We drive away from Namwianga Mission in exactly one week. This semester has come to an early end. It's honestly hard to imagine life outside of Africa now that I've been so absorbed with everything it is for the past two months. If you ask me my favorite thing about the semester, I'll have to rack my brain for a while to pick just one thing, so maybe you should be thinking of a different question. :)
We are headed to Uganda and Rwanda Tuesday, the 4th. We leave the mission around 11 in the morning and drive to Livingstone where we'll fly to Johannesburg, South Africa and stay the night, and then the next day fly on to Entebbe, Uganda. I don't know a lot of what is going on those two weeks, but I'll be sure to let you know in person! We'll have zero access to anyone outside of who we'll be with for those two weeks, so prepare yourself. I know I've been preparing myself for that. Among the two weeks we'll be white water rafting the Nile River, visiting churches adn encouraging them, vising the Rwanda Genocide Memorial in Kigali and so many other things. We will be staying with missionaries in their homes or in hotels. It should be a fun, relaxed, education two weeks! And then not much longer after that, I'll be back on Harding's campus, ready to take on the American culture, the new me, and everything in between.
The Zambians are some of the most real and gentle people I will probably ever know. I hope to bring them back with me in my actions towards all of you. Please pray for our team and our safety as we travel through Uganda and Rwanda in the next couple of weeks and for our safe return home. I do miss home, but part of my home is now in Africa...it's a bittersweet goodbye to be sure.
Take care and I'll see you very soon!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Children
Yesterday I spent my morning in Choma, a city about 45 minutes from Kalomo, where a group of about 10 of us toured St. Mulumba Special School for the hearing impaired, visually impaired, and intellectually impaired. It was a really great experience. I had no idea what to expect by going there. I thought that we would just tour the school, get some feedback from the administrators about questions we might have, and leave. I did not expect to be playing with kids! I couldn't even effectively communicate with most of them, but they loved that I would take their picture and give them so much attention! One little boy would say "Teacha! Teacha! Photo!" and proceed to pose with a different background everytime. He was a very smart child. These kids were all so well behaved, and the facility was very clean and organized.
I think one of the most impressionable things about seeing this school, was the children who were speaking only in sign language. I know a little bit of sign language, like enough to say my name and a few other basics, but the best thing was that these kids taught me! They were so gracious to us. I feel like a lot of kids in the states who are deaf really feel the impact of their disability and see it as a flaw, but these kids have totally embraced the fact that they are hearing impaired and even have the courage and gentleness to each us! They taught me how to say how are you and respond with fine, i can say red, blue, green, yellow, white and brown. I can say beautiful, boy, girl, good, and thank you. It was so humbling to have some of the kids calling me teacher and then others were being the teacher. God is so cool and don't worry, I have tons of pictures!
Going to this school, really made me want to learn more sign language. There is a club at Harding I may join when I go back in the Spring to learn more so I can better communicate with the hearing impaired, especially if i come across kids or families in that situation in my career one day.
It was such a good day, and I hope I can go back to that school one day, whether it be soon or later on in my life. It was such a peace-driven place and I can't imagine not going back one day, even if it's just for a visit.
I think one of the most impressionable things about seeing this school, was the children who were speaking only in sign language. I know a little bit of sign language, like enough to say my name and a few other basics, but the best thing was that these kids taught me! They were so gracious to us. I feel like a lot of kids in the states who are deaf really feel the impact of their disability and see it as a flaw, but these kids have totally embraced the fact that they are hearing impaired and even have the courage and gentleness to each us! They taught me how to say how are you and respond with fine, i can say red, blue, green, yellow, white and brown. I can say beautiful, boy, girl, good, and thank you. It was so humbling to have some of the kids calling me teacher and then others were being the teacher. God is so cool and don't worry, I have tons of pictures!
Going to this school, really made me want to learn more sign language. There is a club at Harding I may join when I go back in the Spring to learn more so I can better communicate with the hearing impaired, especially if i come across kids or families in that situation in my career one day.
It was such a good day, and I hope I can go back to that school one day, whether it be soon or later on in my life. It was such a peace-driven place and I can't imagine not going back one day, even if it's just for a visit.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Baby Debbie
I just spent the last hour and half of my morning at a funeral for a one month old, HIV+ orphan who lived at Haven 1. Her name was Debbie and she was the tiniest, most precious thing I have ever held. It was not so much a funeral, but a burial. I have heard about what African funerals are really like and this was not it. Perhaps because it was a baby, or perhaps she didn't have much family here in Kalomo.
