I'm relocating... to a new blog!

To simplify my life (and blogging habits), I am officially going to be posting solely on my other blog, ThreeFoldStrong. This is a blog project that I share with my two of my best friends from college, Kelsey and Camille. We started this blog just a few months ago as a way to stay connected to each other as we live our lives in three different cities, and as a way to minister to our friends and family even though we are miles apart. So far, we have had a blast!

Many of the posts on this blog have centered around my trips back and forth to Zambia, but things will be different when I move there... Zambia will no longer be a fleeting place, it will become my home. I will not return after a month or two, but I will establish my life there and plant roots there. The whole point of my other blog is to capture the lives of three friends in three different places (places in life and geographically), so I can't think of a better way to record my new life in Zambia.

I've loved getting to look back on this blog at my trips to Zambia over the past several years and relive the fun memories of each summer spent there. This is a treasured blog that captures what God was bringing to fruition for so many years - He was igniting a passion in my heart for the country of Zambia so that one day, I would move there to do ministry full time. I love the story He's written for me. I will be keeping this blog for nostalgia's sake, but I will not be writing any new posts on it.

To find any and all new blog posts about my upcoming life in Zambia (or my life in general), they will be here: http://threefoldstrong.wordpress.com. See you there!

Big News for a Big Move!!

FINALLY, I am getting to shout forth this exciting news and proclaim it to the world! I am stepping out in faith and following God's call to MOVE to Zambia, Africa in January 2015!!I have been able to tell several people already, and I can't even begin to tell you the amount of support I've felt through it all! God has already surprised me with his faithfulness in this as He continues to confirm the plans He has in store for me! Here are some details about my departure, my trip, and my new life that I'm looking forward to in Zambia.

Who am I going with? I am joining staff with Family Legacy Missions International, a non-profit missions organization whose focus is bringing the good news of Christ to the orphans of Zambia. I have been blessed to volunteer with this ministry for the past 6 summers, so I have already seen a big glimpse of the heart of the ministry and how it operates. Each staff member not only has a beautiful heart for God, but also for the orphan child of Zambia, and everything they do reflects that. It is truly an honor to come alongside this ministry and be a part of all of the special things that God is doing through Family Legacy.

What is my "job description" in Zambia? I will be wearing two hats as I join the ministry. I will be serving as the Short Term Missions Coordinator and the Father's Family Ministry Assistant.

• As Short Term Missions Coordinator, I will be planning and facilitating any short term trips that we host in Zambia, including their travel to and from Zambia and their time on the ground. These trips could include all kinds of purposes and people, such as groups of doctors wanting to assess our children's health needs, to groups of college students wanting to hold a sports camp for our kids, etc...
• As Father's Family Ministry Assistant, I will be working primarily with the children that we have in our full-time residential sponsorship program. Many times, often via Camp LIFE, we meet children whose home lives are not just heartbreaking and unfortunate, but are dangerous and life-threatening. Instead of simply providing education and food to these children, we rescue them out of the pits and bring them to one of our full-time residential homes.
  • The Tree of Life Children's Village is exactly what it says - it is a village of (soon to be) 50 homes full of these children. Within the next year, there will be 600 children living in freedom and joy in these homes, rescued from pits of despair! Many of these kids have been living there for several years, and these are the children that I have watched grow up!
  • We have two more residential homes - one is a "transition home"  and one is a home for older teenagers who are working towards completing their schooling. The transitional home is usually the first home that the children live in once they are in our care. This is where these kids learn basic functions and procedures of living in a house, such as brushing their teeth, using silverware, and general "house rules." This is where they transition from living off of the streets to living in a beautiful, loving home.
• My job will look different from day to day, but I will be working to communicate back to the stateside offices and to sponsors, distributing clothes and materials to the homes as needed, and supervising the overall functions of the residential areas.

When do I leave? My departure date is set for the middle of January 2015! I get to spend another holiday season with loved ones and then start my new year in my new home!

