I read a note today posted by a dear friend (which I shared on facebook) and fellow team member of our Zimbabwe trip, Kristi. She was recounting our experience in Zimbabwe. A I read it, the memories flooded my mind of the AWESOME experience we had among the Tonga tribe in Zimbabwe. I realized that I never really talked about our trip on our blog besides sharing the pictures.
Adam and I felt God calling us to go to Zimbabwe in the Fall of last year. It took a lot of planning, preparation, and financial support for us to go. It was well anticipated! The uncertainty of it all was a little nerve-racking. Esp. the fact of leaving our 2 year old here in Louisville while we traveled over 7,000 miles across the world to a foreign land.
I wanted to think about what stuck out in my mind the most from our trip and to think about what God taught me from that trip. Once we were on our way, the anticipation began to build. Flying for 16 hours straight from Atlanta to South Africa was not as bad as I thought.. the hardest thing, sleeping on the air plane. The planes were equipped with our own T.V with movies, and the food on Delta was actually okay. We landed in South Africa to find that I was shocked at how COLD it was and how industrialized Johannesburg, S. Africa is. This place looked like America. Nonetheless, I was already experiencing some culture shock the first night as we had little access to a phone or else use our cell phone and pay lots of money to call to the U.S. We also had NO heat in our lodge room the first night and the international blow dryer and plug adapter didn't work in S. Africa so I had NO blow dryer and NO heat. Not a good combo for me:)
Adam and I both didn't sleep well the 1st night in our lodge too because we didn't have a fan for noise. So the next day we were EXHAUSTED. We flew to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to find a very DIFFERENT and small airport. We were warned of customs, etc. in Zimbabwe but it really wasn't that bad. The weather was surprising MUCH warmer just one country north of S. Africa. It was in the 60's-70's. We got in the Overlander and was greeted by some very friendly people (Steven, our cook and guide, and our driver, Andrew). The 4 hour drive to MLibizi (the ministry area) was a sight to see. NOW, it was looking like Africa, the Africa we all know.. poor, and barren. We began to see many mud huts, and ladies and small kids walking down the sides of the road carrying foods on their head. We already could see how friendly these people were as they waved to us..
When we arrived in MLibizi, we found our room to be just adequate. As I looked at some of the other team members rooms, some looked cleaner, better furnished, and better decorated. My selfish self looked at our room and thought about how ours wasn't 'as good as their's. Being that we were the only married couple in our group besides the Missionaries. We got a room at the end to have a room to our selves. Our room appeared to be one that the lodge doesn't use very frequently.:) The pictures really didn't do it justice.
By the next day, when we went out to be among the tonga tribe of people, the Lord QUICKLY 'broke' me! An overwhelming sorrow that I could not control filled my heart as I saw how the Tonga had NOTHING and how they lived. It was like, it didn't even phase them. I thought about all my selfish ways of feeling sorry for my self in the smallest of financial struggles, and then even thinking on how I had been even AFTER arriving to Africa. I needed to BE thankful!
I also remember the very first time we faced the Tonga children and women when we arrived and the teacher let school out early. All the kids gathered on the ground out side the school house and they all looked at us like they knew we had something VERY important to tell them. They sat in eager awe as they listened. They sang songs and we sang to them too. They LOVE to sing, AND dance. I LOVED hearing them sing and watching them dance!! Their sound is ONE I will NEVER forget! As they sat there and Nick (our group leader) spoke to them and Robbie game his testimony with a translator, the realization of what was happening hit me like a TON of bricks. Tears began to stream down my face as I looked into all their beautiful faces and saw their need for a Savior! I realized that the trip we had been planning for so long, was finally here and the HUGE opportunity we had to share the WONDERFUL news of Jesus to a people who needed to hear. My heart ached for them to KNOW Jesus. I was excited to see what God would do..
We went hut to hut sharing the Creation to Christ with a translator, and Adam and I actually got to see 2 ladies get saved that we shared with. We had church services, and leadership training for committed Tonga men who were serious about spreading Jesus among the Tonga. Us ladies spent most of our time LOVING on the Tonga women and children. The pictures I have of them, even in my mind, hopefully, I will never forget. These kids were great!! They flocked to us every time we pulled up. I still miss those sweet Tonga children.. and how they laughed at us as we tried to learn some of their language.
In all, 12 people got saved and we got to hand out The gospel of John in Tonga, and many other tracts while we were there.
In conclusion: When I think about what God taught me from that trip..
1.) I think about how first of all he HUMBLED me! To this day, when I feel caught up in the things of this world, when I think about wanting something/ buying things, etc. etc. the Lord humbles and convicts me to think about what I really need and to spend money wisely. I want to use my money to help serve others, and makes me realize how
blessed I am, when I just look back at those Tonga people.
2.) The Lord has given me an even greater heart for missions and for orphans all over the world that need Him and a better life.
3.) The Lord has shown me that I need an even greater passion for Him and to know Him and his Word more. I was AMAZED at the Tonga men that have stood up and are trying to follow Jesus despite all of their every day barriers. The fact that most all of them don't even have their own Bible. Getting the Bible in the Tonga language is VERY difficult. Some have English Bibles. They don't have their own church building, resources, etc. etc. but they STILL have a passion and ZEAL for God to continue to HUGE work that is before them. They also know the Bible well! This was an AWESOME encouragement to see how God was working in their lives and to see THEIR passion!!
I thank God for these people and what a blessing they were to us while we were there. They still need our prayers....
