I woke up today the most exhausted I’ve been so far since being here. Big bags under my eyes and all. I have been on this continent for only 11 days – it feels like a month. In those 11 days I have travelled to Tanzania, Kenya and now Zambia. I have started into work full swing, furnished my apartment, and have been spending time at the VOH Chongwe re-connecting with my little friends. My head kind of feels like its spinning, but in a good way. It’s been amazing to travel and see different countries, meet the VOH staff from all of the villages and re-connect with people that I’ve known for the past 2 years. Returning to Zambia, Chongwe specifically, feels like I’m returning home. It’s a wonderful feeling to settle into a familiar place.

My sister Erin, and two friends Emily and Jen have been serving at the VOH Chongwe running a VBS. My apartment is in the city of Lusaka, but I’ve been staying with them at their guesthouse in Chongwe. There seems to be a new adventure every day, whether it’s killing a cockroach, or being startled by some animal (or rodent?) walking on the tin roof.

Like I mentioned previously, I’ve started work right away as the VOH administrator. I won’t bore you with too many details, but my role includes working with all 8 villages throughout Africa. I do audits, wire transfers, help organize conferences and the list goes on and on. For those of you who really know me, this is so out of my comfort zone! Going from teaching primary grades to auditing income reports is like going from one extreme to the other. Thank goodness for my calculator.

Already in these 11 days I have struggled with feeling inadequate and wondering why I was chosen to fill this position. Don’t they need someone to teach, or paint a mural or something? 😉 Besides being really organized, this role doesn’t come naturally to me. In our leadership meetings, Sergio talked about how being a missionary is the one job where most roles are filled by people who are technically unqualified to fill that position. Hello – that’s me! Already in these 11 days I’ve been pushed to rely on God like never before. Reminding myself that if He’s called me to this, He will equip me. Pushing myself to ask questions when things don’t make sense, and being ok with knowing that I will make mistakes. All in all, being reminded that pride has no place in serving our Lord. If I want to serve Him well, I need to be humbled, looking to Him to equip me, and reminding myself that my purpose is to serve Him – not myself. These 11 days have been amazing, and I’m so thankful to be here.

Now all I need is a nap.

“He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it” 1 Thessalonians 5:24