Inshima.

The foundation of a Zambian meal, the filler, and the necessity to a balanced nutrition. Inshima

is nothing more then corn meal and water, but its the stroke of the spoon, and the final minutes of labour stirring the thick mixture that makes it so special. I have learned to love this substance, and eat it along with many different combinations. Sometimes a hard boiled egg, cabbage, chicken, or dried sardines make a delicious pair for Inshima. Whatever way its served, it fills up your stomach for a time, its cheap, and thats all that matters. During my time in Africa, the Lord laid it on my heart to learn to cook traditional Zambian meals, the traditional Zambian way. I have been fascinated with the ability of these women to make a meal out of whatever is available, and the strength they have to prepare this basic food. Inshima is exhausting to make, it gets so thick and hot that women take turns stirring the mixture. When it’s my turn I usually last about 20 seconds before I am completely wiped out, and have several burns on my hands. These women are dedicated to feeding there children, and Inshima makes it possible for families to have a meal a day. Unlike how we cook to eat, they cook to survive. 

I have learned how vital it is to not only fuel your body with physical food, but to fill it up with spiritual food. The Zambians that I have come to love are so aware of there need for Jesus, there need to be fed by the Holy Spirit, and they thirst for him. Psalm 63 1-3 “ God you are my God. I search for you. I thirst for you like someone in a dry empty land where there is no water. I have seen you in the temple and have seen your strength and glory. Because your love is better then life, I will praise you.” With the knowledge that Gods love is better then life, I have been shown through the love of Gods people and his love for me that nothing else can quench the thirst I have other then the adoration of Jesus. I feel desperate for Christ and his fulfillment, and when I run to him I feel so full I am completely satisfied in his embrace. 

While these women cook not only do they fill the stomachs of there children, but there hearts, by preparing the food with passion and prayer trusting that Jesus will be the fuel they need. In that trust God always provides, and with beautiful smiles on there faces His children pray faithfully before they eat there Inshima knowing that he provided it. They are thankful for each bite, each bone of chicken, and each particle of salt, but mostly they are thankful because His love is better then life and it abounds. 

In my weakness, He is strong.

I knew before the trip that I was facing some health issues, and that it may be difficult for me to have enough energy for each day, but I was so excited to see how God would work through my struggles that he encouraged me to take that chance. I never understood how difficult it would really be, and the first few weeks I was able to push through the weakness I was facing, but it started to get harder and harder to hide my struggle as the trip progressed. Although, I began to fall deeper and deeper in love with Gods children and the beauty that was coming from my brokenness, my heart still feared that I was not enough. If you have ever done career missions, or been on a missions trip you know that you develop such a wide few of the array of needs there are, and the lack of time we have on earth to reach Gods people. I am so aware of the needs in Zambia, and the people who are longing for Jesus that I know if I were to dedicate my entire life to encouraging and repairing Zambia I would hardly skim the surface. Its at that place that I remember, its not me doing Jesus’ work, but its Jesus doing his work through me. At this time in my life the Lord has chose to work through me in complete weakness, in illness, and in exhaustion. I have never felt more incapable to pick up a child, to play games, or be useful in any way, yet I feel so satisfied and God has worked and weaved his plan into every moment I have spent on African soil.

“When I came to you, brother, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with demonstration of the Spirits power.” ( 1 Corinthians 2:1-4) 

Im my weakness, in my fear, in my trembling the Spirit is at work. Every childs smile has blessed my heart and welcomed me into the prescence of Jesus. My faith and my worship has exploded, and I am reminded of the mighty power of the one true King. As I, along with so many other prayer warriors cry out to God in anticipation of the restoration of my health, I hear his voice remind me that he is perfect in all his ways, and that he is using me right where I am. I am a new creation in him, and I praise him for his ability to work in weakness. 

Dear Jesus, 

Thank you for your complete peace that washes over me. Remind me that you are my only source of strength, and that as I trust in you, you work miracles everyday in the life of your people. Lord, if its your will please heal every bone that aches, every pain, and restore in me energy to live my life for you. Lord, if it is not your will to currently heal me, but to use me in my weakness, I trust you to work in amazing ways. Thank you for the people who lift me up and prayer, and the beauty that rises with the sun reminding me of your promises.

Love, 

Your Admiring Daughter

I am Simon Mwansa.