How did I reach this decision? It's a long story, but I will do my best to condense it! :) On my sixth trip to Zambia, I spent this summer working in the ministry-operated schools for the kids in our sponsorship program. I have always been open to the possibility of moving over, and since I had no teaching job lined up and had finished my time at A&M, I was very aware that this would be great timing for God to call me. During my six weeks there this summer, God clearly revealed that He wanted me to move to Zambia, not to work in the educational department, but instead to work for the Father's Family department. Surprising as that was, I had a joy and peace about the decision from the very beginning. God was calling me to serve the children that I have been building relationships with for six years now, the children that I have watched grow up in Christ's love, and the children that have kept me coming back every year! I will be working in my dream job with the most wonderful kids in the world, in my favorite place on the planet. Thank you God for this opportunity!

What about Ebola? This is the question that usually comes first when I tell people that I'm moving to Africa. Ebola has been in countries neighboring Zambia on and off for 40 years. The recent outbreak in Western Africa is over 3,000 miles away from Zambia, and it is unlikely that it will reach us as there is very little direct travel between the two areas. Furthermore, we are incredibly blessed to have the only full time pediatric infectious disease specialist in the nation of Zambia on our staff, serving our children, so I know that I will be in very capable hands if anything should happen to me... whether it's ebola or something else!

Where will I be living? Family Legacy owns property about 15 miles from the international airport. It is a beautiful hilltop that overlooks the Zambian country from all directions. At the bottom of the hill is the Tree of Life Children's Village, which is where I will likely spend most of my days. Drive up the hill, and you will find my new home. The ministry is currently in the process of building new staff housing on-site, so my commute will be a whopping two minutes to work every day! It is an incredibly safe area - security is a priority to the ministry to keep our staff and kids safe. And may I just say, this place has the most beautiful sunsets in the morning and the most beautiful sky full of stars at night!!

How much of my funds do I raise? All Family Legacy staff members, whether they are U.S. or Zambia based, raise 100% of any and all support funds. This allows for 95% of every dollar donated to the ministry to go directly to the benefit of the orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia, and 5% of all donations to be used for administrative purposes. While yes, I was intimidated by the thought of having to raise all support to live off of, I trust in God's provision. Without a doubt, I know that God has called me to join the ministry, and I know that God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. God will equip me with as much or as little as I need in this time, including my financial support!

The support I raise will go toward housing, food, transportation, plane tickets, and the general cost of living. My support goal is to create a base of monthly supporters to raise $3000 a month. I will also need to raise $12,000 before I move to cover the cost of moving and the cost of my first three months of living there. With that said, any donation is welcome, and no donation is too small! Please be praying for me as I begin to raise support for my new season of life in Zambia. If you would like to donate, you can make a one-time, monthly, or yearly donation at this link: http://www.familylegacy.com/mariah If you are interested in potentially supporting me, I would love to talk more with you about this new chapter of life and answer any questions you may have! Feel free to email me at mariah@familylegacy.com and we can set up a time to meet or talk on the phone! If you would like to receive a support letter to learn more about my journey, email me your address and I will send you a letter as soon as they are produced!!

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement that you have already showered on me!! I could not be more excited and humbled and at peace as I take this step into ministry!! Can't wait to see how God works during the remainder of my time here in the U.S. and when I arrive overseas!

Sending love in Christ,

Mariah... soon to be more permanently, Auntie Maliah.

faithful like a sunrise

Well, I watched the sun rise over the African savannah this morning.. Something that, only a few years ago, I never would have guessed I would do. It was humbling (for several reasons), revealing, and breathtaking. 

“I am the Lord, and there is no other;

    apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you,

    though you have not acknowledged me,

so that from the rising of the sun

    to the place of its setting

people may know there is none besides me.

    I am the Lord, and there is no other.

I form the light and create darkness,

    I bring prosperity and create disaster;

    I, the Lord, do all these things.”

