Currently our whole squad is at Debrief in Malawi! We have been able to rest, relax, get to know each other better and prepare for our ministry next month. Over these past couple days I have been able to reflect on our past couple weeks in Zambia and get excited for our month in Malawi!
We did so much in Zambia. We went to a church in a community where a 10-year-old boy is the pastor for about 80 neighborhood kids. He is an amazing kid that shows us, it doesn’t matter your age, you really can do anything. We were also able to go to a village out in the bush. There we helped them till and fertilize a field to grow vegetables, put on a program to teach the kids about germs and washing their hands and tutor and play with the kids at the orphanage. We got to do such a variety of ministries in Zambia all thanks to our contacts.
I already miss our contacts, Sanderson and Lweendo in Livingstone. They were amazing people! As we left they told us about their future plans of building a camp called J Zone where they can hold weeklong camps for children and training sessions for leaders. Because they own a lot of land for it, they also said if we ever come back to Zambia we have a plot of land to call our own and build a house on! We were all so touched by this and will have to seriously consider it over the next 10 months.
Zambia touched my heart in so many ways. However, one day in particular stands out. One morning we did ministry at a children’s orphanage. When we first got there we went to the 2 and under house. There were about 16 kids in the house. When we walked in some kids were in their pack and plays and some were on the floor playing. We were all able to hold and play with them. First I was drawn to an adorable little boy. Well actually he kind of picked me. I sat down near a couple little ones and he came right over to me and grabbed my hand. Eventually I picked him up and tried to play with him and get him to smile. He never cracked a smile but he would stare into my eyes and was so content just sitting with me. Later I found out that he was sick and had run a fever earlier that day. The time I had with him wonderful and I was able to pray over him. I prayed for an amazing future ahead of him, to feel love everyday, to become a man of God and so much more. Then we were told it was time leave this house and visit another.
We went over to the house that has the 2 to 5 year olds. We had a great time in there running around and singing with the kids. However, when they told us we were going back to the baby’s house to help feed them, I was so excited! When I got inside, Heather was already sitting and feeding the little boy I was with earlier so I sat near them and saw an adorable little girl sitting in her bed because she had already eaten. She stole my heart. She had beautiful eyes and loved playing with my hands. When I would kiss her hand and she would pull it away and give me the other hand; she kept this going for a long time! I was also able to get her to talk a little bit and repeat what I was saying. Hearing her try to say “La La La La La” was my favorite because she could not quite say the ‘L’ sound. Finally I asked a mother for her name and when Heather over heard she said, “Civanna, I saw a list of all the kids on the wall over there and I think those two are twins!” I could not believe it. I got up to go look at the paper myself. Sure enough the little boy and little girl I had spent the day with had the same last name and were born on the same day. I about burst into tears. Adopting twins and adopting from Africa is something I have always wanted and pictured for my future. I was shocked and immediately went back over to the two of them. I could not believe the only two kids I had connected were brother and sister. This now made me notice that they had the same eyes and gorgeous complexion. I was able to spend another hour with them. The little girl had two dolls that she kept placing between the wall and her pack and play then she would hand them to me one by one but take them right back.
When Lweendo told me it was time to go, my heart stopped for a second. I didn’t know how I was going to leave them. As I started leaving, the little girl stood up in her bed and waved back to me saying, “Ba Ba” and when I blew her kisses she tried to blow one back. One of the most difficult parts of the trip so far has been leaving that house and those precious twins. However, it was a little easier knowing what a great orphanage they were in. Everyone we met there was so sweet, loving and really had a heart for God.
The twins are just one piece of my heart I am leaving in Zambia. I had an amazing month! If one month of the World Race can do all this, I cannot even imagine what 10 more months can do.
