Zambia Mission Trip 2013

Ask anybody if they want God to bless their life and I can promise you the vast majority would emphatically cry ‘Yes!’ without hesitation. Perhaps even in this morning you prayed for God to reign down blessing in a certain area of your life. But somewhere along the line, we decided on our own expectation of blessing instead of going back to God’s word to see what His idea of blessing is (and His ideas are infinitely better than ours, right?!) You see, when we think of blessing we always think of getting. But what you will discover from these testimonies about our 2013 mission trip to Zambia is that we have completely misunderstood the meaning of blessing. Rather than getting to be blessed, Christ actually defined being blessed as giving, no matter what little you feel you have to offer. And we can never out give God. Blessed means to be made happy. When God blesses, He gives the things we look everywhere to find (peace that surpasses understanding, joy that can not be taken away from us, unfailing love) except for upwards. I encourage you to take the time to see this simple principle so radically displayed in the stories you are about to read. True blessing, true joy – one that is not based on external circumstances – germinates in the soil of giving, sprouts in the garden of servanthood and matures when we live these truths intentionally. For us, it all started with Zambia, but it’s certainly not ending there. But don’t take my word for it, come and see for yourself…

Louise Roche
I was in Malawi volunteering as a child carer and tutor for street kids for about 11 months, but when people ask me what the highlight of my gap year was, my honest answer is the 10 days I spent doing missionary work in Zambia. Nothing beats the community and environment at the Coptic Mission in Lusaka. One of my favourite experiences was helping out with the teenagers retreat, teaching them about and discussing things I wish I’d been taught at that age, but also playing games with them, chatting casually with them about our home lives and taking them out on visitations and throwing them into the deep end, just like I had been a week previously. That made me really want to get involved with the youth group at my Church back home. I think something that anybody considering, going to Africa to help poor people, whether it’s through missionary or humanitarian work, should know is that you will benefit from it at least as much as they will, probably even more, but that’s not a bad thing, they’re really happy to give you that blessing. Without the distractions of the first world it’s so much easier to get close to God and you can both see this in the faith that people over there have, and experience it for yourself.

Monica Boughdady
A quote I came across recently is “familiarity dulls the glory and greatness of the simple truths”, truths like ‘Jesus loves you’ or ‘He died for you.’ We hear these things so often that they loose there personal significance to us. when we pray “restore to me the joy of your salvation’, thats what I feel Africa can do for you, it reminds you of these simple truths but also really engrains them on your heart.

You know when the Israelites were in Egypt and then they were lead away into the wilderness, thats when they felt the presence of God most, when they were away from Egypt and in the wilderness. Zambia was my wilderness, where you can step away from everything and everyone you know and have real perspective on your life.

What’s even better is that you will fall in love with the people and their humility and you will begin to understand what it means to live a life that isn’t based on selfish ambitions but to use every moment of your day for His glory and for other people.

Mark Henry
I’ve always wanted to go to Africa but it seems God was just waiting for the right time to send me. This year I needed to go more than ever. God worked in the strangest way this summer. I couldn’t go with the main group which I was so sad about but nevertheless I was determined to make something useful out of it, and it worked out for the best. The lack of familiar people meant I had to meet new people. It also enabled me to really sit with God amongst people I only just met and hear his voice without the distraction of familiar jokes, friendships, relationships etc.

I also had a lot of time to spend by myself in reflection. I never understood the importance of reflection until Zambia because every day was ‘go go go’ so unless I reflected I would almost certainly forget golden times and memories I had there. I did not realise what God was doing with me that day, that week, the whole trip but now I realise for the rest of my life.

God was telling me personally to come back to Him, to forget everything and everyone else and focus on Him, the Divine Creator of my soul, and that nothing else in this world matter; that the further you are from God, the further you are from living and the truth.

Every single day in Zambia was a blessing. I learnt so much just being with the Zambians, Abouna Abraham and my fellow missionaries. It truly was an amazing experience. I was grabbed out of my comfort zone in the early mornings, in the bible studies, in the visitations, in the medical missions. The things I thought I’m just not ready to do, God was telling me: who says it’s for you to decide when you’re ready to do all this stuff? Indeed, it is for God to decide.

The truth is, God works in a way that we will never ever fully understand until the next life, but one thing I have learnt about God just from this 3 weeks in Zambia is that He is a good God and the life most of us live here is not the life he intended. In whatever we do or say, God intended for us a life of missionary and service and I know for me this will be driven by the love we saw in every person’s face that we served there. And the people we served, were the very people who served us in a way that I will never forget and has changed my life.

J. Albert
When I went to Africa I saw poverty, simplicity and humility in the people there. It was amazing for me even though this is what I expected after hearing so much about Africa from the media. What I didn’t expect was to see the people there were living a life of joy and peace although they were suffering. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the poverty there as much as I was by the feeling of God’s presence; seeing Him everyday in the servants and people there, seeing His hand allow for the impossible to become easy and most of all seeing the Word of God come alive when it speaks to you personally with a message answering your questions, encouraging you with something you struggle with; or when it opens your eyes to the things you were blinded to and when someone speaks and you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. The revolution in your life doesn’t start in Africa, I believe it starts after Africa. Africa shows you what your life should focus on, the aim of Africa is to bring those focuses back home.

