Thankful

The past couple of days have brought a lot of reflection.  I has made me think of the things I am thankful for.  Here is a list...in no particular order...of those things:
1. For the time we have had in Zambia and the friendships we have made.
2. For the time we have had in the villages.  The villagers are amazing examples of what it means to have joy and generosity in the midst of difficulties and poverty.
3. For our supporters (both in prayer and finances) who got us here, got us home and got us back again and have been following our journey, learning with us and encouraging us.
4. For Chipo, Velina, Dorcas, Lushomo, Belinda, Miriam, Ruth, Masho, Masije, Elisha, Amos, Jonathan, Nick, Gift, Vivian, Sammie, Arthur, Charles, Doro and Twambo. Twenty of the most beautiful children that have loved me even when I didn't bring sweets!
5. For the staff at WHI Zambia and their patience as we learned how to do things in true Zambian fashion.
6. For my friend Angela, who shared her life with me.
7. For the cold season...I didn't know how great it was until the hot season arrived.
8. For rain, so the farmers can plant their crops.
9. For the smell of flowers along Mochipapa Road after the rain.
10. For the teams that came - the generosity and love they showed to the villages they partner with was overwhelming.
11. For the way Zambians sing!  So passionately.
12. For how God has changed our hearts in Zambia and given us a new understanding of His love and has been patient with us as we have wrestled with His goodness.
13. For the Zambian sunrise - so bright and orange and filling the sky
14. For our friends and family back home...we will see you soon!!!

Zambian sunrise
(photo by Jerilynn Spring)

Final Moments

Today, we had a lot of final moments, at least for a while.  Our final moments in church as we said goodbye to our Mochipapa church family.  Our final moments at Joshua and Angela's as they had big smiles with hopes that we will meet again soon.  Our final moments with Richman, thanking him for all the amazing work he is doing with the arts in Choma.  Our final moments with 20 beautiful children, writing them notes and spelling for them as they wrote notes for us.

As we were saying goodbye to the children, Chipo started singing a song, "Dear Auntie Ellen, please do not forget us, we will not forget you.  God is great."

He is great.  He has placed people in our lives here who will forever be a part of who we are.  They are why we fell in love with Zambia.  We will NOT forget them.  We will remember each of them by name.  We will think of and pray for them every day.  

We will trust too, that our great God will not forget them.  That whatever challenges they face, whatever joys they have, they will know He is their helper, their physician, their friend.

We will trust that our paths will again cross.  So, it is not "Goodbye," that is too final.  It is (as my mother would say), "Goodbye for now" because we know that this is not the end and our goodbye is not forever.

Dorcas, Velina and Lushomo
(photo by Jerilynn Spring)

Three Days

Three...the number of days we have left in Choma.  It is strange to think that we will be leaving our Zambian home too.  It's a strange mix of emotions as we pack, say goodbye to friends and wrap up our work at World Hope International Zambia.

Yesterday, we spent a lot of the afternoon at the orphanage.  We know our time with them is coming to a close for a little while.  The boys had freshly shaved heads and the girls were getting their hair "planted" in preparation for the World AIDS Day event they were singing at this morning. 

Jon spent some time taking video, photos and hanging out with some of the boys.  I sat by Auntie Betty for most of the time, holding children as they would come over to play and talk.  After I had taken Ruth inside for her bath, I heard Lushomo crying at the front of the house.  I went around, picked her up and we were buddies for the rest of the afternoon.  We sat on the swing for a while, she would climb up on the bars, hold on, lean back and say "Auntie Ellen, watch this!"  She would climb down, lay her head in my lap and stretch her tiny legs out across the seat and just relax.  She is smiling so much more the past few weeks as she adjusts to life in House 2.  She is the newest family member there and is starting to love her new family and you can tell her new family loves her.

So, three more days.  It just doesn't seem like it's enough when I think about the friends and children we will have to say goodbye to.