Friends, family, and interweb strangers: I first and foremost want to formally apologize for my lack of updates as of late. There are a handful of stories I would love to have shared, but each time my fingers meet my keyboard to share, I freeze up, unable to accurately articulate the beauty or struggle or whatever it may be. In an attempt to keep you more informed and to steward the stories the Lord is writing better, I will be (hopefully) posting short blogs each Thursday, informing you about three things – things I’m learning, moments from ministry, silly stories – just three things worth mentioning from Thursday to Thursday. And when something big and deserving of its own blog comes my way, perhaps I’ll be more ready to share that as well.
The amount of change I’ve experienced in just one week is certifiably insane but simultaneously undeservedly wonderful. From continents to seasons to scenery to critters, nearly everything has changed. Here are three of the most significant:
- Team. In the days before leaving Macedonia, the whole squad gathered for a time of processing and worship and rest and yes, team changes! Though you may recognize three of the six others, I’d love to introduce you to my new housemates/roommates/ministry partners/breakfast dates/lunch dates/dinner dates for the next indefinite amount of time. There is Clare, the British one whose colloquialisms are more foreign than the Zambians’, whose laughter is infectious, whose life brings life. There is Molly, the quiet brave one whose character is as deep and multifaceted as her movie collection. There is Liz, the sweet and silly one whose presence brings comfort and whose stories bring joy. There is Vivian, the steady one whose pack has every gadget I could ever need and whose heart holds all the wisdom I could wish for. There is Emily, the vibrant one whose character is complex, bursting with life, and dripping with joy. Finally there is Grace, the fearless one, whose being bears gentleness, whose heart dives in fully and fearlessly, who leads us all in grace and kindness, and who shares my affinity for toast and mountains and simple joys. Together, we carry a spirit of rejoicing and thus will be called Team Hallelujah.
- Travel. World Race travel days are infamous for their (mis)adventuer, and before last week, I suppose I had been missing out. Last Friday at 4AM we left Skopje, Macedonia, set foot on 3 continents in 24 hours, slept less than 10 hours in a total of 65, slept the best of those 10 hours on an airport floor, and arrived at our new ministry location on Sunday afternoon. During that time, 30 of us crammed on a bus designed for no more than 22 to make a 9 hour drive from Lusaka, Zambia to Livingstone. Because buses can’t travel after 9pm, we made an unplanned stop on Saturday night in the front yard of a friend of a friend of the man who organized the travel where we tented for the night after some to-go pizza, finishing our squishy and bumpy trek in the morning, safely arriving at our new home, the YWAM base in Livingstone.
- Tasks. So far on the World Race, I have yet to encounter two of the same ministries. It’s such an amazing testament to the truth that there is space and need for every gift, skill and passion in the Kingdom. This month sounds as if it will be full of all sorts of ministry opportunity from evangelism to orphan ministries to manual labor. Thus far, my team and I are enjoying planting and painting, but even those simple tasks have presented adventure. Planning to dig up an old bush before planting something new? Be sure to take a few whacks at it first to make sure nothing is living inside. Wanting to maximize garden space to grow the most possible for the community? Don’t plant to closely or you’ll create a highway for cobras and mambas. Wondering where the mangoes went? Elephants.
As I embrace these changes as well as the perma-sweat that’s settled on my skin, I rejoice in the incredible opportunity it is to be here to meet tangible needs of the incredible people here, and the generosity of all of you who have made that possible. Thank you for sending me here. If you’re interested in keeping me here and far, far away from you, please consider donating above.
