No running water.  No electricity at night.  No clean beds.  No fresh air.  No clean clothes.  No one to comfort you when you are sick.  No one to tuck you in at night.  No one to dust you off when you fall down.  No one to teach you how to brush your teeth or comb your hair.  No one to say, “I’m so proud of you.”  No one to read to you.  No one to say, “I love you and you are special.”  No one to encourage you.  And no one believing in you.  After staying at an orphanage for three nights with the orphans of Zambia these were the feelings and the thoughts that I walked away with.  Sure there are cultural difference between children raised in the United States and those being raised in Zambia, Africa; but should a four-year-olds cheek be so swollen from his molars rotting out that he can no longer speak?

Upon our arrival at the orphanage we were welcomed, sang to and given a room to stay in.  The children crawled all over us!  The girls could not wait to get their hands on muzungo (white man) hair…needless to say I left the orphanage with a few dreadlocks and who knows what else crawling around in my hairJ  After I got past the fact that I would be living without running water for four days and that I may see critters crawling about our sleeping space I slowly began to adjust to life in the orphanage.  I’m not sure if it is something as American’s that we would ever be able to adjust to completely but I do know that the experience has opened my eyes to the overflowing of blessings that have been provided for me.

The children at the orphanage were more precious than words can describe.  Each night we would go into their sleeping room and share scripture with them; scripture to encourage them, show them that they are loved and that though they may be abandon by the world they are not abandon by or Father in heaven.  One boy, Nathan, was 14 years old.  He timidly put up his hand in the dark room being illuminated by one small flickering candle and said, “Why have I been abandon?  Why when I go to one person do they leave me?  And then I go to another and the same thing happens?”  As this 14 year old boy questioned this while scrubbing his own laundry I could not help but wonder the same.  How could his family just send him away?  Why had he been dealt such an unfair hand?  I assured him that sometimes we do not understand the Lord’s plan for our lives.  We do not understand why we have been abandon by the world and we are unsure of our future.  However, we know that the Lord’s ways are higher than our ways and that He has victorious plans for our lives.  2 Corinthians 4:7-9 “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.  This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.  We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.  We are perplexed but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down but never abandon by God.  We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 

Many times if a child here has lost a parent and the remaining family members cannot financially support the child they are placed in an orphanage.  The average working woman in Lusaka earns 6,500k per day.  That’s just under $1.00.  In order for the children to attend the government schools they must purchase a uniform costing 50,000k or $10.00.  After grades 1-7 the families are then required to pay school tuition along with uniform costs.  Each day of school costs 2,000k past grade 7.  If you figure each family here has at least 5 children per family the odds of the children attending school are out of the realm of possibility.  The eldest boy at the orphanage was 18 years old and was in the 3^rd grade.  Because his family could not afford for him to attend school he was not able to start school until he attended the orphanage.  Imagine the feelings of despair, hopelessness and defeat in this young man.  We have hope though.  For we know that his world is temporary.  That justice and new life will soon be restored to the orphans of this world.  That will be an exciting and long awaited day to come.

Please continue to pray for the orphans in our world.  Though we do not see them daily and though they may be nothing more than an idea in our minds, they are real.  They are children with hopes, dreams and aspirations.  They are children who are fighting everyday of their lives to be someone.  Let us not let them slip under the radar.  I also ask that you will pray for me and the plans that the Lord has for me in the future.  Opportunities have opened up here for me to run an orphanage starting from scratch.  Though it would mean leaving the comfort and security of home I cannot think of a more exciting and blessed way to spend the next few years.  I thank you all so much for your love and support!  The stories and things that I have been able to experience here are far to numerous to write about!

Serving passionately for Him,

Katie

Marked.

Marked.

This past week I have been working in Chongwe and out in the bush at the bible college in Kazemba.  I have been pitching in at both places experiencing the life of the “typical” missionary.  My previous notions of a missionary was a compact definition of someone living in a foreign country just loving on people, building relationships with the natives and sharing God’s truth.  I was wrong on several accounts.  For a typical day in the life of a missionary the sun does not set without sweat, backaches and a tired body.  Yes, of course the opportunities are endless to love on the people and build relationships with them (as is true in the United States) but the work here never stops.  I have come to realize that the everyday life here is hard.  If you’re hungry, there is no quick trip to the grocery store.  When you’re doing a very small load of laundry it is done by hand and easily takes up to 3 hours.  When you clean, well, let’s just say it’s never clean.  I have come to greatly appreciate those that are currently serving in the mission field and have a new outlook on the life of a missionary.  The Lord continues to instill the passion for overseas mission in my heart and I cannot wait to see where He will lead me next.

During my “days in the life of a missionary” we traveled to a small orphanage in Lusaka called Won’s Orphanage.  The stories of the children here will captivate your heart; they are too endless and heartbreaking to write out.  The kids at this orphanage range from ages 3-17.  They each wear dirty stained white button up shirts marked orphan on the front pocket.  They are frequently referred to as a group and not individually.  They are a number not a person.  They sleep 12 to a room and own no more than one pair of shoes.  They are parentless.  They are forgotten.  They are trampled on by the world and they are discouraged.  Many of the children are not enabled to act their chronological age due to their inability to afford public school education.  They are outcasts.  They are orphans.

