17 days; 2443km captured on a page welcome to our blog for expedition one.
Our first week of expedition was spent in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, working with Pastor Vincent and his wife Elevin. We were working with them in school missions, we spent the mornings and afternoons in schools delivering talks on various topics. In between the morning and afternoon sessions we had team devotions led by Vincent and Elevin. We have all learnt a lot from them and all appreciated the passion and love of God they both have.
We have all had opportunities to talk in front of groups ranging from 25 to 200 kids and all ranging in age so some of our talks had to be altered to suit the group, but God is good and all went smoothly.
We also spent time with a group of street children, which was again a very special time. We shared time with them and played some of our games with them as well. We had prepared a drama about the power of words, which we preformed for them. On our second day with them Peter shared his testimony with the lads and about 10 of them gave there lives to Jesus!!! PRAISE THE LORD
The first week has been great and we’ve all grown a lot in confidence in talking in front of large groups. I thank God for a good week and for teaching us all lots about Himself and us. (Ed)
The second week of expedition – Sunday to Wednesday – we spent getting alongside an amazing group of street girls/ young women…
On the Saturday we met up with Pastor Steven and Pastor Richard, who were organising and hosting for us, from a church called ‘The Burning Bush’ on the other side of Lusaka. A very lively church which has a real vision for praise and worship! We had a great service on Sunday there with real gospel music and dancing!
Then afterwards we met up with the girls to take them out for some lunch and back to theirs for some games. 3 other street girls (around 12 years) saw us with the girls and so got on a bus and followed us back to their home! So now they live there and hopefully will not go back to the streets! They stay in a house in a township just out of Lusaka called Chiwama, where they are supported by a charity called ‘Vision of Hope’. The lady that heads up the organisation is called Chitalu, an incredible woman of faith with a real heart for these girls, keen to empower them and reveal to them their definite potentials!
During the few days we had with them, we just spoiled them! We took them to a game park (cramming us all into 2 vehicles, about 15 in each!) where there was a pool there – and so inevitably they all stripped off and jumped straight in! They loved it – truly amazing to experience… They saw water buffalo, impala, zebras and they got to stroke white lions! We took them to the cinema and ate popcorn and sweets! We painted a few of the rooms in their house, and we just spent time with them.
We got to understand how some children do find themselves on the streets at such a young age and we learnt some of their individual stories. About 95% of these girls have HIV, one of which got it from their teacher. The girls have found themselves in desperate situations such as sexual abuse from relatives, rape, desperation for education, family not being able to support them, drug and alcohol addictions, neglect etc. Yet when you meet these girls and spend time with them, you see their keenness to learn and go to school, their capabilities and individual talents.
Our time spent with that group of girls was filled with joy, laughter, plenty of LOUD singing, relationship building and memories which will last forever. I cannot express the strength of the pull they had on all of our hearts. (AJ)
To round up the end of the expedition we travelled Thursday morning to Livingstone for a couple of days to relax and some time for extreme fun. On the Friday we all headed to the Victoria Falls which is at least 1km long except we could only see a small length of it as there was so much spray. Walking down one path way (after leaving anything not waterproof in the car) we got to the skin soaked as spray flushed around us. We then went to the market just outside the falls, which resulted in a lot of haggling and being pushed and persuaded by the sellers. So we came out with some good and bad prices on things bought.
On the Saturday me (Zoe) and AJ headed of on an elephant back safari, very cool. Peter stayed back to relax and spoke to his wife on skype. Ed, Gemma and Tim went on a safari in the car where they saw lots of animals. Jo went for a day trip to Botswana which included a variety of things such as going on a boat, seeing loads of animals and being provided lunch. In the afternoon we (except Jo) went to high tea at the Royal Hotel, amazing grounds and views and very posh English crockery.
Sunday the last day of fun. Some of the team went of on a micro light trip in the air over the falls and came back with massive smiles on their faces. The rest of the day was spent down near the lake and the pool; and avoiding the many monkeys that were staying with us. For benefits to all our parents and loved ones none of us have done a bungee jump so you can all breath again, yet…. Monday morning we travelled back on a 13 hour stretch and taking the rest of this week to get back into routine and sort bits and pieces out.
Praise points:
- Praise God for protection on the team and vehicle during the 17 days when travelling on some of the most horrendous roads that we have experienced thus far.
- The fantastic ministries during the expedition
- The wonderful hosts that looked after us
- For having and overall amazing experience
- We came back to a boy called Francis in Kaniki Orphans Project who had rabies. It was unlikely he would have survived another day. Yet the next day when Gemma went to visit him at the hospital, he had been sent home with no trace of rabies! We were even praying for his future! God is AMAZING!
Prayer points:
- For Bupe one of the girls in vision on hope who was a street girl who went into labour the day after we left
- Pray blessings to the hosts Vincent, Elevin, Chitalu and Gloria.
- For funds for Vision of Hope as they try and develop the project had hope to move to a bigger plot
- The girls that we encouraged come of the street and go to Vision of Hope that they will remain there
- Came home to find out that Martha, the premature baby, had died whilst we were away from Malaria and was not strong enough to cope with the medication given to her. Please pray for those at the orphanage who were affected by what happened.
