? And I get this question from time to time.
there was this particular grandmother who shared how she was told by her grandparent that she descended from some princess in Africa and that her greatest desire is to visit Africa someday before she dies and hopefully get her children and grandchildren too to visit. She does not have a specific country in mind but just wanted to understand how she could trace her connection to the motherland.
It will not be out of place to say to every one of these people trying to find a connection to Africa to rather put their mind of Jesus which I had done in time past. I remember the first time I went to my village as a grown person at age eighteen (I had not travelled home for sixteen years at this point) and how fulfilling it was for me and the most important was the connection I made with what I called my village from there on. I know definitely that the yearning of these people need to be met with some form of answer.
Recently, I listened to Bishop T.D Jakes at the introduction of his book ‘Don’t drop the Mic’ which he did at the Elevation church where he was referencing his ancestors who are originally from the Igbo group from the eastern part of Nigeria and saying they were with him on the stage while he was speaking and that he was just following what their bloodline have always done which was being enterprising(paraphrased). Truth be told if you know the Igbo people you know they are enterprising and hardworking people anywhere they find themselves.
The bishop saying it out loud means that he wanted it to be part of his message and that speaks volume. Luke would probably be referred to as a professor in our days and while introducing christ to his readers took time to link christ through all his descendants to Adam and ultimately God. Why would he do that if not that deep seated in every man is the desire to always find their connection to where they are from.
Advancement in technology has led to a point where people can trace their origin through DNA testing and other historical documentation combined. If you are on YouTube like me you will definitely know there are tons of these videos over there showing people of different colors going on all kinds of DNA testing sites to trace their lineage and understand their heritage. Some want to be able to find out why they act the way they do sometimes thinking that it is connected in their blood and for others they are trying to get a cure for an ailment they have.
The 400 years of slavery in the Americas that was observed mainly by Ghana brought forth conversations which were not there before. People in the Americas are more interested in getting to understand the life and culture around the African continent. Some want to just travel to see and others are seeking some other form of connection. Our brothers and sisters on this part of the world need answers. Be the answer, join the conversation and pray also for them.