Simon is 10 years old, and he is a precious child of God. Simon is an incredible academic student, and  he excels in character and leadership development in school. He is also very good at his Christians studies. Simon desires to be a pastor, and he preached a lesson that God laid on his heart to me amongst a few other orphans and encouraged me abundantly. After his sermon, Simon went to the water spout filled a barbie shoe with water and came back telling me he had prayed for the water and the Spirit had anointed it to bless me on my journey. I felt the thickness of the Holy Spirit lather his words in joy and love for the Lord, he spoke truth, and he is ever so wise for his age. Never in my life have I heard a child pray so honestly, and delightfully. His heart is kind and genuine, and his eyes are beautiful in light of his broken past. I ask you to please consider sponsoring Simon. 

His story may break your heart, as it broke mine while I looked through his file. Simon was abandoned in the impoverished area of Kitwe, Zambia. Like many others his mother had passed away from HIV in the first few months of his life, leaving him with his father, who had grown very ill by the HIV virus. Unable to care for him, he was abandoned. Simon was found, at 5 months old, covered in sours from head to toe, and his legs were destroyed from unknown causes. When he was found he was taken directly to the hospital. His abandonment as well as the state of his legs resulted in the need of a metal plate to be placed in each of his legs when he was 5 years old. He is now left with two 6 inch long scars on his legs that are often infected, bleeding, and scabbed over. Simon is also HIV positive and takes medicine twice a day. Simon was placed at the Sara Rose Orphanage after his time in the hospital, and the mothers there have raised and cared for a delightful boy. With your sponsorship, you can provide the proper medicine he needs and care it takes to get him healthy. Amongst the medical issues that Simon deals with on a daily basis he is thankful, playful, and praiseful. He constantly thanks Jesus for his provision and goodness! Yet, its apparent that he is often in pain, please join me in a commitment to pray for Simon Mwansas’ healing. 

“When the people there recognized Jesus, they told people around there that Jesus had come, and they brought all the sick to him, they begged Jesus to let them tough just the edge of his coat, and all who touched it were healed.” - Mathew 14:35-36

Help me to pick up Simon, and bring him to Jesus for his perfect healing. If you feel called to sponsor our dear brother Simon, please go to globalfingerprints.org and click on child sponsorship. Scroll down to Countries, choose Zambia, and then enter this code: 510021, your monthly gift of $35 will cover Simons medical needs, his school fees, and the food on his plate. I am anticipating in faithfulness that Jesus will call someone to encourage this child. When you sponsor from Global Fingerprints, you are able to develop a personal relationship with your sponsor child, and God will use this connection to further his kingdom.

Yawhee,

I pray for the family, the individual, that you have already picked to sponsor Simon. I praise you for your endless provision, and I ask that you provide the funds needed for Simon to be a healthy and well loved child of the one true King. I thank you for Simons sweet life, and the beauty that you have created in his heart. I thank you for his desire to serve you through shepherding your people, and for his innocent belief in your mighty power. 

Love, 

your admiring daughter  

Rejoicing With Elephants

My soul rejoices to be here again, to love a place so deeply and desire to know its people. Zambia has such a special place in my heart, from the terrifying bus rides to the oatmeal in a coffee cup I eat after an african dinner, I love it all. Every part, every person, every moment is one I cherish and learn from. Today we had the opportunity to go on a sunset boat ride on the Zambezi River. It was so beautiful and such a perfect example of Gods creation. He blessed us and we were able to see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and giraffes. It was an incredible experience to be face to face with the animals Jesus created for Africa. He reminded me of his purpose, his purpose for everyone and everything, it being to worship the perfect Creator. I have had such a continued theme for my trip this year, it all comes back to worshiping Jesus. I don't have much to offer him, but I have the ability to praise and glorify the Maker of the stars. Nothing is more worth it then being aware of the affection I have for Christ and the even greater affection he has for me.

 "Praise the Lord , my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion"

(Psalm 103:1-4a)

Thank you Jesus for your splendor and your majesty.

