So today was pretty chilly. Combine that with a bad cold and you have a pretty sick little camper. That's ok though because today was a good day. I have now completed 9 of my one on one times which is so good compared to last week. A lot of my boys Kelsey has had in the past and so she came over at the end to hang out with us. My boys really started opening up today. One of my boys, Alfred, told me he lives with his aunt and uncle and has for the past 4 or 5 years. He doesn't even know why he was sent to live with them because the rest of his brothers and sisters get to live with his parents. Well his uncle just got a phone call saying that Alfred's mom is so sick that she was in the hospital and is dying. After he told me that he just hung his head down and started crying. My heart broke for this little boy. Only 11 years old and having to know the pain of death so close to him. I held him and let him cry in my arms away from the other boys. What a blessing that our theme is Nehemiah 8:10 this year. I've never had to deal with my kids having family die so recently. What an amazing opportunity for us to share the joy of the Lord is our strength!
A recap on the story of Alex from yesterday. I talked to his brother, Levy, today. He was more open about the whole situation and how sad he was, but he didn't cry. Just really be praying for that family because there was definitely some witchcraft involved with the death. I know those of you in the states don't understand the power of witchdoctors and all that, but I'll tell you something it is very much alive here. We aren't trying to convert these kids from other religions or anything, we're trying to fight the devil. Plain and simple. That's our mission here. He plays tricks too so a prayer of healing and protection for all of us little sickies over here would be very helpful!
tonight is pizza night! whoop!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
A Christian with a difference
sorry I didn't write yesterday (that really goes out to my mom who texted me to see why I didn't write) I probably had time but we decided to play games instead! So I will start with Saturday night.
We had dinner and then went back to villa 70 and probably over half of the americans were there playing mafia. It was soooo much fun. I feel like this week just started but I already have formed strong connections with the people who just got here. Then Sunday we got up and went to church. Pastor Rafael spoke again. He is so incredible. He talked about being a Christian with a difference. We talked about how faith without works is dead and how even the demons believe but God is looking for believers who obey.
Matthew 21:28 says "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." It goes on to talk about how when you walk up to a mirror you are intending to change something. The whole reason is to fix something out of place. You wouldn't look at yourself and see problems and not do anything about it. It's the same way when you read the Bible. Don't walk away unchanged. It would be foolish. Jesus followed God all the way to the cross. Not one time did he disobey. A Christian with a difference is one who obeys and not just believes.
Then after the market on Sunday we met our partners. My actual partner wasn't there because he works for the Kabanana CRC (where my boys last week were from) but I met my evangelist. Funny story, she was the one who I asked to help me one day last week because my apostle (helper) wasn't there and she didn't want to do it because she had never worked with boys before. Well surprise for her! She gets boys. But it was good, she is actually very nice. She is 27 with a 6 month old baby and skinny as a stick. After we got back from dinner we played combat uno. I don't think I've laughed so hard in a very long time.
So now on to today!! Well my boys were the VERY first group to arrive. I only have 2 return from last year and 13 new ones! They are from Avondale so they are not quite like all the other kids. Avondale is very far away and is pretty rural. I ended up doing 2 blessing times with the 2 that returned thinking it would be quick and easy but Alex broke my heart with what he had to say. Last year he stayed with his father and 2 brothers. His mom had passed away years ago but I found out that his dad just passed away last week. I just didn't know what to say. He had no expression on his face because he was trying to be strong but he said that he is very sad. So him and his younger brother, who is also in my group, moved in with his older brother. Now when I say older I only mean that he is 21. Can you imagine being 21 and taking care of a 15 and 13 year old?! They live in a servant's quarters behind the house that the older brother is a garden boy for. He hasn't been to school in 3 weeks because they have no money. I mean this is just one story of a million more just like it from these kids.
I leave you with prayer requests. All of us here are getting sick with runny noses and not being able to breathe. Pray that it isn't a distraction for us at camp!
We had dinner and then went back to villa 70 and probably over half of the americans were there playing mafia. It was soooo much fun. I feel like this week just started but I already have formed strong connections with the people who just got here. Then Sunday we got up and went to church. Pastor Rafael spoke again. He is so incredible. He talked about being a Christian with a difference. We talked about how faith without works is dead and how even the demons believe but God is looking for believers who obey.
Matthew 21:28 says "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." It goes on to talk about how when you walk up to a mirror you are intending to change something. The whole reason is to fix something out of place. You wouldn't look at yourself and see problems and not do anything about it. It's the same way when you read the Bible. Don't walk away unchanged. It would be foolish. Jesus followed God all the way to the cross. Not one time did he disobey. A Christian with a difference is one who obeys and not just believes.
Then after the market on Sunday we met our partners. My actual partner wasn't there because he works for the Kabanana CRC (where my boys last week were from) but I met my evangelist. Funny story, she was the one who I asked to help me one day last week because my apostle (helper) wasn't there and she didn't want to do it because she had never worked with boys before. Well surprise for her! She gets boys. But it was good, she is actually very nice. She is 27 with a 6 month old baby and skinny as a stick. After we got back from dinner we played combat uno. I don't think I've laughed so hard in a very long time.
So now on to today!! Well my boys were the VERY first group to arrive. I only have 2 return from last year and 13 new ones! They are from Avondale so they are not quite like all the other kids. Avondale is very far away and is pretty rural. I ended up doing 2 blessing times with the 2 that returned thinking it would be quick and easy but Alex broke my heart with what he had to say. Last year he stayed with his father and 2 brothers. His mom had passed away years ago but I found out that his dad just passed away last week. I just didn't know what to say. He had no expression on his face because he was trying to be strong but he said that he is very sad. So him and his younger brother, who is also in my group, moved in with his older brother. Now when I say older I only mean that he is 21. Can you imagine being 21 and taking care of a 15 and 13 year old?! They live in a servant's quarters behind the house that the older brother is a garden boy for. He hasn't been to school in 3 weeks because they have no money. I mean this is just one story of a million more just like it from these kids.
