The Forgotten Four

Before beginning my trip to Zambia,  I knew God would work in indescribable ways. So when asked to write a blog post about Friday,it seemed like a daunting task.  How am I supposed to put into words just how powerful God has been? 

I’ll try my best.  

Friday morning we arrived at Makumba village.  Upon arriving our team dispersed around the school and prayed over the land.  I personally prayed that God would speak to the villagers and help them realize that God is the only true healer,  restorer,  and comforter in an area where witchcraft is so prominent.  I prayed that the children and parents would see Christ through our teams actions.  I also prayed that the lord would let me help someone.  I prayed for guidance for my future. 

After praying,  our team was going to meet up and all walk to a house about a mile or two away,  to pray for a 10 year old boy who’s leg was recently amputated.  While waiting for everyone to gather,  some teammates were gathered around a bunch of village children.  I love kids so naturally I gravitated in that direction.  As I began playing,  I saw a woman at a nearby hut.  I suddenly felt led to go talk to her.  That was 100% the Holy Spirit because I’m a kid person,  and I was completely comfortable just to stay and play with them.  But I followed the calling and grabbed my teammate Rachel to come with me.

As we went over,  another teammate , Kelsey,  was on her way to meet the woman too.  When we met the woman,  she gave us seats,  and we made small talk.  Eventually we asked if the woman needed help with anything.  She said that we could help her get water.  When she returned with the supplies,  she only had three buckets.  So Kelsey went back and waited with the rest of the team. At the same time, Kourtney came to tell us to hurry back so we could go to the village with the team. 

By the time the woman, Rachel, and I returned,  the team had left.  Kourtney and Kyler were waiting for us so we could all try to catch up with the team to go pray for the little boy. We made it about a quarter of a mile down the path when we saw the team far ahead in the distance.  At this point,  we all felt led to go back to the school and wait for them to get back , instead of trying to catch up to them. When we got to the school,  there were about 80 kids just waiting to play with us. 

God’s timing and placement were perfect.  The “forgotten four” – Kourtney,  Kyler,  Rachel,  and  myself- all had the chance to bond through loving on the kids.  Our connection to the villagers as well each other grew tremendously.  Kourtney and Kyler played soccer with the kids. They also had the opportunity to pray with some of the older kids who are about to take exams deciding if they get to go to high school or not.  Rachel and I learned patty-cake games,  and taught them some songs and dances. Later on,  some of the older kids brought me a baby to put on my back like how the mommas do.  I almost cried  because I want to be a neonatal nurse,  so I love babies.  That was God’s way of giving me a little solidification in my future plans. 

God led us to help the woman get water,  which then led to an easing of anxiety about my future. As we we’re leaving,  a little girl named Blessing (who happened to be the daughter of the woman we had helped), came up and gave us all goodbye hugs.  Then she said, “Bye friends!”

Personally,  playing with those kids and hearing God speak to me completely filled my soul,  and it was just what I needed. 

God wanted us four to be exactly where we were for a reason.