The last three months have radically impacted my life. I have just recently returned from amazing trip to Zambia, Africa. I was given the opportunity to take seventeen classes on the life of a missionary, while having hands-on training. It was one of the most difficult, yet the most fulfilling, experience I have ever had.
In August I arrived to beautiful, sun-shinning weather. Myself, and the other students, quickly settled into our tents (which would be our home for the next twelve weeks). Within just a couple of days after arriving we were off to our first expedition in the bush. We learned how to hold on tight as the truck (Maverick) took barely beaten paths to an area named Silozi. As we pulled up to our campsite, we saw around 50 Zambians already waiting to meet us. We set up camp as quickly as possible, and then went to meet the people. It was an amazing evening of playing "duck, duck, goose" with the children and learning to overcome the language barrier with the adults.
The expedition was spectacular. I found myself in awe of the Zambian people. We had several night meetings throughout the week when I was filled with delight to see EVERYONE having the time of their lives. Just to see how, even though we live so different, the Zambians and the Makuah (white people or westerners) could still dance together and bond over firelight.
This first expedition taught me many things, from learning how to properly hydrate myself in the heat, to using a "long drop". We went from village to village (a household) to share the Good News with people. Even though we sometimes walked for hours before reaching our first hut, I never regretted a minute of it. The joy on each person's face, when I shared with them the truth of the Bible, was priceless. They always wanted to know more, and never wanted us to leave. Every single time we walked up to a village the women would run to get us tiny wooden stools or straw mats to sit on. They were always ready to stop anything they were doing to listen to what we had to say.
After coming back from this first expedition, we immediately jumped into one week of intense wilderness medicine training. We had class from 9 AM to 5 PM and then immediately after dinner at 7 PM until sometimes as late as 11 PM. It was a long and arduous week, but well worth the cost. I learned far more medical training than I would have ever though possible. The training even came with several certifications.
As Advanced Mission Training (AMT) continued, I was met with even more awesome classes. We were taught not only the spiritual side of missionary life, but also the practical side. I had classes like: Leadership, Missionary Theology, Preaching 101 and Ministry Ethics. I was also taught in practical classes like: GPS Navigation, Bush Cooking, Vehicle Mechanics, Workshop 101 (which included both carpentry and welding), and even a survival course named Come Back Alive. Each class taught me many new things. Things that I can apply in ministry but also everyday life. The skills and principles I learned in AMT will be with me for the rest of my life.
Our second month in Zambia brought another expedition. The other students and myself had more of an integral role in this expedition. We participated in more of the planning and preparation that went into it. Soon, we were off to an area named Choma in the Nyawa Chiefdom. This time we placed our camp very close to a school. There were always children around ready to play that week. The day we arrived in Choma was actually my birthday as well. My teammates surprised me with a birthday cake and singing after dinner.
This expedition was just as wonderful as the first one. We met amazing people in Choma. Upon arriving we heard that there would be a wedding later in the week. In Zambia weddings are a community event, everyone goes to them, but we were not yet officially invited. Our first day of hut-to-hut ministry, I encountered a woman named Jennifer. She was a beautiful woman who was very quiet at first. My partner in ministry that day felt led to ask if she had ever received the Holy Spirit. She responded with a "no." After we prayed for her to receive the Holy Spirit, she instantly changed. It was like a light came on inside her, she was so happy. She then invited us, and our whole team, to the wedding that was to take place the following day. It turns out, she was the bride's sister.
So, the following day we went out to wedding and spent most of the day laughing, dancing and celebrating with the Zambians of Choma. It was a fantastic day which I will never forget.
When we arrived back on base from the expedition, we immediately dove back into classes. Time at AMT was flying by. We soon found ourselves in our final projects. The assignment was to create a "sector" somewhere in the world and make a complete 5 year strategy for it. It was a challenging project, but I learned so much! During that week I was told by one of our AMT directors that I was chosen with another student, John, to lead the final expedition. I was thrilled, yet a bit apprehensive. This was the expedition in which the students were on their own. There was not to be any help from the staff. John and I spent many hours planning and dividing tasks to the others. It was a lot of work to plan that and finish the final project; however, I made it through.
We left for our third expedition on a Sunday, after church. Our first stop was an area in Musukotwane where a well celebration was to be the following day. Another division of Overland Missions is well drilling. This location is where Overland had just recently put a in a well. We wanted to take advantage of the situation and have a celebration. This was our chance to reach more people in that area with the Gospel. Just like weddings and funerals, everyone in the area showed up. There were hundreds of Zambians ready to have some fun. The day was amazing, full of laughter, music and dancing. Hundreds gave their heart to the Lord and were changed for ever. The most touching part of the day for me was when some tiny old ladies were so happy that we were there, they came up and hugged us.
The exciting day was turned into a wet exciting day when a storm rolled in and let loose. A late lunch had just been prepared by a group of Zambian Ladies (Nshima, goat, chicken, cabbage and pumpkin leaves) so we gathered some food and sat in the truck for a little shelter from the rain. With the icy cold rain blowing sideways, no one stayed dry. We finished lunch then quickly did dishes in the rain before heading out. We drove another two hours to get to an area of Musukotwane that Overland had never been too. We were the first contact of the Gospel for these people.
Our ride there was also full of adventure. The two hours was spent, getting the truck unstuck, clearing a tree that had been struck by lightening off the road, cutting down tree limbs to clear the path for the truck, and ducking to avoid being hit by the branches coming in the windows. As we arrived in our new site we quickly set up camp and began cooking dinner. The following day we went out to help repair a well in that area. The well had been broken for two years and the locals were in a habit of digging in a dry riverbed to find water. Once the well was fixed it was another ministry opportunity for us. One of the students gave a quick message and alter call and over 20 people gave their hearts to The Lord. The rest of the week was full of wonderful testimonies of what God was doing. There were many people impacted by us simply going out to reach the unreached.
We returned home from the final expedition on a Saturday. The next day we had our AMT Debrief, then Monday was Graduation. The time in Zambia had come to a close, and I was feeling extremely sad. I did not want to leave the new friends I had made, but more importantly, I didn't want to leave Africa. I had fallen in love. Zambia pulled at my heart strings as I stepped foot off the ground onto the plane. I knew I had to come back.
Here is a picture slideshow from AMT!
