LOVE

I haven’t written on my blog in a while because I’m being humbled…I’m learning that it’s not about what I do or what I say. It’s not about me. It’s about HIM. He’s doing everything here. Without him I wouldn’t be here in the first place. But thankfully, because of Him, I am here. I’m experiencing something that will forever change my life. I’m meeting people that make me want to be a better person…

I met the most amazing girls tonight. Classes start tomorrow for George Benson College and the primary and secondary schools, so all the students have moved into the dorms here on the mission site. A lot of the students were at church tonight so we stayed and talked to them afterwards. Ashley, Michelle, Stephanie, Mackenzie, and I spent probably an hour talking to 2 girls named Louise and Twaambo. These girls are in 9^th grade but they are so mature and wise. They told us a lot about Zambia and Africa in general and just different things about their culture. They have a presidential election in October and they told us a lot about the candidates and how violent politics can be. They told us about how poverty is a huge issue in Zambia and how the people in villages are taken advantage of; during this election, people go to villages to bribe them into getting their vote because they know that the people in the villages are poor and don’t know much about their rights. They talked to us about education and how they were raised not only learning English and Tonga, but also other languages. Louise said she’s on the debate team so they talk a lot about Obama; he is a common example here in the classrooms because he was the first black president in America. Teachers use him as an example of hope when students get discouraged. They talked about how they want to visit America because they love the different seasons and they want to play in snow. Louise talked a lot about America and how Zambians view it. She said that they don’t know exactly what it is, but there is something about the Americans that they really admire and try to have. They see the way we act and live and try to do the same. They try and talk like us and dress like us. I thought that was pretty cool at first but then they started telling us what they see as “American.” They have inspirations like the Kardashians, Nicki Minaj, and Jonas Brothers. They see people wearing short shorts and wish they could do that here. They think of school uniforms as mini plaid skirts with thigh-high socks (the skimpy outfits on movies). They think all the dogs in America are carried in purses and wear clothes and have dog houses that look like castles. All those things kind of have a negative vibe to some Americans. Those are the “snobby” people or the “skimpy” people or the famous people. But the Zambians don’t see that as negative. It hit me that they only see what the media in America portrays and the media makes those things look completely positive. I wanted to tell them that America isn’t like that at all, but it really is. We’ve become a culture that is obsessed with fame and money and attention. And the sad thing is, people in Zambia think it’s cool and want that for themselves. I wanted to do everything possible to make Twaambo and Louise realize how much they have done right.

Obviously, no culture is perfect. Every culture has negatives and positives. But Zambians live a simple life and are still so happy. Americans have everything yet we find so much to complain about.  These girls are so wise. I felt inferior talking to them…they grow up knowing many languages, they knew everything about politics and the history of Zambia, and then they also knew everything about the American culture.  It’s incredible. These are young girls who want what we have, but I look up to them so much and wish I was more like them. These people are rich and we are so poor. They have what really matters. Louise was talking about how they see us walking around and they wonder where we came from and what our stories are, so they love it when they get to sit down and talk to us. They truly care about us and our lives. They were genuinely interested in getting to know us. What if everyone was like that? How many times will we walk up to a stranger and spend an hour getting to know them? Especially as a freshman in highschool? These girls get it. They understand what it means to appreciate the things they have. They’re so smart because they know that not everyone is blessed with an education…they care about learning instead of complaining about having to go to school. They care about getting to know people because they want to learn about other cultures and parts of the world. We find a thousand things wrong with Obama. They look up to him because he’s a man of their color and has gone so far in his life…they live with so much joy and hope. Goodness. These girls are overflowing with the love and joy of God.  They had a simple conversation with us yet showed so much love. I’m meeting more and more people just like them every day. It’s incredible. I’m learning through Zambians and through my HIZ family what our attitude should be like and what our faith should be like and how we should truly live. It’s life changing.

Well, we start our real schedule tomorrow! Classes start at 6:30 in the morning! We go to chapel with the Zambian students. We get to start getting involved in their choirs and sports teams. I’m so excited!

A lot of us HIZ students are sick…it seems to be going around pretty bad. Keep us in your prayers!

“Every day we are called to small things with great love.”