Hey readers it is I, Connor. I want to share with you some of my thoughts on todays activities. The first thing we did was visit the Madutle Village preschool today. Which was awesome, the children were just as smart and intelligent as the children at the preschool in Top Village. It shows me that Papa Joe is progressing with all of the villages not just focusing on one of them. Secondly we visited patients in Modutle Village. Visiting these patients was incredible. Being able to pray for them and hearing their stories of how God has worked in their lives is amazing. Lastly I have to point out that Pete, their local coach, is doing an awesome job with the younger guys by doing the drills that we do. I’m so glad that he is learning just as much as they are. I know the kids are in good hands when we leave and the program will continue to improve. We plan to further his knowledge by leaving him with a couple of books and binders on coaching. They will contain drills, techniques, and philosophies about the game of soccer. By doing this we will be able to give them a good direction to help themselves when we leave.

Aaron here! This is what I gathered from Tuesday HOPE you get it! As Tuesday afternoon rolled around a heavy realizations began to set it… The very words on our Orchard missions shirts “restoring hope” at times seemed like a joke. What do these people have to hope for? It took three days but this extremely complex problem has no quick fixes. Orchard Africa exists now to establish survival, stability and sustainability. At first Orchard saw a need to simply supply their needs like food and shelter, this was their beginning. Obviously since then their vision and mission has evolved to tackle much bigger issues. An example now of their complex goal is this… Instead of feeding the man a fish or even teaching a man to fish… Teaching a man how to teach another man to fish is where it’s at! This idea is what can turn around villages and the HIV / AIDS pandemic. It is an extremely slow process but it is what is sustainable!  Walking around the villages you would realize that there is a generational gap. You have all of these children that we have been serving and loving all week and then all of the 20s 30s and 40s are missing. So here we are left with a huge problem of the old raising the very young… What is to happen when the old are gone? My main struggle at the end of the day was that I wanted these people to experience the hopes that I get to. So I asked Josh (Orchard: Africa’s Mission Director)… “What is it that these people hope for?” As he helped me flush out my thoughts from the day, my very Americanized dreams, hopes, and experiences that I want these people to be able to also experience came down to this… We need to help them realize their choices in life! At home we have choices. We can restore hope or establish hope here if we can make them realize that they have the power to choose. My struggles from the day were very Americanized. But I needed to also understand that my hope culturally will never exactly match up to what these children will hope for. Simply culturally it doesn’t work like that… South Africa and these villages will never be Baltimore Ohio or Ashland Kentucky. As we are here we seek to encourage these people to make choices that will feed back into their communities and that every decision counts. The more good decisions made the more hope! I can’t say enough about the villages I have encountered that care so much for others and the way they take care of their neighbors! We can learn from that!

Hey guys its Alex! Our day started out amazing once again with visiting another preschool. I do not think it could ever get old walking into a room and have 40 beautiful kids light up with smiles and laughter and come running over for hugs. Hearing them sing, laugh, and watching them dance and smile is amazing. Seeing Gods love is so easy in a room full of kids. We were all so blessed to be there. Once we left we got to walk around the village and meet with a couple of ladies and one young boy that are all sick. We all got to lay hands on each of them and pray for their health and healing. I felt privileged to have met each of those amazing people. A funny story about our team today happened right before dinner. Josh, the leader of our mission group, yelled back to our room that it was time for dinner. Us, being obnoxious soccer players, all ran out of our room yelling and screaming random stuff not knowing there was two Orchard Africa board members standing in the dinning room. It got even more awkward when I asked them if they were the ones who catered dinner. Josh later told us that he was going to surprise us with guests coming over for dinner. Talk about awkward, but we all laugh about it now!

It has been a privilege to lead these four men on this trip. I’ve challenged them to do some things they were very uncomfortable with, but they have fully relied on God to carry them through. Our message of The Gospel has been so successful in that it is appealing to the people we meet because the message of grace is most apparent. The people see Jesus in these four men! – Kevin

“Beginning empty handed and alone, frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are that God is with them.” – Gene Edwards

After we met the on-site staff, we had an HIV/AIDS orientation. I know the soccer team learned a lot about how this virus really affects the body and the Mafikeng community as a whole. We really appreciated receiving education about the group of people we were going to be working with. It not only helped us to understand how we could help them better, but helped us to see these “sick” people for who they really are: people.

