All things work together for good...

There was not a single day this week that went according to our plans.

Each night we go to sleep with an idea of what the next day holds, but here, you just never know what the sunrise will bring. God has been so faithful through it all. He has provided me with unexpected opportunities to share His love with someone here in Zambia each time the day falls apart at the seams.

Yesterday, we went to a school on the other side of Choma called Arise. It is a school for vulnerable children, those without parents, and street children. Approx. 370 kids in grades 1-7 attend the school. They hold class under the trees in the dry season and in the rainy season, all of the classes have to squeeze beneath a small tin roof. A pastor's wife, Lillian, runs the school and is an amazing woman of God with an incredible story and call of God on her life! There are 6 other volunteer teachers. Each teacher takes one grade and teaches them all of the subjects. The teachers are the only ones who have textbooks. They write it out on the chalkboards so the kids can see the words and copy them down onto their tablets or whatever paper they have. It is amazing really. They follow the government (public school curriculum). I played with many of the children and met an awesome 10yr old girl named Miriam. :-)

Today we made an impromptu visit to the village that is out our back gate and a short jaunt across the wild grassland. As we approached, the children ( about 150 of them) began running toward us with delighted voices. I love the way we can just walk out our back door and be surrounded by these precious, beautiful children. It is hard to walk out there and know that all you have to give is love when so many of them are sick, most do not have shoes, and there are many, many who are without parents. I love holding them in my arms, playing ring around the rosie, twirling them in a circle, learning their names, letting the older kids show me how they can write...the list goes on and on. I hope to build relationships with many in the village as time goes on.

Some of the girls from Mochipapa. They have beautiful voices!

Beautiful Sunday

Church in Zambia is so different from home, but I love it! We gather in a small building and sit on pews made of 2x4's, rough benches, and anywhere we can find a seat. It can get very hot on a calm day, but yesterday there was a cool breeze blowing in through the windows making it very comfortable. The windows have bars on them like many homes in Choma and when they are closed they make the shape of hearts.

The children all gather on the left side of the church and the women sit together with their babies wrapped up all cozy in chitenges. Worship is so lively and the harmony is so perfect. No one is afraid to sing at the top of their lungs, clap, raise their hands, or dance! It is a beautiful thing.

Corporate prayer is a time that begins with the singing of a hymn in Tonga and then the people just gradually fall into prayer until the entire building is reverberating with voices being raised to God. There is no embarrassment, no self-consideration, and certainly no hesitation found as they stand, sit, and kneel in prayer. I have never seen anything so powerful. The first Sunday, the tears fell freely as I realized where I was and that I was able to see what God is doing here.
These people are dependent on God showing up. They are desperate for Him to show up. They need Him to show up. Isn't it awesome that we serve a living God that works miracles in our lives? My perception of faith has been shattered and strengthened. I thought getting on a plane and flying across the ocean took faith, but that is so small compared to praying continually and having no doubt that God will provide food for your family that has not eaten in two days.

After the service, we formed a line outside of the church and greeted one another. I knelt down in the dirt to talk to a little boy and before I knew it I was surrounded on all sides by beautiful little faces.

Later in the evening, we had a bonfire at Beth and Dave Watters house and many of the children from the Mochipapa trust came and sang , played, and ate marshmallows with us! It was the first time any of them had had a toasted marshmallow and it was hilarious and amazing to watch their faces as they tried to chew them. By the end of the night, the kids were eating them and saying, "Chubby Bunny". :-)

Love you all!

Mwabuka Buti! Good Morning!

Thank you for whoever was praying for my protection around midnight last night!

This morning, I woke up at 0600 to go for a prayer walk with Beth Waters, the resident missionary, and three of the other girls. As I walked out onto the porch, I took a slide on the rug across the slippery tile flooring and landed on my backside. While I was assessing for any injuries, I looked to my right and noticed what the rug had uncovered. There, right next to me, was a small black snake all curled up in a ball. I was a foot or two away from sitting on it. I am surprised I did not scream like a little girl. I said, “Oh, and there is a snake” and stood up quickly.

I got Beth to come over and look at it. She said, “In Zambia we do not leave a snake, we get rid of it for the next person.” As we tried to move it away from the doorway, it reared back and began to hiss. It snapped its little head at us and began to look as ferocious as possible for the way he had been rudely awakened from his slumber.

Beth (who is now handing out autographs ), threw the rug on top of it, placed a boulder on top of the rug, and jumped around on it until my little friend was no longer a part of this world.