Love, 

your admiring daughter

Elephant on the Zambezi River

Beautiful Detours

I am so reminded of the personal, intentional sovereignty of our Lord. We have taken a detour in our journey, last night we missed our flight to South Africa due to the thunderstorms in Atlanta. After regrouping, getting new flights, and finding transportation, we took the train and walked a few blocks in downtown Atlanta at midnight to our hotel. Our flights were redistributed and our small Zambia team is taking a little adventure from Atlanta to New York, from New York to Amsterdam, and Amsterdam to South Africa. A stop in Europe doesn't sound so bad, and a steady heart that relies on Jesus openly accepts his change of plans. If only if it was that easy, I am so out of my comfort zone, so uncomfortable, I am seeing things I couldn't have before. I am so aware of Jesus, I am aware of his prescence and his desire for all people, and as we took the public train through Atlanta this morning my heart broke, it broke for the streets, for the people, and for the hearts that are all beating and longing for Jesus. I am letting go of a lot of my fears, insecurities and walls and realizing how unworthy I am to be a princess of such a Glorified King. May he be honored, lifted high, and forever praised for never have I realized just how intertwined he is in my life. I want to serve him with everything I have, and this journey was meant to be detoured for whatever reason Jesus knows and has known.  I am thankful for the prayers and love that you, my brothers and sisters, have poured down on this team. Please continue to pray for energy, rest, health, flights and most of all for our hearts to be stirred up in affection of Christ.

Thank you and Love, 

Lexi

Top: Downtown Atlanta at night
Bottom: Waiting for the flight

Your Praise Will Ever Be

Here we go. Heartbreaking, soul shaking, and gift bearing.This trip is a bundle of everything good and great that Jesus is orchestrating. This past week has been amongst the most stressful, busy, and exhausting weeks I have ever had. I struggled to finish packing on time, to make sure I had the right medications, and to spend as much quality time with my loved one as possible. I feel weak and anxious and my one hope and dependency is Jesus Christ. I am in the best place I could ever be to start a trip such as this one. My heart is joyful to yet again kiss the sweet faces of Gods African babies again. He is good and he always provides a way for His children to do His work. I am at peace with how underprepared I am, because I am free for the potter to mold me into what he desires me to be, for I am just the clay.

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.

We are the clay, you are the potter;

we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8 

The maker has such a beautiful plan for the next 7 weeks of my life, and my teammates lives. We will forever be changed and discover new ways to seek glory for His name. God has placed a song on my heart this week called "Ever Be"by Bethel Music. The song repeats, “ your praise will ever be on my lips” and it is such a great reminder of how deep our worship is meant to be and how our purpose is to bring praise to God. My purpose, my goal, and the one thing I am to chase after on this trip is to bring glory to Christ!

Welcome to the beginning
Love, 

Lexi

Maddie, Shelbyrae, and Lexi
Zambia Trek 7 2015

Cracks in the Sidewalk

 It's like when the side walk cracks, I always wonder what caused each crack. A move in the tectonic plates? An angry person with a hammer? A really heavy backpack during finals week? Whatever it was, God makes it beautiful, because you know what happens when there is a crack in the sidewalk? Somehow, after a while, a plant begins to grow through, and then another, and another, until the crack in the sidewalk is full of little plants sprouting up. Even if they are weeds, they still more beautiful then the grey, dull sidewalk, and this gives me hope, because I'm broken like the sidewalk. I'm waiting for the weeds, the plants, and maybe even the flowers to grow through my crack, but what do you do when you don't get better? I haven't been getting better for a year. I'm constantly nauseas, I have dizzy headaches, I'm so weak and I've lost 12 pounds. I feel sick, my kidneys, my liver, my thyroid, my heart, my digestive system, my lymphatic system... they aren't happy. I'm uncomfortable and there are 7 supplements to be taken multiple times a day. My diet has been restricted and completely restructured, but there is so much beauty in the struggle. The revelations of his love, when fear comes knocking. The knowledge of his tangible healing. His hand that holds mine firmly, and lovingly. Jesus, thank you for your strength in my weakness. Thank you for this thorn, it keeps me from being prideful. Thank you for your constant healing rain, that washes over me. My heart is thankful, for Lord, it is a worthy place to endure my tiny troubles for. God so loves Africa. Every immunization that had to be taken, every time I'm not feeling well, every result, supplement, and food that I have given up. It's all worth it to yet again hold the small dark hand of His sweet son Pasko, His joyful village children, and His eager orphans. My heart anticipates the goodness in the adventure ahead and my temporary physical struggle is so minor in the grand plan of Gods unending grace for me. Thank you Lord, your love overwhelms me.

Love,
Your Admiring Daughter