I went to the National Missionary Convention in Knoxville a few years ago, and while I was wandering around the displays, I heard someone whisper “That’s Dennis Mullen”. I briefly entertained delusions of my own celebrity, but quickly realized I must know this woman who recognized me. It turns out that she was Tami Lowe Carter, a missionary to Tanzania, Africa. We went to high school together and played in the band, and I hadn’t seen her since graduation.

My hometown newspaper is currently in the middle of a three-part feature on Tami, her husband Todd and their children, and their work in Africa. I found Tami and Todd’s perspective on lifestyle pace most enlightening:

“We are blessed with the African lifestyle which is much slower, so family time isn’t something that you fight for, it’s just something that is,” Tami said. “Here in America, with the busyness of the schedules, you have to sacrifice to make family time.”

“You don’t have to fight for it (in Africa),” Todd agreed. “In late afternoon, early evening, you just find yourselves together.”

“There is such a busyness here that is overwhelming, and it’s disturbing,” she said. “God has given us the weapons that we need to tear down every demonic stronghold and that weapon is truth, but it’s amazing how busy, so busy, we’ve become that we don’t have time to sharpen that weapon. I do believe that’s Satan’s line, it’s one of his tools. He knows the truth, he knows the truth sets us free. I think if Satan keeps people busy and out of the truth, the easier it is to hold them in bondage.”

Sounds right to me.

Thanks to my Dad for sending this my way.