Isaiah 45:5-7

I sat on the porch outside, in the morning chill, to watch the whole thing. I took so many pictures that I was called the “sun paparazzi.” I obvi didn’t want to even think about missing one second of it. The whole experience of it was incredible and humbling; and just by watching God’s creation in action, I learned more about who He is and who I’m not. Let me walk you through it.

5:45am. 

Sweatshirt on, face sans make-up, and bed head hair, I anxiously grab my coffee and camera and make a bee-line for the porch. I have left my Bible and journal inside, as I anticipated only having maybe 10-15 minutes to catch the sunrise and then have plenty of time to have a decent quiet time upon returning inside. (I soon found out that this was not at all the case.) Emotions at this point, still high. Excited, enthusiastic, expectant.

5:55am.

As having originally anticipated heading back inside at this point, I am realizing that I underestimated the amount of time that this sunrise would require. And I’m okay with that. By now, I have seen the light push out the darkness and make way for a new day. Beautifully symbolic of God’s power and how, not even the greatest amount of darkness could overcome even a flicker of light. The light of God always overcomes the darkness of sin. Anyway, the sun is taking longer than I expected to make its grand appearance, but like I said, I’m alright with that. 

6:05am. 

The sky keeps getting lighter and lighter, yet no sun is present. I actually have to remind and convince myself that the sun, without fail, ALWAYS rises. There can be no light without a sun. I know that I am probably just being silly and that the sun will pop up at any minute now. Telling myself to shut up and be patient. Resolving that I will not have a quiet time this morning, but at least I have plenty of time to get ready, no problem.

6:15am. 

30 minutes strong, and I’m going crazy. Wondering where the heck the sun is and how there is so much light without it. I literally asked one of the girls sitting inside if I had missed it. (She told me to wait for it and go talk to God about it.. I did.) My mind is deciding that there must be some cloud behind the mountains in the distance that are hiding it. That’s why I haven’t seen it yet. Must be. Getting VERY antsy and impatient because I know how frightening I look and how I have not even gotten close to getting ready to leave for the day. And regretting taking SEVERAL pictures each minute because I know how many I’ll have to sort through later. 

6:27am. 

I have been approaching my wit’s end because the minutes are ticking away. And all of a sudden, I see a few bright red streaks approaching. My hope is being restored, slowly at first, and then more and more as red takes over a piece of the sky. I know the sun is actually coming. Getting my camera warmed up again and actually sitting on the edge of my seat. 

6:33am.

THE SUN IS ACTUALLY REAL. I see that ball of red light peek over the mountains in the distance, and I watch it rise up into the sky like a bubble approaching the water’s surface. It took all of two minutes to watch the entire sun make its way into the sky for the day. Right now, I’m overwhelmed by the beauty of it all and by the sheer fact that the sun actually, finally showed up. Because I honestly questioned and doubted it for a good 10 minutes. I am camera-happy and not even caring about having to get ready for the day. Within a matter of minutes, the sky is transformed and the light has come. 

I had a lot, A LOT, of time with just me and my camera and my coffee to think about God this morning. Reflecting on the morning, I was reminded of just how small and insignificant and how narrow-seeing I am. I LITERALLY questioned that the sun would rise. Even as I saw proof that it was rising. I am blinded by my impatience and my ignorance, like a child. God, on the other hand, is even more faithful than the rising of the sun. Just as the sun can be counted on to rise each day, He will never abandon me or fail to show up in my time of need. 

Not only that, but His timing is perfect. Had my timing been perfect this morning, that sun would have been in the sky by 6:01am. But I had limited vision and perspective. I couldn’t see where the sun was at that time or how quickly it would make its entrance. God knew all along though. He watched the sun as it slowly (that’s relative) entered into my piece of the sky and He knew that I simply needed to be patient and trust His promises. 

