Hi Friends!!!!
We have made it to Zambia!! We had a long journey across the border this past week, but it was well worth it to get to our destination. When we arrived at the Zimbabwe border we had all of our luggage and were able to stamp our passports to leave the country. Then we preceded to walk across the border to get to the Zambia office. What we didn’t realize is how far the walk was going to be. It was roughly under 1000 meters, which is a little over half a mile. Not only was it at least a 102 degrees outside, but I was pulling my 60 lb suitcase, carrying my 20 lb backpack, my purse, and another bag of food. It was hot, and I felt like I was dying. We took frequent breaks as we were all carrying a huge load. Nothing tasted better than the cold water in my hydroflask, that quenched my dry, dust filled throat. We even found some slushies along the way that cooled us down midway. Aleena, my teammate, even got attacked by a monkey at this stop as it wrapped itself around her leg; which was a great comedic relief during this time. Then as we approached our last 400 meters to the Zambia office, we were bombarded with baboons that were not afraid to run after us and come after our bags. To say I was scared was an understatement. These were monkeys the size of large dogs that can sense when you are scared and when you are carrying food. So I clenched my bag of food closer, closed my eyes, and tried to move as quickly as possible.
Finally, we reached the office. Drenched in sweat and gulping our cold water, we sat down to give our calloused hands a break from the long journey that felt like miles. Just when we relaxed, a monkey creeped up out of nowhere, snatched my teammate’s purse and food bag and took off. Screaming, Amber ran after the monkey until he finally let go. This was another good moment of laughter that revived our tired souls. During this journey, I joked a lot about how I felt like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness to find the promise land. Although I was proclaiming it from a complaining point of view, the Lord really spoke to me a couple of days later, giving me a beautiful glimpse of my own life as I navigated through my very own wilderness.
During my quiet time, the Lord whispered, “Hannah, do you remember that long journey from Zimbabwe to Zambia, where you carried all of your baggage on your back and you were exhausted, depleted, and ready to collapse?” I paused. “Yes, Jesus, I remember. How could I forget?” Jesus replied, “Before you knew me Hannah, and I mean before you began to truly follow after me, you spent your whole life carrying all of your baggage on your own back. You took it upon yourself to carry your burdens, your sin, your shame, your mistakes, and the awful things done to you. You were exhausted for 20 years. You were weighed down. You were depleted. You were exhausted. You were lifeless. You were ready to collapse. And most importantly you were NEVER meant to carry those burdens Hannah. Those bags that you carried for so long, were meant for ME to carry. I came and died for you just to carry every single one of the bags that you carried for so long on your back. I died to carry your shame, your sins, your mistakes, and the awful things done to you. I died so that you may experience freedom from your past, your present, and your future. I died to give you rest and to know you so intimately. It would have been a breeze for you to walk that 1000 meters with nothing weighing you down, nothing on your back. You would have been able to skip and dance and enjoy the walk. This is what a relationship with me looks like. Before you knew me, you journeyed alone carrying all of your baggage, but now that you know me, you have given me your bags so that I can carry them and you can enjoy life burden free. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Give me your baggage and take my hand every single day.”
When I finally reached the border in Zambia, I could rest. I could put my bags down and I could take the weight off my back and chest that had weighed me down for the past hour. I could sit and drink cold water that revived my body. This is what it looked like for me two years ago when I truly met Jesus. He took my bags that I had carried for 20 years of my life and He gave me rest. I was no longer weighed down anymore. Jesus took my bags filled with my sin, my shame, and the hurtful things done to me. I could breathe again, I could dance again, and I could experience abundant life here on earth. I didn’t have to wait any longer for Heaven to experience abundant life, but I could experience Heaven everyday here on this earth. And this truth is true for you too. Do you feel weighed down by your past? Will you give your bags to Jesus and let Him carry them for you? Will you surrender? Then you can drink from the true living water than can quench your thirst for forever. Just like the slushee couldn’t quench my thirst, it only cooled me down for about 10 minutes and I became thirsty again. What are you running to to satisfy your thirst that is not Jesus? I can testify that it will only satisfy for a moment and leave you thirstier than you were before. Give your bags to Jesus and let Him quench your thirst for abundant life. He will come through because He always does. Jesus will be your best friend; He’s holding out His hand to you now, waiting for you to grab hold of it. Will you grab His hand?
Much Love,
Hannah xoxo xoxo xoxo
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story–
Those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
Those he gathered from the lands,
From east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfied the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
-Psalm 107: 1-9
