Transitioning Home

August 1-August 20.

Tomorrow will be three weeks since I left Zambia. It’s only been 20 days, but it feels like months. Time is such a strange thing. While it is incredibly consistent (always 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week… okay so months get a little different but that’s besides the point…) time never feels consistent to me. Reflecting back on the flights to get to Zambia seems like ages ago. However remembering walking into the Haven 2 for the first time feels just like it was yesterday! Strange.

Thankfully on the flights back to Atlanta, I did not have any vertigo relapse or symptoms! Our Lord was watching over me and showing His mercy. I couldn’t stop smiling once I landed in Atlanta! Security and customs was painlessly quick. Then I got to hug my family! Bridgette, Mom, Dad and Beth were waiting with Toy Story balloons. Perfect. I was so relieved to see them that I barely had words or the ability to react except to stand there and smile.

They're the cutest.

Over the next few days, I visited good friends and family. We even went to Tennessee to celebrate Grandad’s 80^th Birthday! While I was thrilled to see everyone, jetlag was hitting me like a mac truck. So to everyone who saw me that first week I’m sorry I had very few words. To everyone who asked, “How was Africa?” please keep asking me! It’s just been the last 4 days that I have been able to actually answer that question without staring blankly or just wanting to curl in a ball and cry. I didn’t realize how many days it would take to get over jetlag, then how many more days until I could reflect enough to for complete sentences over what I learned and experienced in my 7 very treasured weeks at the Havens.

So to start answering, “How was Africa?” Let me share a few of the many lessons I learned…

Meagan Hawley. Wow.  She loves the children and people of Zambia with her whole heart. One of the many ways she inspires me is through constant surrender. There are times we would love for our dreams to come true and things to be easy, but Meagan has shown me the beauty that comes through the hardships of surrendering your dreams to let God give you His dreams for you. I love her so much.

 

Meagan with the Mungaila Children infront of their new house!

Joel. This three-year-old boy is so determined to walk! He was sweet enough to show me his smiles, squeals and hugs daily. I love him for that. Joel is learning and singing with his brothers and sisters in language class like a champ. With God’s help, I know he will walk on his own one day!

Lincoln (left) helping Joel walk!

Loving life in language class.
This boy is perfect! 

Ba Edinan is a shining example of servant heart and hospitality. She is a friend to everybody. Ba Edinan welcomed us into her home and treated us so warmly. She manages what she has very well and helps the families in her village without hesitation.

Visiting Ba Edinan and her nieces. 

Bina Mbombo trusts her Heavenly Father. She shows a different kind of strength and faith that I pray I have one day. Each day is a new day, and Bina Mbombo knows that it will be faced with a faithful God.

With Ba Edinan and Bina Mbombo at church.

Rodwell. Baby Roadie, who is now sitting up in a bombo seat, taught me the importance of relying on prayer as a first option not a last resort. Durning the days I was home sick or at nights when I wished I could be holding him, I learned that praying for him was the best thing I could be doing. He is God’s baby boy, not mine. But I am ever so grateful for the chance to love him and hold him. He continues to challenge and grow my prayer life.

 

I might be obsessed with this picture. Not going to apologize.

I don’t know how often I’ll blog from here on out. But please don’t hesistate to ask me about anything I’ve written or posted. I process and learn through writing and talking. While there are many things that are uncertain now, I am certain that I will keep processing and growing from this experience. Thank you for following me through this journey! Praying for clarity as we all find ways to serve our Father daily!

The Last Week

July 21-July 31.

Wow. Let me tell you a little about our last 10 days in Zambia then I’ll explain the shock of coming home.

At Victoria Falls during the Lunar Rainbow.