I leave you with prayer requests. All of us here are getting sick with runny noses and not being able to breathe. Pray that it isn't a distraction for us at camp!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Chipolopolo
Today was definitely a day in Zambia. Wish I could say I slept in but I was woken up around 7 by other people in my villa :( but that's ok because I finally got a shower!! (if you could really call it that... more like a hand held hose that I could rinse my hair out with) Anyways after the shower we went and said bye to the Utz family since they left today. Dad and Abigail stayed though so we're really excited about that! After we said bye we headed to the Arcades to eat at Mint!! We ate our delicious nutella pancakes. Probably one of my favorite foods of ALL TIME. I had forgotten how good they were. I really wanted to find an English to Nyanja dictionary but the bookstore only had grammar books. I guess I'll have to amazon that.
After we left the Arcades we went to the 20 and under Zambian National Soccer game!! IT was definitely an experience to remember. We started out on the sitting side which was fun. One guy was passing out balloons and he gave us some but then we saw on the other side the crowd was having a big party with instruments and everything so we switched sides. I seriously felt like a celebrity. It was so crazy. Jonathan had a GIANT Zambian flag and everybody was cheering for us so we started chanting Chipolopolo which was the name of the team. It means the bullets. When we got to the other side it was a dance party. I got some good video of it. I started feeling a little sick because people were smoking all around but it makes for a great story.
Tomorrow we have church again and then we get to meet our new partners! Can't wait to start another week! There is a good aggie crowd here this time! whoop!
After we left the Arcades we went to the 20 and under Zambian National Soccer game!! IT was definitely an experience to remember. We started out on the sitting side which was fun. One guy was passing out balloons and he gave us some but then we saw on the other side the crowd was having a big party with instruments and everything so we switched sides. I seriously felt like a celebrity. It was so crazy. Jonathan had a GIANT Zambian flag and everybody was cheering for us so we started chanting Chipolopolo which was the name of the team. It means the bullets. When we got to the other side it was a dance party. I got some good video of it. I started feeling a little sick because people were smoking all around but it makes for a great story.
Tomorrow we have church again and then we get to meet our new partners! Can't wait to start another week! There is a good aggie crowd here this time! whoop!
Friday, July 23, 2010
JOY PARTY!!
ok let me just tell you today was the BEST DAY EVER. But it was also very bittersweet because I had to say bye to my boys. They are the most precious things in the entire world. Every year I say they've stolen my heart and every year they somehow find more of my heart to take. Gosh I think I'm going to start crying if I keep thinking about how much I love them. I mean I've seen these boys grow up now for the past 3 years. They have grown into such amazing leaders and have been completely transformed.
The day started out with them running toward me again. I don't think that ever gets old. Then I had them trace their hands in my journal so that I will have a little piece of them with me always. After that the JOY PARTY started. It was crazyyyy. We danced to the cotton eyed joe and a little elvis. Hilarious. During the joy songs they had confetti bombs going off all over the room and and people running around with bubble machines. I mean it was straight madness. Then one guy got up and juggled and rode the unicycle. After the joy party we gave the kids their blessing boxes and the ingredients to make Nshima. It was the cutest thing because we had to go collect all the ingredients at the top of the hill and bring it down to our group and well my partner was sick so she wasn't much help all day so I was trying to get it all myself. I had 60 pounds of sugar in my arms and I got about half way down the hill and was completely regretting my decision to carry it all alone but right when I thought I was going to drop it here come my boys running to my rescue! I have good boys. Then they came back and carried the oil and the mealie meal for me also.
When they opened their blessing boxes their favorite thing was the pictures of the muzungus! They were so interested in who they were to me. They especially loved the ones that were family members.
When the boys finally had to leave it was incredibly sad. I just stood their holding their hands through the bus and I was next to Joseph at one point and he whispered in my ear, "auntie Kailee promise me you wont forget me." Oh sweet Joseph. Never in my life will I EVER forget him. Never will I ever forget any of them.
The water in my villa hasn't worked in 2 days. I've been washing my hands, feet and face with hand wipes. Yeah it's a little gross, but let me tell you something. I'll take the dirty face and completely brown creased hands if that means that I'm getting to love on precious little children. I'll take the sand filled shoes and dirt trapped hair from a million little hands touching and playing with it all day. It's worth it. It's worth all the exhaustion. It's worth all the sunburn. It's worth the smell. It's worth everything.
Today we went to the Tree of Life Village and I can't believe how many houses are up now. Greer always starts out by telling the story or background on the houses and how they were funded and named. I've heard these stories at least half a dozen times but it doesn't matter. Every time I am brought to tears. Most of the houses are in dedication of somebody who passed away, but how great is it to know that although that person may no longer be with us, 15 beautiful children are ALIVE because of that house. The children live in their legacy. Ask me about some of the stories sometime, I'd love to share.
So today was great. I'm a little bummed it's over, but there is no doubt in my mind that I'll see them all again. I love this place.
The day started out with them running toward me again. I don't think that ever gets old. Then I had them trace their hands in my journal so that I will have a little piece of them with me always. After that the JOY PARTY started. It was crazyyyy. We danced to the cotton eyed joe and a little elvis. Hilarious. During the joy songs they had confetti bombs going off all over the room and and people running around with bubble machines. I mean it was straight madness. Then one guy got up and juggled and rode the unicycle. After the joy party we gave the kids their blessing boxes and the ingredients to make Nshima. It was the cutest thing because we had to go collect all the ingredients at the top of the hill and bring it down to our group and well my partner was sick so she wasn't much help all day so I was trying to get it all myself. I had 60 pounds of sugar in my arms and I got about half way down the hill and was completely regretting my decision to carry it all alone but right when I thought I was going to drop it here come my boys running to my rescue! I have good boys. Then they came back and carried the oil and the mealie meal for me also.
When they opened their blessing boxes their favorite thing was the pictures of the muzungus! They were so interested in who they were to me. They especially loved the ones that were family members.
When the boys finally had to leave it was incredibly sad. I just stood their holding their hands through the bus and I was next to Joseph at one point and he whispered in my ear, "auntie Kailee promise me you wont forget me." Oh sweet Joseph. Never in my life will I EVER forget him. Never will I ever forget any of them.
