Zambia in Pictures - Installment Three

So, in my past two posts, you've seen a bit of what my life looked like in Zambia, but nothing really of the primary reason I went - ministry at UNZA.

The ministry was very relational, as are the Zambian people. We were each given an area of the campus on which to focus, and then allowed to see with whom we related well and in whom we wanted to invest during our time. Meghan and I joined Sarah in her Bible study in October hostel.

Yes, this many girls meet for Bible study in this small of a room, and it doesn't feel uncomfortable at all mostly because Zambian women don't have a problem touching each other. If you've been keeping up with my blog, you know that the three girls I met with are Cynthia (holding sparklers at our fourth of July party)...
...Estella (note how she sports Arizona colors!)...
...and Chonde (here with me and Lydia).

Each of these girls had a heart to grow, and each of them welcomed me into that. It was hard, only having a limited time to spend with them, and desiring to see real change in that short time. I was encouraged by our times, and am trusting that God will move how and when He wants. Please pray with me for each of these women, that they would continue to be open to God's pursuit of their heart, and that they would seek Him and His ways wholeheartedly. Also, shortly after I returned to the States, I got an email saying that Estella has lost her father. Please pray with me for her and her family.

Something I loved about the ministry was how free we were to come and go on campus as we pleased. There's no security in the hostels, so I could stop in to one of the girls' rooms to say hello and end up staying when I hadn't planned on it. At U of A, there are rules about going into the dorms unescorted, so if I'm going to stop by, it's usually a planned thing. One night, I had a one-to-one with Estella, and as we were walking back to her room, we stopped in Ana's room. This was the night I ended up staying on campus later than planned, and had an interesting time trying to figure out how to get home safely. Nate was also there, and as he and Gershom worked the problem by calling our friends, Estella took the opportunity to give me a little makeover. I have to say, the picture doesn't do it justice.

Another one of my favorite parts about the ministry is their worship. The Zambians are full of life when they sing, and almost every song is accompanied by a dance. We did our best to learn the words to some of the more common songs, and each time we sang, it brought me such joy.

This one is my all-time favorite. We sang it almost every time we met, but this video was taken at Forum, the large group meeting on campus. "Mama yo yo yo" can't really be translated, but apparently it implies "I'm in awe and there are no words to express". So, when they sing it, they put their hands to their heads and lower them. You'll see that in the video. The verses mean "God is good", "Today we are rejoicing", and "God is King". Also listen for the high-pitched expression of affirmation.

This video was taken at the National Conference, so there are university students as well as community members of the Navigators. Sarah is leading once again, and the girl behind her closest to the camera is Chonde. Also, when the camera pans right, the guy in the red jacket is Chapo. Sarah basically has an amazing voice, and I could listen to her praise God all day long. Unfortunately, I don't have the translation for this one written down.

Every time I experience a new culture, it's so fun for me to see God in a new light. Being a part of this ministry really emphasized to me God's delight in welcoming His children into His presence. I love it!



And now, a closing shot that Steph took without my knowledge while I was praying with Chonde...