We then headed over to Top and visited the preschool. The team mentioned several times to me that this as something they’d never forget. The children’s laughter and smiles show that God is alive! They were so amazing and joyful and it brought us pure happiness to be able to spend some time with them. My favorite part was looking around at my burly, tough, manly-man soccer team and see them being so gentle and genuinely compassionate to these little children of God. Their girlfriends, wives, and mothers should be proud

That afternoon we were finally able to begin the soccer camp! The team and I had planned thoroughly on how to run the most efficient camp, including scheduling and drills. But for those of you who have been on a mission trip before, you know that no plans are definite! As soon as we arrived there were many more children than we expected, especially of younger age. I was very pleased with my team to see them stay relaxed and calm as we quickly put a game plan together to run an additional camp for younger children before our scheduled camp for high school boys. We were in for more than we anticipated, but doing two camps instead of one ended up being a major blessing, as we felt privileged to work with the younger kids.

I was able to give a talk to the boys about potential, and the story of how David became King. The team and I want the boys to know that we believe they can accomplish anything through Jesus Christ, and that God does not look on the outside, but in the heart! Although preaching with a translator is very different from what I’m used to, I loved being able to share Christ’s love to these boys.

Every night the last thing the boys get to do is play games called, “Street Soccer” which are small-sided competitions that encourage fun and a chance to show their skills. Each of the four coach’s that came with me on the trip were assigned a team of boys to coach. Once the teams were assigned, each coach huddled with their team and decided a team name, as well as get to know one another. These Top Village boys became so excited knowing they would get to go by the names of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United; teams they had only heard about, yet celebrated so colorfully.  I quickly watched the language barrier disappear as Connor, Alex, Aaron, and Adam bonded with their teams, communicating with the love of a soccer ball.

The sun began to set and it was time for camp to be over. As we called everyone in for a huddle, the boys began a chant that escalated in volume and ended with, “1, 2, 3, Top Village!” Another magical moment was in the books.

In Matthew 14:22-33, we find the story of Jesus walking on water. The men on the boat were scared, but Jesus calmed them by identifying himself. Well, calmed everyone except Peter. Peter approached Jesus boldly asking to walk out onto the water with Him. But we know that Peter began to sink in his fears and doubts. Peter knew in order to walk on water he needed Jesus; otherwise it just wasn’t possible. As we are here in Africa, we are facing uncomfortable scary “storms” daily. Meeting new people, loving on the sick, trying to understand customs and not do anything disrespectful, and a huge language barrier just to name a few. Peter could have continued to walk on water the entire way to Jesus. He got his time to shine but he choked. This soccer team does not want to sink in our own fears, but to approach Him boldly and take on the challenges and fears we face. We know we will not be successful in our mission without an inclusion of Christ. As we move on into the week, this passage has set the tone for what’s to come: our complete faith relying on God to do the work.

“Faith grows when we confront our fears, fear rules when we forget our faith!”

After some dancing with the children, we packed up into the van to leave. Alex, one of the team members, said to me, “Man, forget lunch, let’s stay here and hang with the kids!” We all agreed: these kids were awesome. We’ve enjoyed spending time with the children and have already fallen in love with them, and its only day 2 of the trip. The team and I feel so blessed for this opportunity to be here with the people in Top Village.

Sunday afternoon was scheduled for a time to dive into some local culture and really get to see beautiful South Africa. Mafikeng itself has so much beauty to offer the eye. Not only are the people so calming with their welcoming smiles and greetings, but also the land is filled with wild life. We ate at a popular chicken restaurant before a drive through of a nearby game reserve. But we didn’t know driving through the gates of the reserve would not be the same as driving out of them.

The North West Province of South Africa operates the park.  We arrived to armed guards, big walls, and a feeling of high security was felt. This was required due to poachers going after the horns of the rhino. This particular park cost about 40 Rand, or $4 USD per person to drive through. I would compare its function to a city park in the United States, except this one is on steroids. Joshua, our Orchard Africa staff member, told us it is rare to see all the animals in one trip, especially to see them up close.

As we began our drive, we saw a black wildebeest gallop in the distance. Then we noticed some zebras not too far from the road. Every time an animal came into our view our faces squished against the windows, and we’d scream with excitement. Within ten minutes we stumbled upon a rhino and her young, and were ecstatic even though the two-ton animal was three hundred yards away. As I sat in the back of the bus, near the large sliding door, I just didn’t feel like I was getting enough experience. Here I am, opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m keeping the door closed?! No way. Ain’t nobody got time for that; the rest of the trip we road with one side of the van completely open.

