Zambia Recap Part 9

I was standing with my apostle Heavy, and I saw a load of hollering kids beating the sides of the big blue bus through the open windows.  As it slows to a stop the kids stream out with nervous excitement.  It was obvious that they were thrilled to be there, but their guards were definitely up.  We settled into a little football (thats soccer for us Americans) and those walls started coming down quickly.  It was apparent that they were feeling me out in the same way I was them.  They'd kick the ball and look toward me for approval.  If I would laugh, they would stare for a split second then join in.  It didn't take long for us to settle in.

The tough part was not knowing exactly what to do at any given second.  In America we are "time" people, not "event" people.  Almost every American has a clock on their person in some form or fashion at this any every moment; watches, phones, etc.  So we're wired to expect to know eveything that needs to happen and in what order it will.

Most of the rest of the world isn't wired that way.

That being said, I knew I would need to take a lot of initiative and just get to know them.  We went around and had all 15 guys introduce themseves.  Some spoke a little English, although most were very hesitant.  Heavy was terrific in helping me relate with them.  I would realize later in the week that most of them spoke a decent amount of English, they were just embarassed to try it around me.  I would probably be the same exact way in their shoes.

After a big group teaching time and some football we were ready to wrap up the first day.

I didn't really realize how exhausted I was until I jumped in the shower after that first day.  My adrenaline was up all day, the sun was pounding on us, and oh yeah...the air is as thin as Denver.  Sweet.

It was obvious to everyone the weight of what we had begun as we were all sitting around at dinner.  Not a lot of ruckus or joking around, just a real awareness of our task at hand.

I laid in bed that night reflecting on the day, and praying for my guys.  I was burdened for them as I thought about where they were.  Were they fed when they got home?  What is "home" to them?  Were they sleeping on the street that night?  Were they safe?  Did they feel safe?  On and on as I laid awake.

During blessing times over the next 4 days I would learn the tragic realities of those thoughts.

Zambia Recap Part 8

Did anyone see where October went?

I guess I missed it somehow...

Either way I'm hoping my fingers can keep up with my brain because I've been reinvigorated/reenergized by what our great God has been doing in Amanda and I!!  I've got really exciting news about Zambia, but you're just going to have to wait until I wrap up the stories from camp.

I'm not going to lie, part of the delay in this stage has been trying to wrap my brain around how to share adequately with you the feelings and encounters we had over there.  While we were "fully there" with our attention, there is still a slight haze that surrounds our memories, kind of like the dizziness you encounter after a long run (which for me is about one flight of stairs).

We stepped off the counselor shuttle bus early on the Monday morning and there was literally a haze over everything.  As our eyes adjusted we noticed the Zambian leaders praying and worshipping, oblivious of our presence.  We joined in the worship as best we could, still reeling from the excitement/nerves of the task we would soon be engaged in.  I quickly found Heavy, my apostle, and hung close to him.  He told me Patrick was getting some of the kids because he was the Discipleship Leader for the slum my kids were from.  While we waited I enjoyed an hour or so of conversation with Heavy as I tryed to anticipate what I would soon be faced with.  We discussed the age at which our guys would be engaging in sexual relationships.  We discussed what school was like for them, and if they were likely attending on a regular basis.  We discussed what families are like in Zambia.  The conversation continuously pointed me back to a common denominator: this is the devil's playground.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10

It was obvious that Satan had been oppressing these people for lifetimes before I met them.  There was an almost noticeable feeling of discord.  There was no peace.  I knew that my job as an ambassador of Christ would be to show these children a savior who loved them enough to die in their place.  What a weighty task.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

How can I help them understand?  Will they get it?  What analogies will translate?  Will they like me?  Will they feel safe with me?  Will I be able to... Stopped mid-thought, my kids' bus pulled up and spilled.

Here we go...

Orphans in Zambia from Family Legacy on Vimeo.

I'm back and ready to share the last third of our trip with you. Before I do so, I want to share a video that was shown at the Family Legacy 10 Year Celebration Banquet this weekend. It will help you gain perspective and better understand the stories you'll read in the next few weeks.

Enjoy!

A Short Intermission

My apologies for the break in posts; life is catching up to us quickly, no matter how we dodge it!  I will resume posts at the end of next week, but in the meantime please think about sponsoring one of our kids.  These kids will have the opportunity to grow and learn in a healthy environment for just $40 a month.  This is in no way a guilt trip, I simply ask anyone who reads this to thank God for your blessings and consider if He gave you those so you can bless one of these children.

25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,

and one who waters will himself be watered.

Proverbs 11:25

Mwila and Hatson Have Been Sponsored!!

A huge thanks to Lori and Kevin Smith who are sponsoring two of the worst cases we encountered.  With their contribution, Mwila and Hatson will be receiving 3 meals a day, Healthcare, and top-notch Christian education!

To help you understand the importance of this to these children, here's a little bit about them:

Mwila lives with a young aunt who is still in school.  As a result, they have to seek help from another aunt, who has a son who regulary abuses Mwila physically.  As a result, Mwila is being tested for HIV/AIDS.  If tests prove positive, Mwila will receive any necessary ARV treatments to allow her to live a full life thanks to sponsorship.  Also, provision from Family Legacy will discontinue the need for them to visit the other aunt's house.

Hatson lost his father in 2000 and his mother in January of this year.  He is currently living with a grandmother, because he has been disowned by other family members, and she has no source of income.  If something happens to his grandma, he has nowhere to go.  To Hatson, sponsorship means 3 meals a day, school fees paid for, regular healthcare, and the attention of Discipleship Leaders who will keep track of him no matter what happens.

Thank you Father for these children.  Thank you for knowing them well and for stirring the affections of Lori and Kevin to serve them and you.  Please continue to bless these children as they safely grow to know you better.  Amen.

