1. First of all, I walked a cheetah. You know how we walk dogs on a leash? And some people have leashes for their children, like in malls and stuff? Replace a dog (or a child) with a cheetah. Try to imagine something as exhilarating as it is terrifying while, and all the while, doubting whether or not it was actually happening. That is what walking a cheetah on a leash feels like. Oh, and that's also what having a cheetah repeatedly lick your hand feels like as well. I'm still a little bit in denial that it all actually happened. But I have pics to prove to myself and everyone else that it was indeed, not a dream!
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| Like, yeah. I walked those teeth on a leash. |
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| Chipo licking my hand... me freaking out. |
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| Proof! |
2. I am the youngest person on this trip.. by several years. On summer staff, I was surrounded by other kids my age, or at least within a couple of years of my age. At first, I was insecure about being so young and felt completely inadequate because of it, but it has been so great and such a blessing to be surrounded by older, wiser, and (obviously) more experienced women. They have taught me so much not only about teaching, but also about having a faith that is not shaken. They are reminding me every day that God is faithful, that He is all-knowing, and that not one detail of my life is missed by God's design. They are speaking truth into me every day, and I have come to love each one of them dearly.
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| My sweet roomies for the first Teach ONE trip! |
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| L-R: Ashley, Amanda, Patty, Tia, Diana, me. SUPERSTAR! Love my cheetah girls! |
3. Get comfortable, this next part is a novel. When kids first come to Camp LIFE, they have the opportunity to be sponsored through the Father's Heart sponsorship program. This means that an American can sponsor a child by paying to provide them with food, education (through our schools), and Christian discipleship. The education piece is HUGE.
When I worked every day at Camp LIFE, I saw the first step. I saw so many precious children come straight from the streets with incredibly tragic circumstances, and likely, very little or no previous education. Each week of camp, I would see these kids come with darkness, brokenness, and sadness; but by the end of the week, they would leave with contagious joy because they had encountered Jesus Christ for the first time.
Now, I am seeing the next step. I am working in the Lifeway Christian Academies, which are built and run by the organization; and those same kids that met Christ at camp and received sponsorship thereafter are now attending school. This is beautiful and wonderful in itself. The least of these are now attending one of the highest-quality school systems in Zambia. This is completely ironic for the Zambian communities, as children (let alone the orphan population) is considered the scum of society and a financial burden on families. They are just "one more mouth to feed."
These children, unwanted by their communities, are being given Christian education. They are being supported as they work their way through school. After grade school and secondary school, they will be able to go to university, college, or trade school.
The orphaned and vulnerable children that are in our schools right now are working for their ticket out of generational poverty. Education is the key to their escape and the light at the end of the tunnel. They have a chance at a life that is not plagued with poverty or hunger or disease. Not only that, but these kids are going to make up the next generation of leaders. With Christian principles and a solid education base, our schools, which are currently educating 6,500 kids, are producing what will be the nation's next doctors, lawyers, teachers, political leaders, etc... Out of the million orphans in Zambia (the nation with the seventh highest per-capita orphan rate in the world), how many do you think even have a shot at attending university? Yeah, like two a year. (Not really, but very few orphans attend university here.) We are watching, before our eyes, a generation of the least of these rising up to become the next leaders of Zambia. These kids are going to affect change in this nation, and they're going to start doing it very soon. And I will be humbled to say that God used me to play a part, no matter how minuscule, in helping that become a reality.
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| Eat your heart out. |
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| Beautiful Martha. |
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| Miss G with several of the students at Kamanga LCA. |
Long story short, it's been an amazing two weeks. Can't wait to see what the next three hold. Thank you for your prayers... keep 'em coming!
Until next time,
Auntie Maliah
