A Joyful Heart in the City of Joy: A Long Overdue Hello

Kids at Oratory

City of Joy Mazabuka, Zambia

One of the many stunning sunsets I've seen lately.

I’ve had so much to think about lately that I’m just managing to get something written! The new year has already brought so much life with it. From the girls starting to school, to learning to slash grass, to new volunteers arriving, I remind myself every day to enjoy the unplanned adventures such as getting caught in the rain or a two hour business meeting on tenders. I’ve left age 22 in Zambia! It was a memorable celebration with friends and then with the girls who sang songs for me and had the sweetest words of gratitude. I even got to drive a car for the first time in six months - on the left side of the road!

They like to see how many kids I can carry ;)

As I get more used to being here, I more and more realize that my reaction to age, background, education, and culture have really colored my interactions with people - and I think that’s another thing I’ll leave in this country. There’s just so much to learn about people when you manage to overlook those things. I’ve laughed with 70 year old women, talked to politicians and bishops, had hours of conversation with a 38 year old Zimbabwean, and spent most of my time with people who are under the age of 18. I think the main difference is that people here are very humble and (at least when talking to you) don’t attempt to make themselves superior to one another. I remember my friend Katherine (who is volunteering in Haiti) saying that she was excited to focus on people not for what they had but for who they are - and it’s so amazing what happens when you are given the chance to do that.

Hands (obviously) I may be getting darker, but I'm still pretty white.

This week I was able to revisit Victoria Falls with two friends who moved down to Livingstone. It was such an incredible experience (since there was water this time). We got soaked from the spray and saw more rainbows than I’ve ever seen in one place! I imagine that heaven is somewhere near as beautiful. The few days away has given me a chance to refocus on spending my energy on the girls here at City of Joy. I have only 10 days left in Zambia, and as excited as I am to visit my brother Dominic in Europe, and to be home, I’m not ready to leave this country behind. I don’t know where life is taking me next, but I hope that I will remain connected to Zambia somehow. Sometimes I have brief moments when I remember my first impressions and challenges, but most of the time, I feel completely at home digging up onions for supper, catching rides on the road, speaking my few Nyanja or Tonga words, and I forget that I stand out so much here. I’ve even given up cooking American food most of the time which means I’ve mastered nshima, cabbage, and soya. I take it as huge complements that I’ve been praised for cooking nshima, told that I’m becoming a Zambian from the sun, and given a Tonga name- Luendo. It means Journey, because I don’t like to sit still ;)