How Africa Changed Me In Less Than A Week

Africa: Week 1

We are in Africa! It is very surreal. When we hopped off the plane at the small airport in Livingstone, I felt like I was in a different world. In all reality, it really is a different world then the United States. Our wonderful hosts picked us up at the airport and took us to our home for the month. We unpacked and set up our rooms, made some dinner, and I took my first ever bucket shower. This is where you take a large cup from a big bucket of water, and essentially keep wetting yourself down until the shower is somewhat complete. It is not like the hot showers we get in America, but better than no shower (or bucket) at all. The cold water felt great because it is so incredibly hot here…so hot. Being from Wisconsin, I am not used to taking a cold bucket shower and sweating as soon as you dry off. The sweat is present as I type this and will be present until I return home to the US… It is very real! The town shuts the water off during the day to save water and energy, so water is only available in the morning and at night. Thank goodness for the baby wipes that my mom insisted to bring! Because Zambia has malaria, we must be very cautious around mosquitos. My Amazon mosquito net purchase fits like a glove, and my bug lotion is applied at all hours of the day. The smell of deet will be in my brain forever now. I also had a sleepover with my friend “King Newt” last night…he is the lizard that won’t leave me alone. (Yes, there is endless amounts of bugs here, and yes I did catch King Newt in a plastic bag with my hand and threw him outside).

We met our neighbors, and they are two beautiful little rays of sunshine. Beauty and Beegee are brother and sister who just love to play, and are looked after by their 15-year old sister, Gift. We have been having a great time with them as well, and they were a great welcome party to our new home. Every day kids pass our chain linked fence around our house trying to get in to play. We dance and play games with them through the tiny holed barrier, and smile because that is just another example of how God is bringing joy to the world no matter what the circumstances. The streets are riddled with trash and brown rivers of rain, mud, and rock. In no way has my time here so far been easy, but when I entered the doors to their Salvation Army church this morning, my heart skipped a beat. The heat was very present, making it hard to breathe. But as I stepped foot in the stone built church, I heard the drums and the voices, and the little boy who took my hand. I sat him on my lap throughout the 3 hour church service and let him play with my bracelets, and as he rested on my shoulder and my eyes closed to the sweet melody of African church gospel, I couldn’t help but praise God. The love of God finds its way in all corners of the earth. 

We have officially been in Africa for about a week now, and it craziness. Time is moving so fast. I ask God to really let me connect what is going on around me and soak in the moment. On our walk to ministry for the first time, I could truly see the beauty in broken places. With trash and rubble in the streets, and children walking aimlessly throughout the town, there is still so much love. No matter who you encounter or what they may be going through, they will always say hello with a giant, genuine smile on their face. The children laugh and smile with glee and say, “Hello! Hello!” or the common phrase, “The white people are here!” We continue to walk to ministry and open the fenced-in gates to the community school. As soon as we step foot in the hot sand, a herd of students in their yellow uniforms come sprinting at us. I have never felt so loved and worthy before that moment. I immediately had two boys climbing on my back, and holding two girls in each arm. The weight of the children went unnoticed because I was so overwhelmed of joy, worthiness, and endless amounts of God. I was truly a vessel for Jesus. Chasing little kids around the small school sandlot, pretending that a boy named Daniel is an airplane, letting a small girl by the name of Fiona feel my sweaty hair and braid it back, or letting a pile of kids fight over a glimpse to see the watch on my wrist go ‘tick, tick, tick’…the happiness overcame the despair- God brings love out of great sadness. This would continue under the hot 96-degree sun of Livingstone, Zambia for a few hours. Once I finally could separate my hands from the beautiful faces of the African children, did I realize how disgustingly sweaty and hot I was, but it simply made me smile. I finally understand the famous Bible quote from Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity; and she laughs without fear of the future.” I laugh and smile at the fact that I am here. I am in the nitty gritty of African streets, where there has been 650 children who have lost their families due to HIV and are left to fend for themselves, and I have no fear; for God is with me and I am changing every life I encounter through the power and love of Jesus.

To conclude my time in Africa so far, I must bring up an instance during our wonderful team time. Team time is so important to me because I can share my experiences, but also hear how others are learning from God. We decided to do an activity where we are each given a number. I received the number 11. With this number, I was to pray to God to speak to me through this number and whatever He tells me, or shows me, I must write it down. I closed my eyes and pictured the Son of God sitting in a chair across from me. I said “God, I am here. How can I serve you?” He immediately had me write down in my notebook, “You are so loved.” I then saw bursts of light everywhere: fireworks, rainbows, watercolors…I wrote it down. I saw a sunflower that was growing and growing into the sky and I heard a shout “Do not cut it!”. I also heard Him say, “I am the rise of the sun and the stars in the sky. I am the touch of the wind against your skin. When you feel these things, know that I am there with you.” I then immediately thought of a teammate in my head, so I doodled her name all over the page. I then heard, “You are stronger then you think and you are so powerful. Believe I am with you always. You are so loved and so worthy.” I then opened my eyes after writing down all my thoughts and said, “This is for my teammate. (Not including her name for confidentiality!) We then found out that the numbers represent a person on the team. Our team leaders prayed about who should have each number, and the letter I wrote will be for the person they assigned number 11. My heart sank a bit knowing that this actually is for somebody, and I didn’t want to be wrong in the fact that I thought it was for the incorrect team member. I then told God, “If you are actually here and listening, this will be her note”. As the names passed, her name was never called. Finally, number 11 was up, and my leader said that the note was for her. I melted inside and the weight of God just made me begin to shake. I gave her the note and told her the story behind it and she started to weep; everything in my note played an impact in her life. This story is the shortened version, but you can still understand the sense of how powerful it was. I am still in awe and shock. It was Him, it was Him, it was Him. The creator of the earth was talking to ME. 

 In all, these past 2 weeks have been insane. God is here in all ways, always. I am overwhelmed with gratitude, thankfulness, and the fact that God has asked me to be His vessel. The love found in despair has opened my eyes wide to His love and sacrifice, but also making me so thankful that He chose me to share His story. God is so good…He is so good. I can’t believe He chose me, and chose all of you reading my blog and supporting this mission to bring His story and love to light. Be so incredibly thankful for what you have, be proud, and shout with gratitude “my Father is a King”.

p.s. Thank you Grandma Mootz for the bracelets. The kids have so much happiness that they can represent God on their wrist like me. You have changed their lives forever. 143 more. 

p.s.s. I apologize internet is so icky here! It will not let me upload photos. I can’t wait to share with you all of the photos of Livingstone, my home, my family, and the wonderful children of God.