Zambia was an absolutely wild month. It was our third month of The Race and also our third country in Africa. Month 3 also meant that it was what we call, “Man Month”. Man month is basically when all the men from our squad become one team for the whole month, leaving us girls to then be a team as well. Which meant one painful thing for Team Wildfire- we were getting split up!
I sadly had my first team change of the race as my Wildfire boys, Adam, John, and Ben, left us and we went our separate ways for a whole month. I then was put on a team with 16 other women from a couple other different teams on our squad. We stayed in Livingston, Zambia with our awesome host, J Zone.
For pretty much the whole month our ministry focus was on the next generation. I was super stoked as empowering and ministering to the next generation is one of my strong passions. We put on day camps, hung out at a local orphanage, spoke at a couple different schools, put on movie nights, did A LOT of dancing, and really just loved on the kids and teens we were able to be with. It was by far my favorite month ministry wise, so far.
Empowering the next generation was such a blessing to be able to do this month. To just talk to the youth and listen to what they have to say, their struggles, their likes, their dislikes, how they want to grow deeper with the Lord, and more, was my favorite thing we did. To encourage them to be the world changers I fully believe they can and are going to be and to also empower them to be the people God is calling them to be, was such a gift to me personally.
Watching those young men and women strive after God with all their heart, even if they messed up a couple times in their past our even in the present, moved me in so many ways. To hear about their dreams and goals and aspirations and how they want to change Zambia for the better, was absolutely beautiful. This month challenged me in so many ways. But to be with those kids, even if for only a month, was a huge blessing.
On a different note, the 17 of us girls were also able to bond a ton during our time together. I was able to experience such love and beauty from each and every one of the amazing women I was with. We bonded over coffee club, seeing 5 movies at the local theatre (R.I.P. those blackberry mango slushees), many late night gang hangs, cooking for 17+ on one gas stove every night, sharing clothes, dying in the 108 degree heat, and SO much more.
But one of the biggest things we bonded over was a dog we lived with named Dante. When we first found out there was a dog with us we were so incredibly excited. Little did we know what was in store for us. Dante was a cute, little puppy at first, and then he started to turn evil. He constantly bite us, scratched us, chased us, peed on us, and so many other things. As much as we did joke that he was a demon dog, Dante bonded us in some weird way.
To be with such a huge group of women frightened me at first. But so much beauty and growth came out of this past month. I saw what it looks like when comparison, jealousy, gossip, and drama are put aside. Instead I saw and was a part of a group of women constantly calling each other higher, being intentional, seeking out the beauty within each other and themselves, and simply just loving each other for the women we were created to be.
This next month we are going to our last country in Africa- Malawi. Team Wildfire is back baby, minus our fierce-some alumni leader John, and we’re ready to light Malawi up (for Jesus of course). I still am in need of financial support as I have to be fully funded by the end of this year. If you would be willing to donate any amount you can do so by clicking the donate button at the top of my blog. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far and God bless 🙂
