Why would leave a country like America and come to a place like this?
My answer surprised them…
To live like you. To eat what you eat. To shop where you shop. To sleep where you sleep. To play with your children. To go to your churches. I am here to walk alongside you and share my stories and my life with you. I’m here because Jesus Christ said, “go to the Nations” and every second of time shared with you is a blessing to me.
Zimbabwe has been a beautiful, eye opening and barren destination. The locals wonder why a group of Americans would come here. With a deteriorating economy, financial hardships and drought plaguing their lives, it doesn’t seem like a desired location. Chive, the Zimbabwean region we’ve been living in, is an acceleration of these issues as this region is about three hours outside of the nearest bustling city and does not offer luxuries like running water and electricity.
But why would we not come? Are the people here less important than those who reside in a more affluent economy? Are they less important than my fellow Americans?
Absolutely not.
These are my brothers and sisters that happen to live on the other side of the world and if Jesus Christ is willing to leave the nighty-nine for one, so am I.
The little town we’ve been living in feels a bit like the wild wild west. The center of town is a cluster of run-down buildings and the road to get there is a mile-long walk through dusty hills and unfinished structures. Despite the appearances though, we love it here. We love the community, we love our Pastor and his wife Eugenia and we love the smiles and laughs from children who follow us around with big, white grins. Yes, Chive looks desolate, but what lies beneath appearances is a surge of life and fervor that our group has grabbed a hold of and pulled close into our hearts.
Pastor Kudzai has a dream to open an orphanage in Chive and provide care for the many parentless children that reside in this area. Most mornings we wake up and walk a mile up the road to his future orphanage site. At the site we chopped down trees, assist in building a bathroom and spend time in prayer over this land and what it will become. Our afternoon work consists of meeting and spending time with the locals in this area. We introduce ourselves, chat with, pray for and laugh with many of the people here in the evenings then invite them to Pastor Kudzai’s church to continue our fellowship. At church services we have the opportunity to preach, telling the locals about of our lives back in American and what The Lord has done for and through us. These are simple sweet days and I’ve lived a life in the past few weeks that would look similar to if I resided here full-time, and that’s how it should be.
As I’ve walked and worked alongside Pastor Kudzai I have learned tremendous humility. Pastor doesn’t ask for anything, although his need is great. He lives on dreams and a faith bigger than most I have ever known. He does not have finances for his orphanage, but he does have hope. Every day is a step forward and an opportunity for Christ to show that He is faithful. While working on the orphanage my team cleared trees and helped to build a bathroom. That is everything standing on the orphanage ground right now. This fact doesn’t dismay Pastor Kudzai though and he is determined that Christ will provide each step of the way, as He has so far. Each morning after we worked to clear the land we would pray. Prayer is the means by which this orphanage has been and will continue to be built. We pray that supplies will come, we pray that the government will continue to allow this project to ensue and we pray that above all, this land will be a place where children are cared for with Christ’s love and by meeting physical needs.
So why did I come here? I came here because life is more than hot showers and familiar cuisine. It’s more than working for more money, more stuff and more comfortability. At the end of the day, none of that stuff will really sustain us. I don’t have everything in this world figured out but as I travel throughout the nations and meet incredible people along the way, I am convinced more and more that abundant life holds much more that exceeds the confines we set for ourselves.
I am forever grateful for the tenacity, humility, travailing prayer and unshakeable faith that Pastor Kudzai, and the many other beautiful humans I have met along the way, have imparted upon me.
In two days, I leave Zimbabwe and head to Livingston, Zambia! I will be working with an organization called J-Zone Youth and am excited to keep everyone update on what life in Zambia will hold.
Sending all my love! <3
And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15