We stumbled upon one large creature after another, and I began to imagine the theme song for Jurassic Park playing in the background. I could only be reminded of a brontosaurus as I watched a giraffe tower over the tallest trees and enjoy a feast of leaves. At one point we spotted a rhino walking down one of the jeep paths, and were able to drive right up next to it! It was incredible. The animals were much larger than we ever expected, and seeing them on a few feet away in their natural habitat was more than a treat for us.

After our encounter with the rhino, we turned back and headed to the watering hole. It happened to be at the right time, as a herd of buffalos, rhinos, and even a lone warthog walked together in formation to get their water for the evening. Over thirty animals gathered at the watering hole as we quietly observed, trying to soak it all in. It was magical.

We had seen many amazing things in the park but it was time to exit as the sun came down. You’ll have to ask one of the team members about this rest of this story…

What a way to spend our first full day in Africa. I almost felt guilty driving into the reserve that afternoon knowing I was on a mission trip, but the memories the team left with gave good reason for taking the time to do it. That evening’s events catapulted us past any doubts that we were supposed to come to Mafikeng, to this tiny village most Afrikaners would never imagine visiting.  That day’s adventure was taken as a sign that God was going to bless this trip and unite this group of five men. This unity would not only kick-start a soccer program in a poor village, but a bond that would last forever.

We arrived in Frankfurt, Germany at 7:30 am local time. Anxious to do a little exploring, we walked into the crisp cold air to find a cab. I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but European cars are tiny. There we were, the five of us on our team with our entire luggage, cramming into a tiny Opel all the while trying to communicate with our driver. I could see it in the eyes of onlookers: “Stupid Americans.” We asked the driver to take us to find some breakfast and do a little walking to check out some shops and sights. So our driver, being as helpful as he could be, dropped us off in Old-Town Frankfurt, aka the place where everything is closed and all signs are written in German. Great.

After an hour of feeling as lost as girl scouts after dark, we stumbled into a restaurant that we’re still not sure was open or not. It seemed very high class and fancy, and yet still resembled something from a horror movie. One of the team members leaned over and whispered to me, “This is where they filmed the movie, “Taken.” I couldn’t agree more.

To our surprise, we ended up having the best omelets we’ve ever tasted. The surprise wasn’t that they were so good, but that we were actually able to order food from our waiter.  The team sat and ate, saying nothing, only laughing every few moments at the common understanding of what we were experiencing.

Although it was a thirteen-hour layover, we decided not to spend any more time as aimlessly wandering idiots hauling luggage. 3 hours was enough for us. The team bonding continued as we flagged down another taxi and made our way back to the airport. After returning from our German exploration, we stationed ourselves at the South African Airlines check-in counter that would not open until 5:00 pm.  There we were, physically and emotionally drained, sitting in the middle of a foreign airport, surrounded by our luggage. The looks we received only made us laugh at our situation even more. After an hour and half, one of the representatives must have felt sorry for us as she checked our bags in six hours early. But we were free to move on to our gate, and the team was able to catch a few minutes of sleep. Well except for Adam and Kevin, who were abruptly woken by an Asian woman standing over them, taking pictures. Creeperrrrrrrr.

25 hours into our adventure we stepped onto a plane that would take us to our final destination. The team was thrilled to sit on our first “nice plane” of the trip with televisions in every seat. We were even able to watch take off from a camera placed on the tail of the plane! What can I say, we’re guys: easily entertained.

As we landed in Johannesburg, the team forgot our fatigue and became spiritually and emotionally energized. We met up with our two Orchard Africa team members and drove 3 hours to Mafikeng. It was a beautiful drive in a beautiful country. Once we arrive to the mission house, we quickly dropped off our luggage and headed to Top Village for a tour. It was alarming to leave the First World feel of the suburbs and travel a mile down the road to Top, because of the rapid change into poverty. Right next to houses that look like yours and mine, there is no running water, dirt paths scattered with glass, children with no shoes, and houses that were shacks and small “government homes,” made up of 4 concrete walls and a tin roof.

Despite the terrible conditions, these people were filled with obvious joy. As we walked through the village, children would run up and join us. They warmed up to us immediately, jumping into our arms and holding our hands as we walked. The houses that were able to have electricity blared reggae music as the villagers danced and smiled as we waived by. Every single person greeted us with a smile and greeted us in either English or Setswana. We were able to pick up a few Setswana words pretty quickly. “Dumela” means hello, and we heard it constantly. The children would run up to us with the “thumbs up” hand sign, connecting with our thumbs to pop them together. The word of the week will definitely be, “shop” (sounds like sch-ope) which means cool, sweet, or what’s up, almost like the English version of “dude.” The guys and I have already had a blast with this one!

