Thursday, May 17, 2012

AFRICA TRIP BLOG #9: Our Last Day with Jubilee Ministries…

After Coach Bell shared a devotion on the CU soccer motto KOPION taken from I Corinthians 15:58 to start the morning, each of our team members shared a reflection they had written about how their life had been transformed over the last week as we learned from and served alongside our friends at Jubilee and the church leaders and members we have gotten to know here in Zambia…I loved hearing how our students were able to encourage those doing Kingdom work here in Africa in such meaningful and heartfelt ways…and Jubilee Center even put together a really well done video of our day with the people of the community featuring interviews and footage with each person on our team…it will be fun to spread it when we get home!

Our last ministry activity with Jubilee involved participating in a feeding program for children sponsored by another church in Chifube…each of the children we serve a meal to was either HIV positive, suffering from TB, or significantly malnourished…this meal is often one of the only times for many of them to eat well during the week…these children looked even a bit more needy than some others we have played with this week, and it is always fascinating to watch a very young child here in Zambia eat every last bit of chicken off the bone and every last clump of shima on a big plate as you think about what preschool and elementary school kids in the States would do when given that same plate…hunger is such a major need that truly affects body, mind, and spirit…Jesus’ actions in providing food in the Gospels truly take on a new reality here in a place where long term food security is such a major issue for many…

We ended the day taking a walk through a local market and shopping area as some bought authentic Zambia clothing while others finally found the sought after Zambia National Team soccer jerseys…and we even had a chance to support another community development project focusing on HIV education in buying some jewelry made by local Zambian women…

We took the staff from Jubilee Ministries out to dinner to say thank you and laughed and laughed and laughed with our new friends as we enjoyed good Indian food together (I know, who would have thought that one here in Zambia?) in a typical 2 hour African meal…

Tomorrow we head up to see the village community that I was involved in serving for 6 years before I came to CU…it will be fun to show this team a real life example of what can happen when a passionate group of students steps out in faith with Zambian Christians to seek to change the lives of a community and its children forever…it’s a day I’ve been looking forward to for a long time…and can’t wait to take my friends and have them meet my old friends in Zambia…

Off to bed after one incredible 7 day stretch here in NDOLA,   Chip

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you Chip for taking the time to post each day! We love reading about your days & please know we are praying for the whole team!
Tell Adam hi from his family & we love him
In Christ, Penni Homan

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much giving us an insight to what is going on. Each day one could feel through the Spirit the impact the trip was having one your Team and in our hearts at home. Have a safe trip and can not wait to hear more stories from everyone.