The squad and I are in Zambia.
There is something beautiful about the African continent and African people. God does really sweet things here and after being in India for three months, this is refreshing.
We have already seen Jesus move here and have seen God’s power in a few different ways. Like when we prayed for a woman by the name of Maria. She had leg pain and wanted us to pray because it was keeping her from working and making a living. When we were finished praying she said “surely God has heard our prayers! I have been healed!” Then, we prayed for a man by the name of Patson. He was sitting under a shade tree on one of those toilet seats people use when they can’t sit all the way down on an actual toilet. The lady taking us around the village told us that Patson lived alone (in the little shack next to where he was sitting) and that he didn’t have food and couldn’t walk. So, we had some apples in our backpack and we prayed. Patson said “AMEN” with a big smile on his face as he was taking some steps with apples in his hands.
Praise God for His power and willingness to do cool things for His kids.
I think a lot of times we say things like “this is the best thing I have ever seen” or “this is the best day of my life!” I can confidently say that Victoria Falls was actually one of the best things I have ever seen and it was actually one of the best days of my life.
Yesterday was an off day and the team I am with was up for an adventure so we headed out to the Falls right after breakfast. Two of the girls bungee jumped like the brave women that they are. After that, we ventured into the park where people told us to constantly be on the lookout for the baboons because they would steal anything that you have. Just so you know, a group of baboons is called a “troop.” No thanks. They also told us to not even worry about buying a poncho because we would get soaked no matter what.
I can’t begin to describe the sight we saw when the falls came into our sight. We all screamed and shouted at the beauty and power that was before us. Tears welled up in my eyes as we felt the roar of this waterfall. As we felt the roar of a God so much greater than ourselves. I have been able to see a lot of cool places in my short life and this one is by far one of the greatest. It’s in the top 3.
We began to pass people as they are walking up the walkway and they were soaking wet. We put all of our stuff away in our backpacks, I may have assumed mine was waterproof and I may have been wrong. Either way, worth it.
We start heading down the path to get closer to the falls and to walk across a bridge that goes to an “island”. All of the sudden, we are getting drenched by the water. It’s not even the falls, it’s the mist from the falls. We are getting completely wrecked. I can’t even put into words the freedom that I felt in this moment. Jumping in puddles, shouting and smiling. Knowing that I am in the midst of absolute greatness. It was like the greatest thunderstorm you can imagine with the thunder being the falls and with the sun shining. Then, we headed across the bridge. The one that goes right over the falls, where if you fell, there was no way you would survive.
We got to the other side and we continued to scream and shout and have the best day of our lives. We could see the place where Taite and Emily bungee jumped from. We could see the falls when the mist would clear up a bit. We stopped and took 30 seconds of complete silence to take it all in. I saw how green this island was. I could see Zimbabwe from where we were standing. I could see the falls and all the trees somehow growing despite all the rushing water that was constantly beating them. These were all moments that couldn’t be captured with a camera but that will forever be in my mind.
I was alive.
We then headed back out and up to the top of the falls. We may have went off the beaten path a little bit and been right next to the edge. The sound of the water and the power that we could feel was terrifying to say the least. It was like nothing I have ever felt before. It was like nothing I could ever explain. I could feel that power in my chest. Pounding. The sky and the clouds were beyond beautiful. Think the cover of Toy Story and you’re halfway picturing it. We hung out at the top for a little bit and then decided to head over to a resort that a friend had recommended to us. One that was “like a free safari”. We ate burgers and pizza and had coffee while sitting next to a pool. We went on a walk and saw way too many monkey’s for my liking and some zebras.
THEN.
We heard about this cool thing that happens at the falls during a full moon called a Lunar Rainbow. We heard that it is one of the best kept secrets of the falls.
Lucky us, it was a night that included a full moon.
We headed back over to the falls just in time for one of the greatest sunsets of my life. Some of the team also talked to strangers about Jesus and the cross. Fun fact, I always have a bucket list for countries. One thing on my list was to watch a sunset at Victoria Falls but I never told the team that I wanted that to happen because I just didn’t think it was possible because it gets complicated trying to be out after dark. Jesus not only gave me a sunset but He gave me a whole day of His goodness. We watched the sunset and then we headed over to our rock right next to the top of the falls and waited on this lunar rainbow we had heard all about. We still had a few hours before it would happen so as we are sitting next to these raging rapids we all just start singing random songs. We sang so loud and could hardly hear each other because of the noise. We kept saying that it was actually kind of eerie to be sitting in the darkness and hearing the power that this water holds.
We watched as this rainbow started to appear over the falls in the most beautiful way and then we decided to venture back down to the bridge while we waited on it to get better. We were willing to get soaked again despite the fact that we had just recently gotten dry from earlier in the day. As we are walking down, here come some of our men screaming and yelling and so pumped on life. We told them to go to the top of the falls because that was the best place to see the rainbow and then the team and I took off for the bridge.
For a few different reasons, it was even better than the first time during the day. We were literally the only people there. It was majestic being in the moonlight. It was a spiritual experience in more ways than one. We yelled and screamed and walked through the dark, cloudy mist (rainstorm) of the falls. We got across the bridge and yelled at the top of our lungs. Then, we stood in silence for 10 seconds just taking in the power that was around us.
I have never felt so alive and free.
We made our way back across the bridge and here come our men. Yelling and screaming just like we were. We told them to go across the bridge and stand in silence for 10 seconds. They took off screaming and then all of the sudden we couldn’t hear them anymore. We realized that all of the screaming at the top of our lungs wasn’t heard by anyone in this world because of the noise of the falls. There was something terrifying about that realization but so great at the same time. The men came back and we all talked about how we felt like we were looking as close at God as we could without being killed.
We all took off back to the top of the falls and the rainbow was more beautiful than the pictures could even try and portray. We decided that it was time to go and we caught a taxi back to our house. Of course, the driver loved the Lord and of course we saw two hippos on the side of the road as we were driving. We later learned that seeing hippos on the side of the road is one of the most rare things to ever happen. Our contact has never seen that happen and he has lived here for quite sometime.
Needless to say, Day 190 of the race was one that will be in my heart and soul forever. It’s one where the sweetness of Jesus was so overpowering that I could do nothing but smile all day. It’s one where Jesus answered the desires of my heart without me even having to say them out loud. It was one of complete joy and abundant freedom. It was one where we said yes to every single thing that was in front of us. It’s one where I would have been content to head home after lunch but instead I have learned that you have to stick around for the best. The moments like singing near the edge, watching sunsets and sharing the gospel, playing in monsoons and seeing lunar rainbows. It was a day that changed my life.
Because of internet, I can’t upload pictures here. Follow me on Instagram @kacietillman or add me on Facebook to see all the goodness from this day.
