Count Your Blessings

Today was AWESOME!!! We went to Kasibi to attend Leonard's church and eat lunch with his family and church members. The service and church building were so inspirational. I don't even know where to begin to give ya'll an insight to what we experienced. We took a crazy ride down the roads in Khaki Jackie to get there. The church building was so small yet they crammed 144 people in there. I am going to talk a little bit about the different thoughts and feelings I had throughout this experience today. First of all, the Zambians will get up every Sunday morning even when they might not have anything in our minds to be grateful for and walk for miles just to get to church. They worship God with all of their hearts and enjoy hearing his word. As I sat there during the service this morning I was caught off guard by a toddler eating a rotten potato. It was probably the only means of food that his mother had for him to eat and we watch our toddlers back home barely pick at their plates and food put out in front of them. I feel like I have just talked so poorly of our customs back home but they are all so true. Until you see something like we saw today you will never understand how fortunate and blessed we really are. We sang our Tongan song that Webster taught us and an American song and they LOVED it. They said "white people can sing" hahahaha.

Once church was over we headed down the hill to Leonard's home in the village. We ate lunch sitting on chairs and benches facing the Zambian people. In their culture is considered respectful to let your guests eat first and you do not eat until the last guest leaves. We sat in front of them and ate while they watched us...needless to say it was a little awkward. As we struggled getting some of the nshima (signature food of Zambia) down, we looked up and saw all the little children just staring at us with sad little eyes. I then began to think, "Oh my goodness, this is so hard for me to eat and they are probably over there starving and not knowing when their next meal will be." Needless to say I felt awful.

After lunch, we attended a "Program" as they called it. The Kasibi Band played and the children and got up and danced the entire time. It was amazing. When I think of Africa that is the type of stuff I think of and we finally got to witness it today. I will post videos on Facebook since I can't on here. 

As we sit around the table tonight talking about our day, Jake informed us that one of our night watchmen coaches a Soccer team. He was telling us about the struggles they have with being able to compete and go to tournaments because they don't have sponsors or enough money to attend. If they had enough money to go they would rent one room that would sleep 25 to 50 athletes and coaches. It made me sick to my stomach to think that us athletes that play AAU sports during the summers in the States get everything paid for and we don't even worry about how we will get there or where we will stay.  I have learned the true meaning of counting my blessings and naming them one by one, especially today. 

Tonight we witnessed two baptisms. God is Good, All the Time!! I love all of y'all and miss you everyday I'm gone. As you read my blog I ask that you please keep us and the people of other countries in your prayers because you do not know what they might be going through. Until tomorrow...Dream Big, Pray Hard, Live Strong!!