Christina Lotfallah
Before I went to Zambia, I had no idea what to expect, all I had seen were lots of pictures of hugging cute little children. But when I went, it was so much MORE than that. I got to experience God in such a beautiful and clear way. Everyday was centered on God. There were no distractions and the atmosphere was just peaceful and simple. Everyone we met had a passion to know God, even those who spent their days drinking and smoking. We received such an unforgettable welcome by each individual; they greeted us with lots of love and smiles, as if we were saints. All the children clenched our hands, as if they never wanted to let go. The Zambians have a spirit of happiness and huge hearts of joy, no matter what their living conditions are. Anywhere we would start to sing a song for God, they’d join in happily with clapping and dancing. And they could continue all day (3 hour bus journeys: from start to finish!). They were so content in something so simple. It is this humble and appreciative heart that I pray to continue with me in my life and that I can hopefully spread to others. I recommend it to anyone! We’d go to random people’s houses and were asked to share a bible verse then talk about it. I’m quite a shy girl with not a lot of confidence, but you’ll find that God just works and speaks through you, without you being afraid. For example, I entered a brothel and stroked cheetahs and Lions (very lucky)!! It’s definitely an experience that will bring you happiness, peace and appreciation.

I would recommend for absolutely anybody to go on the next mission trip to Africa! Whatever your background, whatever your age and wherever you are in your relationship with God; please do not make the mistake in thinking you have to be at some sort of spiritual level to go. Go. Whether you dedicate your life to God or whether you live for your own desires. Whether you read your bible everyday or whether it has a layer of dust over it in your drawer somewhere. Whether you love God or whether deep down have no idea why other people love Him so much. I can’t stress enough how it is an experience you shouldn’t miss, how you learn and realise so much more about yourself than you ever could by watching sermons or reading books, how if I were to choose 5* hotel in Hawaii or Africa I’d genuinely pick the latter every time because it gives you so much real joy than you could ever imagine as every day is centered around God. You learn so much from the Abounas, Seyedna Amba Boules and the group you go with (who become like your family by the way). However, the real teachers are the locals who may not speak about Jesus or recite verses but are so hungry for Him. They put their trust and hope in Him, continuously sing His praise loudly and lives reflect Christ’s so obviously. One orphan showed me this more than ever. At no more than 5 years, he lived Jesus’ words ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive’. He would come back from his lunch and take me aside and whisper ‘I have a surprise, I didn’t know if you’d eaten or not’, then I’d find him taking half his lunch, which he had saved for me out of his pocket, covered in dust and twigs, wave it in front of me repeating ‘it is good, eat!’ That is just one of the many things he did.

I think if you’ve even got a slight interest, don’t think twice, I hope one day you’ll be telling others all about your life changing experience and great memories.

Mary Tadross
My time in Zambia was really amazing. The principles of humility and the joy that the people here embrace is truly inspiring. During our time in Chipata I was touched how the baptisms of the members of the church brought so much happiness within the community. These members had been part of the congregation with no church for 2 years but their patience and faith in Gods work prevailed and they were blessed and rewarded in their faith. This is a lesson all of us can take away, it reminds us how even when things are bleak, if we hope in the Lord, God will fulfill our hopes and more as it says in Isaiah 40:31 “ those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles”. 

Yassmine Girgis
At the start of the trip I didn’t know what to expect as I knew it would probably be completely different to anything I’ve ever experienced before. But now I can say with no doubts whatsoever; I was not disappointed. It was a heartfelt and touching experience and has truly changed my life. What I was most shocked about was how the locals in both Chipata and Lusaka welcomed Jesus’ word with open arms and were excited to hear Bible stories and verses. I loved that when we preached and sang in the markets in Chipata, despite the amount of drunken people around, outstanding crowds gathered to join in who have possibly never embraced God’s love before. All of the native people that we visited were so happy, happier than anyone I’ve ever met, even though they had so little possessions: Psalm 123: “Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud”. I thought that this trip would be mission based but was a lot more religious based as well and I found that this not only helped me bring people closer to God, but brought me closer to him as well. It was a fantastic trip and I’d love to come again. 

Rebecca Michael
Lusaka, Chipata, Livingstone – the three best places in Africa I have ever visited so far in my life! In my opinion, this experience is really rewarding as you are bringing yourself as well as others closer to God and seriously is the only true makeover around for your spirituality! During our time in Lusaka, we visited an orphanage and the love of everyone, especially the kids, was infectious, it felt amazing – it really touched me. They welcomed the love of Jesus so eagerly with open arms and listened intently to what we, as a group, had to say with rapt attention. In addition, when we had to say goodbye, they didn’t want to leave you. It was as if they had known you for a really long time even if it really was only a short one. This trip was brilliant and just so unforgettable and I would love to do it again.