The water in my villa hasn't worked in 2 days. I've been washing my hands, feet and face with hand wipes. Yeah it's a little gross, but let me tell you something. I'll take the dirty face and completely brown creased hands if that means that I'm getting to love on precious little children. I'll take the sand filled shoes and dirt trapped hair from a million little hands touching and playing with it all day. It's worth it. It's worth all the exhaustion. It's worth all the sunburn. It's worth the smell. It's worth everything.
Today we went to the Tree of Life Village and I can't believe how many houses are up now. Greer always starts out by telling the story or background on the houses and how they were funded and named. I've heard these stories at least half a dozen times but it doesn't matter. Every time I am brought to tears. Most of the houses are in dedication of somebody who passed away, but how great is it to know that although that person may no longer be with us, 15 beautiful children are ALIVE because of that house. The children live in their legacy. Ask me about some of the stories sometime, I'd love to share.
So today was great. I'm a little bummed it's over, but there is no doubt in my mind that I'll see them all again. I love this place.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
a day in the community
Thank you for the prayers. I feel like today was very successful! (for me at least, some groups weren’t so lucky) I finished all my one on one times and then we had shoe day. 14 of my 15 boys got air force ones which is a miracle. One boy had crocs which was almost a disaster. He was the second boy to get shoes and when he got them he was very excited and said he loved them very much, but when we got outside he realized that he was the only boy in my group who didn’t get air forces. He got a little sad, but by the time we were getting on the buses to go to Kabanana he came up to me and said he was very happy about his shoes that he was given. Whew! Crisis averted. Then while we were in the community one of his friends came up to him and made fun of his “plastic shoes” but he told his friend that he loved them because they were his and God gave them to him! How awesome is that?!
Being in Kabanana for the third time was amazing. It’s so huge that I still haven’t been in the same place twice. Today we started at the CRC and found an old man pretty early on to talk to. At first he told us to go away but I think he was kidding. He turned out to be pretty funny. By boys shared the evangecube with him and then they asked if he had ever accepted Christ into his heart. He said no but that he was willing to do it today so my boys led him through the sinner’s prayer! Then they explained what they have been learning at camp all week that we put Jesus first, others second and ourselves last. So then we gave him a bag that was full of sugar, oil, and mealy meal. All the ingredients to make their staple food nshima. He was so thankful he kept clasping his hands and doing a little curtsy. That is the proper way to greet somebody who is respected or older than you. Then he gave me a hug which is nearly unheard of for an older man to do to a woman. It was incredible. Then we walked into a compound that was made up entirely of tents. My boys told me the name but now I can’t remember. The crazy part about it was that my boys told me that this is where the poor people live. The ones who have no hope and nobody to help them. They said these are the ones who suffer. I just couldn’t believe my ears. Here are my boys who maybe get one meal a day and get chased from school because they have no money to pay the fees and they felt sorry for these other people. One lady that we talked to was blind and didn’t move from her seat on the ground the whole time. I counted at least 15 flies sitting on her ankle. Not once did she try to brush them off. They just sat there as if they were part of her body.
Right when we got to Kabanana I got to meet Joseph’s girlfriend! It was so funny! Her name is Margaret. All the boys were making fun of him for having a girlfriend. I also met all of the boys school teacher. She already knew my name so I am guessing that the boys had told her. She seemed nice. I hope that she really is and she wasn’t just putting on a show.
On the way home we picked up some Zambians who were at a different CRC called Garden Hill and Kelvin was one of them! So we sat together and got to talk for a good while. I told him how I was working for Family Legacy now and he was pretty excited. He asked if in the near future if I would like to move to Zambia. I told him yes I would love that very much but I don’t think that I will get to any time soon. He kept saying how blessed he was to know me and I of course feel the same way about him. We got to talk about life and catch up. I felt like we laughed most of the time. He really is one of my best friends. I took some funny pictures with him.
My boys kept saying that tomorrow they are going to cry because it is our last day. I can’t believe the week is already over. I really don’t want it to end. I love these boys so so much. What I really want is a whole day of just getting to hang out with my kids in the community and just be with them.
Being in Kabanana for the third time was amazing. It’s so huge that I still haven’t been in the same place twice. Today we started at the CRC and found an old man pretty early on to talk to. At first he told us to go away but I think he was kidding. He turned out to be pretty funny. By boys shared the evangecube with him and then they asked if he had ever accepted Christ into his heart. He said no but that he was willing to do it today so my boys led him through the sinner’s prayer! Then they explained what they have been learning at camp all week that we put Jesus first, others second and ourselves last. So then we gave him a bag that was full of sugar, oil, and mealy meal. All the ingredients to make their staple food nshima. He was so thankful he kept clasping his hands and doing a little curtsy. That is the proper way to greet somebody who is respected or older than you. Then he gave me a hug which is nearly unheard of for an older man to do to a woman. It was incredible. Then we walked into a compound that was made up entirely of tents. My boys told me the name but now I can’t remember. The crazy part about it was that my boys told me that this is where the poor people live. The ones who have no hope and nobody to help them. They said these are the ones who suffer. I just couldn’t believe my ears. Here are my boys who maybe get one meal a day and get chased from school because they have no money to pay the fees and they felt sorry for these other people. One lady that we talked to was blind and didn’t move from her seat on the ground the whole time. I counted at least 15 flies sitting on her ankle. Not once did she try to brush them off. They just sat there as if they were part of her body.
Right when we got to Kabanana I got to meet Joseph’s girlfriend! It was so funny! Her name is Margaret. All the boys were making fun of him for having a girlfriend. I also met all of the boys school teacher. She already knew my name so I am guessing that the boys had told her. She seemed nice. I hope that she really is and she wasn’t just putting on a show.
On the way home we picked up some Zambians who were at a different CRC called Garden Hill and Kelvin was one of them! So we sat together and got to talk for a good while. I told him how I was working for Family Legacy now and he was pretty excited. He asked if in the near future if I would like to move to Zambia. I told him yes I would love that very much but I don’t think that I will get to any time soon. He kept saying how blessed he was to know me and I of course feel the same way about him. We got to talk about life and catch up. I felt like we laughed most of the time. He really is one of my best friends. I took some funny pictures with him.
