There has been quite a lot of stuff that has happened in just the few days of staying in this first location. I will tell a couple of the stories we have had thus far because there are far too many to blog about...
Guest House.
This is the term used in Zambia which is a place for people to stay alongside a family grounds owner. We are living in a Christian owned guest house and it is a lot of fun. This guest house isn’t one you would have in the Americas; it is very nice for Zambia’s standards. Our team is split four and four in two different rooms. There are mosquitoes everywhere inside and out. So to sleep we need to have nettings at night. We have been using the guest house as our launching pad to all of the places in which we do ministry. We get up around seven eat and go out and do whatever ministry and get back and crash around nine and start it up again the next day.
Spontaneity.
So I want to talk a little bit about that orphanage that we went to before. We were planning on leaving and going to town to get supplies. But as we walked to the local store Kennedy started talking to the leader of an orphanage that randomly cross paths with us. Within seconds our team was in a van heading to some unknown orphanage. We can be so flexible and spontaneous and it makes our team so functional and dynamic. After about 20 minutes of driving through dirt poor shacks we ran across this orphanage. The leaders of it cannot offer the children food nor shelter but they are doing their best to give the orphans an education. They have been saving since 2002 for some land. They said that in two or so years that they would have enough money to purchase land that will not be taxed so that they can offer food and shelter to orphans. We asked how much money they needed to raise. The main leader said about $280. I cringed when I heard this number. That is half of my pay check back at home. Our team has decided that we are going to give up our breakfasts and dig out some money we raised to help fully support this orphanage. This way the leaders can fully focus on the children’s needs and be better equipped without being taxed. It is something we are so very excited about. God has totally used our flexibility and spontaneity to show us an orphanage we would have most likely never have seen or helped. God is so good!
Musungu.
Musungu means “White Man.” The name we hear all over Zambia. It is a fun title and easy to understand because we stick out so very much. I have never been the minority like this before. We went to go support a local soccer team that Kennedy used to play for. We brought jerseys, cleats, and other soccer gear for this team who didn’t have much. We drove past our last orphanage in the middle of slum houses to a much hidden soccer shrine. In the middle of the slum laid dirt soccer field one that had huge rocks as a part of its structure, small ditches, and no grass. Yet it was a place of greatness. There were hundreds upon hundreds that showed up for this game. People would gather all around hanging in trees, walls, and anything to get a better view. The crowd grew as the game progressed. The kids ran and jumped all over us screaming “MUSUNGU! MUSUNGU!” I really don’t think that any of them have seen many white people before and were more interested in playing with us then watching the game. Whenever someone scores a goal everyone in the stands rush the field and celebrate the score with the team! It was so very high energy and showed how important soccer was to them. The kids can not afford balls to play with so they collect trash balls and have their mothers sew cloth around it to make little trash balls to practice soccer. I am going to buy a couple of soccer balls and trade them for their trash balls. After the game we rushed the field and Chris gave a small testimony while Kennedy and his pastor friend asked if anyone wanted to ask Jesus into their lives. About a hundred of children and adults raised their hands and gave their lives to the Lord. It was so very powerful and amazing! So far this trip has already been worth it! Halleluiah!
Travis.
Ok now for a slightly funnier story. Last night Travis had a headache and needed to get some headache medicine from our care pack. Bret and Carter are in charge of medical supplies they asked Travis to show up later to get it. I was having a friendly conversation with Carter and Bret about the situation and thought it would be funny to see if we could convince Travis to go through a full physical and say that it is medical procedure for getting medication. So we did. Let’s just say that he went through with a full physical! Hahah! We convinced him to have a turn and cough and pee in a cup! All for two pills of Advil! Hahaha!
(On the sidelines watching the soccer game.)
(After the game: group of new believers.)
In His Grip,
Jeremy Dennis Pedron
