(Sign at the Lusaka airport.)
From the moment I stepped off the plane in Lusaka, there was something familiar about this place…. A familiar smell hung in the air… I couldn’t quite put my finger on it… It wasn’t long before I realized I’d really like it here…
We had landed on the continent where peanut butter is a staple, pot pies can be found everywhere and even at gas station convenience stores, and the red, earthen dirt clings to the soles of your shoes.
(One of the streets surrounding our compound in Ndola, Zambia.)
For the month of September, my entire squad would be serving with an organization called Mobile Mission Maintenance, or MMM. The purpose of this organization is to support the local churches and mission organizations in practical ways so that they can be freed up to minister in the communities. MMM maintains the facilities; making repairs where there is a need.
At the base where we were living and serving there is a vocational school. Students learn the basics of construction, carpentry, and sewing. While we were there, we were assigned to teach other professional development courses – Photography, Video-Editing, Music, Hospitality, English writing, Financial Management, Camp Counseling, IT, and Dance.
(Sign outside of the MMM base and Vocational school.)
(Entrance to MMM.)
(My teammate, Chris, teaching about Photography.)
(Saying goodbye to Emmanuel, one of our amazing students, on our final day of classes.)
For the first couple weeks, my team taught photography and video-editing. Knowing very little about both subjects, it was a great time for me to get to know the students and learn a little about both subjects myself! (One day I was invited to the music class to share a couple songs I’ve written while on the Race. From that day forward, each time the students saw me around the compound, they’d break out into the chorus of one of my songs! I was so flattered!)
During our last week there, I joined a couple other squadmates, teaching a class about Business Administration and Management. I was so inspired by our students… One already owned and managed her own business and the other had the same aspirations!
(Sang, Hilary and I saying goodbye to our Business Administration and Management class students.)
At the end of the week, we’d pile back into the bus and go out into the community to encourage people.
One day we visited children who had been orphaned and were living with HIV or AIDS. We were humbled and broken by their circumstances. We learned that there was a Catholic church group who was taking responsibility for them, feeding anywhere from 150 to 250 children each day! The children charmed us; I could easily have taken 10 of them home with me!
(The kids we visited in one of the villages.)
(I’m sitting with a couple of sisters who are being raised by their 13 year old sister and some relatives. They were so sweet and precious!)
On another occasion, we visited women in the seamstress courses, sewing clothing for the local school children.
(Some of the women at one of the villages who are enrolled in the seamstress courses.)
We also visited a church being built by some students from the construction class at MMM. The pastor in the area was quite excited about it.
(Stones made from scratch by the MMM students that would be used to build a village church.)
Zambia was a breath of fresh air consisting of both hot days and cooler days, climbing trees, butterflies, beautiful flowers, peanut butter…! Our host was gracious and looked after us well. We were welcomed in to several homes, treated to homemade cakes, African cuisine – nshima, chicken, and papaya! Whenever we ran or walked the streets, we were often greeted by friendly words and wide smiles. We came to bless Zambia, but I think they blessed us even more!
(Posing atop a tree on the compound; my favorite place to explore and see the sunsets!)
(One of the many beautiful flowers and friendly butterflies on the compound.)
(Sunset over the top of Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia taken during one of our off days.)