Monday was a very good morning in the Havens and the afternoon was at the Mungaila’s. We came home and made a big wonderful dinner because it was Kam’s last night in Kalomo. Boooooo! So we tried to just spend time together laughing. Since we love playing hand and foot while listening to music we succeeded on the laughing more than crying goal. Tuesday morning we packed up and went to the Havens so Kam could say her goodbyes. I was already feeling sad as it was becoming very apparent that we only had 7 days left. What? No! Where did the last 6 weeks go?! We enjoyed good food, fun games (H&F), and the best company while in Livingstone the rest of the day. We went to celebrate Hanna and Meagan’s birthday and get Kamri to the airport. God even showed us more of His glory with a LUNAR RAINBOW!!! Awesome is the only place to being because we were all in awe. A few times a year, at locations with lots of mist/water (mostly waterfalls) when the moon is full you can see a rainbow at night. I had never heard of these, but it was an incredible sight to behold! 

Lunar Rainbow at Victoria falls as viewed by Wikipedia.
The shutter has to be opened so long to get the rainbow colors
that it looks light daylight, but it's definitely very dark.

Saying goodbye to Kamri on Wednesday was not my definition of fun. She is such a sweet servant! I have loved getting to know her and have become so grateful for the moment she found me in London. Kam loves her veggies. I won’t be able to eat cabbage without thinking of her. Praying God lets our paths cross more! We spent a little time in the curio market after lunch buying some souvenirs. It was very neat to see everything they had but totally overwhelming to make decisions when under pressure to buy from everyone. We made it back to Kalomo with time to spent at the Havens! I helped feed nsima dinner at Haven 2, then helped Bina Jay, one of the night aunties, with toilet time. At night they wash the clothes before putting the kids in bed. It didn’t take very long. The boys talked to us while we washed there in the bathroom and that time was one of the closest things to a perfect moment. We joked while washing. Sang while dressing the boys. Laughed as I hugged them goodnight and put them in bed. The older boys were helping the younger boys. I loved everything about that hour. On the way home, the power went out, so girls devo was canceled, and we tried to get used to the house with 4 not 5.

Thursday and Friday were good days at the Havens. We stayed as long as we could wanting to soak up all the time possible with babies and aunties. Friday singing was wonderful. I’m going to miss the singing for sure. Florence also came home with us Friday night. Meagan wrote a blog about her, please read it HERE. When she wants to show it, this baby girl has the biggest smile! Saturday we spent most of the day with the Mungaila’s getting them settled in their house. Again, another goodbye. But I already talked about that. We went out to The Rock to watch the sunset before dinner. Beautiful. Once it starts falling, it hides so fast. Sunday was church and then a good afternoon with Katy. She had been a little sickly the last few days but had a good afternoon, until church. The she projectile vomited about 15 minutes into service. We walked home right away. I held her and let her sleep until the other girls came back from church, and we took the babies back to the havens. Monday and Tuesday were filled with as much cuddling and loving as possible. We played, swung, rocked, laughed, washed, cooked, read and sang with the Aunties and the children. Monday night we had dinner with the other missionaries that live at Namwinga. Tuesday night we went around and said goodbyes. Booo... Then went home for dinner, games, more goodbyes, packing and eventually bed.

 

Rodwell smiling big during the week!!!!

Ba Beauty who loves and serves so gently.

Lincoln has Joel's right and I had his left. He's walking like a Champ!

Wednesday morning we loaded the truck and went to the havens to spend a little more time with the babies before going to Livingstone to catch our flight. Those goodbyes were the worst. Getting so attached to these beautiful children of God and not knowing if I’ll ever see them again was a hard thought to process. Those kids are loved and cherished and cared for SO well by the Aunties and Meagan. I know they are more than fine. But leaving their smiling faces and arms open for hugs was terrible. We all got in the truck and cried most of the way to Livingstone. We got to the airport and waited in lines to get boarding passes and go through security. We hugged Meagan at the last possible second and kept waving through the door until she finally had to leave. Through the tearful goodbyes our song for the summer (or one of many) kept playing through my head, and I had to keep singing it to remind myself.

You are faithful
You are faithful

I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever

He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

Chris Tomlin, Whom Shall I Fear

airport sendoff.