My boys kept saying that tomorrow they are going to cry because it is our last day. I can’t believe the week is already over. I really don’t want it to end. I love these boys so so much. What I really want is a whole day of just getting to hang out with my kids in the community and just be with them.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Let Him break your heart.
I can’t believe Wednesday is already over. Today had it’s ups and downs. I’ll start with the ups. My boy Chrispin, the one we prayed for yesterday, had a great improvement. He jumped off the bus smiling and had a good attitude all day and then at the end he even ran up to the AV table to volunteer to pray to close out camp for everybody there. How awesome! Although he didn’t actually get to pray because somebody else beat him to it, but just the fact that he wanted to volunteer was amazing.
Ok so now some hard things. I was talking to Gracious during his one on one time and I asked him if he goes to church and he said yes that he goes to Jehovah’s Witness church. Now before coming here I wasn’t too familiar with what that means, but some key points are that they don’t believe in the trinity and they believe that it’s all about good works. Well I then decided to ask Gracious if he talks to his family about what he learns at camp and then he just started going off in Nyanja and finally my partner explained to me that Gracious doesn’t believe he will go to Heaven that they will just go back to the grave because that is where he came from. Hearing this just broke my heart. I mean if you meet Gracious he just the most precious boy you will ever lay eyes on. So after me trying to explain it to him it just wasn’t getting through so tomorrow morning the pastor is going to go through salvation and what it means to have Jesus in your heart. Hopefully if a wiser Zambian is explaining it to him that it will sink in. But it’s going to be hard especially since his whole family goes to this church and believes in it. So just be praying for that whole situation.
Today we had the infamous talk. We started out talking about how God created each thing with a specific design. And then how God created so many good things for us to enjoy including sex, but then the devil perverted it. That talk led into an HIV/AIDS talk and I did an example with some tootsie rolls. I gave them each one in the morning and I said don’t eat this sweet. The sweet represented the act of sex and it’s a gift from God. He tells us to hold on to it and keep it pure until his perfect timing (aka marriage). So if they kept the sweet all day then they would be rewarded at the end. So the day went on and at the end I asked them to pull out their sweet and 3 of them had already eaten it. If they ate it already that meant in the representation that they have had sex before marriage. So if they waited then they were rewarded with another sweet, but if they ate it I wanted to reiterate the fact that God is a gracious God and He forgives us our sins and tomorrow they will get a sweet. So anyways then we went on to talk about respecting others and I went through a few scriptures for them. Then for lunch we went and served a group of girls lunch and it was the greatest experience! I think my boys really got a lot out of it.
After camp today we got to go tour a CRC (Community Resource Center) and a LCA (Lifeway Christian Academy) which was by far the greatest thing in the world. There were so many kids there just waiting for us and we played with them and hugged them. I mean lets be honest I could have stayed there forever. I really wanted to sneak a kid on the bus.
Tomorrow is shoe day. Be praying for us because we have a mixture of real shoes and crocs. Sometimes the kids just expect shoes instead of seeing it for what they are. A gift from God. So the ones who end up with crocs aren’t very happy. Prayers are definitely needed so that all goes well.
Dinner tonight was the best food EVER. It was taco soup and cornbread and avocados! I was pretty much in Heaven. During testimony time we really got into talking about just how our hearts just break for the kids here and that’s something that is just so important. God wants our hearts to break for these kids because His heart breaks for these kids. These are His children and the things that they go through and the things that they see isn’t the way He intended it. He brought us here to see the hurt and the pain in their eyes. He brought us here to break our hearts.
Ok so now some hard things. I was talking to Gracious during his one on one time and I asked him if he goes to church and he said yes that he goes to Jehovah’s Witness church. Now before coming here I wasn’t too familiar with what that means, but some key points are that they don’t believe in the trinity and they believe that it’s all about good works. Well I then decided to ask Gracious if he talks to his family about what he learns at camp and then he just started going off in Nyanja and finally my partner explained to me that Gracious doesn’t believe he will go to Heaven that they will just go back to the grave because that is where he came from. Hearing this just broke my heart. I mean if you meet Gracious he just the most precious boy you will ever lay eyes on. So after me trying to explain it to him it just wasn’t getting through so tomorrow morning the pastor is going to go through salvation and what it means to have Jesus in your heart. Hopefully if a wiser Zambian is explaining it to him that it will sink in. But it’s going to be hard especially since his whole family goes to this church and believes in it. So just be praying for that whole situation.
Today we had the infamous talk. We started out talking about how God created each thing with a specific design. And then how God created so many good things for us to enjoy including sex, but then the devil perverted it. That talk led into an HIV/AIDS talk and I did an example with some tootsie rolls. I gave them each one in the morning and I said don’t eat this sweet. The sweet represented the act of sex and it’s a gift from God. He tells us to hold on to it and keep it pure until his perfect timing (aka marriage). So if they kept the sweet all day then they would be rewarded at the end. So the day went on and at the end I asked them to pull out their sweet and 3 of them had already eaten it. If they ate it already that meant in the representation that they have had sex before marriage. So if they waited then they were rewarded with another sweet, but if they ate it I wanted to reiterate the fact that God is a gracious God and He forgives us our sins and tomorrow they will get a sweet. So anyways then we went on to talk about respecting others and I went through a few scriptures for them. Then for lunch we went and served a group of girls lunch and it was the greatest experience! I think my boys really got a lot out of it.
After camp today we got to go tour a CRC (Community Resource Center) and a LCA (Lifeway Christian Academy) which was by far the greatest thing in the world. There were so many kids there just waiting for us and we played with them and hugged them. I mean lets be honest I could have stayed there forever. I really wanted to sneak a kid on the bus.
Tomorrow is shoe day. Be praying for us because we have a mixture of real shoes and crocs. Sometimes the kids just expect shoes instead of seeing it for what they are. A gift from God. So the ones who end up with crocs aren’t very happy. Prayers are definitely needed so that all goes well.
