There’s something so joyful in learning about one’s culture in the middle of the Zambian forest, chatting to a local around a fire, while watching the sunset and smoke rise into the air – almost like how we’d imagine our prayers lifting up to the Lord. How privileged we are to travel the nations, eat food we’ve never tasted before, sing passionately with people we have only just met, and pray under roofs, feeling the Holy Spirit move through the houses!
So much happened in Zambia. Some of our team members were taught how to cook a traditional dish, which was delightful – both in taste and the experience. We helped out at an orphanage, as well as on a farm. The views were beautiful. They had rows of corn, and we had the privilege of tasting how the locals make it.
Some of us cut down a tree for the first time, and some tied wire to the branches we cut to make a fence to keep their goats on one side. Throughout it all – the blisters, the stiff backs, the muddy shoes – the Lord was providing and making himself known in our situations. We had clear skies when working and a gorgeous cloudy sunset. There was such peace as we watched the sun go down with a gentle breeze. Our hearts delighted in that place as we spoke to the Lord.
The leaders at the orphanage and school blessed us with a cultural evening, where we tasted traditional Zambian food and enjoyed wonderful company. Ben said, “While the school indeed was a special place that we had grown to love, it was the children who quickly won our love and compassion. These kids are special, the happiest kids we’ve seen.” Which is something all of us could agree on.
Later, we visited Victoria Falls. What an exciting experience! We all enjoyed tasting the sweet droplets that landed in our mouths when worshiping at the Creator of it all, and smiling in awe of this master waterfall. What an honour it was to stand there, face to face with this huge mountain of moving water and to dwell in His presence. We sang praises to Jesus, with peace surrounding us, knowing that He created all of this, and He longs for our hearts!
We also had a team member lead a sermon at a local church, surrounded by sunflowers taller than our car, and sunflower heads bigger than ours. We experienced different cultural churches and their environments that they worshiped in. Having the children dance and sing with such a passion is a beautiful thing to see.
We saw how intentional the Lord is with conversations or interactions some of us had, whether it was with a worker in the mall, or blessing someone with a Bible who was filling up the car we were catching a lift with. His hand was truly upon us, and what a privilege it is to be a part of this journey!