We made it to Zimbabwe! Our squad arrived in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Tuesday the 17th. After a nearly 3 hour border crossing, and a total of 17 hours of buses from South Africa, we were greeted by the incredibly passionate and joyful staff of Youth for Christ Zimbabwe- Geared to the Times, Anchored to the Rock. We immediately began ice breakers with the YFC team, getting to know one another and being oriented to the ministry. (We also inhaled chicken sandwiches and French fries life we’ve never eaten before, because huger is real on travel days). Later that afternoon, YFC staff helped us pack all of our belongings into a wagon hitched to the back of our 20 passenger van. We then drove 20 minutes outside the city to their retreat campus where they host the youth for camps and training. The splendor of the evening took my breath away. I had every expectation to pull out my sleeping bag and mat, then spread out along the floor of a church to sleep that night. Instead, we slept on cots in little huts out in the bush, surrounded by mountains, fields of grass, and monkeys. Yes, you read that correctly. Monkeys, EVERYWHERE. Fortunately, the groundskeeper had the sweetest puppy that would chase the monkeys away from us. Y’all this campus was beautiful. Myself and a few squad mates even had the opportunity to explore and find a few hiking trails up the hills that surrounded the property.
Following a mini quiet time and short worship session at the top of the hill, we gathered for dinner where we were served fresh local chicken and veggies, with rice smothered in some bomb African sauce. YUUUMMM.
After dinner, we gathered with our main site host for our ministry location, James! James is a former professional soccer player who has a heart for sports ministry and leadership development in his hometown. My team was assigned to work with James in VICTORIA FALLS… as in one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World Victoria Falls. We peppered James with questions about the ministry, the area, what day-to-day life would be like. He thoughtfully and kindly answered us, but also left us with enough mystery as to what our month of ministry on Zimbabwe would be like. After our team meeting with our ministry host, we marveled at the stars and the incredible African night sky, then headed off to bed. The next morning we were up and out by 6am to the bus station to catch a six hour bus ride to Vic Falls. The ride was HOT, bumpy, speedy, semi-scary because it was super speedy, and hot, but praise God we made it!
We have been in Vic Falls for exactly one week, but we have already had an amazingly full, beautiful, challenging, fun time. We walk nearly 5 miles a day between our ministry activities and home, we play soccer daily for two hours with teenage and young boys, pray over them, and encourage them. We’ve hosted two spiritual formation programs for a coed crowd on Friday afternoon, then an all girls group on Saturday morning. During these programs we shared testimonies, messages, scripture, encouraging words, and opened up spaces for activation in faith practices and spiritual disciplines. We will continue to host these programs weekly with the kids, building relationships, and discipling them in their walks with Jesus. This past Sunday we shared a message in church, then on Monday we were a part of community outreach evangelism in a village in the bush. The remainder of this week we will continue to go to more schools for leadership development, and engage daily with the kids in sports ministry. In the short time we have had here, Zimbabwe has grabbed a piece of my heart. This country is beautiful and the people are kind, gentle, fun, and joyful. We have walked through more challenges with adjusting to our new lifestyles of limited electricity, water shortage, spiders the size of my hand, and malaria-carrying mosquitos, but God is God, and He has shown us His strength and provision as many of our normal comforts are removed, and we pour ourselves out daily. Moreover, we have seen the mighty move of God. Theses kids are HUNGRY. Several kids ask thoughtful and insightful questions, and desire to engage with us and with Jesus more. Even the kids who seem shy or like they are not listening BLOW ME AWAY when they share their thoughts and answers. Zimbabwe is beautiful. Our time here has already been great. And God is so good.
Pray for my team as the Lord continues to use us to reach the young people here, especially the young ladies. Many of the girls we meet carry shame, and have already entered into spaces of vulnerability and confession with us. Pray that the Lord covers us, equips us, and moves us out of the way as He displays His glory and love.
Praise Report and update…. I AM FULLY FUNDED!!!
I feel a fire like never before, and I am pumped to see what God is going to do next!