Dinner tonight was the best food EVER. It was taco soup and cornbread and avocados! I was pretty much in Heaven. During testimony time we really got into talking about just how our hearts just break for the kids here and that’s something that is just so important. God wants our hearts to break for these kids because His heart breaks for these kids. These are His children and the things that they go through and the things that they see isn’t the way He intended it. He brought us here to see the hurt and the pain in their eyes. He brought us here to break our hearts.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The muzungu ball
So my day started out with my boys running toward me as they got off the bus. I brought my soccer ball today and they were so excited. They kept calling it the muzungu ball (the white person ball haha). Today we had a lot of blessing times which is one on one times with my boys. I got to see what has changed since last year in their lives. It was pretty sad actually because a lot of them don’t have enough money to go to school anymore. Which is not good because if they don’t go to school they have no way to go anywhere in life. They said that they get chased away from the school when they try to go. Can you imagine that? All these kids want to do is learn and they aren’t allowed because the school directors are so greedy for money that they refuse them. How different that is in America. Kids would rather be anywhere but a school. It just doesn’t seem fair.
I have this one boy, Chrispin, who tends to get in a lot of trouble. He has always had a feisty attitude, but today something was different. He kept getting into fights with the boys around him and not paying attention during big group and small group time. My partner said that he had an angry spirit and a difficult time paying attention. Last year he struggled with drinking with his friends so I talked to him about that and he said that he tried to quit but he just couldn’t do it on his own. He also said that he tries to pay attention but something in him wont let him. Well on the way out of the big group time he got in another fight with a boy from a different group and the leader of that group told me he thought Chrispin was very angry and that I should take him to the prayer room. This was about the third or fourth person who had told me this so finally we went. It was the craziest experience. In years past people have to go into the prayer room or “deliverance room” a lot because the kids in Zambia are just filled with evil spirits, but I never have had to do it. So immediately when we walk in the room the people who were praying noticed that Chrispin’s whole body was stiff and resistant. They tried asking him some questions but he was being very quiet. Then they noticed that he was wearing this chain around his neck and they said we should take it off of him because it could hold some evil powers if a witchdoctor gave it to him. Turns out the chain had no clasp or opening that we could take it off with so we had to pry to open. I don’t know how long I was in there for but like I said before I have never experienced anything like that. I wont go into much detail about it but something that was so incredible was that the main guy who was fervently praying for Chrispin didn’t know about his spirit of drunkenness and all of a sudden he started praying for that. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit could lay that on his heart to pray for. Afterwards Chrispin was completely different. He helped count all the boys and line them up and was smiling and laughing again. Continue to keep him in your prayers along with all my boys.
My partner and I are struggling a little bit. She hardly ever translates for me. She will be talking in Nyanja to the boys and I will have to ask 4 or 5 times what she is saying before she answers. And even then her answer will be that they are just chatting. So I’m really hoping that gets better. Mine and Jodi’s partners went to the bathroom again after camp to put on makeup. They asked if we wanted to go and this time we said no haha.
Kelvin told me that he wants me to request him to be his apostle for next week. I wish I could but I told him that we weren’t allowed. But it has been so cool to getting to be a group next to him. It’s so encouraging.
At dinner, the Americans are given the opportunity to stand up and give testimonies about their days and some of them are just heartbreaking. A girl shared about how one of her girls just found out that she is HIV positive. The child is eight. EIGHT. These children endure so much and you can see it in their eyes that all they want is for somebody to love them. For somebody to look them in their eyes and tell them they have worth. I think of how much I LOVE my boys and I can’t understand how somebody could ever think otherwise. All I have to do is look at them and my heart is filled with joy.
Tomorrow or the next day I am going to be talking to my boys about respecting women and making the right decisions so be praying for that conversation. I have partnered with an American who has girls about the same age and I’m going to have my boys serve them lunch. I’m really excited about that!
I hope all is well in the states.
much love.
I have this one boy, Chrispin, who tends to get in a lot of trouble. He has always had a feisty attitude, but today something was different. He kept getting into fights with the boys around him and not paying attention during big group and small group time. My partner said that he had an angry spirit and a difficult time paying attention. Last year he struggled with drinking with his friends so I talked to him about that and he said that he tried to quit but he just couldn’t do it on his own. He also said that he tries to pay attention but something in him wont let him. Well on the way out of the big group time he got in another fight with a boy from a different group and the leader of that group told me he thought Chrispin was very angry and that I should take him to the prayer room. This was about the third or fourth person who had told me this so finally we went. It was the craziest experience. In years past people have to go into the prayer room or “deliverance room” a lot because the kids in Zambia are just filled with evil spirits, but I never have had to do it. So immediately when we walk in the room the people who were praying noticed that Chrispin’s whole body was stiff and resistant. They tried asking him some questions but he was being very quiet. Then they noticed that he was wearing this chain around his neck and they said we should take it off of him because it could hold some evil powers if a witchdoctor gave it to him. Turns out the chain had no clasp or opening that we could take it off with so we had to pry to open. I don’t know how long I was in there for but like I said before I have never experienced anything like that. I wont go into much detail about it but something that was so incredible was that the main guy who was fervently praying for Chrispin didn’t know about his spirit of drunkenness and all of a sudden he started praying for that. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit could lay that on his heart to pray for. Afterwards Chrispin was completely different. He helped count all the boys and line them up and was smiling and laughing again. Continue to keep him in your prayers along with all my boys.
My partner and I are struggling a little bit. She hardly ever translates for me. She will be talking in Nyanja to the boys and I will have to ask 4 or 5 times what she is saying before she answers. And even then her answer will be that they are just chatting. So I’m really hoping that gets better. Mine and Jodi’s partners went to the bathroom again after camp to put on makeup. They asked if we wanted to go and this time we said no haha.
Kelvin told me that he wants me to request him to be his apostle for next week. I wish I could but I told him that we weren’t allowed. But it has been so cool to getting to be a group next to him. It’s so encouraging.
At dinner, the Americans are given the opportunity to stand up and give testimonies about their days and some of them are just heartbreaking. A girl shared about how one of her girls just found out that she is HIV positive. The child is eight. EIGHT. These children endure so much and you can see it in their eyes that all they want is for somebody to love them. For somebody to look them in their eyes and tell them they have worth. I think of how much I LOVE my boys and I can’t understand how somebody could ever think otherwise. All I have to do is look at them and my heart is filled with joy.
