Friend Features

This next week I was thinking that it would be fun if I wrote up some profiles of the people that I am closest to here in Zambia. I want to try to give you a glimpse into their stories. I think that their stories are life changing. They challenge me every day to be the best that God has blessed me to be.

The New Beginning in the End

This last week marked seven months since my arrival in Zambia. That is half of the required time to stay on the field in order to graduate AIM. I sometimes can't believe how good God is all of the time.

These last year and a half has been the most tumultuous time of life. I am not all together sure that is a bad thing ;)

Team Zambia started out as six stubborn girls who were all determined to go to Zambia and live in a hut and show God's crazy love to the Zambian people. We hit a few speed bumps on the way...well that is a bit of an understatement... our time as a team in Lubbock was very difficult from day one (Remember the scavenger hunt girls? ). None of us were very open to each other at first, hurtful things were said, people (including myself) were unbendable and strong willed. However, something had to give. We started to slowly thaw towards each other. We started to learn how to love each other in spite of our many differing opinions. I think this was due largely to the fantastic AIM staff and their love for God's people and for what they do. I truly believe that God always opens doors even when we think that they are padlocked, boarded up and painted over.

When we came to Zambia each one of us had something wonderful to give to the people here we all started to carve out our places in this new exciting world. That first few months seemed to go wonderfully. It is one of the best times of my life and I will look back on it fondly for the rest of my life. Not because everything was perfect..by a long run, but because I was surrounded by my sisters doing what I love the most. Loving God's people.

I hope that you all understand that people will always be people no matter where they are. Whether they are living in suburban America, or whether they are missionaries in Africa. I also hope that you understand that every missionary field is not for every missionary. About a month after our coordinators went on their sabbatical, our first two teammates felt like they needed to be in a different place. After they left. The team had quite an adjustment to make. I think we all felt like there was a pretty big hole left in our team and there was a lot of healing that needed to be done. I continued to throw myself into the work that I was doing, into building relationships with the people and into learning about the culture. In October two more of our teammates decided that they didn't feel like they were being used, and that they needed to move on. That left me and Sam. Shortly after Whitney and Susan left, Sam and I took a trip to Scotland to attend the Europe AIM retreat. It was so amazing. However, it truly put the difficulty of Zambia into contrast with other AIM fields. I believe we experienced a small taste of what reverse culture shock is going to be like. Sam decided, while she we were in Scotland, that she wanted to move on also.

So here I am. It has been almost a week. It has also been very quiet around here which has given me a lot of time to think. I think that I have come to a final realization of the end of my team. At first all of this made me so angry. I don't feel like I ever struggled in the same way that the other girls did and because of that I had a hard time being sympathetic with them. I was angry that they didn't fight to stay. Then I realized something. Anger solves nothing and it definitely is not productive in helping me establish myself and move on. So so I spent some time in prayer over it. I was feeling pretty ridiculous. I was upset at myself for letting myself be angry. I also realized that I am pretty scared. After Sam left, a lot of questions were running through my head "Am I really doing any good here?" "Am I going to be able to make a difference on my own?" "Am I going to be able to survive this on my own?". Then suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks CALLY YOU ARE REDICULOUS! The answer to those questions is a resounding NO! I haven't done a single thing here on my own. Every step of my way God has been one step ahead preparing the path. He knows that I am a foolish, stubborn person, riddled with selfishness. What gives me great joy is the fact that He works in spite of my weakness! He is the onw who has prepared the hearts of the people that I am touching. He is the on bringing about these incredible things that have been happening to me. I am so grateful for my Jesus who has sustained me through all these crazy times. I am so astonished at the growth that He has worked in my heart and I can't wait to see what else He has in store for me. Not only in the coming months in Zambia but for the rest of my life!

Lesson: I am very sad that team Zambia is no more. I miss those girls with all my heart and they have taught me so much. My time with them was precious and I will always treasure it. However, despite my sadness I have an overwhelming sense of peace about what the next few months will hold. I know that it will be above and beyond anything that I could ever ask or imagine! I praise Him for a new beginning in the end.

PRAISE YESU!!!

