Amazed

Today was absolutely amazing. We woke up this morning for breakfast followed by an orientation about the country, with some do's and dont's. Then it was time to hit the streets! Glen had prepared a kind of scavenger hunt/street evangelism for us. We would find things like how much a refridgerater costs, or where what a "robot" was. Then the second half of downtown was just talking to people about church, and if they went and why. Also asking if they believed in heaven, and what they would have to do to get there. Let me first start out by saying people in Zimbabwe are very different then people in California. They are very open and willing to talk to you and so so so friendly. No one i talked to all day was rude or brushed me off, but instead fully engaged in the conversation we were having, it was awesome. About 80% of the country calls themselves christian, and almost 100% believe in some sort of spiritual realm, so very different from back home. It was great to get out and talk to people on the streets, a lot less intimidating then I first thought it was going to be when we got downtown. And can i say, i think i was the only blonde person in all of downtown, haha.
So we ended up eating lunch together downtown. We ate Sadza, which is made out of corn, but looks like mashed potatoes, and kind of tastes like mashed up white rice. It's not my new favorite meal or anything, but it also wasn't too bad. Sadza is what people eat almost every day.

After we came back from downtown we got to go to the Westgate Haven House. This is a house of 12 orphan girls that Westgate church has helped financially aid over the past 10 years. As soon as i got out of the van, there was a line of girls waiting to give us all a hug hello! I was absolutely blown away by these girls for many various reasons. First, they had wrote and sang a song for us that brought our whole team to tears. They are an amazing group of singers and when they all sang together and harmonized we were all just in awe. At the end of the song they sang "thank you for loving us" and that truely just made me tear up. They were so much fun to hang out with and my favorite part was seeing them laugh. We had the whole afternoon with them as they gave us a tour of the house they're living in, we made bracelets together, and played some card games. Everyone of those girls has been through so much, and to see them in such high spirits and so kind and loving just amazes me. Every moment i spend there brought me such joy. And I am so excited to spend more time with them and go to church with them tomorrow morning.

So now we are back at the cabin and i finally got to shower. woooo hooo!

Today has been such a blessing, and for the fist day here i can only imagine how amazing this trip is going to be. God is so good and i can't wait to see what he has for us all tomorrow!



I read this today and was so comforted, so I thought I'd share.
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.


P.S. Prayers for shelby because sadly she has come down with a cold!