We went to the morgue behind Kalomo hospital where Debbie's body was wrapped in her pink blanket, lying on a table. We all walked through and looked at her peaceful body. It was definitely the most intense sadness I have felt since being here. We all walked through the building, the out the other side where we waited, cried, and thought about what we were currently experiencing. No words. I'm not sure what we were waiting for exactly, maybe for her relative to spend last moments with her, or just to give time in general. Mama Cecelia and Beauty were there. Beauty is the auntie in the room where Debbie slept in the Haven. Aunties are incredible. They spend their days caring for a room full of babies -- feeding, changing, loving, holding -- all of it. Their hearts are totally poured out into these babies.
Finally, Mama Cecelia walked back in to the room, picked up Debbie's body, and we walked down the road a little bit to where a couple of men had been digging her grave. Mama Cecelia is so gentle. One thing about African funerals is there are no caskets, so Mama just laid little Debbie right into the ground with a bag of things that came with Debbie to the orphanage. Shawn said a prayer, and a Zambian man read scripture from Matthew about Jesus and the little children, and how we should be like children in order to gain the Kingdom of Heaven. It was short and beautiful. Then, two younger men picked up their shovels and proceeded to fill up the grave. No casket, so the dirt literally covered that sweet baby's body. It was hard to watch.
However, I am thankful for this experience.I know that God had this planned long before we even knew and that He will continue to work through this. There is a certain joy I feel because I know Debbie is done suffering and won't live a life full of struggles. I can't put much more into words.
----
When we all get to Heaven, what a day of REJOICING that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory.
----
Blessed be your name, on the road marked with suffering.
Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be your name.
Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say:
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
You give and take away.
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say:
Lord, blessed be your name.
Amen. :)
We went to the morgue behind Kalomo hospital where Debbie's body was wrapped in her pink blanket, lying on a table. We all walked through and looked at her peaceful body. It was definitely the most intense sadness I have felt since being here. We all walked through the building, the out the other side where we waited, cried, and thought about what we were currently experiencing. No words. I'm not sure what we were waiting for exactly, maybe for her relative to spend last moments with her, or just to give time in general. Mama Cecelia and Beauty were there. Beauty is the auntie in the room where Debbie slept in the Haven. Aunties are incredible. They spend their days caring for a room full of babies -- feeding, changing, loving, holding -- all of it. Their hearts are totally poured out into these babies.
Finally, Mama Cecelia walked back in to the room, picked up Debbie's body, and we walked down the road a little bit to where a couple of men had been digging her grave. Mama Cecelia is so gentle. One thing about African funerals is there are no caskets, so Mama just laid little Debbie right into the ground with a bag of things that came with Debbie to the orphanage. Shawn said a prayer, and a Zambian man read scripture from Matthew about Jesus and the little children, and how we should be like children in order to gain the Kingdom of Heaven. It was short and beautiful. Then, two younger men picked up their shovels and proceeded to fill up the grave. No casket, so the dirt literally covered that sweet baby's body. It was hard to watch.
However, I am thankful for this experience.I know that God had this planned long before we even knew and that He will continue to work through this. There is a certain joy I feel because I know Debbie is done suffering and won't live a life full of struggles. I can't put much more into words.
----
When we all get to Heaven, what a day of REJOICING that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory.
----
Blessed be your name, on the road marked with suffering.
Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be your name.
Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say:
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
You give and take away.
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say:
Lord, blessed be your name.
Amen. :)
Africa Is Everything and More
I'm so sorry I haven't updated this at all since being here! For the first couple of weeks, there was no hope for the internet...which was totally unexpected. Our team had a hard time not communicating with anyone from home for a while. But now the internet works great almost all the time! :) Sometimes the power is cut and it won't work, but there aren't as many power cuts as I expected either.
I want you all to know that I am doing so well and having such an incredible experience. I can't even begin to express to you how much your prayers are appreciated and felt within our team. We are overwhelmed with blessings and love from near and far. :)
Including this week, we have 3 left here at Namwianga Mission, 1 (next week) traveling to Northern Zambia on a church planting camping trip and then 2 weeks at the end in Uganda and Rwanda. Only 6 more weeks in Africa! It will be hard to leave, but I am eager to get back and share what I have learned with everyone.
As expected, my heart and faith were and are being stretched and challenged in unimaginable and wonderful ways. Along with that, I have decided to change my major to Child and Family Studies with a Child Life emphasis. Ask me why when I get back if you are curious!
