wow.
I've been here for just over a week now, and loved just about every minute of it.
( minus the minor frustrations of unfortunate seating arangments on a 1o hr flight, and of course the slight delays to our schedule due to "Zambia time" and power outages etc. All of which are very easily dealt with if one has the right attitude and mind set.)
So needless to say, I am incredibly happy to be here.
I really can't explain how my soul seems to flourish in an environment like this.
It's like I fit.
I was born to be in cultures, areas, places like this.
I never feel more at home than when I'm in 3rd world.
Anyways. Re-cap.
We had about 35hrs of travel time before we got here,
but as soon as I was surrounded by all the familiar kids faces, laughing, high 5'ing, and hugging me, all travel was forgotten.
It was incredible to see that they DID remember me (despite the fact that my hair is now chopped off and pink...) and to see how the relationships could pick up from where they left off. We have been able to prove that we truely do care about them, and still love and pray for them.
It's been tons of fun just getting to hang out with these beautiful children... sing songs, learn their hand claps, be taught "bemba", and get schooled at basketball :P God is working in monumental ways in their lives, and it's be a real blessing to simply learn from them, by hearing and seeing what God's been doing in, through, and around their lives.
We've also been working on a playground for the orphanage, which has been pretty cool. The kids are very excited for the structure to be finished, and are already playing on it. It's huge! Including rings, tires, monkeybars, bridges, rope ladders, and rock climbing walls. It will be awesome to see what it looks like when it's done. I can tell they'll get a lot of use out of it. They're all so energetic and athletic, so it will really give them an output for all their energy.
Other then construction and kids, we've also been working with the house moms... Giving them a time of relaxation where we tangibly show them love by giving them manicures and pedicures and massage. Each mom is responsible for looking after 8-12 kids practically by herself! cooking, cleaning, parenting... helping to nurture and encourage those who all have troubled, broken backgrounds. And we think raising 2 or 3 kids would be hard! ( we did the same thing last time i was here... So it's been great to visit with the moms again and find out how they've been doing over the last 2 years) The whole thing has a great spirit about it because it reminds them of how Jesus washed his deciples feet. We want them to know we're not coming in as High and mighty westerners... But that we actually do really care about them.
you
Okay, I don't have much time, so i need to wrap this up, but i'll finish with a few prayer requests.
- Pray for my heart. I have an incredibly large capability to love people. Which means my capacity to miss people is also huge... And last time I left, I left a good chunk of me here. It was rather painful lol. (perhaps that means I should just come back and not leave? Who knows. If it's in Gods plan eh!)
- Pray for the construction project... There have been a lot of delays due to wrong equipment, broken tools, power outages etc etc. I'm pretty flexble, so I figure I just do what I can and the rest is up to God. If we complete it, sweet. If not, I focus on other things and trust God is in controle. But for those on my team who are more task oriented, It's been very frustrating. Pray that frustrations are minimal, and that it wouldn't be straining the team.
- That God would be our guide. It really doesn't matter what we're doing as long as it's in His plan .
- Pray for health. We've been very lucky so far, no ones gotten sick... But after a week peopole are getting more tired, and amune systems are getting lower.
- Safety... Again we've been pretty lucky, with only minor injuries on the site... But there is tons that Could go wrong. So pray that it doesn't
- Continued bonding between team mates
I think that's about it for now. Sorry it was short... But i hope it fills you in a little as to what i'm doing here!
Thanks so those of you who are praying!
Much love, see you soon.
Mandie
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