Trash and The Gospel
Culture shock snuck up on me. I never experienced a "we aren't in Kansas anymore" moment. I've taken things as they come and have really just tried to see this new culture in a beautiful light of God's diversity. But trash is never beautiful. Like many developing nations, Zambia does not have a strong recycling or trash collecting industry. Trash piles up on the sides of roads to be left, or it is thrown into pits to be buried or burned. Almost every day, if I’m driving on the main road, I will see someone throw a fast food bag of garbage out the window of a moving car. There is no… Read more >>
Why Am I Even Here?
Why am I here? Is what I’m doing even helping? Is it actually doing harm? What’s the point? I have asked myself these questions almost every day. Doubt really starts to sink in when you’ve been overseas for almost a year. I live in an African country as a single, 20-something white woman. If that statement doesn’t beg some questions, I don’t know what does. Unfortunately, Africa has been abused, colonized, wronged, taken advantage of, and mistreated for many years, continuing to today. Even more unfortunate, missionaries have done some of the worst harm. When a Zambian sees me walking the… Read more >>
The Good, The Bad, and The Mango
Even when there is so much to be thankful for, being away from home during the holiday season is hard. I am realizing how much outside stuff effects the way I think about Christmas. It doesn’t “feel” like Christmas here because it’s not cold, there is no snow, houses don’t have lights on them, I can’t get a real Christmas tree, I won’t be baking cookies because it’s 90 degrees out and the ovens here aren’t insulated, I’m not with my family, and watching Frosty without hot cocoa just doesn’t feel right. As I think of all these things that define “Christmas” to me, I realized that all of these… Read more >>People Who Love to Eat Are Always the Best People
I’ve mentioned a variety of foods here and there, but now it’s time to introduce you to a Zambian feast! As Thanksgiving approaches in the States, your minds are probably thinking about all of the delicious foods you will be consuming. What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish? While you think of American favorites, I want to share with you some of Zambia’s staples. For breakfast, the average Zambian will eat porridge. Their porridge is made from Mealie Meal, finely ground maize. Lunch is served with nshima, made again from Mealie Meal until it is like a play-doh-like consistency, and some sort… Read more >>