No no, I have NOT started my race (yet) as I am still only scheduled to start it in JULY 2013, however I AM currently on my second last day here in Zambia. I finally have a little more computer time now and so I thought I would just get a few thoughts down about my trip to northern Zambia (Ndola) area for these last 2.5 weeks.
If I had to choose two words to describe my trip..it would be "Broken Love" . Now let me explain that concept a little. My heart has been a teeter totter of emotions these last two weeks. I have felt EVERY emotion possible. From pure HATE (yes hate to a point even where i dont even know how/if I could have contained myself from hurting someone), to pure, HOLY, AMAZING LOVE. Totally opposites I know!
I wont go into too much detail (yet) for the sake of time but the biggest thing I have learned from my time here in Zambia…is that even with all the pain, the hurt, the poverty, abuse (sexual, alcoholic, mental, physical), and just simple despair…God is here. He is IN those homes of those kids without parents. He is holding the child who doesnt have a father at home. He is comforting the mother who just lost their child in the hospital that isnt even worthy to treat sick dogs. He is playing with the kids at a local orphanage where the child to adult ratio is 32 kids to 1 adult (we seriously visited a place like that). He is with the local pastor in the compounds as he preaches and reaches out to the people. He is with the kids while they are writting there exams here (which are HUGE here…very important).
God is here. There is hope when I look into the eyes of the kids whom we spent the most time with. There is joy. There is a future. There is this amazing love that we have recieved from them and have been blessed by them during our time here. There are friendships that have been formed…'brothers and sisters'in Christ who we now have here in Zambia praying for us (me) and lifting us up!!
as eager as I am to get back home now to Canada, I am SO THANKFUL for my time here. It was beyond worth the 50+ hours of travel time JUST FOR ONE HUG from a child. That in itself-is priceless.
God is love. GOD IS AMAZING LOVE.
I am so blessed.
thank you GOD. Thank you for YOUR love.
I am YOUR daughter. Thank you thank you thank you!