I miss rain, although rainy season is coming, so I will be seeing plenty of rain and new critters soon! Rainy season usually begins at the end of October going into November and lasts until April. Dry season, which is what we are currently experiencing, is April through October. No rain for seven months! If you can, imagine a perfectly blue sky with no clouds, everyday for seven months...it's a beautiful thing.
God is so good and everywhere I look.
Zambians are some of the most gracious, kind-hearted people I have ever met.
Have a blessed day and I will try and update again soon!
I want you all to know that I am doing so well and having such an incredible experience. I can't even begin to express to you how much your prayers are appreciated and felt within our team. We are overwhelmed with blessings and love from near and far. :)
Including this week, we have 3 left here at Namwianga Mission, 1 (next week) traveling to Northern Zambia on a church planting camping trip and then 2 weeks at the end in Uganda and Rwanda. Only 6 more weeks in Africa! It will be hard to leave, but I am eager to get back and share what I have learned with everyone.
As expected, my heart and faith were and are being stretched and challenged in unimaginable and wonderful ways. Along with that, I have decided to change my major to Child and Family Studies with a Child Life emphasis. Ask me why when I get back if you are curious!
I miss rain, although rainy season is coming, so I will be seeing plenty of rain and new critters soon! Rainy season usually begins at the end of October going into November and lasts until April. Dry season, which is what we are currently experiencing, is April through October. No rain for seven months! If you can, imagine a perfectly blue sky with no clouds, everyday for seven months...it's a beautiful thing.
God is so good and everywhere I look.
Zambians are some of the most gracious, kind-hearted people I have ever met.
Have a blessed day and I will try and update again soon!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Address :)
Just thought you would like to know my address while I'm in Africa. I will fly out in exactly two weeks and I can't wait! I don't "feel" prepared, but that's exciting to me. This whole "unknown" stuff really energizes me. So anyway, here it is:
Namwianga Mission
Dora Crocker
P.O. Box 620022
Kalomo, Zambia
I don't expect letters or anything, it's just really neat to have an address that isn't an HU Box. :)
Namwianga Mission
Dora Crocker
P.O. Box 620022
Kalomo, Zambia
I don't expect letters or anything, it's just really neat to have an address that isn't an HU Box. :)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A Journey in Love
Ok, so I’ve titled this entire blog thing A Journey in Love for a lot of reasons, really.
I’ve recently been shown that to enjoy life, I just gotta do things I love – starting with Zambia -and I have to stop planning my life so much. So all I know is that I’m going to Zambia this fall because God led me to the opportunity and I snatched it up. I don’t really know why or what’s going to happen or anything. But I know that God’s got my back and He’ll see me through it all. His love is greater than any I’ll ever know. It’s a journey in His love.
His love is what fills me. He overflows my heart with joy and this adventure in Africa is all about Him and how He’ll transform my heart and life.
"I'm not who I was" is kind of the whole idea here. I have changed, I'm changing, and I will be changed. You should listen to the song by Brandon Heath - it's pretty great.
For now, I'll leave you with this general idea. You all know it. Say it with me now. :)
"Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
I try to do a lot of things in love. That doesn't mean I grow attached to everyone I meet, it just means I think I have good motives, especially when I use my heart. I know Zambia is "not for the faint of heart" so Ms. Bingham told us all semester long, but I that definitely describes me. It's ok though, because it allows my heart to be molded.
"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10
I’ve recently been shown that to enjoy life, I just gotta do things I love – starting with Zambia -and I have to stop planning my life so much. So all I know is that I’m going to Zambia this fall because God led me to the opportunity and I snatched it up. I don’t really know why or what’s going to happen or anything. But I know that God’s got my back and He’ll see me through it all. His love is greater than any I’ll ever know. It’s a journey in His love.
His love is what fills me. He overflows my heart with joy and this adventure in Africa is all about Him and how He’ll transform my heart and life.
"I'm not who I was" is kind of the whole idea here. I have changed, I'm changing, and I will be changed. You should listen to the song by Brandon Heath - it's pretty great.
For now, I'll leave you with this general idea. You all know it. Say it with me now. :)
"Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
I try to do a lot of things in love. That doesn't mean I grow attached to everyone I meet, it just means I think I have good motives, especially when I use my heart. I know Zambia is "not for the faint of heart" so Ms. Bingham told us all semester long, but I that definitely describes me. It's ok though, because it allows my heart to be molded.
"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10
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