Tomorrow or the next day I am going to be talking to my boys about respecting women and making the right decisions so be praying for that conversation. I have partnered with an American who has girls about the same age and I’m going to have my boys serve them lunch. I’m really excited about that!
I hope all is well in the states.
much love.
Monday, July 19, 2010
I am so blessed.
What a great day. Man. I just could not have asked for anything better. Ok so before I came to Africa I took a little peek at my rosters of the boys I would be getting while here (the perks of working for FLMI now!) and I found out that they were ALL kinds of messed up. I mean they had them at different schools, mixed up, switched weeks, and a whole new group. So I quickly sent the names of my boys from last year in hopes that it would help. Well I had no idea going into today which kids I would actually be getting. This morning, 13 of my 15 boys, that I’ve now had for 3 years, stepped off the bus!!! They saw me immediately and started waving their arms trying to get my attention! When I saw them my heart just lit up and I ran all the way across the (dirt) field to hug them! They were jumping up and down, clapping and laughing. It was the greatest reunion! I can’t believe how big they have gotten. One or two are nearly my size!! I’m not really sure why I didn’t get the other two but I talked to the zone leaders of Kabanana and they said they would bring them to camp tomorrow so hopefully I end up with all 15 boys again! This is very rare. I feel SO BLESSED. All day they kept hugging me and telling me that they were so happy to see me. I, of course, was saying the exact same thing to them!
A few more of them are learning English now. So now Joseph, Gracious, Lyson, Matthew, and Blessings can understand me for the most part. Lyson really impressed me today. Last year he was somewhat quiet and I would say he was one of the happiest people to see me today. He also was a great leader and had some pretty powerful prayers.
I just love Zambians. I mean they are all so friendly and happy. I love trying to learn Nyanja so that I can tell it to them the next day. I have 2 verses memorized now plus quite a few phrases and words. It’s funny because when you talk to them in Nyanja they just start laughing, but it’s because they are so happy that I am trying to learn. My partner would walk around and tell everybody that I know Nyanja! She was so proud of me! I really like Ezra, but at times it is difficult because she doesn’t always translate for me. So they will be having a conversation sometimes and I will have no idea what they are talking about. Also afterwards she made us go to the bathroom so she could put on makeup! Ha! That was something new.
I got to see Kelvin SO SO much. Our groups are right next to each other which is awesome. It no longer makes me sad that I’m not his partner. I am just so thankful to get to see him daily. I also got to see Paul, who was my partner last year a lot. I think he has grown spiritually since then! What a difference a year makes!
Oh I forgot to mention that the first thing my boys asked me is if I was married yet. Every year I just make them more and more sad. I said “No no no I am way too young!” and they all started laughing at me! They love me so much and just really want to see me married off. Hahaha how sweet?
Anyways today was a great day. I forgot how exhausting it is though. It’s only 8:30 and I would like to be in bed! I still have to make 9 sandwiches and drop some supplies off at another villa. And maybe play some games :)
prayer requests- maybe for me and my partner. We get along really really well but hopefully we connect better as a team. Oh and just some energy around here!
love from Africa.
A few more of them are learning English now. So now Joseph, Gracious, Lyson, Matthew, and Blessings can understand me for the most part. Lyson really impressed me today. Last year he was somewhat quiet and I would say he was one of the happiest people to see me today. He also was a great leader and had some pretty powerful prayers.
I just love Zambians. I mean they are all so friendly and happy. I love trying to learn Nyanja so that I can tell it to them the next day. I have 2 verses memorized now plus quite a few phrases and words. It’s funny because when you talk to them in Nyanja they just start laughing, but it’s because they are so happy that I am trying to learn. My partner would walk around and tell everybody that I know Nyanja! She was so proud of me! I really like Ezra, but at times it is difficult because she doesn’t always translate for me. So they will be having a conversation sometimes and I will have no idea what they are talking about. Also afterwards she made us go to the bathroom so she could put on makeup! Ha! That was something new.
I got to see Kelvin SO SO much. Our groups are right next to each other which is awesome. It no longer makes me sad that I’m not his partner. I am just so thankful to get to see him daily. I also got to see Paul, who was my partner last year a lot. I think he has grown spiritually since then! What a difference a year makes!
Oh I forgot to mention that the first thing my boys asked me is if I was married yet. Every year I just make them more and more sad. I said “No no no I am way too young!” and they all started laughing at me! They love me so much and just really want to see me married off. Hahaha how sweet?
Anyways today was a great day. I forgot how exhausting it is though. It’s only 8:30 and I would like to be in bed! I still have to make 9 sandwiches and drop some supplies off at another villa. And maybe play some games :)
prayer requests- maybe for me and my partner. We get along really really well but hopefully we connect better as a team. Oh and just some energy around here!
love from Africa.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
All He wants is faith.
Alright lets start from the beginning.. I warn you now.. this could end up being a long post.
Well the plane rides weren’t terrible I guess. We signed up for the kids meals instead of the regular food they serve. Best idea ever. Not only do you get served first, it was mainly just chicken and mashed potatoes. I mean who doesn’t like that? While in London we went to a friend of Maddie’s flat. Although we didn’t sleep, it was still relaxing and fun! We got to play with their baby and eat food! The second plane ride, I was determined to sleep! I ate my dinner and took my sleeping pills and waited… and waited.. and waited. 2 movies, some ipod time, and some bathroom and snack breaks I finally realized that sleep was not in my future anytime soon. By the time we landed I was definitely a little delirious. When we got to the villas I had been awake for just shy of 48 hours. I lay down on our (rock hard) bed just for a few minutes and didn’t get up for much much later. I basically slept the entire day away! But it was well worth it because I could hardly function!
After getting all rested up we had our first meeting with Greer and the rest of the Americans. It felt so good to finally be back here. Greer started talking about how the devil has tried everything he can in order to keep us away from here. When I heard that I couldn’t help but laugh. Me and mom’s week leading up to me leaving was absolutely crazy. Between our car breaking down in the middle of nowhere, tx to walking into my brother’s apt only to realize that other people had already helped themselves to some of our stuff it was all sorts of difficult. BUT through it all I finally made it.