On Wednesday I will be traveling to this orphanage.  Not to stop in as an American bringing gifts and saying “I’m sorry for your situation and I have compassion for you.”  I will be spending a few nights in the orphanage with them!  I’m bringing no material possessions with me to give away.  I have gotten the opportunity to meet with one of the American pastors over here who is teaching a class in counseling.  He has helped me find wonderful scripture versus to share with these children.  You see, they are a person not a number.  They are not orphans, they are adopted.  They are not forgotten.  They are trampled on by the world but they are victorious in the Lord’s eyes.  They are His.  The pastor here helped me prepare for questions they may ask with biblical answers.  I wanted these kids to understand that in Christ they are accepted, they are secure and they are significant! 

John 15:16 “You didn’t choose me.  I chose you…”

1 Cor. 6:20 “…you were bought at a price.”

Eph 1:5 “God decided in advance to adopt us unto his own family by bringing himself through Jesus Christ.  That is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

Eph 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Jesus Christ, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose for them.”

I ask that you will be praying diligently and faithfully for these children.  Please pray that they will not only come to know the Lord but that they will find peace, comfort, rest and worth in our King.  I also ask that you pray for my safety.  I will be staying alone with one of the missionary’s daughter’s; she is 19.  I have been encouraged by Joshua 1: 3… “Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you…” and “Be strong and very courageous” – (read the entire text if you have time to understand the context).  I cannot wait for next week to begin!  Thank you all for your love and support.  I am blessed beyond imagination.

Serving passionately for Him,

Katie

Swept under the rug

Death. In the United States it is a topic that is rarely openly discussed, frightening and a topic swept under the rug. We don't like thinking about our own demise and usually cringe when we hear about the death of another. In Zambia and throughout Africa death is a topic that surfaces daily because it is dealt with daily. A few days ago I had my first true experience of third world health care. Needless to say I was shocked with feelings of distresses and concern for those receiving medical care in Zambia.

The city of Chongwe is located just outside of the capitol, Lusaka. We ventured out to the Chongwe clinic unaware and unprepared for what we were about to discover. This particular clinic was funded by the Zambian government. However, because of corruption this clinic receives very little financial support for needed medical supplies. Many of the Funds are pocketed by government personel before they are received. In turn the clinic has extremely poor equipment supply if any. I couldn't even locate a pair of gloves. In addition to scarce medical supplies is shortage in staff members. I would estimate there were 8 on their "medical staff" with hundreds of patients begging for treatment.

A young child with third degree burns covering her face, neck and arms airway began to close from edema and swelling. No medical staff member even took a second glance. They had no idea that the child would be dead in a matter of hours. This burn patient was lying side by side with a tuberculosis patient coughing sputum into the air. Two beds down from them was a child quickly falling to the fatal demise of malaria. The infant was poked nearly 7 times in attempts to withdraw blood. The child did not cry, whimper or flinch; he was too far gone. The solution to all of these assorted medical problems? An IV of normal saline. Death. It is no alarm to ring here. It is not an avoided topic. The pain and the sorrow that effects the hearts of the loved ones of the deceased is no different than what you or I would experience if someone we loved died. But here, it happens. Often.

By the time lunch rolled around I was in tears. My heart ached and throbbed. It has taken me the past few days to collect these thoughts. I'm still working on a conclusion...

Dry Bones

I'm in love with the children of Zambia! Their sweet, glowing white smiles of joy are contagious. Yes, they are impoverished but they have joy that's beyond the Americans mind of imagination. Though I have seen children in poverty multiple times my heart never stops aching for them and I pray the Lord continues to fill my heart with compassion for these children. After both yesterday and today I've been constantly wrestling inside with feelings of, "I've got to do something," and "Why can't this just be fixed?" my God has an answer.

After reading chapter 37 in Ezekiel I realized two important key aspects from this passage. We serve a God powerful enough to raise His son from the dead and a God powerful enough to bring dry bones together and breathe them to life! Not only is our Father powerful and mighty enough to control the situations in third world countries like Zambia, He is the one that gives life. We must stop working for God but rather work WITH God. We must lay down our own control and ideas of how we might be able to "fix" or "restore" those in poverty. We must simply be willing to be an open vessel and moldable clay for our potter. We must allow God to take control and delegate the situation according to HIS will. Frequently, we will not understand His ways but His ways are higher than our ways. While I sat on the dirt ground under the night sky with hundreds of Zambian children crawling on me, holding my hands, petting my hair and saying, "so very nice to meet you" I began to realize that the only one big enough to handle the overwhelming situation and the only one powerful enough to comfort the hearts of these children is God. No ifs, ands or buts. I had to sit back, let go and let God. I sat and prayed with faith that our Father in heaven, who loves His children in Zambia far more than I ever could, is in control. In that I find comfort and peace.