Final thoughts on my time in Zimbabwe...

The end of my 5 months in Zimbabwe caught me by surprise; it came so fast. Overall this experience has strengthened my faith in God. Some of you may know that I seriously considered not coming to Africa. After my last long stay in Africa, I made one of those rash statements that goes something like “God, I’m not coming back to Africa unless I’m married.” And last year, I dated someone who I could imagine sharing life with, except that life would have to be in the U.S. He loved Jesus and loved serving others, but didn't feel called to do that overseas. And this brought me to my Jonah moment. Choosing for myself, I thought that being married in the States sounded better than being single overseas. Then I got swallowed by a fish. Ok, well actually I just ended up in a situation where saying no to going to Zimbabwe seemed so catastrophic that I had to say yes. So I came to Zimbabwe more or less against my will.

But in Zimbabwe I found myself overwhelmed by the sense that I belonged. I was surprised by contentment even in the incredibly difficult and heart wrenching situations which arose daily. God graciously provided the right people at the right times so I never felt alone. He scattered flowers on my path every morning, sent me valentine’s candy, Mt Dew, and beautiful letters of encouragement from home. He restored my soul. And I am so grateful for his mercy that gives us not what we deserve, not what we want, but what we most desperately need.

I spent the last night before my flight out watching a total lunar eclipse from on top of a huge rock covered by ancient cave paintings. And I spent many nights as I walked between the my house and the hospital staring up at the stunning array of uncountable stars. I watched and experienced the tremendous power of Victoria Falls as an entire continent worth of water crashes over the edge. I saw the rainbows cast by sunlight through the mist. And I walked with lions. And I am blown away that the God who, with a word, created such things also knows me and loves me. He knows you and loves you even better than you are able to know and love yourself. I am honored that he has given me the great joy of proclaiming that truth to his children in Zimbabwe who may feel that he has forgotten them. And I am glad to share it with you too.

Some other things I hope to remember from my time in Zim include the

universal desire to be acknowleged, valued, and appreciated. It can be easy to do great damage in ministry by not acknowledging the importance of others contributions. And it is really easy to unintentionally overlook or simply fail to express appreciation and respect. We can drive away people who are vital to our mission and work, by not letting them know it and by treating them as less vital than ourselves. We truly are a body and the eye should not say to the hand, because you are not an eye, I don’t need you.

I am so grateful for the friends God has given me in Zimbabwe. It was very hard to say goodbye. Please pray for Rejoice, Anna, and Priscilla who I am already missing.

One of the hardest things about serving in Zimbabwe was realizing that some people hated me for my skin color, while others ascribed to me special status or knowledge because of it. There were people who viewed me as an invader, and those who looked to me to be a savior. And in some sense I am both and neither. I am so grateful for those who opened their homes and their lives and their hearts to me despite my different culture and skin.