During these past two months I have spent a lot of time around the women of Zimbabwe and Zambia. In Zimbabwe, my team and I hosted two Beauty for Ashes retreats, which were multiple day retreats for the women in the area. There we got to worship God and learn more about His love for women together. In Zambia, the women of Kitwe have welcomed us into their homes. We have been able to hear their stories and learn about their lives.
There is so much beauty among the women we have met, outward and inner beauty. The women we have met in these two countries serve everyone around them with all of their heart. When my team and I visit a village or enter into a home, the women put everything aside to serve us food and tea and give us their full attention. Even in homes where the families don’t have a lot of money, the women still serve and give us what they have. Their generosity inspires me! During the Beauty for Ashes retreat in Zimbabwe, the women would work together to sweep the place at the end of the day without us even asking.
The women we have met are humble, hospitable, and generous. I see so much of Jesus in their hearts and it’s beautiful.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
??Galatians? ?5:13-14? ?NIV??
But among all the beauty I have seen in the women here, I’ve also seen so much pain. During the Beauty for Ashes retreat, we had a forgiveness talk where the women could “nail” the names of people they are ready to forgive on a paper cross. Then we stood around the room open for prayer if the women needed it. As much as I loved praying for the women, their testimonies absolutely broke my heart. Countless stories of abuse, rape, husbands cheating or leaving, children with disabilities, death of loved ones, poverty, sicknesses, and diseases. These beautiful, talkative, hospitable women I saw on the outside had so much pain on the inside. In Zambia we have also met women who have experienced these same tragedies in their lives. But through it all they could still say
“God is good.”
I don’t know how these women have so much faith, but it astounds me and inspires me. Through everything, they have never lost sight of who their Father is. They love God and sing praises to Him every day. Most of the women, when I ask them what they like to do for fun, they say they like to sing worship songs.
If you listen to how much these women have suffered, you might think that God has given up on them. But He hasn’t. He loves them more than I can ever imagine and He finds them worthy. I don’t know why these bad things happen, but I do know that God’s heart breaks even more than my does when He sees His daughters suffer. But their faith grows even stronger when they can face hardship and still praise God. He loves His daughters.
i can’t thank God enough for giving me the chance to meet all of these wonderful women in Zambia and Zimbabwe. They have inspired me to give more, serve more, and trust God with all my heart.
