Zambia Chronicles 1-The Forgotten Four

written July 8th, 2016

Livingstone, Zambia

This morning we visited a village called Makumba. We packed into the vehicles and I’m not sure anyone was sure what to expect. We drove around an hour and the further we went the anticipation grew. As soon as we pulled off the main road, we were driving around giant potholes. We were officially in the bush. It looked like we were in a movie honestly.

We finally stopped and we all piled out in front of a school. A large empty yard was in front and huts surrounded it on all the other sides. Almost immediately, school children came to greet us. We attract much attention (22 muzungus in the bush..what do you expect?!?!)  so within minutes other village children were showing up from all around us.

I noticed some smaller kids nearby and I went to greet them. The little ones just stared at us, but the older ones wanted to shake your hand and play. I asked a teammate to grab a soccer ball and we started passing the ball around. I loved this. As soon as the ball came out, even the little ones that were fearful wanted to play. They were more open to us after that.

After playing for awhile, our team was being called to gather in front of the school. I looked across to a hut and noticed 3 other girls (Kelsey, Meredith, and Rachel) were at a women’s hut. I quickly ran over there and told the girls we were leaving. They had been sitting with the woman and she needed help getting water from the well. Kelsey and I walked back to the large group as Rachel and Meredith helped her. Meanwhile, the large group started to hike off down the village path. It was such a quick scramble we had to act fast. I decided to stay back to wait for Meredith and Rachel and my friend Kyler decided he would wait with me.

So, 18 of our teammates walked off with our hosts, and four of us were left in the village. When Meredith and Rachel returned, the four of us started walking down the village. After walking for awhile we quickly realized that we had no idea where the team went. Zero idea. The confusion must have shown on our faces, because this local man, named Creighton, walked up to us and pointed down the path. Kyler and I then saw our team...very, very, far down the path. We quickly realized there was no way we would catch up to our team. We made the decision to walk back to the school and wait.

As soon as we got there, about 60 kids were around us of all different ages. Rachel and Meredith started playing with the younger ones while Kyler and I started playing soccer with the older ones. It was AMAZING.

I sat down in the shade and some of the kids in grade 8 joined me. I talked to them for nearly 45 minutes. They had so many questions about the US, Iowa, God, and whatever else they wanted. I found out that they were taking their grade 8 exams the next week and we prayed with them to do well. (These exams are really important, because they must do well in order to go to high school. High school is not a given in Zambia.)

More and more kids came. Kyler and Rachel started singing and kids circled us. Meredith connected with some older girls and she ended up with a baby on her back. I was playing soccer with the kids much of the time. I can’t explain to you the joy we all had. I looked around and my three friends were loving on people which is why we went to Zambia to begin with. It was so amazing.

I personally have major social anxiety. Everyone knows that by now. God calmed me the entire time in the village. How crazy amazing is that? God showed me he is fully in control today. His plan is sometimes not our plan. We were “forgotten” today by our team, but we were EXACTLY where God wanted us.

Thank you Makumba.

Thank you Jesus.

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.