I only have a few moments, but I wanted to give everyone a quick update. Everyone is doing well and I want to thank you all for your prayers! Our internet has been down the last two days, so I apologize for not writing more! I’ll do what I can from here on out. I hope you are all doing well and I hope to write more in the morning (pray that the internet is working!).
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” ~Jesus [John 10:10b]
Having completed our first day as a team in Zambia (the first one outside the US for many of our team), I sat and reflected on the day as I laid down to sleep. Our day began with a morning devotion that would put any that I have been a part of to shame. It began with a couple of songs, sung without instruments in a four part harmony that would make the manliest man feel weak in the knees. Then we discussed the passage in Matthew 18 where Jesus tells us to have the faith of a child, and I was reminded again how complicated I make my life. It’s amazing how the people here have a better grasp on such things. After our discussion came the time of prayer. As I listened to the Zambians pray, I don’t remember the last time I felt so humbled by such genuine passionate prayer.
A little later in the day, we went to deliver a few of the Bio-Sand filters to some people in a village just outside of Ndola called Nkwazi. We split up into groups of two, but because there are nine of us, I went by myself along with the director of the Bio-Sand filter production and his understudy. As I stood in the woman’s house and listened to them explain how to use the filter, I couldn’t help to think about those words from Jesus, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” Sadly, for me, having life to the full often means enjoying a nice day on the lake or watching the latest episodes of the Office and Lost. But for this woman, having life to the full meant having the ability to have access to clean water in her home for the first time in her life. It’s obvious who has the better perspective.
It’s easy for us to come over here and think we have it all figured out and that we are the ones who are “helping” them. But, as I have learned time and time again, I have more to learn from them in a few moments than I could teach them in a lifetime. Jesus promised to give us life to the full and in that moment I think I finally realized what he meant…
Africa is often thought of as a dry, arid land. It is, after all, home to the mighty Sahara Desert. But I found that even in the midst of the desert, God has a way of providing an oasis. I have found this to be true in many areas of my life…relationships, work, and especially in my spiritual journey.
After almost 48 hours on the road (about 26 of which were in the air), you begin to appreciate the small things. Like being able to walk outside and grab a breath of fresh air without having to pass through security. Or being able to enjoy a nice meal without having to haul around your pillow and a backpack full of life essentials (you know, like your laptop and beef jerky!). Nevertheless, we made it. And I have to say that this trip was the easiest of any of the trips I have taken to or from Africa. It was almost too easy. The only bump in the road was that one of the girls on our team got a bit sick, but once she used the little white bag on the plane, she was fine.
We had a 14 hour layover in Ethiopia, and I was told before we left that we would have to wait it out in the airport. However, when we got to the airport, we went to see if there was any way we could go into the city to kill some time while we were there. It’s a good thing we did because we found out that the airline had reserved us a hotel for the night! This was our oasis. In the middle of our long and grueling journey, God had given us a place of rest and refreshment. We were able to enjoy a nice dinner, take a shower, and even sleep in a bed. And even though this bed was firm at best, it was a welcome change from sleeping in the seat of an airplane! It’s funny how the small things in life are so much easier to appreciate when they become a luxury. Then I began to wonder how often we take these small things for granted and don’t even think twice about them. How often do we take a shower and not even think about how much of a luxury it is to have warm water? I think God gives us these oases to remind us of how He is in the small things. He cares about the small stuff. We should too. Through this oasis, I felt as if God were saying, “Take time today to enjoy your surroundings. Soak it all in. Even the small stuff. Especially the small stuff. And then do it tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that.”
Find the oasis that God has prepared for you today. Take some time today to stop and appreciate the small stuff. Life seems so much easier when we do.
P.S.-It was a long trip, but when we stepped off the plane and it felt like we were home. We had finally made it…sort of. After a brief stop to grab some food, we hit the road again. We had about a five hour bus ride until we were finally able to unload and get some rest. Thank you for all of your prayers! God was definitely with us as we travelled!