Sunday- we woke up this morning for church. Now.. if you have never heard me talk about Zambian church or if you just have never heard about it at all, my friends, you are missing out. I will have videos when I get back. It is the most powerful thing I have ever experienced in my entire life. I mean, it’s just beyond words amazing.
But first I must back up to one of my favorite verses. Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus says in the beginning of those verses that He has all authority under Heaven and earth. We have arrived here because of Him. We have come in His name. He tells us then to go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. THAT is our purpose. When we feel inadequate to do the jobs we’re in, know that all authority is from Him. Accept this. Be ready. God is not going to waste any time. Just let Him work. Let Him flow through you and accomplish what He wants to accomplish. We are the body of Christ. Don’t get in the way of a miracle. This week believe in miracles. Today believe in miracles.
Listen. Speak. Realize. That your hands have the power to change lives because God has anointed you to be wherever it is that you are.
Ok so at church Pastor Rafael spoke. Let me tell you He has the Power of Christ in his voice. Our topic was of Abraham and Isaac. He asked us.. will you sacrifice your Isaac this time? I know I’ve written about Abraham and Isaac before, but I must share what I learned this morning. We talked mainly of sacrifice. What does that mean? If God had told Abraham to simply just give up one of his sons he would have easily chosen Ishmael. But for Abraham to give up Isaac would mean he would be giving up the one he loved. To sacrifice means to feel pain inside you. God isn’t interested in the Ishmael in your life. He wants the Isaac. He wants to see if you will sacrifice the thing that you love the very most for Him. Here is the good news, the result of your sacrifice is filled with blessings. You see, God started it all. He was the first one to sacrifice. Followed by Jesus. Followed then be Abraham. The question now is, will you be next?
All He wants is faith.
isn’t that such a good message? I loved it! Very powerful! Especially at a Zambian church
So after church we went to the market and ate at La Gondola and had some delicious pizza! The market was great! Got some good stuff. I always have to leave and assess what all I had bought because it is a little overwhelming! I made a new list of the things I still need and will get the rest next week.
THEN I GOT TO SEE KELVIN!! I just love getting to see him. He is such a joy in my life. He sat with me while we did some of the dances and before we got our new partners. Of course he isn’t allowed to be mine. I also got to see Paul who was one of my partners last year and Moses who was a helper of mine. He was wearing the a&m shirt I got him last year! How precious.
My new partner is a girl. Her name is Ezra. I really like her a lot! She is 21 and is super fun. My helper is named Pocious. I’m not really sure how old he is but he does have 6 kids!
Lets see.. we had our necklace bagging competition tonight as our ministry project and of course the BAG force one. Which means we get first in line for pizza night on tues. I will say the food so far is incredible compared to years past. Last night we had shepherds pie (aka mashed potatoes, hamburger meat, and a few carrots mixed in) and tonight was Nshima night. Can’t say it’s my favorite but it honestly has no flavor whatsoever. I ate it with the sauce (I didn’t want to ask what exactly it was) and it wasn’t too bad. I hear of this place that I think we’re going to next Saturday where you get to pick out your goat and eat it!! Yeah I know shocking that I am going to eat goat meat, but hey when in africa right?
Ps- Skye your name is Makumbi in Nyanja.
So at this point I’m sure not many more are still reading this, but if you are some prayer requests for you! Tomorrow is our first day of camp so just pray that we all have a really great connection with our partners because without that bond then camp will be really rough. Also that the kids just come ready and excited to see what the Lord has in store for them this week!
Hope all is well in the states! Love and miss you all.
Chikondi.
Well the plane rides weren’t terrible I guess. We signed up for the kids meals instead of the regular food they serve. Best idea ever. Not only do you get served first, it was mainly just chicken and mashed potatoes. I mean who doesn’t like that? While in London we went to a friend of Maddie’s flat. Although we didn’t sleep, it was still relaxing and fun! We got to play with their baby and eat food! The second plane ride, I was determined to sleep! I ate my dinner and took my sleeping pills and waited… and waited.. and waited. 2 movies, some ipod time, and some bathroom and snack breaks I finally realized that sleep was not in my future anytime soon. By the time we landed I was definitely a little delirious. When we got to the villas I had been awake for just shy of 48 hours. I lay down on our (rock hard) bed just for a few minutes and didn’t get up for much much later. I basically slept the entire day away! But it was well worth it because I could hardly function!
After getting all rested up we had our first meeting with Greer and the rest of the Americans. It felt so good to finally be back here. Greer started talking about how the devil has tried everything he can in order to keep us away from here. When I heard that I couldn’t help but laugh. Me and mom’s week leading up to me leaving was absolutely crazy. Between our car breaking down in the middle of nowhere, tx to walking into my brother’s apt only to realize that other people had already helped themselves to some of our stuff it was all sorts of difficult. BUT through it all I finally made it.
Sunday- we woke up this morning for church. Now.. if you have never heard me talk about Zambian church or if you just have never heard about it at all, my friends, you are missing out. I will have videos when I get back. It is the most powerful thing I have ever experienced in my entire life. I mean, it’s just beyond words amazing.
But first I must back up to one of my favorite verses. Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus says in the beginning of those verses that He has all authority under Heaven and earth. We have arrived here because of Him. We have come in His name. He tells us then to go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. THAT is our purpose. When we feel inadequate to do the jobs we’re in, know that all authority is from Him. Accept this. Be ready. God is not going to waste any time. Just let Him work. Let Him flow through you and accomplish what He wants to accomplish. We are the body of Christ. Don’t get in the way of a miracle. This week believe in miracles. Today believe in miracles.
Listen. Speak. Realize. That your hands have the power to change lives because God has anointed you to be wherever it is that you are.
