Zambia

So, most of you know that the first part of December doing 10 Days for Jesus. I felt like I was a chicken running around with my head cut off. Very busy and barely time to think. It was wonderful in other ways though, trust me. After that hectic time I cherished my Christmas holiday. I spent most of it at home honestly. Enjoying the quiet, reading, enjoying the sun, and just generally enjoying being back at home. I really didn't do much. I spend a lot of time reflecting over all that happened in the past year and looking forward to what is in store for this year.

Well, by the time New Years came I was ready for another adventure. I wasn't fully ready to start my normal schedule (wait..do I ever have a normal schedule?) and God provided for me to go to Zambia. It was such a wonderful way to spend part of my time off. I got to see friends that are as close to me as family and I got to be in the real Africa. ;) It was exactly what I needed! I got to rest and visit with my friend Shannon who works at Kwathu which is an orphan home in Livingstone. It was so fun there, not only seeing her but also getting to know the kids and the couple who runs it. I haven't had the chance to just sit and play with kids in awhile and it was so much fun. There are 9 kids there who all come from broken or abandoned backgrounds. Their stories are heart breaking but when you see them now and how they have blossomed within a healthy family environment is amazing! If you guys want to hear more about them or help them in anyway check them out their blog at kwathuhome.wordpress.com. I personally look forward to one day going back to see them.

The other half of my time was spent with Dan and Regina who are starting an All Nations base there in Livingstone as well as continuing their project called Loves Door. They have already built a house that will be used as an orphan home in one of the surrounding villages and they are working hard to build more bridges into the community. If you guys want to learn more about what they are doing their website is www.lovesdoor.org and their blog is loves-door.blogspot.com

The villages are so different than the city you almost get culture shock every time. But they love it and that is where they have been called. They are starting to build up a team around them. They have two full time staff so far with more coming to join soon. In the mean time they have short term teams and interns coming through to help them out. God is good in the way that He has provided for them so far. I look at both of these places and see how hard it must be. It is still a somewhat new country to them with a new language and culture but they are learning fast. It gets really hot, sometimes the water and/or electricity goes off, little projects that shouldn't take that long always turn into much bigger ordeals but they wouldn't choose anywhere else to be. I observed them and I remembered how much I loved being on Zanzibar in the village. I won't deny that I love being in Cape Town. One of the most beautiful places on earth with the beaches, oceans, and wonderful hikes but there is something inside me that misses the villages and working in them. Some aspects of life are definitely harder in the village but it is also so much more simple. Maybe it comes from me a small town girl. Don't worry, I am not leaving Cape Town anytime soon. But after visiting Zimbabwe and Zambia something was left in my heart. We will see what this year has in store and where it leads. I am ready to be surprised and ready for God to tell me what the next step is.