“Wait on my timing” and “believe my promises” and “trust my faithfulness” were the reminders that God so sweetly delivered to me this morning on the porch. He is so good to me, and He has given me no reason to doubt, but I did anyway. I literally doubted that the sun was going to rise. But God is gracious and abounding in patience for His children. He knew that I was going to doubt, but He lovingly and patiently reassured me through the beauty of His sunrise that He is faithful. He is as faithful as the rising sun. 

recent happenings..

Nearly two weeks have gone by without a post to document them, so this is me playing catch-up! Even so, I am saving this past week's events for the next post.. as I am still in the thick of it! Anyway, here's what I've got for ya!


-My parents and youngest sister were here for week four of camp, which was two weeks ago! They had a wonderful trip, and are back home safely. I got to be with them for a very brief amount of time on the last day of camp, and it felt so good to be there with them! While I was there, we took some pictures, but we also got to experience the balloon release! Each child got a balloon (all of which were the Zambian flag colors), and released it into the air after saying altogether, "I am the next 50 years of Zambia." This was hugely symbolic for them.
"The Next 50" has essentially been a movement this year, as it is Zambia's 50th birthday as an independent nation. Reflecting on the last fifty years and looking ahead to the next fifty, Family Legacy is building up the generation that will be accountable for those years. We are pouring into the children, the future of Zambia. We are declaring that this future will be inundated with children-turned-adults who have come from the bottom of society, but because of the Lord's grace and love, have been raised up as the leaders of the country. We are pouring love and the Word of God and life into children who are the least of these, but in just a few years time, will be the anointed ones to take hold of their nation's future and make it a bright one. This is powerful stuff, y'all.
Here are pictures of my parents at camp, and of the balloon release. Such a fun day!

Mom, me, and Dad! Love those peeps.

Little sister Melanie and her PRECIOUS baby girls.

The balloons flying up, up, up over the Zambian flag! 

-Once my parents left, we had a break week in between the two teacher trips! We spent the week sleeping in and relaxing, but we also got to work on the teaching resource closet. I don't have the before/after pics, but imagine a dusty, crowded storage room full of random educational supplies. Then imagine a much less (but still a little) dusty room, with shelves upon shelves of pencils, pens, construction paper and the like, all neatly organized. That's basically it. But it definitely was some hard work and quite a success. Pat on the back for us.

-It just so happens every year that July 4th falls on break week. Since we are an American-run organization based in Africa, we still make sure we celebrate our homeland's independence. Each year the celebration gets bigger and better. This year was no exception. Complete with barbecue, potato salad, watermelon, a dance party, actual fireworks, and the singing of our National Anthem, this July 4th was a blast. It was a wonderful way to end break week with sweet friends and delicious food.

The Teach ONE crew on the 4th!

Zambian fireworks are a thing. Proof.

-We started our second Teach ONE trip at a different school yesterday (Monday and Tuesday were national holidays). We have just about gotten our feet wet with our new teachers and classrooms, but we only have a week left with them! It has been a whirlwind as we have been pressed for time to do all that we want to do, but it has been good so far! More updates will come once I get some pics taken!

-Last night, I downloaded the new Hillsong CD "No Other Name." It finished downloading this morning as I was getting ready for school. I'm listening to it now as I blog, and I definitely recommend it. But, if at all possible, download it in America. ;)


Anyway that's all for now. It is bedtime here in Zambizzle, so I'm out for now. Thank you for your prayers, and keep 'em coming! I only have one more week to love on these kids (don't even want to THINK about how quickly goodbye is coming up), so pray that we teachers would all make the most of it!


-Auntie Maliah

zambia through new eyes

This year's trip to Zambia has been wonderful, but very different. Different is not a bad thing, it is what I needed after 5 years of the same thing. Different is just different. It's an adjustment. In years past, I have been a summer staffer for Camp LIFE, helping facilitate camp for the orphaned and vulnerable. This year, I came as a teacher on the Teach ONE trip. Alongside the other American teachers, I have gotten to mentor the Zambian teachers in our schools to help them become more effective in the classroom. I have seen things this trip that I've never seen before and had new experiences than in all of my previous summers. It has been rewarding and exciting the whole time, so far! Here's what I've learned/seen/done so far!

