1) Most evenings we would exercise, a neighborhood of kids would come out from all directions to work out with us. They would kick our butts at insanity and we’d teach them about health and then we’d have fun dancing around!
2) Our team had an appointment set up by God with this woman named Katherine. She’s a preacher from Scotland who’s partnered with a church in Uganda. She visits Uganda often, but when praying for what was supposed to be her most recent trip there, she heard The Lord tell her to go to Zambia instead. She’d never been to Zambia, but spoke with her Ugandan pastoral partner about it and they both decided to make the trip. S squad, who was also supposed to be going to Uganda while in Africa, got rerouted to Zambia too. We both happened to be partnering with the same two churches while here. We were greatly encouraged by her visit, her preaching, and her prayers over us, and we were even able to begin the process of getting her ministry in Scotland partnered with Adventures In Missions and the World Race.
3) This month our team got into a discussion about God as a romancer. I mean, He created it, so if there’s anyone who knows how to woo and wow us, it’s Him! A lot of times the way He does this is through His creation. Beautiful sunsets, majestic mountains, whatever it may be for you. Jordan had prayed, telling God she really likes lightning and that night there was an epic lightning show across the sky (mind you, rainy season had already ended). Then she told Him she loves sleeping to the sound of rain and the lighting show that night turned into a downpour. I decide to give it all a try and was sitting on the front porch the next evening, sky still cloudy from the rain Jordan had prayed for. I reminded God of my love for shooting stars and said, “God, I know it’s really cloudy tonight, but if there’s anyone who can send a shooting star through the clouds, it’s You.” And He sure sent one. There was a break in the clouds where you could see a few stars, but He didn’t send it through there. He literally sent the shooting star through the clouds, bright enough to light up the sky. It was beautiful. What can I say? Hopeless romantic.
4) I racked up an extra country with S squad for a safari adventure in Botswana. We were taken on a boat and land tour of some of the most beautiful African terrain and saw plenty of wild animals.
5) We couldn’t take a trip to Livingstone and not visit Victoria Falls. To say it was magnificent would be an understatement. I could try to describe it, but it’d never do it justice. Just go visit.
6) “Do like I do…” dancing game became a favorite for me with the kids we met at Destiny School. I picked up some new moves and they picked up some extra laughs when I tried to “do like they do.”
7) Meeting Mary, the girl who glowed. For the full story on her, read my previous blog.
8) Team Jacob, upgraded name to Team Israel this month, has been my family for quite some time now. All 4 generations and variations of the team adding its unique and necessary personality. Once an Israelite always an Israelite.
9) My team leader, Jake, has been to Lusaka, Zambia once before. He’d been talking about his friend, Damiano, for months leading up to us getting there, hoping he’d get to see him while we were visiting. The man lived up to the legend! We had such a great time meeting Damiano and are thankful for the friendships we were able to build with him this month.
10) I had the great honor of preaching the Easter Sunday sermon. Of course, I couldn’t celebrate Easter without celebrating Passover as well. I spoke about the 4 promises God gave to the Israelites in Exodus 6:6-7 and what the Passover Seder looks like, how we celebrate it, what each food on the Seder plate represents, and the order the Seder is in and the glasses of wine we drink for each promise throughout the Seder. Then I compared it with the Passover Seder Jesus had with His disciples the night before He was killed. Where they were at in the order of the Seder and what that would mean based on what Jesus said at the Seder. It was the most fun I’ve had speaking on the race, and an experience I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
11) Saving the best for last this month, our contacts! The contacts you are connected to in each country have a great influence over how wonderful a month can be, and this month was top notch. Both Pastor Peter’s and Pastor Kebby’s family welcomed us as family immediately. Pastor Kebby and his wife, Juliette, have let me adopt them as my Zambian parents, and-between the two families-I’ve gained a triple handful of new brothers and sisters. Thank you for such a memorable month!
