Wrapping up our time in Zimbabwe has been some of the hardest days on the World Race, if not the hardest. Normally, I am okay with change and saying goodbye because I have had quite a bit of practice with it, but this time has been harder than most. Not only did we say goodbye to our ministry hosts, our Zimbabwe family, and our students at all of the schools, but we also had to say goodbye to HALF of our family, our team, our boys. This month we are in Zambia, and it’s MANistry month meaning that all of the guys have ministry together and the girls are broken up into three teams. In the beginning, I was okay for manistry month, but unfortunately we found out that for everyone, team changes are going to happen after it. So basically, it is very, very likely that we just finished our last month as team Aliento de Vida. And that really breaks our hearts.
I have only been without our boys for five days and there are so many things that I miss. I miss our constant laughter, our constant jokes, and our constant good moods. I miss our crazy yo-yoing, our popcorn and movie nights, and our rainbow hotel wifi runs. I miss all of our ridiculousness and so so much more. I miss our team times that lasted way too long because we were laughing way too hard, and our honesty with each other to make sure we were pursuing the Lord constantly. It just feels like part of my family has been taken away, and it’s so weird. Aliento de Vida has helped me grow, pushed me to strive to hear the Lord’s voice, encouraged me as I walk in the Lord, and the boys cared for each of us as brothers should. So yea, being real this transition has been hard not only because we separated from half of our team, but also because we left a place so dear to us.
Zimbabwe was the most at home I have felt since leaving my actual home. I had siblings running around again, with a momma’s cooking, and friends at Scripture Union who we would hang out with all the time. It got to the point where we knew enough people and students to say hello to people on the streets or in a grocery store. We would have BBQ’s on the weekends and go to churches and social parties on Sundays. Not only was our team a family, but we meshed and fit in so well with our Zimbabwe family too. The word the Lord gave me for Zim was JOY. This was because of the joy that encompassed everything and everyone. I felt joy each night sitting around the dinner table, I felt joy dancing and singing in every church service or bible club, I felt joy holding the newborn that lived in our house, I felt joy on our morning spiritual walks, I felt joy laughing at the office, I felt joy teaching about Esther to high school girls, and I felt joy just being in the presence of the Lord. Zimbabwe was so full of joy that it felt like home because of what the Lord was doing there and the people he was using. It was such a blessing as our first month in Africa, but let me tell you what, now I’m homesick for America and Zimbabwe.
So, I have said many of the reasons why I have been sad, but I am going to try and choose into this month, this new team, and this ministry, but sometimes you just need a small grieving period ya know. Well this past Friday night we got to attend a Pastors’ Kid run worship service. It was really awesome to be surrounded by people like me striving to oppose the common belief/stereotype that most pastor’s kids turn bad. They gathered together to encourage one another, push each other’s growth in the Lord, and fellowship. It was so cool, but I was still in a sad mood. I couldn’t really get into it and was just asking for a renewal or to laugh or to feel happy, and here’s the part you’ve all been waiting for. The Lord delivered the laughter by me getting electrically shocked. What had happened was, at the end of the service I got invited to say something to the congregation so I went up there to speak and the microphone started vibrating my hands, and I had no idea what was going on I just knew it hurt. I figured it out when people started yelling at me to put shoes on because I had taken them off for worship and it stopped and I could talk fine. Who knew that holding a microphone in Zambia at a church service without shoes on would mean me getting electricity coursing through me and allowing us to laugh so hard. It was really funny after the fact, but I still felt really weird for a little while afterwards. Of course when I sit back down Stella, Emily, and I couldn’t stop laughing for the rest of the service. I hope that little story may have made you laugh especially knowing that I am fine except for maybe I’m the Flash now.
Overall, yes it’s been hard, and I have been homesick from my family, my team, and Zimbabwe, but I know the Lord has something sweet for this month. I am actually very excited about the girl’s team we merged with too. It will be a good month for sure, but just getting over this hump might take a little bit. But like always thank you for your prayers and encouragement. A few extra prayers might be nice especially going into the Christmas season.
