Everything I Expected…

My first few days here in Zambia have been wonderful! And to top it off I really have not had any jet lag! Friday it took a little while before the kids began to warm up to me but by Saturday morning it was like I was one of them…just the experience I have been praying for. Being here in Lusaka with the “family” I am staying with is everything I imagined. I am truly experiencing authentic Zambian culture. Most of the time I am the only American here so it has really forced me to branch out of my comfort zone and really get involved with the culture.

Yesterday I helped Joy cook lunch for the family and the house mom is determined to teach me how to make shuma. You know you have really begun to fit in when the children begin to call you Auntie. We have a few pets here…2 dogs, I have seen a cat once, and there are about 10 chickens…all to become dinner when they are big enough…yum :).

I think my biggest challenge so far has been trying to master the art of a “tub bath”. When you are 5’5” trying to take a bath in a 2 foot plastic tub it really becomes an adventure. I guess it is better than the watering hole… the people here are wonderful and a great joy to be with!

Please pray as I will begin work on Monday here in Lusaka and as I will transfer to Mungo at the end of the week. I will be in Mungo for the majority of my time here, which is about 8 hours from Lusaka, working in the school systems. Please pray that I would not get sick as we are getting ready here for the winter months.

Speechless!

Speechless! I am completely wowed at all that God has been doing in preparing me for this trip. I am amazed that I was able to raise ALL support in 12 DAYS!!! WOW! That still just blows my mind. Only God could have put the pieces together for this to happen the way it has. I see that this is something that God is in FULL control over! I could never have made this work…I calculated numbers for days to see what could happen…and am blown away at what has actually happened! Thank you to everyone who has helped support me and who have committed to pray for me during this trip!

I leave in 3 DAYS!!! So exciting! I guess I should start packing :) I just know God is going to do something incredible in me and through me during this trip! He has truly paved the path to make this possible! I can’t wait to leave!!!

May 27th!

Thank you all for your prayers! The ticket has been purchased and I leave in 16 DAYS!!!!!!!! WOW! Hard for me to believe that it is so close! I am blown away at how God has been providing for me during this time. I got the ticket for MUCH less than originally planned which brought my budget down by almost $1000!!! God is good!

I fly out May 27th and will return August 4th! I can't wait to be there. My heart is filled with an unspeakable joy as I watch God putting together the pieces of the puzzle! Do I have to come back?!

Please continue to pray as I am finishing up this semester getting ready to graduate on Saturday!

Faith

“God you are good. You are bigger than anything I could ever imagine. Stretch my faith Lord that I may grow to depend on You more and more. I don’t understand how all this is going to work out but I know You can make a way out of no way and I surrender my life to You Lord. Use it for Your glory. You are my joy and my delight Lord and I put all of this in Your hands. In Jesus' name Amen”

Faith…who knew something that seemed so simple could be so hard at the same time. God truly has been stretching my faith these past few weeks as I am learning to let go and let God work out the details for my internship. It is HARD being a planner and expecting to leave within 18-22 DAYS. I currently still do not have a plane ticket and I just started to raise support last week. I about broke down in tears Friday from the stress of it all. Please continue to pray that God would strengthen my faith in Him and that I would be able to rest in His love and faithfulness. Faith as big as a mustard seed…what a lesson. (Matthew 17:20-21)

Pieces of a Puzzle

Each day I gather more pieces of the puzzle for my trip to Zambia. Each day I rejoice that the process is moving along and each day brings a new level of stress as I prepare to graduate next week and prepare to leave in 28 DAYS. Today I spent 3 hours online searching for the cheapest airline tickets to Lusaka. VERY hard since the World Cup this year is in South Africa. Right now it looks like I need to raise about $5,000 mostly because of the high ticket prices. Not fun...but I am learning to trust that God will provide.

I did find out a little more of what I should be doing during my time in Zambia!!It looks like I will be Teaching and working with a consultant to help evaluate the different school programs and make proper plans for their growth and improvement in Mungo a remote African village that has been devastated by the AIDS pandemic

As well as participating in the micro-credit loan program that has just begun in the Misisi Compound. The Misisi Compound is notoriously known as the worst and most neglected slum in Lusaka. There are about one hundred thousand inhabitants, no public schools, police stations, or health clinics within this compound. Up to one thousand children in Misisi Compound live in “child-headed families” - orphaned brothers and sisters who depend only on each other for survival.

I am so grateful that the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together!!! Please continue to pray for me as my semester is coming to an end and as I am beginning to raise support for my trip.