Last fall I heard rumors of there possibly being a semester-abroad trip to Zambia. I was excited when I found out these musings were true! I knew I had to stay an extra semester longer than most of my friends, and to say the least I was not looking forward to my last semester of school without my closest school friends. As things started rolling with the preparation of Zambia, I began to pray that I would know if this opportunity was one for me. A few short months later, applications were available to be filled out. I had a peace about the trip and it seemed like an incredible thing to be a part of, and so I applied. I knew only a few of the other applicants, and had no idea of the number the trip could hold, nor the number of people who had applied. I waited anxiously, wanting to know what this semester would look like for me. I am very much a planner! After what felt like a looonngg time, it was my my great joy in receiving an acceptance letter to be a part of the semester-abroad Zambia 2011 team. An answer to prayer.
I didn't realize at first how much of answer to prayer it would be though. At the very end of Spring semester, our Zambia team met for the first time. An amazing group of seventeen students were chosen. I was only acquaintances with some of them, and didn't know the names of several. However, I quickly learned that this group was put together by God himself. Every person on the team is actively pursuing God, and His will for there lives. It has been wonderful to hear how God worked through each of us to bring us all together for our learning and mission experience in Africa.
We are now less than 10 days away from leaving, and preparing is everything but easy. So many books and supplies to buy, skirts and sandals to pack, homework to complete, and family and friends to say goodbye to. Not to mention the mental and emotional preparation of being ready for such a life-changing experience! Everything is slowly coming together and I am more excited than ever to be leaving so soon!
Please pray for me and the team in this time of preparing. It is an exciting time as we are all getting to know one another, but it can also be draining trying to get everything in order before we leave.
A good friend, who has been on a previous Zambia experience, gave me this verse to reflect on as I prepare.
Romans 12: 11-13 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need."
