Just returned from another visit to Zambia...

Friends,
many of you may know that I was able to return to see our beloved friends in Zambia, and just got back to Seattle a few weeks ago. Friends that I have seen since I have been back ask me: "So, how was your trip?" Well, let me tell you.

First, the purpose of going back before I go in January for the year:
* To be with Nick and Jim Tosti who were going to see the state of the new school construction and prepare for next year
* To spend time with the mentors and school headmistress whom we will be working very closely with
* To prepare for next year by looking at possible rental houses, getting more info on internet, transportation, etc.

The time was fantastic! Jim, Nick, and I were able to see the new school site and meet many of the laborers, contractors, school inspector, and others who were all very helpful in giving us information on how to best proceed. I think all of these meetings were very enlightening.

I have described personally my time with Mbuyiana and the mentors as very encouraging. I feel as though Jesus was really bubbling up out of me and scripture was really fresh. We spent time together talking about what "the ministry" is and looking at 2 Corinthians 5:17-20. I have been excited to realize that every human being, African, American, whatever, is connected by this same principle. We are all in need of reconciliation with God and this is THE ministry. Whatever giftings we have, we are all a part of His ministry, which comes down to reconciliation. Reconciliation with God, with ourselves, with our neighbor, and with the world. Wow! If you are feeding the hungry, praying for the sick, visiting someone in need, discipling someone, completing your responsibilities to the glory of God, the common denominator is RECONCILIATION! Religion is our attempt to reach God, Jesus is God's attempt to reach us! Grab ahold of Jesus!

I was able to sit down for breakfast with the Ambassador from Zambia a few weeks ago in Seattle. I asked her this question: " What is the most important thing we need to keep in mind while working with these young people in Limulunga, Zambia?" She replied: " The most important thing is that they know they are important and beautiful. Children in Africa have grown up to think that Westerners are better, that their own culture and history is not that important. Build self-esteem and let them share their stories, listen and encourage. " What an important principle. This concept can be so hard to implement. Naturally we want to preach our culture. Capitalism, internet, cell phones, productivity the list goes on and on. While we were there we saw how cell phones are changing their world. Kids even in remote villages have cell phones now. We know how technology has changed the way we communicate for the good and for the bad. Yes, we may be more connected to the rest of the world, but it can be argued that we are actually less connected to relationships. This is the age of facebook, text messaging, and really impersonal communications. The youth of our culture is beginning to lose the commitment that "real" relationships demand. I may have 80,000 facebook friends, but does anyone really know me? My point being that African children are running to catch up to this communication technology that is so common in Western society now, but is beginning to make a huge impact on the rich cultural relational culture that is so beautiful.

John and I have decided that we want to be about empowering the youth in Zambia; not in a sense of we are better and so on but rather in a sense of encouraging, mentoring, and loving. My friend Fred Stephens is convinced that a true mentor does not recreate himself but rather sees something in the mentee that he or she does not see yet. We prepare for our departure on January 15th. Thank you for all of your encouragement and prayer!

Reflections...

On a cloudy day in Seattle, Zoka coffee aromas in the air, tones of chattering consumers and music in the background, I reflect on our journey that concluded Tuesday afternoon. What all unfolded would take much more energy and time than I am willing, but some highlights I would like to pen.

Everyone has a story. The children of Africa just happen to have stories that are often painful to hear. Someone has to pass them on. Before I left I read several books that described some of the statistics and experiences of Africans. Until you put a name and face, statistics don't often mean much. Now they do.

While in Mongu, Zambia we visited a family of 5 young children, with a mother who is dying of Aids, whose husband has already passed. I did not want to put the 5 month old boy down (pictured above). As we heard their story I wondered whether the children had relatives who could take them in or if the oldest siblings (not older than 12) would become the parents. Either way there is a realization that so many children in Africa are losing their childhood. I gave them a red frisbee.

