Well I made it out of 40/40 in Zambia alive and sickness free...Praise the Lord!! I arrived in Lusaka, Zambia and we spent the first to weeks in Lusaka staying at a seminary. This was the Urban part of the expierence. Everyday we would go out in groups around lusaka with Zambia helpers. Each day we had different assignments, the basic thing we were trying to do is learn about African culture, and relating to Africans. We would talk to people about everything from withcraft to healthcare to what they do for fun. This was ment to be a hands on way of learning and it was. There was one other journeyguy there who was my roommate for the month, Justin. We stayed in this little house at the seminary, it wasnt all that great, mainly because we had to battle bugs in our room every night. We were stocked with our cans of DOOM!! The next two weeks we did the same kind of stuff except in the rural setting. We lived in tents for 11 nights and then stayed with a family in the village for 3 nights. This was a good expierence and I enjoyed a lot of it, however I'm glad it is over! The village stay was the roughest part by far, but probably the most rewarding. We woke up the first morning in our tiny room and had one dead rat that we kiled with poison during the night. After we got up at 5:00am we headed to the farms and did some old fashion plowing with the oxen. Lets just say it was a funny site. Then we went into the bush to chop firewood, and to the well to fetch water. It really made me realize how blessed I am. I also got a glimpse into how hard life is in rural Africa, and the struggles they face. I am so blessed to have had the oppurtunity to learn in that fashion, and I pray that I will be able to utilize some of the tools I learned while in Zambia to my work in South Africa. God is at work in Africa and I'm so blessed that God has chose me to be part of it at this time in my life.
Please pray for my endurance. I've started to get a little homesick and I'm missing all you guys an aweful lot.
Please pray for my job come January, I'm going to be doing some new stuff and changing my job a little bit. Pray that it will go smoothly and that I will be right where God wants me. I will be more specific when I know more about what I'm doing.
Love you all----- Paul Weiblen
West Africa
2 days ago
4 comments:
Paul, So glad to hear your doing good and made it out of the BUSH safe and healthy! What an awesome experience to have in Zambia! I can not even begin to imagine what it's like over there. Wish I could have seen you plowing with oxen! You are in my prayers! We miss you tons!!!
Love, Mindy and Jayden
Hey Paul, I'm sorry I haven't been more in touch. It sure sound interesting all that God is exposing you to. Wow, what a diary you must have. In those times you are lonely...Just think of us missing you here, because we do. And you can be sure that probally at that very moment..someone is actually thinking about you. We think of you often. I used to love to camp in tents, but you have just made me realize what real camping is about. Laying on the ground for 2 nights was about all I could handle!! Love ya much,,, Aunt Susie
Paul-
It sounds like they're starting to keep you alittle busy with some hard work, fetching water, chopping wood and plowing with oxen!!! Um that rat and the bugs sound pretty scary!! Thankfully you had your DOOM. I'm glad you made okay being in the BUSH.
That's cool you were able to talk with people and it seems like you were able to talk on several different levels. It's great to hear how this experceince for you was diffecult but also the most rewarding, what praise to the Lord!
Im so encouraged by the work you're doing for the Lord. God is using you in more ways than you'll ever know!
I'm praying for you!
Love-
tina
Paul,
Man glad you survived 40/40 and as well all the other things that tend to happen daily here.. I know man being on your own can be tough when you are isolated hang in there man Go has got your back!
Post a Comment