After a few hours of laughing and spending time with some Top Village locals, we left the village and headed back to the house. Reality set in for the team. We are here for a purpose and that mission is clear. Even though we are still exhausted from the long travel, the team and I are excited to attend Top Village church in the morning!

When the idea of a soccer trip to Africa was brought into conversation, my heart skipped a beat imagining the opportunity. Then excitement turned into chaotic stress when I found out the trip would have to be planned in four months. Four months!? How could that ever be coordinated?

God has a history of using the most unlikely situations and people so that He can show up in a big way. My team of young men have already begun to learn this, and will continue to learn our potential told in Ephesians 2:10. This adventure is only beginning; we haven’t even left the States, and already God has used so many of YOU to make this trip happen. Work schedules, school schedules, fundraising, and willing bodies have all created problems deterring this trip in which God has responded, “I got this.”

As the team and I finally board an airplane to begin this adventure, this mission, to fulfill our calling given to us in Matthew 28:18-20, there are several things I ask you to pray over the team:

Safety. This almost goes unspoken with the uneasiness of being in a foreign land, and traveling such great distances. Pray for our safety and smooth travels.

To be partners. The team’s flurry of daily activity will surely alter the daily flow of life in the village we are serving. Pray that we will be partners to the people and the ministry that is already in place in South Africa. Pray for the team in that we will be able to combine the resources available in country with the resources we bring. We want to motivate people to help others.

To be a good example. Your example affects people more than just what you say. Pray for the team to not only be preaching God’s love, but also showing God’s love.

To build relationships. Pray for opportunities for the team to spend valuable time with locals. Our mission is sustainable change, and that change will only come through time and relationships. Pray for those the team interacts with. Even though they might not understand each other, those moments could end up being worth the whole trip.

To those partnering with us from all over the country: Thank you all for your generous giving and your time in prayer! Your partnership and prayers make a difference.

To my team: As we make final physical and mental preparations, the unknowns of a mission’s trip will begin to creep in and create doubt making the road ahead seem unclear. I’ll end this first blog entry the way I started it, with a quote from Jon Acuff:

“Many of the adventures you go on will not make sense to other people because the outcome is unknown.  But journeys where the outcome is already known are not adventures, they’re errands. And you were created to do more than just run errands.”

We may never think we are ready for God’s calling, but that’s ok; because He is. Following God is not about knowing stuff, it’s about doing stuff.

A legacy is something that is built; it’s not something that ‘just happens.’ As you build, the fruit of your legacy will become a harvest that is reaped by a future generation. The benefit is not for you; it’s for those who come after you, but the harvest they reap then, depends on what and how you sow now.

What follows are some critical choices you should make today, in order for your legacy to influence destiny tomorrow.

1.       Choose a Future Focus rather than a Now Focus

A Now focus is characterized by

• Looking out for Self                                    
• Striving to achieve Position                                  
• Seeking avenues for Getting                               

A Future focus is characterized by

• Looking out for Others
• Striving to accomplish Purpose
• Seeking opportunities for Giving

When it’s all about you and about what can benefit you now, it’s likely that your legacy will die when you die.

 2.       Choose Accomplishment rather than Affirmation

Everybody likes to be recognized/approved but the glow of feeling good is not a substitute for living out your true potential. When affirmation becomes a motivating priority, it can easily cause you to:

• Mold and tailor your ministry in a way that pleases man
• Behave and perform in a way that you know will get approval from man
• Formulate the ‘right’ answers and say the right things to impress man

The test of a man is not when he plays the role he wants for himself, but when he plays the role destiny has for him.

Alternatively, you can decide that regardless of what men say, and regardless of whether you get affirmation from man

• You heard what God said
• You will obey what God said
• You will accomplish something meaningful for God

3.       Choose Future Potential over Financial Gain

Financial gain can become a very powerful motivator, when day after day, things are hard, and you are trusting God just to get by. Decisions motivated by money normally bring short term relief, but also have only short term benefits.