Ok so at church Pastor Rafael spoke. Let me tell you He has the Power of Christ in his voice. Our topic was of Abraham and Isaac. He asked us.. will you sacrifice your Isaac this time? I know I’ve written about Abraham and Isaac before, but I must share what I learned this morning. We talked mainly of sacrifice. What does that mean? If God had told Abraham to simply just give up one of his sons he would have easily chosen Ishmael. But for Abraham to give up Isaac would mean he would be giving up the one he loved. To sacrifice means to feel pain inside you. God isn’t interested in the Ishmael in your life. He wants the Isaac. He wants to see if you will sacrifice the thing that you love the very most for Him. Here is the good news, the result of your sacrifice is filled with blessings. You see, God started it all. He was the first one to sacrifice. Followed by Jesus. Followed then be Abraham. The question now is, will you be next?
All He wants is faith.
isn’t that such a good message? I loved it! Very powerful! Especially at a Zambian church
So after church we went to the market and ate at La Gondola and had some delicious pizza! The market was great! Got some good stuff. I always have to leave and assess what all I had bought because it is a little overwhelming! I made a new list of the things I still need and will get the rest next week.
THEN I GOT TO SEE KELVIN!! I just love getting to see him. He is such a joy in my life. He sat with me while we did some of the dances and before we got our new partners. Of course he isn’t allowed to be mine. I also got to see Paul who was one of my partners last year and Moses who was a helper of mine. He was wearing the a&m shirt I got him last year! How precious.
My new partner is a girl. Her name is Ezra. I really like her a lot! She is 21 and is super fun. My helper is named Pocious. I’m not really sure how old he is but he does have 6 kids!
Lets see.. we had our necklace bagging competition tonight as our ministry project and of course the BAG force one. Which means we get first in line for pizza night on tues. I will say the food so far is incredible compared to years past. Last night we had shepherds pie (aka mashed potatoes, hamburger meat, and a few carrots mixed in) and tonight was Nshima night. Can’t say it’s my favorite but it honestly has no flavor whatsoever. I ate it with the sauce (I didn’t want to ask what exactly it was) and it wasn’t too bad. I hear of this place that I think we’re going to next Saturday where you get to pick out your goat and eat it!! Yeah I know shocking that I am going to eat goat meat, but hey when in africa right?
Ps- Skye your name is Makumbi in Nyanja.
So at this point I’m sure not many more are still reading this, but if you are some prayer requests for you! Tomorrow is our first day of camp so just pray that we all have a really great connection with our partners because without that bond then camp will be really rough. Also that the kids just come ready and excited to see what the Lord has in store for them this week!
Hope all is well in the states! Love and miss you all.
Chikondi.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Live as you are called!
ok ok i know it's been ages. I'm sure those who used to read my blog stopped trying a long time ago. Sorry about that!
updates on life:
-I leave for Africa in 9 days. whoop!
-I have been watching the world cup so that I can be cool when I get there
-Patricia, Steph, and Mel are all married women now. crazzzzzy.
-I've been working in the FLMI office for a month now and I'm in love with it there
-living with a dog is interesting.. as much as I love her, I could do without the poop in my room.
-I decided that I want to read all of cs lewis' books.. i'm still on The Screwtape Letters. It's been a busy summer.
-I've been attending Watermark Community Church
-life is good.
"Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches." 1 Cor 7:17
I've been really convicted lately of being content with where the Lord has me NOW. Not in 5 years or 10. Not next week or next month. I'm talking about right now. God has led me to Dallas to work now. In a week and a half He is taking me to Africa. But for now I'm in an office. processing credit cards. among other things of course, but lately that is what my life consists of. I dream of numbers, constituent names, schedules, and amounts. Normally I would say that isn't a very ideal place for me to be in, but I haven't told you the best news about it yet. You see, with every schedule I create and every credit card that gets processed, one more kid is sponsored. One more kid gets food at night. One more kid gets a better education. One more kid gets medical care, clothes on their backs, and a discipleship leader teaching them about Jesus!
Now that makes it all worth it. That makes it ideal. I have a passion for my job. I have a passion for where God placed me this past month. And I know it was intentional because I finished the job I've been working on just in time. If I wasn't sent there, there would not have been enough people to finish!
"Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God." 1 Cor 7:20-24
Don't desire or want what you don't have. God has intentionally placed you exactly where He wants you. He is going to use you just the way you are. If you are single, be single for Him. If you're still in college, let that be your mission. If you are overseas feeling alone, cling to Him.
He knows what He is doing. He has a perfect plan. It is far greater than anything we can even dream of.
So put away that 5 year plan you wrote out and live as you are called!!
updates on life:
-I leave for Africa in 9 days. whoop!
-I have been watching the world cup so that I can be cool when I get there
-Patricia, Steph, and Mel are all married women now. crazzzzzy.
-I've been working in the FLMI office for a month now and I'm in love with it there
-living with a dog is interesting.. as much as I love her, I could do without the poop in my room.
-I decided that I want to read all of cs lewis' books.. i'm still on The Screwtape Letters. It's been a busy summer.
-I've been attending Watermark Community Church
-life is good.
"Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches." 1 Cor 7:17
I've been really convicted lately of being content with where the Lord has me NOW. Not in 5 years or 10. Not next week or next month. I'm talking about right now. God has led me to Dallas to work now. In a week and a half He is taking me to Africa. But for now I'm in an office. processing credit cards. among other things of course, but lately that is what my life consists of. I dream of numbers, constituent names, schedules, and amounts. Normally I would say that isn't a very ideal place for me to be in, but I haven't told you the best news about it yet. You see, with every schedule I create and every credit card that gets processed, one more kid is sponsored. One more kid gets food at night. One more kid gets a better education. One more kid gets medical care, clothes on their backs, and a discipleship leader teaching them about Jesus!
Now that makes it all worth it. That makes it ideal. I have a passion for my job. I have a passion for where God placed me this past month. And I know it was intentional because I finished the job I've been working on just in time. If I wasn't sent there, there would not have been enough people to finish!
"Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God." 1 Cor 7:20-24
Don't desire or want what you don't have. God has intentionally placed you exactly where He wants you. He is going to use you just the way you are. If you are single, be single for Him. If you're still in college, let that be your mission. If you are overseas feeling alone, cling to Him.
He knows what He is doing. He has a perfect plan. It is far greater than anything we can even dream of.
So put away that 5 year plan you wrote out and live as you are called!!
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