Day 7

-January 14, 2009
This morning I decided to climb to mango trees on our compound and pick fresh mangos for our breakfast. I didn’t know that unripe mango sap will leave itchy blisters on your skin. Needless to say, I currently have one on my arm and two on my side. Ha, what an idiot (as Josh would say). After my glorious display of cultural “competence,” we went to have devotions with the WHIZ Staff in the new WHIZ building that’s still being constructed. It was really cool and educational. I discovered that we Christians in America have a lot yet to learn about prayer from our African brothers and sisters. Zambians sing to God, then lift specific praises to God, then sing again, and finally pray (ask for requests from God). And when they pray, they really pray! Most pray aloud for every personal requests mentioned.

Next I sent some e-mails, had some lunch, and we all went to town. Town was great, and I was many chitenge materials I would like to have shirts made out of, but I also saw a great deal of poverty. These people are all so beautiful and happy despite their bleak situations. After town, we went back home. I wasn’t here a half hour before my soccer buddies climbed up in the trees outside the wall and were waving for me come to play soccer with them. Of course, I did and it was a blast. I feel so much love for them already, but I don’t really know how I can help them while being sensitive to the culture and possible consequences of doing so. Please pray for them, Zambia, the WHIZ Staff, our team, and just Africa in general.

Day 6

-January 13, 2009
Today we had training with Chimuka about the Community Orphan Trust Assessment we’ll be conducting. Basically, we’ll go into the villages where WHIZ works and evaluate how the programs are running. WHIZ wants us to do this so that there is no bias in the assessment.

After that, we had a session on poverty with Jeff Johnson and then came one of the best, but hardest things thus far… playing soccer with the kids. It was great and really fun, but I feel a strong connection with them now. After the game was over, a few of them walked me home: Hastin, Shepherd, Kushoma, & Ernest. They’re very poor kids who live in Mwapona compound which is supported by the Mochipapa Community Orphan Trust. Jeff told me a Trust only reduces the need of a village by 30%, but that’s definitely better than nothing and is many times the difference between life and death for a lot of people.

Honestly, I couldn’t help, but cry before I went to sleep. When we asked Jeff what we could do about all the issues in Africa, He said pray and tell The Church to finish the work they started concerning AIDS. We believe that this coming generation of African children will be the defining point in dealing with this pandemic. They will either gain control over AIDS or it will slowly wipe out most of Sub-Saharan Africa. Only The Church can decide whether it will be our greatest triumph in loving people or our most dismal failure.

Day 5

-January 12, 2009
Well, I’m technically writing this on the morning of the 13th, but it’s cool because it’s concerning the 12th :)

So “today,” we went to Mochipapa Church for an orientation and to meet the World Hope International Zambia (WHIZ) staff. It was really fun and interesting. The people I remember are Elvin, Richman, Clayson, Raphael, Clesha, Henry, and Chimuka. After the first part of the orientation, we ALL ate lunch together and then some of our team played with the kids around the Wesleyan Mission where WHIZ is based and Mochipapa Church is. Once lunch was over, we had the second half of the orientation for the day and took a tour of the WHIZ campus. Next we walked home, had some good conversation about various topics, ate dinner, had devotionals, and went to bed.

Everything’s been wonderful so far! God is definitely in this place because the true LOVE here for God and each other is spectacular!

Day 4

-January 11, 2009
We’re now in Choma! We arrived last night around 7:30 or so. Dinner consisted of rice, green beans, bread, bean sauce, and NSHIMA! It was great, especially with some honey which Bratch and I also ate for breakfast.

I can’t even begin to describe church this morning, but I’ll try. So basically, we to a Wesleyan church of about 300 called Mochipapa. It’s just right down the road. Our time there was so moving. The people “cheered” for us when we were introduced. We sang in Tonga, clapped, danced, listened about Faith in Sunday School, and then heard a wonderful message on forgiveness no matter what your past. After, we shook EVERYONE’S hand and some of us played with the kids. Next we had lunch, met the day watchman named Gordon, and took naps. Then it was basically orientation the rest of the day.

The people here are all so beautiful and accepting. I’m already starting to fall in love with them. We also me our friend and cook Mrs. Bota and leader Moreen today. They’re both amazing people!

Day 3

We haven't had the internet til now. Blogs will usually come a few days at a time :)

-January 10, 2009
The trip has been AWESOME so far! I think we're officially on day 3 now. Flying here was long, but amazing. We're in Johannesburg, South Africa now staying at a hotel that overlooks the city. It’s not even possible to describe the beauty of God’s creation that I’ve now seen and will see. Yesterday while flying over the breathtaking Alps of Italy, I got a real sense of the might and majesty of our LORD. I could just picture Him forming the snow covered towers of rock and earth with his powerful yet tender fingertips. God is good!

So far, I’ve met a girl named Alexandria from Virginia who’s going to the Sudan with an environmentalist organization, guy travelling with and from Calvin College to Nairobi, Kenya, and lady from Denmark who grew up in Africa and actually taught Kenneth Kuanda’s son. He was the man who led Zambia to gain its independence and then was their first President, I think. Concerning just our IWU group, it’s great! I already love everyone. We have an amazing team! Already we’ve seen or heard about some of our different individual gifts and passions. God definitely hand chose this group.

We should arrive in Choma this evening. I can’t wait!!!

Day 1-2

*This is of us in Amsterdam.

Alright, so here's the thing... We're here like oober early at the Ft. Wayne International Airport, and they've got wifi so I figured I'd blog it up for a lil bit w/Bratch and The Deal (Brandon Clark). We leave in like an hour for Detroit then off to Amsterdam during the night. We'll leave for Johannesburg, South Africa tomorrow morning. Next it's an over night there and off to Livingstone, Zambia the next morning. Then an awesome bus or van ride to Choma!... Basically, we're hoping to be there by Saturday night.

Zambia

I'm leaving for Zambia tomorrow morning. I'll be taking classes and doing Missions work there with World Hope International... I haven't decided if I will update this daily or not, but it should be fairly current the whole time I'm there... I can't wait to be with my Zambian brothers and sisters and share Christ's LOVE!!!