Let me give you a few examples.
Charlotte and I drove to town a few evenings ago, and upon pulling out of our parking space, the wheel on our truck fell off. We looked at each other, I tilted my head, shrugged my shoulders, and said "TIA." We called for help, proceeded to PicknPay (the very original name for the grocery store), and bought some fried chicken and greasy chips to eat while we waited for our help to come.
A few of us went away for the weekend and stayed in a thatched cabin. We had a little bush baby who decided to stay with us for the night. They squeak and drive you slightly insane. Someone grabbed a broom, another a fry pan, and someone else some bug spray - the only kinds of weapons we could find in an attempt to chase our little furbaby out of the cabin. It didn't go so well, so we all looked at each other, tilted our heads, shrugged our shoulders, and said "TIA." We also took some Melatonin before going to sleep so he wouldn't keep us up all night.
This morning, driving down a dirt road, we had to wait for a herd to cattle to cross the road - they have the right of way. The power is out up to 8 hours a day. The internet only works in the evenings, when there is power. Passing a car on the left and right hand side of the road are both acceptable. Packing the back of a pick-up full of people is allowed by law; however seatbelts are required for all passengers in the vehicle. You can buy the yummiest avocados for only a few cents each - or just pick one off the tree and eat it for lunch. Killing black mambas is pretty normal, as is befriending spiders the size of your hand. I seriously could go on for hours. I'm half expecting to drive to town this week and find a safari truck with a giraffe sticking his neck out the roof. I do wonder how they transport them to game parks.
As crazy and nonsensical as many things are here, Zambia has indescribable beauty and peace that does one's soul wonders. Here, you greet your neighbours. You converse with the cashier in the grocery store. You share life with people by sitting in the dirt in front of their homes. You play with children. You dance, sing, laugh daily. You live in the moment, and don't rush time. You feel joy, love, grace, patience in such a tangible way. You see people truly caring for one another, serving each other, reaching out, praying together. You walk in untouched nature and know our Creator.
With these things, I am challenged. When I return to Canada in a few weeks, how will I tell people around me what God has taught and shown me? How can I bring these amazing parts of Zambia to Canada and show others how real and tangible God is?
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| He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. - Psalm 23:2-3 |