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:37-40

Zambia Recap Part 7

Taylor has been doing an amazing job documenting our story, and I wanted to join in and share a few of my thoughts along the way too.  He mentioned that on the Sunday before Camp Life we met our two Zambian partners for the week.

The Lord matched me up with my evangelist, Purity...

...and my apostle, Esther.

Meeting our partners on Sunday was our first real taste of Camp Life and the Lord's provision was so apparent from that first moment.  I had experienced ongoing doubt and anxiousness about whether I would "relate" to my girls and co-leaders, but the Lord made it very clear that He was in control and would provide exactly what he thought I needed.  

Purity and I had more things in common than I could count!  She loves to sing, dance, act, and be so silly (my family can surely attest to these similarities!).

She's one of 5 kids and loves spending time with her loud family that loves to laugh!  Her oldest brother, Maximillian, was the pastor at our church service on Sunday and her 2nd oldest brother, Darius (a picture of them below), was an evangelist at Camp too!.  These were just a few of the many things that were so similar about our lives, even though we live in very different places!

The verses that come to mind when I think of Purity are:

"A cheerful heart is good medicine..."  Proverbs 17:22

and

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."  Proverbs 31: 25-25

Our group was blessed continually by her cheerful spirit and bright smile.  This girl was cheerful even after waking up at 4:30am so that she and her friends could walk an hour and 45 minutes from their village to camp each morning!  I think, "ugh!  I can't imagine having to do that!" and she saw it as a time to talk and spend time with her dear friends!

Also, the Lord used her constantly to remind me that the He was in control...of every conversation, every word, the timing, how our girls responded to the teaching, etc, etc.  Every time I would even begin to voice a comment like "maybe I should have said ______ instead" or "maybe ______ could have gone better" she would instantly respond back with "the Lord knows!  He doesn't need you to say or do just the perfect thing!  The Lord will work how and when He wants!".  Convicting, but so encouraging!

Here's a snapshot of us during one of our morning pow-wows.  We would chat about and pray for our girls before they came each morning and then regroup and do the same each day when the girls left.

With all the busyness during the day, these were special times where we could get to know each other and hear how the same God was working in different ways in each of our lives.

Purity (left) and Esther (jumping rope on the right)

Esther was much more "subdued", but had such passion for the Lord.  When Purity and I would step away to do "blessing time" with one of our girls, Esther would take over the teaching.  She had such enthusiasm and passion for our girls to know scripture and taught them how to use the EvangeCube  (an evangelism tool) backwards and forwards.  Each morning she would share about her 1am prayer time from the night before.  Every night she would wake up and pray, pray, pray for our girls for an hour and then go back to sleep.  Wow!

The verse that comes to mind when I think of Esther is:

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him,"  Matthew 12:34-35

I just had this picture of her heart being so packed with scripture and knowing the Lord's character, that His truth just spewed out of her mouth.  Her prayers were so encouraging to me as she would just pray, pray, pray so fervently and with such passion.

Ahhh!  All that to say, both of these girls were amazing and were such a gift from the Lord that week.  I was so encouraged by them and had so much fun with them!  I miss them, but take joy in knowing I'll see them again someday, if not here on earth, then surely in heaven!

Zambia Recap Part 6

Sunday morning we woke up, put on our church clothes (and a fleece because church would be outside) and walked to the "boma" down the street.  The boma was a thatched open-air building where some Zambian friends of the ministry were holding church service for the Americans.  Preaching, reading scripture, and praying in English made us realize how much intentionality is required for the Zambians to want to pursue God.  I have a hard enough time understanding the complexities of scripture in English on occasion, I can't imagine if I was studying with Nyanja or Bimba text!!

The service was great.  No laser light shows, no concert hall sound systems, just people who loved the Lord getting after it with songs like "Lets Stomp the Devil" which of course had dance motions.

After church we quickly changed clothes and hopped on a bus to an area called Arcades.  Remembering that we are in the capital city, this was a blend of African market and urban retail.  The area has a market in the middle of the parking lot, surrounded by banks, a grocery store, and even a Subway.  No Starbucks though, I guess there are still some areas on this planet where their presence cannot be felt (not to mention, who in Africa would pay 3 days wages for a cup of coffee?  I'm just saying...). 

We ate a burger at Mike's then popped in an internet cafe to send our dads quick Father's Day greetings.  While emailing our families we began to be broken down as we pondered the children we would be ministering to, remembering that so many have no father besides our Father in heaven.  This realization made us all the more thankful.

We circled the market about 37 times while Amanda was picking out a purse.  Thats a joke, but not a far fetched one.  The ladies were actually laughing each time we came by.

We finally found "the perfect one" and loaded up the buses to go to the GO Center.  The acronym "GO" is for Gospel Outreach, the facility rented by Family Legacy to host Camp Life.  This afternoon we would be meeting our Evangelists and Apostles.

Our Evangelists are our right-hand man, our cultural advisors, and our reassurance when conversations or situations got tense.  Our Apostles served the group constantly, kept track of them during blessing times, and tought them the Evangecube, a visual evangelism tool.

My (Taylor) guys were Evangelist Patrick and Apostle Heavy.  Patrick is a year or two older than myself, and Heavy is 36.  Both love Jesus so much, and are real servants to these kids.

Amanda's partners were Esther and Purity, whom she will share more about soon.

We got to know our partners better, and had an opportunity to ask them questions about what our kids go through, and what to expect.  There was a divine connection almost instantly that is remeniscent of what I believe the early church was like.  We had a common bond: Christ and Him glorified.  That was all we needed!

We loaded up once more on the bus and went back to Mulungushi for dinner and our evening ministry project: bagging letters for necklace name tags.  Tomorrow is the first day of CAMP LIFE!!!