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! 

Like, yeah. I walked those teeth on a leash.

Chipo licking my hand... me freaking out.

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. 

My sweet roomies for the first Teach ONE trip!

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. 

Eat your heart out. 

Beautiful Martha.

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

back for more!

I am officially BACK in good ole Zambia!! I have been back for a week, and it has been a fun, adventure-filled, week! I am doing the Teach ONE trip, which is a trip for American teachers to come over and mentor our Zambian teachers! This has been completely different from anything I've done in the past, but it has been a blast so far! Here's a little recap...

We left Dallas last Thursday and flew to Dubai, UAE. Dubai in June is HOT and HUMID, but other than that, it was really cool to see! This was my first time in the Middle East, let alone Asia, so it was new and different! The other teachers and I decided to make the most of if and venture to the top of the tallest building, Burj Khalifa. This building has over 160 floors, and we toured the 124th floor. It was pretty coooool!

Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE

View from the Top

Proof that I was on the tallest building!

We have been teaching at Kamanga LCA, one of the ministry's Lifeway Christian Academies. We will be mentoring the teachers at this school for two weeks total.. so one more week to go! I have been with the grade 3 class, and it is full of sweet, loving, and precious boys and girls! We are primarily working on teaching English/Language Arts strategies, as reading is the foundation for all of education. The schools in Zambia need tangible, effective ways to teach reading to these students who have never been to school before. Here are a few pics from our time there so far!

Break time AKA recess, some of the kids dancing

Morning Assembly - all of the morning session students

Reading with some of my students! 

More blog posts will come soon! It has been a great trip so far, and I am looking forward to the next four weeks here! 

Here's how you can be praying - 

1. For the teachers and students at Kamanga LCA, that this trip would be incredibly beneficial for all of them.

2. For me, that I would continue to walk in step with what God has for me during my time here, and that I would continue to be sensitive to what He's doing in my life. 

3. For Family Legacy and for the well-being of the ministry. Pray that God's hand would still be over all of the growth and in the details! 

Blessings, 

Auntie Maliah (or "Miss G." to my students)

thank you

As I’m sitting here in the London Heathrow airport, about to board my second and final flight home to Southlake, I have realized that I need to extend my thanks to so many of you. I would not have made it this far over the past five years without the support of my family and friends. If you’re reading this right now, thank you for doing so. 

Thank you to those of you who have kept up with my travels and with what the Lord is doing in Zambia. I love getting to tell stories about God’s power and work in my life and in the lives of the kids on this side of the ocean. It is my prayer that my stories can be and have been an encouragement to you.

Thank you to those of you who have prayed for me during my time here. God has protected me well, sustained me, and refined me so much over the past few months. He has listened to your prayers and has answered prayers of protection and encouragement. I could not have made it without my spiritual support system lifting me up to the Lord.

Thank you to those of you who have financially supported me over the years as I’ve returned to Zambia - I can say with assurance that your dollars are extremely appreciated and have advanced the Kingdom overseas. Thank you for your generosity and your willingness to give to this ministry.

Thank you to those of you who have messaged, skyped, or emailed me. Being a world away from my friends and family for two and a half months is so difficult, but these messages and bits of communication got me through. It was always so encouraging to see that me being “out of sight, out of mind” was not the case for so many of you! Thank you for taking the time to reach out to me and keep me a part of your lives!

I am so blessed to have such a support system cheering for me back home. I have worked alongside plenty of people who do not have the same encouragement from their friends and family, and it makes it that much more of a blessing to have you all. To have loved ones genuinely interested and supportive of what I do in Zambia is so special, and again, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. You all have blessed me more than you know! 

By the time this is posted, I will be back home, safe and sound. What a summer it has been! Thank you again for praying me through the whole journey. 

Blessings,

Mariah