• Seek ways to invest in people rather than how to get something from people
• When you add value to people you are investing in their future potential
• Money always flows to where needs are being met

4.       Choose Personal Growth over Immediate Pleasure

Outside of you growing personally, there is no guarantee of you leaving a meaningful heritage for the future. Growing requires the discipline of setting aside what is comfortable in order to do what is necessary.

• Take responsibility for your own personal growth. Others cannot do it for you and others cannot be held accountable if you do not grow.
• No matter how small your town/church/ministry may be, there is no place that is too small for you to grow.
• Grow to become someone, not to acquire something.
• Stay out of your comfort zone. You cannot grow unless you try something you have not yet mastered, so try something new, do something you have not done before, learn a skill you do not have.
• Hang around growing people. If you want to know the direction you are going, look at your closest associates. You are going in the same direction they are.
• Have a personal plan that includes daily growth steps. If you want to change your life, you have to change something you do each day.

5.       Choose your Christian Walk over your Christian Work 

What you become is more important than what you do. Consequently, your walk with God is more important than your work for God.

Conclusion

The legacy you leave tomorrow will come out of the investments you make today. Each choice you make is a deposit in the destiny of the generation that will come after you.  Start ……… by making some of the smaller choices today. They will help you to make the big choices tomorrow.

I first became involved with Orchard: Africa through a mission trip with my church two years ago, and brought the experiences with and passion for Orchard: Africa into my classroom the following two years. After sharing all that I had seen in South Africa with my 4^th and 5^th grade students, they felt challenged to find a way to help. My students voted and decided to set up a hot chocolate stand in the courtyard 20 minutes before school for two weeks during the winter. Not only was the enthusiasm from my students contagious, but the response from parents, students and staff alike was to be commended. In just 10 days they were able to raise over $300.00 that went to directly feeding over 100 children one meal a day for an entire month.

After meeting with Michelle, we both agreed that if this worked in my classroom, it would work in all classrooms.  So, after much planning and curriculum writing over the summer, this school year we have kicked off our School Partnership Program. I firmly believe that if we empower the up and coming generation and give them the tools to make a difference, they will rise to the challenge.

Through the help of our dedicated volunteers, Orchard: Africa has developed a set of curriculums and campaigns that were created specifically with students in mind. For our K-8 students we have the ‘It Takes a Village ‘ campaign where students are introduced to the culture and geography of Africa with a seven-lesson curriculum complete with objectives and assessment. While learning about Africa, students plan and carry out one or more fundraisers with all proceeds going to feed children in Africa.

For our older students (grades6-12) we have developed the ‘One-a-Week’ campaign. The idea behind this campaign is to take it a step further. It challenges students to give up one dollar a week, bring it into their classroom, and together be a part of something great.

The response to the launch of our School Partnership Program has been tremendous. We currently have several schools that have already partnered with us. Because of the response that we have gotten, we have decided that a teacher from one of our Partner Schools will receive a scholarship to attend an educators-only mission trip that will take place next July.

If you are interested in learning more about the School Partnership Program and how to get your school involved, or you are interested in learning more about the educators-only mission trip next summer, please contact me at cindy@orchardafrica.org.

John 1:17

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

This short verse creates the understanding that the opposite of grace is law. This is of course true. However, a more accurate “opposite” of grace is “self sufficiency or independence.”

It is when we strive and stress to live for God by:

• doing more
• praying more
• giving more
• fasting more
• sacrificing more
• depending on our own self-effort to work our way into God’s favor.

The Old Testament book of Zechariah paints the picture which follows:

Zechariah 4:6-9

“So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. “What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘Grace, Grace,’ to it’” Then the word of the LORD came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.”

Zerubbabel’s task was to rebuild the temple but a mountain, which blocked his progress, hindered him. God told Zerubbabel that he was not going to move the mountain by his own might or power. It could only be moved by God’s Spirit. God would shout, “Grace, Grace,” to it and the mountain would become level ground.

This could be a picture of your life.

• God wants to build the temple of His presence in you.
• The mountain represents anything that hinders this.
• It could be sin, a bad habit, some form of character weakness or any area of your life that you know is not pleasing to God.
• How often have you tried to pretend it is not there?
• How often have you become discouraged and felt like you are disappointing to God because no matter how hard you try, nothing works?
• Maybe you have even given up, become tired of trying, become tired of failing and said something like, “God I quit!!!”

At that point God says, “I’ve been waiting for you to say that. You don’t have the strength, but I do. You don’t have the power, but I do. You can’t move the mountain, but I can.” And then God shouts. He doesn’t shout at you. He doesn’t say, “Do better, try harder, give more, etc.” He shouts at the mountain, “Grace, Grace,” and He levels the mountain by doing in you what you cannot do yourself.