We didn’t know then what kind it was. We continued on our walk, which was just wonderful. It was not until I got out onto the dirt road and began walking toward town that I began to freak out in my head. I just thanked God for His protection over and over again.

After we got back, we took a picture of the mighty snake killer with the Mr. Would-be-killer.

Beth asked Zuma (one of the compound guards) what it was and he told us that it was a Black Mamba. In his words, “That could have been very dangerous.”

Yeah, if it had bit me, it would not have been a good ending. So, thank you all for praying!! God is good and faithful.

I am not sure that my nerves have quite recovered, but I know that God can protect us from everything that comes against us.

On a lighter note, the sunsets are so beautiful here. My favorite part of yesterday was walking out of the classroom and gathering on the compound drive to watch the sun dip down. At the same time, we were able to see all of the flames of a controlled burn across the fence and the smoke reaching far into the air. The sounds of many children playing ball and laughing also reached us as we stood there.

Yesterday during lunch, we saw a large dust devil rip the roof off of a garage that the men have been working on for days. I felt so terrible for the men and know that they need some encouragement today! Thankfully, they were not on the roof at the time and no one was hurt!

I am overwhelmed with the way that Word Hope is reaching out and making a difference here. The staff is so dedicated to God and so dedicated to seeing the people of Zambia made whole by His love. I am learning so much from them.

A big prayer request is for funds to support the programs that are essential to WHIZ. Many of the grants they have received are scheduled to run out within the year and without additional funds, some of the programs may need to be cut back, or discontinued altogether. As it is, WHI Zambia will begin a two week recess next week because World Hope lacks financial resources during this time of economic decline in the US. So, pray for those families that will be without income in these next few weeks.

I went to the market again this afternoon, it is about a 25min walk down the road. Of course, we are the crazy white girls that take off into the afternoon heat. I love being out in the community. The people here are so friendly and they just beam when you say hello. They love it even more when we practice our Tonga on them. The children are adorable. Also, as five of us were walking by a young man he said, “Hello all of you beautiful girls. I would like to marry you all!”

Well, I miss you all! Take care of yourselves. Much Love!

Zambia :-)

I am laying on my bed under my mosquito net taking just a few moments for peace, solitude, and respite from the Zambian sun. I just came inside from studying on the patio after a wonderful meal of Nshima and beef. I wish I could capture for you some of the sights, sounds, and smells of this place.

A few men are working on a building across the compound and the birds are ferocious sounding up in the trees. Two more men are repairing a vehicle and the kitchen is full of lively, rapid Tonga. A large walking stick was found climbing up a bed this morning and the dust is blowing around outside of the compound wall. The ever-present smoke from the cooking fires of near-by villages is visible over the wall and the scent of fire is always in the air.

It is a beautiful place. It is a place of contradictions.
The landscape is so dry, but there are trees laden with purple blooms.
The people are surrounded with continuous struggles and heartaches, but they love God with more joy and passion than I have ever seen.

This place, Africa, is like they say. Once you are here, you cannot leave the way you came.

En Route to Zambia!

I will be leaving IWU in 45mins! 

Goodbye to both of my families. I love you all and will miss you!

Talk to you from the other side of the ocean!!

Much Love!!

Crazy Contentment

Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity

It is so amazing to be surrounded by love.
There is something so indescribable about the love of Christ.

Can I tell you how awesome it is to stand in a circle and hold hands with my sisters and pray together?

My friends, my sisters, planned for much of the summer to suprise me with a "box full of love". Their words, pictures, and creativity. It is being packed in my carry-on. Not chancing it for anything to checked baggage.

I found myself picked up at the Indianapolis Airport and whisked off to a suprise party...a complete suprise. :-)

The lodges are awesome. I can't wait to live here next semester. I am so happy for them and all of the room they have!

I love being on campus. It is so familiar. It is home.

I can't imagine my life without my sisters.

I can't imagine life without my family in Iowa. They are so supportive and the best I could ask for.

I am blessed beyond compare.

I have been having moments of "God, I cannot do this. God, I can't." But He knows that! I know that. I can't do this...not alone anyway. But I am not alone. He is there to hold me so close.

The awesome thing is that i am not, but i know I AM.

College Church this morning was awesome. God spoke to my heart so much through that time.

God is not going to let me jump and freefall. He is going to be right there to catch me. He requires that I do nothing but trust Him.

<3