Africa Journey

Africa.

I don't even know what to say or even where to start. So many great things happened during our time there. It was a long time of travel to and from, but it was beyond worth it. Even after getting sick all those times. Just thankful to finally be home...even though I left my heart there. 

Our first week there was spent in Jembo. We flew into Lusaka and stayed with a lady named Naomi. Her and I really bonded, and she's someone who I miss a lot. The next day we took a three hour bus ride to Jembo. This is where we stayed from Saturday- Friday.  Our team stayed with a missionary couple, (Mike and Shareen). They were incredibly nice and hospitable. Shareen should probably have her own TV show because of her cooking.  I thought I would lose weight on this trip, but I'm pretty sure I gained it. We were very blessed by them and hope we were in turn, a blessing to them. Oh, and there were spiders in their house...but not terribly big ones. Big enough though. I didn't sleep in one room because of it. And they're house was like a normal house. But some of the time we lost water and electricity. 

During our time in Jembo, we were involved in a variety of ministry. We organized a VBS for the children on Monday and Wednesday, which was amazing. Most of them couldn't speak English but we had a fun time with them. All of their names were so long. We mostly just played with them, sang songs, and colored with them. It was such an amazing feeling to hold them, dance with them, cuddle with them, and make them smile for a bit. I didn't know I liked kids that much until I got to Africa. 

We also went to the High School on Tuesday and Thursday and joined their Scripture Union. We went through James 1 and 2 with them.  We shared testimonies, encouraged them, sang, prayed over them, etc. During our time in Jembo, we took a day trip to a village called Jalilia where The Love Hope Project sponsors a handful of orphans. We had the opportunity to hand out pencils to them and give them backpacks with goodies in it. That was probably my favorite day of the trip. They were so happy and thankful. I'll always remember the joy on their faces. That also was the day where we ate our first African meal as well. We had chicken, rape, nshima, and rice. At the end of the week, we had the opportunity to go to nearby schools and hand out pencils to the students there.  What surprised me was that some of the kids don't attend school because they don't have pencils. I think that is so sad. Maybe I'll start a pencil drive at Moody and send them pencils. Seriously.  Just giving these kids a new pencil with a colored eraser brought joy to their face. 

Oh, and during the first I also helped in killing a goat. One of the girls on our team legit slashed its throat, but I helped skin it. Talk about nasty. And bloody. Almost puked. 

During the last couple days of the trip, we spent time in Livingstone. When we were here, we went to some pastors church and helped out with youth group, we attended church, and held a youth rally. The youth rally was amazing. I've never felt the presence of God more strongly then I did in that church. Wow God. Also...get this...I SAW KELSEY KRAUS!!! Total God ordained moment. Kelsey is a girl I worked with at camp in 2011 in Story City, Iowa. And I freaking saw her at the Hungry Lion in Livingstone. She's doing the World Race and this month she is in Zambia. Seriously one of the best moments of our trip. Still in shock that we saw each other...not even knowing where the other one of us were. Our team also went to Victoria Falls and we went on a Safari. I could see and feel Gods power when walking by the falls and I felt so connected to God during the Safari. Like think about Noah's ark?! All of those animals got along. It was incredible to say the least. 

Thank you to all who prayed for me and the team, as well as those who supported me financially. I'm thankful for you.  Can't wait to return.