Zambia…
When that word comes up, tears form in my eyes. The thoughts of month 10 overwhelm me, in such a beautiful way. See, our route on the race wasn’t supposed to go to Zambia. When we got the email that because of unrest in Kenya our route would be changed for the last three months, but I was thrilled. In 2011 I went on my first mission trip to Zambia and lived in the bush that’s where my love for missions and my desire for more of God grew tremendously.
Back to month 10. I was ready for it. Month 9 in Nepal was hard for me. On the race, you have a month where you are questioning a lot, stuff like why am I here, or God are you hearing me because I’m not hearing you. I questioned a lot, even about my faith and why I am so loved by God that He is still chasing after me and pursuing me when I feel like I am so undeserving of His love. Month 9 was the month where I wanted to go home. I didn’t see a point in continuing the race when my heart wasn’t fully in it. The only thing keeping me on the race was month 10…Zambia. I knew when I got there I would feel different, feel like I was home. So after team changes again (which was one of the best team changes ever, I absolutely love this team) and the long flight to Zambia, I felt like I was home when I took a few steps off the plane and took in the fresh African air. I felt a new sense of energy, freedom and joy that I hadn’t felt in a few months. I knew it was going to be a great month.
What did we do in Zambia? We worked with amazing ministry contacts who made us part of their family. We did door to door evangelism, shared bible stories with orphans, participated in a bible study of widows, and spent a week in the bush doing evangelism and sharing stories. We prayed for healing over uneven legs, pain in stomach, tumors, and much more. We saw healings after healings everyday. We saw a man who we were taking into town for medical care pass away in front of our eyes because God had a different plan of healing Him than we did.
See, when we pray for healing, we gotta ask what God wants to heal. We might see the physical need that we think needs healing in a person, but God may want to heal this person in an emotional or spiritual way or even in another physical way. Here’s a cool story. We met a lady who had a stroke some years back. She wasn’t able to stretch out her left hand without the help of her other hand stretching it out. So we prayed that her hand will be healed and that she could stretch it. Her determination to stretch her hand was inspiring. She kept trying and trying. The next week we came back to visit her and see how she was doing and saw a huge improvement. All her fingers could extend except her thumb and pointer finger. We looked at her legs to see if they were even because we wanted to pray healing over her legs so she could be able to walk. We prayed that her left leg would grow to meet her right. As we were praying for her leg, her hand was healed…she could now extend all her fingers without the help of her other hand. It was so cool! It brought tears to my eyes knowing God is right there with us putting His healing touch on this lady.
Zambia was a great month, I had a great team and worked with great people who became instant family. The guys we did ministry with were like brothers and would encourage us all the time. They took us to Victoria Falls and we had so much fun. They pushed us to share and encourage people in the village. They showed me how Godly men deal with things and how I don’t need to settle for a man who doesn’t share my faith and values in life. Zambia was such a refreshing month, full of dreams and visions from God. My team is incredible too, so supportive and encouraging to each other.
For the first time in long time, I felt comfortable being who God called me to be. On this race, I have been figuring out who I am in Christ and my purpose in life that is glorifying to God. So I have been searching and learning who I am. Not until Zambia did I see who God has created me to be. He has given me gifts and a story to glorify Him, why would I not use that to help others? I have been so selfish in the guilt or shame that my story had over me that I didn’t want to share any of it. Month 10 is where I laid that all down and let God use whatever in my life He wanted to use in order to bring people closer to Him. It’s crazy that I just realized that! So lots of freedom came month 10, just to be myself and not try to be other people or to seek other gifts God has given to other people, but to walk in the gifts and calling He has given me.
So month 10 was a great month! I didn’t want to leave because it felt like was leaving home. I felt like I was leaving my family. God moved a lot this month, not in just the ministry but also in me.
If you don’t have a personal relationship with God, and you want to experience more of Him…it’s simple. Talk to Him, cry out to Him, read His word…it’s got all the answers for you. Find a good church that fits you and that you walk out of it changed and encouraged. Find a bible study that you trust to be honest with and can learn more about the Bible and the promises God has for you. Whatever you have done in your past, its not too much for God to handle…I promise. He wants to walk you through healing and freedom and give you a new life in Christ. Let Him in.
