GeoQuest: Africa and Courage

We are going to Africa this month!  Africa is a huge continent - the second largest in the world and it is made up of many different countries and climates.  There is so much to discover here but let's begin by getting in the mood by listening to the steel drums.   Drums have a deep symbolic and historical meaning in Africa.  They accompany any manner of ceremony.  They are the first telephone of Africa.  These are more modern but they sound really amazing.

As a family take this video tour of Africa.  Notice how each region is similar and very different.  Which part would you want to visit?  Where would you chose to live?  Why?

---Tour of Africa by National Geographic
East Africa
Northern Africa
Southern Africa
West and Central Africa

Africa for a long time relied on superstition and didn't have a lot of access to religion until David Livingston traveled there in the 1840s.   ---Read about David Livingston in the Libraries of Hope book and watch this short video about him.  Talk about how David Livingston showed courage.

---The story of the church coming to Africa is also a story full of courage and hardship.  Read this story (at least the first few pages) about the first missionaries and members in Africa.  The first convert was baptized on June 15, 1853. 

Today there are 5 temples in Africa.  Once 5 general authorities visiting Africa at one time.  The people in this country have had to have a lot of courage as they brought the gospel to a country that was unknown to most of the world and relied heavily on superstitions. 

African pioneers are still sharing the gospel as it is still new.  -----This is the story of Dieudonne Attiogbe who was converted in 1989 while working at the Togo Embassasy in London.  When he returned home to Africa there was no church.  His story is a great story of courage as he worked with the Church office in Johannasburg to get it organized in Togo.   There are many other stories like this.  Here is one about Nigeria where congregations were organized before missionaries and even literature arrived!

Watch this recording of the picture book version on The Boy who Harnessed the Wind.  Listen to this courageous young man's TED talk.  His story is amazing.  He went after his genius and came to America to tell us about it.  He had never been on an airplane before.

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Crafts and other fun activities (optional)
Create an African tribal mask
Create an African necklace from a paper plate
How to eat African fare
Discover utensils you'll find in Africa

Watch a movie based in Africa with your family that is listed on Libraries of Hope - other options include Queen Kawte (parental advisory information)Some Africa books I've enjoyed that are appropriate for older children are Listening for Lions and The Boy who Harnessed the Wind.  (Young readers edition) 




---indicates most important inspirements