I feel great pride when I think about Zambia. At times I have a stronger sense "nationalism" to that country than to my own! Don't get me wrong, I do love my country and am thankful for the many blessings of living here....but I am also so proud of Zambia and have been richly blessed my relationships with people there. For me, Zambia is a "home away from home" to which I still feel a strong attachment. I think I put down such deep roots there because it was my first time to really move away from home. Most people start with an apartment in their hometown, but not me! While I was there I sought a sense of "Family" to create a little niche for myself in that beautiful part of the world. My "family group" grew quickly...the Beels, Emily, the Mbumwaes, the Calders, the Kambulus, Kadonsi...many wonderful people became an important part of my life forever.
My learning curve was steep that year as I took in many new experiences. I can recall several "light bulb" moments when I would come to a new cultural awareness. Sometimes they were fun moments, but sometimes they were painful. I didn't always want to see the new reality for what it was, because it was a harsh reality...
I can distinctly remember answering the door one day to an old man who was asking for food. He was weathered from life and looked so tired. I wished that I could give him a "lazy-boy chair" to relax in, but all I could offer was some food. I don't remember what I gave him to eat, but I remember my thoughts afterwards, in a sense, shattering a very basic ideal that, "If you work hard you will succeed." All of a sudden, this concept seemed horribly untrue. It seemed naive, foreign or from the "western world", it seemed so globally unaware. That old man, and hundreds of others that had graced our door, had worked hard, very hard, harder than I and many others likely ever will work! And as far as I could see he had not succeeded. He was, in fact, suffering. Recalling this thought process still frustrates me and makes my stomach turn. How can the world be like this? I just didn't know. I still don't know. But that thought process led me to reexamine "success". Is success having a pile of RRSPs for one's future? Having a good job? A university education? A decent car? A nice house? Feeding oneself for a day? Sending your children to school? Helping your neighbour? What is success?
Today I am thanking God for all learning experiences, such as this one, that Zambia taught me. I still don't know what to do with most of what I learned that year at Namwianga...I am still sorting through it and I suspect that I always will be.
What I do know is that Zambia is a wonderful country where people are, in spite of very trying circumstances, resilient, loving, giving, hospitable, and peaceful. I received an email from my friend Kadonsi today. He shared some beautiful words of thanksgiving for his country:
"This is a special day for Zambians and other Zambian friends who are far away. Zambia got its independence from the colonial rule(Britain) on 24th October 1964. When this day comes, all Zambians join together to share their joy. It is interesting at such a time to see Pupils and other people beating drums and singing together. Others drinking "Chibwatu" a local drink that you can both chew and drink. There is a lot of groups of people that have come to Namwianga to play some football games, and do other activities just to express their happiness. Zambians have been celebrating this occasion for 43 years now, a time of peace and freedom. There has been no tribal wars, slavery or any other war in this country. I thank God for such abundant peace that He has given to this country unlike other countries...."
Please say a prayer for Zambia's future and for the people living there today.
God has gone with them all of their days.
May He lead their nation and bless the lives of His children there.