Passion: "Since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak towards you, but mighty in you. For indeed he was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of GOD. For we also are weak in Him, yet we shall live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you" ~2Corinthians 13:3-4

Cally Jane

Vacation Bible School

A couple of weeks ago Mr Thomas Simubali came to me with a job for me. He told me that the Primary school aged kids were about to get out of school for their vacation. He asked me if I would like to put together something for the kids to do in the mornings just for fun and so that they could maybe learn a little bit about the Bible. I was so excited an honored that he would ask me to organize something like this. I was also very nervous. I have never even been to a VBS let alone organized one. Mr Simubali said that I cold probably expect about fifteen to twenty kids....no big deal right? Well the first day rolled around and FORTY kids came!! I was astonished! It was a really good thing that my friend Nzoe was able to help me out. Also I had no idea how to entertain forty kids at the same time but GOD is good and the day turned out to be a success. So we sang a lot of songs, played a game, made a craft and then I told a story. That has been the pattern for the last week.

I am constantly astonished by God's children. He have them such a sense of wonder and excitement. I was really really happy because after the third day of VBS, during a grocrey shopping trip, I found some water color paint pallets! Here in Zambia you rarely find paints and things of that nature so it was an exciting find. The next day we learned about Cain and Able and how we need to love our brothers and sisters. I gave everyone a piece of paper... and then I broke out the paints :) It was like Christmas morning! There weren't enough paint pallets to go around so groups of six or seven shared one. Seeing the joy on their faces humbled me. It was amazing to see how something so small could bring such great big happiness. On top of that as we were walking home Friday, Nzoe stopped me and said " Cally you are a beautiful woman and I look up to you so much. Thank you for letting me teach with you. I am learning so much! I have never had this kind of responsibility before." I was dumbstruck. I never even thought about the impact that VBS would have on Nzoe! AAAHHH!! GOD IS SO SO GOOD! I love how He works in spite of me :)

I pray that I will be able to make an impact on all of these kids. Rather I pray that God's word will make an impact on their lives. And I know that it will :)

Lesson: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong!

"Let the little children come unto me"

"Unless you become like one of these..."

Passion: Let your heart return to those days when God's word was so new and exciting. to David and the Giant, to Noah and the very first rainbow! God's word is filled to the brim with His love for you!

Cally Jane

VBS

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Old lesson...New perspective.

So today I woke up at about six without an alarm :) I really love when that happens. It's always kind of a reminder to me to spend a little extra time with God getting ready for the day. I couldn't seem to concentrate however. My train of thought kept wandering to other things. I read the entire book of Philippians but it was one of those things where I didn't really get any of it. I quickly finished up and went about getting ready for church. Checked my email. Said hello to Skype and ran up the hill to church. I love God because He has a sense of humor. The first song that was lead in this morning's service was "Did you think to pray?" ....Nope I totally forgot. Which would definitely explain why I wasn't tuned in.

Mr. Thomas Simubali was the speaker today. He is a great man of God and I truly look up to him. He is one of the people that has been active in my spiritual growth here in Zambia.

He brought a lesson on Luke chapter 12. Growing up in the church I have heard several lessons on this perticular passage. However, hearing it from the plank benches of our tiny brick church in the company of some truly destitute people gave me an entirely new perspective.

Luke 12:16-32

¹⁶And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, ¹⁷and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' ¹⁸And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' ²⁰But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' ²¹So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.²²And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. ²³For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them.Of how much more value are you than the birds! ²⁵And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁶If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? ²⁷Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you,O you of little faith! ²⁹And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.³⁰For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.³¹Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

³² "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Now...the lessons that I have heard on this subject before usually focused on worry and how it can be unhealthy and how God doesn't want us to. Great. I guess after hearing it in the context that I did this morning I realized that I have never truly had to worry about anything in my life. I have always had a warm home, food, clothes and education. Sitting in church this morning I realized the gravity of what Jesus was saying in that scripture. The people surrounding me actually have something to worry about. They have no assurance that they will have a meal tomorrow. They have barely enough money to feed their children properly. They may or may not have a job. They might very easily lose a loved one soon or even fall ill themselves from things that we can't even imagine being a problem such as diarrhea, the flu, or fevers. Jesus is asking these people to step out on faith. He says "Don't worry little flock" give it over into my hands. he assures them that there is a greater power at work in their lives.

