I've officially been in the real world for 2 1/2 months now. On one hand it seems like the summer flew by, but on the other hand it feels like years ago that I was in school. I think since I moved up to Dallas right after I graduated and started work, I was forced to change my mindset as a college student to real world very quickly.
But let me tell you, my real world is incredible. In my world, I get to stare at the faces I fell in love with in Zambia everyday. In my world, I get to help them get sponsored. In my world, I get to work with people who actually understand where my heart is, because their hearts are there too.
Finally, Africa isn't just a summer trip. I don't have to think about homework, tests, meetings and papers first. Africa is now first. Joseph, Gracious, Steven, Brian, Lyson, Blessings, Peter, Chrispin, James, Matthew, Alick, Alex, Francis, Smart and Anold are first. The children at the Tree of Life Village are first. The Community Resource Centers are first. Christ at the center of all of these things is first.
On the last day of camp my baby boy, Joseph, looked at me with all the longing in the world. He said, "Please, Auntie Kailee, promise me that you won't forget about me." Oh my child, how could you not know that I think about you everyday? How could you not know that I love you with every ounce of me? Don't you know that you mean everything to me? Don't you know that I will NEVER forget you?
But then that made me think. We're all a little like Joseph. Daily, the Lord pours His love out on us and yet we question whether or not He will remember us tomorrow. I didn't understand how Joseph could doubt my devotion toward him, but it became an all too familiar feeling when I later asked God the same question. He answered me, "Oh my child, how could you not know that I think about you everyday? How could you not know that I love you with every ounce of me? Don't you know that you mean everything to me? Don't you know that I will NEVER forget you?"
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Our actions betray our testimony.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good for in due season we will reap if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." Phil 2:5-7
Over and over the Bible tells us how we should behave. Over and over we repeat those words to others. Over and over we forget those words pertain to ourselves as well.
Our actions betray our testimony.
If we don't have actions to back up our words, what good is our word?
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently as his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." James 1:22-24
This is a call to action. We know what we're supposed to do, now let's act on it. Don't worry about what you can't do, but be faithful about what you can.
You were given a week, what did you spend it on? What will you spend next week on?
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." Phil 2:5-7
Over and over the Bible tells us how we should behave. Over and over we repeat those words to others. Over and over we forget those words pertain to ourselves as well.
Our actions betray our testimony.
If we don't have actions to back up our words, what good is our word?
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently as his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." James 1:22-24
This is a call to action. We know what we're supposed to do, now let's act on it. Don't worry about what you can't do, but be faithful about what you can.
You were given a week, what did you spend it on? What will you spend next week on?
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
A boy who lives up to his name.
Let me tell you about a boy who stole my heart over a year ago. His name is Gracious. One look at his face and you can't help but light up inside. When I close my eyes, I can see him running up to me with a giant smile, wearing his cute little checkered button down shirt and his arms spread open wide, ready for a bear hug. When he agrees with what you're saying, he answers in his precious voice, "yeah sure." He has been my little translator for the boys who don't know English for two summers now and he is always the one who jumps the highest when dancing to our songs.
Last year Gracious lived with his Auntie and Uncle so when I asked him how home was I wasn't expecting much of a change. But then he told me that he moved back in with his mom. I asked him why and as he hung his head, he looked at me with deep sorrow in his gorgeous brown eyes and said, "because, it's better if we suffer together."
Gracious. A boy who lives up to his name. He gave up a life where he was able to get by for a life where he has absolutely nothing. A life where he has MAYBE one meal a day. A devastated life. A life where he has no reason to smile, but because he knows the Lord loves him, he does. And he shares that smile with his mom, who can't afford to send her child to school. He shares it with the men who daily chase him away since he hasn't paid. He shares it with friends, strangers, and store keepers.
He shares it with me.
Every memory I have of Africa this year ends with this thought: I am honored to have gotten to spend the past three years LEARNING from the most beautiful and gracious souls I've ever met.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Well done good and faithful servant.
So the trip is over. After 40 hours of travel time and 2 weeks in one of my favorite places in the entire world, I've made it back home. The time flew by so quickly that it feels like I never even left.
