Bitter Sweet Goodbyes

So this is it...I leave today to fly back to the States. A wonderful time it has been over the past 9 weeks. I have had a great time with the children, met many wonderful people, made lasting friendships and have had conversations that will be remembered for years. I have truly been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. My first flight leaves Lusaka at 1:40PM ...so 7:40 AM EST. Please continue to pray for me as I will be traveling today and tomorrow (30 hours). I will have plenty of time to think and pray for when I return there are many decisions that I have to make.

Thank you all for your support over the past several weeks and for the constant prayers. I could not have made it through without each and everyone of you by my side.

Random...

So it has been quite some time since I have written…oops. So some random thoughts…My time here in Zambia is quickly coming to an end. I leave for home on Tuesday. Am I ready…? Honestly I think I am. Good-Byes are the hardest thing but as I search deep within my heart I do believe I have fulfilled the mission God has set before me for this summer. With many lessons learned, tears, struggles and trials that I have endured my 9 ½ weeks in Zambia have been well worth each and every hardship.

How bad is it that I already feel like I am leaving something behind and I haven’t even left yet?! I feel like there is something missing.

I can definitely say that I am ready for a life altering change … A new challenge to embark on; A new wave of adventure! To travel the seven seas. To take time to rest and enjoy life. To live life to the fullest…I do predict a sky diving adventure in the NEAR future :)

O the joys of the unknown...

A Blessing from God

Man, God is good! Tuesday morning I was running late. The alarm went off at 5:45 am and there was no water for me to wash my face and brush my teeth. (We typically get blackouts here and sometimes don’t have water…the result of living in a village.) Thinking hard I remembered that I had water in my filter that I could use! So I improvised and began to get ready for work. I wasn’t feeling well and had a cough which made me move kind of slow. I needed to leave by 6:30 am in order to make it to Katongo by 7:30 am when I was to teach my first class. I left my house at 6:45 am walking super fast to try and catch a bus at the round-a-bout (about a 15 min walk from my house). My legs began to hurt and when I got to the round-a-bout I had 2 buses pass me already full. I began to get discouraged thinking I was going to need to walk much farther to catch a bus. I go so excited when I saw another bus coming! I flagged it down paid my 2,000 Kawatcha (about $0.50) and was headed to the junction for where I would then walk 30 min to the school. To my surprise the bus did not stop at the junction and kept on going towards Katongo. I was getting VERY excited that I was just going to be a little closer than normal and it would save some time. I began to praise God for that specific bus that picked me. God truly blessed me Tuesday and had this bus ready for me to take me ALL the way to the school and I only had to pay my normal fee of 2,000 K. Even in the little things I am learning to praise God and to seek His blessings through all situations!

Please continue to pray for me as I am teaching…each day is a new adventure, and each day is a struggle.

The Father and the Child 2

The Father spoke:
Are you ready, My child?
Yes, but I have nothing to bring except myself.
You are all I need.
Surely I must bring something; I do not feel prepared to travel.
Do not concern yourself with preparations. Your journey has already begun.
But I am fearful.
There is no need to fear, I will always be with you.
Will You give me what I need?
I will provide for you.
What will You provide?
All that is essential for your journey.
And what is essential?
I will show you along the way. For now, you have what is necessary; the desire to draw close to My heart.
(A WOMAN’S JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF GOD - BY: CYNTHIA HEALD)

3 Weeks

WOW! It is hard for me to believe that I have been in Zambia for 3 weeks now!!! I have had a wonderful time so far and expect my time to get sweeter and sweeter as the days continue. I have had my good days and my bad days but the work that the Lord has been doing in my heart and in my life out weighs it all. I was talking with my roommate this morning before we went to church about how time is going by SO FAST and that I really don’t want to leave. I love Africa! I might not enjoy the teaching but EVERYTHING else about Africa I absolutely love!

Today at church was a great surprise for me! We did a baptism in the service and took part in the Lord’s Supper! I was super excited to experience these ordinances in the Zambian tradition. This meant services lasted an hour and a half longer but it was well worth it all! :)

I have about 6 weeks left here in Zambia and my schedule has gotten much busier. Next weekend I will move to the Lalito 1 home (the home with the children :) ) for two weeks while teams come in. I will get to play with the children in the afternoons after I am done teaching which is something I have been praying for! I will be busy working with one of the teams in July as their main focus is Katongo where I am teaching.

Thank you for all your prayers! And please continue to pray for me as the days continue with teaching and as I shift to the Lalito 1 home next weekend.

THE FATHER AND THE CHILD

The Father Spoke:

Come, child, let us journey together.
Where shall we go, Father?
To a distant land, another kingdom.
So the journey will be long?
Yes, we must travel every day.
When will we reach our destination”?
At the end of your days.
And who will accompany us?
Joy and Sorrow.
Must Sorrow travel with us?
Yes, she is necessary to keep you close to Me.
But I want only Joy.
It is only with Sorrow that you will know true Joy.
What must I bring?
A willing heart to follow Me.
What shall I do on the journey?
There is only one thing that you must do – stay close to Me. Let nothing distract you. Always keep your eyes on me.
And what will I see?
You will see My glory.
And what will I know
You will know My heart.
The Father stretched out His hand. The child, knowing the great love her Father had for her, placed her hand in His and began her journey.
(A WOMAN’S JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF GOD - BY: CYNTHIA HEALD)

Trials & Tears

Each day here in Mongu is a new challenge, yet each day is getting better than the one before it. There have been several trials and yes tears in my eyes. The joke between me and Loombe (my roommate) is that my program is officially the “I Don’t Know” program. I will start my day with a specific program in mind, and then there will be a knock on the door with someone here to pick me for a program that they set for me. An adventure yes every day. And everyday filled with more unknowns.

My first day here I found out I had a wrong visa for the work I was to do…so we spent most of the morning getting me a work permit…can you have two different visas in the same country for the same time period? HUM. Guess I will find out when I get ready to leave the country.

Being here in Mongu has brought to the surface fears that dwell inside of me that are not as present while back at home. I am seeing more and more that I have a HUGE fear of being alone. I can see through this experience that God is trying to teach me to rely on Him for EVERYTHING and is bringing to the surface things that I have not fully surrendered to Him. One lesson that I must be reminded of constantly…and a tough one at that…Even more I am experiencing a much stronger desire for a life long companion.

These past few days have been EXTREMELY difficult and challenging usually starting with a “Lord equip me” prayer. Please pray that I would become more comfortable here in Mongu by myself. And that my fears would be subsided so I can focus on serving God whole heartedly without these fears getting in the way.

“Each day becomes precious because each day is part of the process that takes us nearer to the heart of God” Cynthia Heald