This is Africa (TIA)

I wake up to a stunning view every morning and each time I look out from the veranda at the school I work at I see something even better, but hey, TIA.  There are three languages spoken in my presence every day and, I was told, there are 72 tribal languages in Zambia, but hey, TIA.  The teachers’ bathroom simply means a hole in the ground with mashasha walls that’s far enough away so the kids don’t walk in on you, but hey, TIA.  The temperatures are often in the high nineties or low hundreds, but hey, TIA.  The people are praying for rain because here drought means hunger, but hey, TIA.  The power goes out randomly and almost every day for a couple hours at a time, but hey, TIA.  It isn’t uncommon for children to play in the streets or sadly for them to be hit by cars, but hey, TIA.  In the villages young boys go through terrible circumcision ceremonies and young girls go through horrendous coming-of-age ceremonies, but hey, TIA.  Malnutrition and sickness is rampant, but hey, TIA.  Amazing miracles happen, like a boy that should have died was discharged from the hospital with the doctors saying there was almost nothing wrong, but hey, TIA.  Whole villages are sometimes saved in just a few days, but hey, TIA. 

I didn’t write this to sound depressing or anything like that.  But this is what Africa looks like on the outside.  When you look closer you see God’s people feeding children who would otherwise go hungry or become malnourished.  You will see God drawing people away from sin into the glorious wonder of His grace.  You will see a generation of laying down lovers who have given up everything to follow Christ because there is no other way to follow here.  It isn’t easy in Africa.  The spiritual warfare is as strong as anything you’ll see.  But God is good and He has a plan, even in Africa.   And He will cause all things to work out for good because this may be Africa but HE IS GOD!  

Week One..Done!

After about a week and a half in Mongu, I can confidently say it's great here!  The heat is a bit overwhelming and the kids can get pretty rowdy.  The school days are long.  But the scenery is beautiful, the teachers are wonderful, the kids are adorable and sweet, and I have that still small voice whispering in my ear that this is exactly where I need to be.  I've been working Monday to Friday at the school from 0730 to 1530 helping the teachers, teaching art and Bible to the tiny tots and sitting in on the 2nd and 3rd grade class.  In the evenings I have small group or prayer or time to relax or type up end-of-term grades.  My days are pretty crazy for the most part but the Lord is faithful to confirm His promises to me whenever I need it (which is like every day...).  :)  Watch the Photos tab for some pictures that I'll be posting!

Love you all!  Grace and Peace,
Rose

Welcome to Mutoya!

First off, thank you to all who prayed for my travel to Zambia this week!  Praise God everything went extremely well even though it had the chance to all fail from the start.  I woke up Saturday morning to a very beautiful sight of snow covered ground, and big clumps of snow falling from the sky.  Winter had come early to bid me farewell!  As sweet as that was, it also tried to wreck my plans of departure as the airport ran out of the correct de-icing fluid because they weren't expecting snow this time of year.  But right before we taxied back to our terminal the weather cleared up enough for us to take of.  I say us because I was joined by a couple from Louisiana who are checking out the project. We then flew for about 16 hours to Johannesburg where we were welcomed by a spectacular display of lightening.  We spent the night in Johannesburg and in the morning we went to the airport where we met my pastor and his wife and we all flew together to Lusaka.  From there we took a bus for 8 hours to Mongu.  Now I'm here, safe and sound and very thankful to be done moving!  Starting tomorrow I'll be working as a teacher's assistant in the Vilage of Hope School.  Thank you all for your support!

May God's grace and peace be with you!
Rose