Tuesday, December 13, 2011

This Is For You, Too!



This is probably the most common sight along any road.
Before we left Macha, many were asking when we’d return. Some Zambians even boldly announced “You are to come back and stay here with us”. Now that we are back in Wisconsin, we are asked what our future plans are for Zambia. We keep saying, whatever God asks of us, we will gladly respond in obedience.

There is so much that needs to be done in Macha and at MICS that even if we return, it would not be enough. We found ourselves compiling a list of holes that need filling:

Office manager: Someone who is organized and task-oriented to keep the office up-to-date and knows where everything is located. This person could very easily keep track of the tuition payments and prepare invoices for those who are behind in their commitments.

If you are fortunate, you have transportation like this ox cart.
Nurse or health care person: After treating many students and adults each day from mild headaches to wounds requiring a trip to the Outpatient Department, it became apparent that a nurse is needed. This person could also teach health and hygiene topics-something badly needed. Would not need advanced education, just a knowledge of basic healthcare.

Driver: Whether running an ill student home, or taking maize to be ground at the mill or filling water containers, this person would be kept busy all day, and thus free up someone to address other needs.

Handy man : There is always something that is broken, missing or unfinished, add to that keeping a close eye on tools and equipment so that  they don’t disappear. With one more building nearing completion a property manager is needed.
Donkey carts are common too.

Boarding parents: While  MICS does employ Zambians as house parents, they could really use people to mentor how to lovingly affirm or discipline without the use of shame. For boarding parents that never experienced the love and care of a family unit, it is difficult for them to create that environment themselves. But if you know how to reward good behavior, how to read books or play games with children you are qualified. As LeeAnn said recently “if you have ever been a babysitter you are well trained to be a boarding parent & mentor”.

Goats, cattle and chickens run freely everywhere.
 Mentoring Teachers: Most Zambian teachers come with minimum training & experience.  American educated teachers that could come to Macha for a  term or maybe even a year could help train the teachers to do their jobs well and expose them to the fundamentals that would enhance the quality of education at MICS.

If you are intrigued at all with the opportunities in Macha, or if God has been at all tugging on your heart, feel free to contact us. We’d love to chat with you! (kjhazsmith@gmail.com or 715-579-8970)

What’s Next?
Market area. Something like our Farmer's Market.
On Sunday, we reported back to our home church, Valleybrook Church, in Eau Claire Wisconsin, on our nearly two months in Zambia. We were so excited to have our good friends, and school-administrator-mentors with us, Gil and Ronda Krause.  

Ox plows are most commonly used.
As we reflect on the past several months, the resounding theme is “obedience”.  From early in the year when we’d heard about Gil’s lymphoma diagnosis and the Krause’s invitation to step in as directors of MICS until now, the desire for faithfulness hasn’t changed. At first we weren’t sure we were the right ones to take on such a daunting task; but we knew that if God was calling us to go He would make a way for us. So the real question was “God, are you in this?”

It took months of praying, talking, and waiting. Once we felt that we were to go we began telling others and asking them to pray with us. Then came the day when Greg needed to share this with his employer. Instead of being met with hesitancy, Mark Rose became excited about this opportunity and said “we will make it work”. Mark and Lisa became two of our greatest cheerleaders as they too responded to God in obedience!

Charcoal sold along the road for cooking over open fires.
Now that we had the freedom to go, we let our family and friends know about this new assignment. And again we were met with excitement and provision. You helped us not only raise the funds to fly but you supplied us with many extras that would meet the needs of those we would serve. You gave us shoes, clothing, school supplies, gifts of watches and jewelry, personal care items, backpacks and blankets.  Did you know that we only took the minimum clothing for ourselves and filled our airline-allowed bags with what you had given us? It took one very large suitcase and three army duffel bags to carry the blessings!

This man is hauling roofing material.
Many of you told us that God had prompted you to give; even specified funds to be spent on the orphans or for a weekend getaway so that we wouldn’t burn out. Some of you shopped for kid’s clothing, some gave your grandmother’s vintage jewelry to give as gifts, and others gave backpacks filled with new shoes or markers and crayons. As God tugged on your hearts, you responded by being obedient.

Then came the time for us to go. As we blogged, you replied and encouraged us. When we shared our needs, you prayed. Some of you wrote to tell us how God had put us on your hearts and that you prayed throughout the day for us. Quite of few of you told us that you prayed as couples or families or as small group bible studies. When we asked you to pray for rain, you did and guess what? It rained!  

Every day we’d pray and ask God to give us supernatural eyes and ears. We asked Him to let us see the people, know their hearts and be able to speak His Truth to each one. There were several occasions that we were asked to give things that God had not released us to give. It would have been easier to give the money or the things that they had asked for. In obedience we had to say no, just like parents have to do from time to time. We may not have always been popular or given the answers hoped for, but we were committed to obedience

Obedience is a lifestyle God calls us to. He knows what He is about to do and He knows how good it can be, if we agree with Him and choose to conform our lives to His. So, what’s next you ask? It’s obedience, of course. Whatever that looks like!

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1 comment:

  1. I love this. As obedience has become a way of living for me, too, I can see His blessings everywhere! Thank you for sharing this journey with us, so open and vulnerable. You gave me permission to grieve with you and rejoice with you as God led you to serve His people. While I wasn't physically on the journey with you, it has marked me. I will continue to pray His will for the people in Macha. I can see now, through your eyes, that they need Him just like we do. To heal our hearts and make us new! Standing with you, Jennifer

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