Lesson: My faith was challenged today. I have always known that God is my provider. Ever since I was small My parents taught me that He is taking care of me. But I have never had to sit down in a little grass hut at a table with barely enough food on it and thank Him for providing. I have never had to wonder if I would have enough money literally to survive. Just seeing the shear faith that these beautiful people has challenged me. I pray that I can learn even a tiny measure of that and put it into practice in my life.

Passion: Take time to thank Him! You are nothing without him. Nothing is possible outside of Him! His love endures forever! Psalms 136:1-9

Cally Jane

Scotland! continued....and Home Again, Home Again!

I have spent almost four days trying to come up with a post. I guess this is what you would call writers block.

Well Scotland was amazing! I am so glad that I was blessed to be able to have that experience.

I have to say that the first day was very overwhelming. The girls that we stayed with live about a block away from the biggest shopping center in Scotland. Sam and I spent our entire first day in that place. Let me tell you... It was beautiful and strange and scary all at the same time. By the end of the day I was so exhausted and overstimulated that I could barely carry on a conversation. Reverse culture shock is really strange.

It was so wonderful to spend time with some loved ones that I hadn't seen in a really long time.

one of the greatest things was to be able to spend time With Amy Jo Smith. She was my AIM assistant in Lubbock and she spent her AIM time in Albania and in New Zealand. She had a very similar experience in Albania as I have had so far in Zambia. We had a lot to talk about and it was so amazing to be able to talk to someone about the experiences that I have had here in in Zambia and have them completely understand every emotion that I have been feeling.

The first morning that we were all together we had a devo and sang. It was amazing. The singing was absolutely stunning. We could have all been singing off key but none of us would have cared. There is a special bond that I will always have with these people and being able to join their voices in praise again was so sweet to my soul!

The first day of the retreat we got to take a train up to Edinburgh. I absolutely love that city! It is a beautiful place. From the cobblestone streets to the castle overlooking the city it felt like stepping back in time. I could imagine myself living there long ago. The highlight of my day however, was meeting a William Wallace impersonator. He was raising money for cancer research. His costume was terrific. He even had a sword that was almost as tall as me which apparently is historically accurate. I managed to get a peck on the cheek which my classmate Evelyn Galvan happened to catch on camera ;)

The weather was very cold while we were there. Some of you might have seen it on the news. Scotland got the worst snowstorm that they have seen in something like twenty years. I was loving it!! although I had to buy a sweater and gloves and a hat because I had no winter clothes and I about froze to death!

It was so wonderful to have a break but by the last few days my heart was tugging me back to Africa...I missed it so much. Having some time off and being given the perspective of looking at my ministry from the outside has renewed my resolve to be here in Zambia. I love this place with all my heart... but mostly the people. I missed Stella and Michael and Michello and Nzoe. My heart is at rest now that I am near them again :)

The trip back home was harrowing. We had to spend the night in the Glasgow airport the night before our flight because of the weather. Once we did get on a plane we had a seven hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya. Once we were in Kenya we had a twelve hour layover. Two nights in an airport. Definitely an adventure. We were so so glad to be home but totally exhausted when Michael picked us up at the airport. On the way home...we got stopped by the traffic police for speeding...which we weren't doing.. but Michael sweet talked us out of a ticket ( he is a good guy to have around). We finally got home and I fell asleep soon afterwards. I am pretty sure I slept the better part of two days. I am so relieved to be home and I have gotten right back to work. Starting Monday I am putting on a Vacation Bible School for the kids in our community. I am really excited but also nervous at the same time because I have never done on before let alone all on my own! I am expecting about 15 - 20 kids :D

Lesson- There have been a lot of lessons over the last week or so. But I think the biggest is embracing the changes that God is making in my character and in my life. Being back in my native western culture/environment really put all of that into contrast for me. I came to recognize some new and beautiful things that HE is working in me.

Passion- Find what you love! Let your heart lead you to love in the greatest capacity that you can! God created our hearts to be wild and untamed, searching and yearning for Love! Your heart wants to find that love the God has weaved into His creation for you. I am so blessed that He has made His love so evident to me ! The Gospel of John has a lot to say about LOVE!

John 13:35

Cally Jane