Self-effort does not have what it takes to move that thing, but the grace of God, through the Spirit of God, has all that it takes.

Grace is God doing in you what you are not able to do yourself.

Grace is the exact opposite of independence.

Grace is the cure for self-sufficiency.

Celebrate the grace that comes to us through Jesus Christ.

What about God? Does he have priorities? Are there some things in our lives to which He would give more emphasis than others? Would it help us if we understood what some of these might be?

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (emphasis added)

“This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts, boast about this: THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME.”

This passage indicates that understanding and knowing God is more important than wisdom, strength or riches. It’s not so much an issue of right or wrong, good or bad. It’s an issue of what is more important – on what does God place higher value?

Here are some of my thoughts about things on which God places higher emphasis:

• God places higher value on changing us than on charming us

God is good and God does good. As much as He desires to pour gifts blessings and good things into our lives, He desires more to shape and change our lives. What He does in us is more important than what He does for us. Instead of just seeking experiences with God that will charm us, should we not rather seek encounters with God that will change us?

• God places higher value on us being good than feeling good

Modern society teaches us to behave in ways that make us feel good. If everybody is doing it and it makes us feel good, then it must be OK. We measure our morals and standards against those of other people, and it makes us feel good when we are ‘not as bad as’ or ‘better than’ the next person. The Bible says “Be imitators of God, as dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1). God desires that we be like Him, not just better than someone else.

• God places higher value on us being a blessing than receiving a blessing

The Bible says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  (Acts 20:35). Jesus’ example was to serve, rather than be served. God’s promise to Abraham was, “…. I will bless you………and you will be a blessing.”  (Genesis 12:2) What if, instead of exercising faith for God to bless us, we exercised faith to be a channel of blessing to somebody else. 

• God places higher value on us being relevant than on being religious

People do not care how much we know until they know how much we care. The Bible puts it this way; “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:14-17) It may be the religious thing to say to people, ‘I will pray for you, God bless you,’ but it’s the relevant thing to do something about their practical needs.

• God places higher value on helping us than on hurting us

God is not against you. He is for you. He is not an enemy who is out to get you. He is a Father who loves you unconditionally. Rather than running from God, let us run to Him – to seek His help and enjoy His love.

“The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed….the LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love…..He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities, for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him…..as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;”  (Psalm 103:6-13)

In the summer of 2011, I was lucky enough to go on the first Orchard: Africa mission trip to Zambia. At the time, I had no idea what I was in for. I thought it would be a piece of cake. I’d been to Africa before, I’ve taught VBS before, I’ve been on mission trips before. Oh, how the fool thinks she has nothing to learn.

Zambia was not like my last mission trip to South Africa. Instead of a team of five college girls, we were a mixed team of men, women, students, graduates, and staff. Instead of staying in a comfortable mission house, we were sleeping in tents in the village center (I had never been camping before!). Instead of a 30 primary-aged kids, we had two groups of about 250 kids, ranging from toddlers to teenagers. As you can probably guess, we had to do a lot of learning and adjusting on our feet. There was poverty in South Africa, but somehow, in Zambia it seemed to be exponentially more. The children didn’t have desks or pencils. They used plastic bags as soccer balls. Teenage mothers played handball while wearing their babies on their backs. Adults dug up roots for food. What did I get myself into? There was no way I could handle this!

One night, our host gathered the team around the campfire. He was a young man named Kelvin, who loved the kids and was a determined advocate for them. He expressed how much it meant it to him and the local families that we had used our money and resources to spend a week teaching the children about Jesus. That’s when it hit me. We may have paid part of our way, but so much had come from friends and family and even strangers. God had created this huge web beyond what I could have imagined to provide for our trip and to provide for the families in Zambia.

I know that our week in Zambia only scratched the surface. Poverty has devastated the rural villages of Myooye and Kakombo. Poverty leads to hunger, thirst, lack of education, and sickness. But as I realized with my trip, poverty is not something that I have to fix by myself. God is the One who is in control. I am lucky to have my rough experience in Zambia, because I know, although my small effort to defeat poverty is weak, God is using it as a vital part of his ultimate plan of restoration.

Do you want to join in what God is doing to fight poverty in Zambia and South Africa? Become a vital part of the mission by volunteering, donating, and staying informed with Orchard: Africa!