Zambia : City Life

This week was cultural overload! I was placed with a national partner and another girl here learning as well. We travel everyday taing 2 mini buses (at one point crammed with 19 ppl) to a compund. A compound is like a community of people wo live in shanty houses some with no electricity. Each day we are given assignment to research and observe the cultural in this setting. My national partner grew up and lives at this compound. We talk mostly with women. They are tending to children and house work. The hardest day was sitting with a mother and her son in their home. The 8 year old boy at sicle cell anemia. He is unable to go to school and the mom can barely pay her hospital bills. So ok yes my heart breaks for the diease... but my heart breaks more due to the "lack of faith" this mother thinks she has due to her sons illness. Yes, you read right, she feels like her sin has casued this and if she had more faith, her son will be healed. We shared with her the story of Paul and how he asked 3 times for the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh but God chose not to. He didnt lack faith, just the God saw greater glory in his pain. She didnt ever quite grasp this concept. Im learning there is a catergory for everything in an Africans mind. There's gotta be a reason. But I mean, Job's friends thought this and even the disciples thought this with the blind man.... so this is nothing new.

Greetings from Zambia!!

Traning at 4040 has just begun but I feel like I have been here forever already! Luksa is much slower paced than Tanzania. We practiced riding the mini bus yesterday. Cramming as many people into one ride is always fun. We went to a compund and sat with a family. I learn more and more about culture everday. Its almost to the point of beating my head on the wall when I hear some things. We saw children aimless playing in the streets with trashmade kites and balls. Lots of stares and looks even some yelling came our way as we walked around. Im sure not many "munzugus" come thru there. My partner had to use the bathroom as we were walking. So my zambian friend just stopped at a strangers house and asked if she could go. As she went inside I sat on a straw mat with the lady who owned the home asking here questions about her life. She began to tell me how she was bankrupt, had 6 children living at home, 2 married and has no stable income. She has good neighbors she can ask for food. Culture lessons screamed at me.. first we stopped at a strangers house for the bathroom, second she told me about her misfortune and was not embrassed ( nor do I think she was wanting a hand out) third, she was so pleased we would come and sit with her. Time is everything here but not time in a sense of clocks or by minutes but the time you spend with someone. Oh I still have so much to learn!!

Ready, Set, Go!

8 Days and counting!

Whew, I am a roller coaster of emotions. I wanted to kind of give a summary of what the next month may look like. My expectations of communication at first are low, so I will be setting you up for me being MIA until the month of May.

I fly out next week and arrive late the following day. My apartment isnt complete yet, so I will be flexible as to where they put me. 2 days later I will pile a months worth of living in the bush into my pack and travel by car to Kenya. Some team mates and I will be going to a meeting there for our cluster. This will be a 2 night 3 day trip (ahhh!) Then after we arrive in Kenya I will meeting and greeting a lot, all while still adjusting. A few days later I will fly to Zambia for more training, with a group of individvuals I met in VA. This is 40 days: few weeks in the urban, few weeks in the bush, then a few days with a Zambezi family. I will back in Tanzania around the end of May. I will be hitting the ground running.

Pr@y for :
- goodbyes and hellos, and I will mesh well the the team there.
- time change adjustment, and probably stomach adjustments too
- time in Zambia to be streching, challenging, fun, helpful
- good rest (even on the plane rides)
- divine appointments

Love you all!

Wisdom from 1.11

My time at training is coming to a close. Over the last 8 weeks I've had some amazing conversations with people who have been to TZ first hand. These talks only lead to heighten my excitement. Triumphs or trails, we talked about them all. I have truly lived Hebrews 13:2 being here.

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for by so doing some people have shown hospitality
to angels without knowing it."

My information limit has defiantly been reached. But I look back and there is a few things I wish I had known prior to coming here (in random order).

- over thinking only causes over stressing... stay away.
-do your pr@yer card before you come
- give the parents around you a break every once in a while.
- pick a team that will stretch you, not just what you already know how to do.
- blow off steam in the resources they give you... ie. quilting quad, intramural sports
- Explore the area! Short pump is a great place, but try the sketchy side of town too.
- Eat at Mama J's... order the catfish, you wont be sorry.
- Visit Carl's Ice Cream in Fredricksburg- once again you won't be sorry.
- DC is not a scary drive or visit, just plan ahead.
- Go to a Squirrels game! ( this is not something I got to do, but wish I had)
- Get to know the staff! They are a great resource and joy to be around!
- if you get a chance, visit the home office- its pretty cool.


"You are not alone in this, as brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand."
- Mumford and Sons

A Cry Out

Daniel cried out for his people. I cry out for TZ. This is my city.

4 million people...The two main religions are Chr!stianity (31%) and is!am (42%), with H!ndus accounting for around 25%. The majority of Cousins are concentrated along the coast and in the islands. Is!am has been around ever since Arab traders arrived here in the 12th century. Not until the 19th century did Christi@nity make any impact, and then it was mainly among the tribes of the interior. The principal Christi@n - Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian and Orthodox.

Pr@y for the people of this city. Pr@y that the father would soften the hearts of those who live there. He's already there, I am just going to point Him out.

Cultural Experiences

As part of our training we have to cook 2 meals from scratch. We choose to make actual foods from Africa. I made the staples I know Chapati, Ugali, Guacamole -- A few other things we had were Welcome Water, cheese muffins, Ground Nut stew with cous cous, etc. All of these were very yummy. Only a few weeks until I leave for TZ... I have mixed feelings, but ready to go.

Stranger

Mandi Mapes wrote a song on her new CD called "Stranger." I feel like I will need to listen to this everyday to get me thru the next 2 years.

"Just another day in a beautiful town, where money makes the world go round
Caught in a place where no matter what I do I feel let down
'Casue I keep chasing all these funny things, that don't even matter in the end

This world is not my home, I am a stranger in this country
Jesus won't you pour me out I'm ready to abandon all my shiny things, my family
and this American dream. Lord, take it all from me until, there's nothing left but You.

Open my eyes that I may see the depravity in my life
may Your word tear down my sinful heart, and fill me with new desires.
By Your spirit I will live for You, and love You with all my soul.
So have Your way and let Your kingdom come."

Goodbyes have never been easy for me, especially when the thought of never seeing them again replays over and over again my mind.

"Have Your Way Oh God!"