Where there could be much sorrow, hope abounds! In that same area of Zambia (actually called Limulunga) there is a community school for children. Mbuyuiana, who is the sister of the Ambassador to the US, is helping to run a school for over 500 of these children who cannot afford uniforms or shoes in order to attend public school. From among the community, 16 young adults have taken on the responsibility of teaching these children without pay. This is not because they have money, it is because they love Jesus and want to serve. Many of them farm rice or sell goods in order to feed themselves! The spirit found in these individuals is incredible.

I plan to return to this school and community next year with my friend John Messner for 9-12 months. The community there is in so much need. All that Jesus asks of us is obedience, whether it be to fill all of the water pots or to bring some loaves and fishes. Please pray with me.

So much to be excited about...

Tonight our team will fall asleep with smiles on our faces and dreams in our mind. We just returned from the Vice President's house where we were the guests of honor for a dinner with the Cabinet Minister and important department members of the Ministry of Community Development. We entered the house to join in cheering on the Zambian soccer team to an important victory over the Congo. Any formalities of being in the VP's presence were thrown out as we witnessed their sheer excitement for the win! We were then able to be introduced to everyone in the room (the aformentioned) and then Fred and Wes painted a picture of our hopes for the youth of Zambia. We then sat down to a royal feast and conversed around the table until late into the evening.

Our hope with meeting with the nation's leaders is that we would rather the natural leaders lead, and follow the examples in the Scripture of going under the authority of the leadership. God has already put us well on our way! There are several key relationships that were started in that room tonight that we will be praying about how to continue to cultivate. This is a goal of mine as I will be returning next year, to continue dialogue and relationship with the leaders of the country.

Our hearts are very much in Mongu and more specifically at the Limulunga Community School where some 545 children attend weekly, and some 16 volunteer teachers educate. We are very excited for the possibilities and plan to continue to dream big. There were so many stories of hope from children who have had to face so much hardship. One of our first priorities laid before us: to help complete the new school that will be much more adequate than the current one.

I apologize if these blogs seem so vague or confusing. I will enjoy verbalizing my thoughts and stories more personally with you all. Thank you so much. We return Tuesday afternoon.

Prayers: Final day of dreaming and enjoying each other. Safe travels for a long long flight home.

We were greeted by the Vice President of Zambia today!

We just arrived in Zambia this afternoon and to our surprise were escorted by a government official straight from the airport to the Vice President's office! We had hoped to meet him sometime during this trip but really had no idea if that would be possible. Needless to say that those of us who were wearing t-shirts and jeans quickly changed into our shirts and jackets in the back of the bus! The Vice President and several cabinet members greeted us and wanted to hear about our visit to their country. We were able to share much of our vision about working with the poorest of the poor and empowering them with the principles of Jesus. He was so excited about this that he has invited us to come to his house for a special meeting on Saturday and he has others who he wants us to meet. We left that meeting as giddy as school girls! God is good! Even the king's heart is in His hand!

The last 3 days we have been in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We arrived on Saturday after 24 plus hours of flying. We were graciously hosted by Marta and Demi who I spoke of in an earlier blog. Also staying with Marta and Demi was our friend Sean Sheridan and two of his friends/film crew who are shooting an HD film about the struggles in Africa. I had a great time catching up with Sean and gaining two new friends, Brian and Michael.

We were able to visit the community that Marta and Demi serve in out in the country. What they are doing is remarkable. They started by going to the Muslim leaders of the community in Yetebon with a heart to just serve the people there. The leaders knew that they were believers but the community was in such great need that they welcomed them. The idea was to start a school and health clinic. This couple 12 years later has imparted Jesus into countless people, with 1400 kids being fed and educated in their school just this year. They have not tried to create a program, but have taken care of needs as they have come. During a nationwide drought, Mart and Demi's ministry fed over 200,000 people! What an incredible couple! We had hoped to visit their ministry to get an idea of a very successful work in Africa, and we left with novels of information and excitement in our hearts!