I've been asked in my three years, which one has been my favorite. As I think about it, it's hard to choose one because in all three I've learned something new and have grown so much. 2008 was my first experience. My mind was blown about God's protection and guidance for me. My whole life I thought I was the one in control of my life but I realized that my purpose in life is to live for Him. I am His child and He has anointed me to go and proclaim the good news to the nations. In 2009, I was in need of a much gentler message. He wrapped me in His arms and abundantly poured out His love on me. I was reminded that He would never leave me. No matter what, He is always there for me. I never have to worry about being good enough for Him or whether or not my mistakes will make Him eventually turn His back. All He wants is our faith and in return He has given us life. And now 2010. This time I learned about JOY. When I think back on my time in Africa, instantly a smile is covering my face. But what I think is the greatest is that this has been my theme throughout the year. There is no greater joy on this earth then what God can bring us. And with that comes strength.
Focus on your giants, you fall.
Focus on God, your giants fall.
Isn't that an incredible message?! Especially for these children who have monsters waiting for them around every corner. All the odds are against them. All of the world doesn't care about them. But God says in Isaiah that He has called each of us by name and we are His. That includes the orphans. He calls them precious. He sees them as beautiful.
It is one of the biggest honors in my life to get the opportunity to love on these children. I know with complete discernment that God led me to them in the most perfect timing. Not only am I getting to love on them and encourage them, I am being loved on as well.
On the last night in Africa, one girl testified about her summer in Africa. She went on to thank each of us for coming and doing the Lord's work. She thanked us for being faithful servants, blindly following God. But when she said that, images of my boys flashed through my mind instead. Wholeheartedly they obey the Lord. Selflessly they put others first. They have nothing and yet they give everything. I see Christ in their actions.
I pray daily that I don't let the stresses of life preoccupy my mind. What an example my boys have set. Their giants are named poverty, starvation, abuse, rape, disease, death. They look the devil in the eyes every single minute of every single day and yet they choose not to see him. Instead they believe in the Lord's strength. Instead the choose to give to others who have even less than them. Instead they become good and faithful servants.
I've been asked in my three years, which one has been my favorite. As I think about it, it's hard to choose one because in all three I've learned something new and have grown so much. 2008 was my first experience. My mind was blown about God's protection and guidance for me. My whole life I thought I was the one in control of my life but I realized that my purpose in life is to live for Him. I am His child and He has anointed me to go and proclaim the good news to the nations. In 2009, I was in need of a much gentler message. He wrapped me in His arms and abundantly poured out His love on me. I was reminded that He would never leave me. No matter what, He is always there for me. I never have to worry about being good enough for Him or whether or not my mistakes will make Him eventually turn His back. All He wants is our faith and in return He has given us life. And now 2010. This time I learned about JOY. When I think back on my time in Africa, instantly a smile is covering my face. But what I think is the greatest is that this has been my theme throughout the year. There is no greater joy on this earth then what God can bring us. And with that comes strength.
Focus on your giants, you fall.
Focus on God, your giants fall.
Isn't that an incredible message?! Especially for these children who have monsters waiting for them around every corner. All the odds are against them. All of the world doesn't care about them. But God says in Isaiah that He has called each of us by name and we are His. That includes the orphans. He calls them precious. He sees them as beautiful.
It is one of the biggest honors in my life to get the opportunity to love on these children. I know with complete discernment that God led me to them in the most perfect timing. Not only am I getting to love on them and encourage them, I am being loved on as well.
On the last night in Africa, one girl testified about her summer in Africa. She went on to thank each of us for coming and doing the Lord's work. She thanked us for being faithful servants, blindly following God. But when she said that, images of my boys flashed through my mind instead. Wholeheartedly they obey the Lord. Selflessly they put others first. They have nothing and yet they give everything. I see Christ in their actions.
I pray daily that I don't let the stresses of life preoccupy my mind. What an example my boys have set. Their giants are named poverty, starvation, abuse, rape, disease, death. They look the devil in the eyes every single minute of every single day and yet they choose not to see him. Instead they believe in the Lord's strength. Instead the choose to give to others who have even less than them. Instead they become good and faithful servants.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I will never stop singing tolemi totela
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!
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!
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!
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