Some Things I Love About Zambia

I love the way that the kids smile and laugh all the time, even though they wear the same clothes every day and some have no shoes. I love the way the power goes out often, and people talk to each other instead of isolate themselves with electronics. I love it when 20 kids mob me at once with dried snot on their faces, germy hands, and dirty bodies and part of me wants to back away, but the Spirit of Jesus--the One who touched lepers--helps me to let them jump all over me. I love it when I see two seven year olds picking up a table that is far too heavy for them, and struggling to carry it from one classroom to the next with smiles on their faces. I love it when we play soccer on a dirt lot where the ball never bounces the right way and the groundskeeper brings out big yellow sanitary gloves for the goalie to wear so he feels like he has professional goalie gloves. I love it when the kids get their porridge and roll and sit down next to me and offer me their roll. I love it when I take a shower here and the cold water barely trickles out of the spout and I'm reminded of the hot showers I take for granted every day and am challenged to be more frugal in the way I use my time and resources. I love it when you sit down for dinner with a complete strangers from South Africa, or Zambia, or Australia and get up from the table hours later. I love it when you see a five year old girl leave to go home with tears in her eyes because she doesn't want to leave and know that God is at work in this place. I love it when I'm the awkward white guy who doesn't know how to give a Zambian handshake. I love it when I'm typing a blog and a mouse runs past me on the floor! I love it when the world seems big and I seem small and I know God is huge. I love it when I see the teachers here loving these students like their own children. I love it when the kids sing without a worship band or lights or a fog machine and they are yelling at the top of their lungs and it echoes off the concrete walls and through the halls of heaven. I love how the director of Lifesong in Zambia, John Mumba, always seems to be saying things like, "I hope and pray" and "The Lord will do it" with a massive smile on his face and a really cool accent. I love it that I go to a church that is full of people who love to give and we will get to give these kids books and shoes and food and medicine and people who will tell them about Jesus. Finally, I love how I can see a living example of what Paul said when he wrote that he "had nothing, yet possessed everything." God is good.