We also met others in Addis who are doing great works with orphans, street youth, and others as well as seeing a program that is educating people with skill training. We learned so much and met so many great people in just a few days that it felt like we had been there for much longer.

Each day so far has been so full of excitement that we all have been hitting a wall at different points during the day. I am hitting that wall as I write and so I think I will head off to bed.

Prayer Request: Tomorrow we head for Mongu, Zambia and the school of orphans that we are hoping to work with. Pray that we will have open eyes and ears to see and hear what God is already doing and how we are supposed to support that. Also for continued favor with everyone we come in contact with, from the taxi driver to the Vice President!

A little background for the adventure to Africa...

Tomorrow our group will be transported to the opposite side of the globe in order to learn more about our brothers and sisters in need. Our group consists of Wes Anderson, Jeff&Marilyn Vancil, Tom Johnston, Fred Stephens, and myself. What do we have in common? A love for Jesus, a commitment to one another, and a realization that we have a responsibility for those in need. I believe that in reality, we in the western world need those in developing countries just as much as they need us. We go with the hope that we will fall even more in love with Jesus.

Still resounding in my head are Bono's words to those in attendance of the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast, "what will this generation do for those suffering in Africa?" Again the following year, my heart melted for those in need of someone to stand for them when I previewed the movie "Amazing Grace". The thought that a man (and a community surrounding him), would give his whole life to abolish the slave trade. God, do you have such a call on my life? Call: where my greatest joy meets the world's greatest need- Buechner?.

This 10 day trip will be a whirlwind. First stop: Ethiopia, to see friends, Marta and Demi. This is a couple who have gone from escaping with their lives from the Communist regime in their country to now running what Tony Hall calls "the greatest work going on in the whole continent". Their story is layed out in a book called "Sheltered by the King". Marta was the first female senator of Ethiopia and has become one of the most beloved women of her country.

Second stop: Zambia, to witness a community in need in the town of Mongu. We have been blessed to meet and be in contact with the Ambassador to the U.S., Mrs. Lewanika, who has shared with us her heart for the orphans in Western Zambia. Her sister helps run a school that educates 500 orphans daily, with the help of volunteer teachers. We wish to partner with this community as a family from Seattle, and to pray, send friends, support, and love to these amazing children of God.

I hope and pray that I, along with everyone reading, will continue to learn more about the needs of people in our own communities and also across the globe. I want to encourage everyone to read, research, and converse about the plight that children are facing in Africa and to pray how we can be God's love to them. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. I hope to do at least one update while I am in Africa and then one upon my return. Thanks friends!

A whirlwind of anticipation and hope...

When I think of all the amazing people in my life now and all of the experiences God has brought me through, I excitedly anticipate all that He has for this next season we are about to embark on. Let me take a minute to recall these previous 7 years.

When I graduated from City Christian HS in 2000, I could not have imagined where my life is now. I moved in to the 17th Ave house and enrolled in UW to study political science with dreams of someday becoming a successful lawyer. Through many experiences, brothers, mentors, and other providential means He has been equipping me more and more for the work in His Kingdom. After spending these last 7 years now with an amazing family of friends in Seattle, with trips to Thailand, Europe, Israel, the Coastal mountains of British Columbia, as well trips to visit friends around the country, I cannot even imagine what might be in store for me next.

My natural instinct is to try to plan out what I will do when I return from my adventures. Law school or a Master's program are both in my thoughts, but I am still learning how to hold all of my ideas loosely because God's thoughts are much higher and He somtimes leads us on a different path than we think. A friend, Scott Hardman, recently stated that he knows 2 things: 1. Life will not go as you think 2. God is faithful. I like the analogy that our life is a chess piece in God's hand. Sometimes the moves don't seem obvious to us, as we are just small pawns in His incredible universe.

I leave for Africa with 5 friends from Seattle, and much anticipation in my heart. If the Spirit prompts you, be praying that our little group will encounter Jesus in each other and grow in our love for Him. This is just the start of a great adventure...