Recently I was asked the question, “Which country touched you the most?”
You see, I’ve lived in 10 different countries in 4 different continents around the world. Spending roughly one month in each country (and two months in Costa Rica).
My heart has loved each and every one of these places. Each one is uniquely it’s own with its own heartbeat, it’s own culture, and it’s own people, communities, and tribes.
The first place the comes to mind when I heard this question, though, was Zimbabwe.
I want to clarify, though, that it wasn’t necessarily the country that ‘touched’ me, but the ministry that God placed within the country.
We lived outside of a town called Kadoma and worked at a beautiful camp called Lasting Impressions. Man, does it live up to its name!
I still have flashbacks, moments of reminiscing, feelings of longing, and so so much love for that ministry. God is doing big things there.
The second part to that question is, “Which one could you see yourself returning to?” Well, the answer is the same, Zimbabwe.
For a whole month we lived and breathed camp life, God’s insanely beautiful and breathtaking creation, and family. So much family. So much beauty. So many camp days.
I got to hang out with teams of campers, leading them in devotions and teachings, and then walking alongside them as they put those lessons to action.
We laughed, we cried, we learned, we grew, we struggled, got aggravated, we loved, we sang, we danced, we worshiped God, we went swimming, we had mud fights, we played games, we had deep conversations, we made friends, we experienced family, we ran from baboons, we laughed as monkeys climbed all on the roof, we explored God’s creation (the kind you only find when you seek it out). We. Had. A. Blast. Despite the longest of days.
I never looked at the calendar to figure out how many days were left. I never got homesick. Shoot, I didn’t even think of home that much.
Lasting Impressions was a God-given playground of discovery. God showed me my love of, and compassion for, animals is real. He showed me that I love to teach people what He has taught me. I discovered another level of being in awe of Him and all that He does, creates, and gives.
I was given friends and family here- in the bush of Africa. Who would have thought?
Our Father is funny sometimes, but He is so incredibly good.
I will forever love and be grateful for this place, the people here, and all the things I learned during my time here.
Month 4 of 11. Kadoma, Zimbabwe, Africa.
Lasting Impressions Camp
