Culture Mash-up

Another wonderful week in Zambia. As I was taking the minibus (15 passenger van) in to town, packed in like a sardine, listening to music in a language I can’t understand I thought of how happy I am to be here and how I will soon call this place home. It’s really such an interesting and beautiful place. I have to imagine that the Garden of Eden resembled the gardens here. There are so many varieties of trees and bushes with flowers of every kind and color blooming on them. The animals too are so beautifully colored- birds and lizards and butterflies.

The mixture of cultures is intriguing too. I’m sure that in everyplace at one point in time there is a period of time where there has been a meshing of two very different cultures between the traditional and the modern. But I have not ever witnessed this. Here you can see people in town dressed in traditional garb- women wearing handmade skirts and wraps while in the next moment you’ll see a young girl walking down the street in pink skinny jeans and a tank top. Vendors line the streets selling everything from tomatoes and fish to nail polish and cell phones. Yet there are grocery stores and a growing number of fast food and clothing chains. The ‘western’ culture is very evident here, and while I appreciate the conveniences it affords me, I still very much value a culture different from my own.

On a different note: When I went back to the immigration office on Friday I found that I was only allowed one more 30 day extension. So I will be heading back to the states on May 21 and will remain until our wedding in October.

Greater than me

Went to the immigration office this morning to see about extending my visa. It was the first time I took the public bus solo and I didn’t really have a clue where I was supposed to go, except that the office was in town somewhere. I probably wouldn’t have ventured out on my own with that little direction, except that my visa expires Sunday, so it needed to be done. Turns out it was very easy to find, thanks to the couple of friendly strangers I asked along the way. I made it there only to have them ask me to come back on Friday. But at least then I’ll know where I’m going.

After finding the office I explored town a little, trying to get a sense of the direction things were in. It was nice being in town alone getting a little confidence that I can find my way around in this city I’ll soon call home.

Tonight after dinner I was washing the dishes in the Moyo’s kitchen while I had all kinds of worries running around in my head about what my future here would look like. Then I heard from the other room, someone had turned on the cd player and out came a song about surrender, surrendering our lives to God. And in that moment that’s exactly what I needed- to be reminded of who is in control and as much as I worry and plan and think through the possibilities, I came here with vague plans, trusting God to guide me, surrendering to his will. And that’s why my life here is going to be so incredible, not because of the plans I have made but because the plans that he has for me are far beyond what I could ever plan for myself and they will be for his glory because I’m incapable of accomplishing them on my own. “He who is in me is greater that I will ever be, so I will rise.”

Keeping Busy

I’ve been here a little over two weeks and I have really been enjoying my time here. At first it was a little difficult for me because there isn’t really much for me to do as far as “work.” The orphanage has run into some issues getting running water at the site, so there are no kids yet. And I’ll do some decorating of the houses but that won’t be for some time either. In the mean time I have been spending time with Moses, reading, painting and spending time with the Moyos (the family I am staying with, who run the orphanage). I brought a few books with me and one that I read is the practice of the presence OF GOD. While reading it I was reminded that my purpose on this earth is to love and worship God. Yes I can do this through “work” but if I have none it doesn’t mean I am not being productive. My life is not meant just to keep busy, which I can sometimes fall into the practice of. I should worship God in whatever I do. I was then mindful that as I walk to the market, instead of looking straight ahead as I normally would hoping that I wouldn’t be noticed (which btw here is pretty impossible) I would greet people as I walked by. This has proven to make my walks more pleasant and I even made a little friend the other day. I’ve also been mindful of God as I play with the Moyo kids, instead of making myself busy in my room. I’m thankful that God is worshipped through playing with kids and making new friends. What an awesome God we have!

Trying this blog thing...

OK, so I'm really not good at keeping up with posting on blogs. But I'm going to give it a try anyway. I really want to share what's going on over here with you guys at home. So here goes...