The 6th-grade girl, dressed in her beautiful tribal costume, approached me shyly.  Mapalo Trust School was holding its first-ever Traditional Day.  Excitement mingled with chaos as I watched students move their desks into the schoolyard to become seats for families and guests. She stopped momentarily to ask what she had probably wanted to ask all week. “What tribe are you?” I was wearing an extra layer of wrap from the waist down, wearing the traditional Zambian chitenge.  Known as a Mzungu (white person), it was quite obvious that I was not Zambian!  So, what was I?  She was brave enough to ask.  Her question caught me off guard. 

I looked around at all the beautiful costumes knowing that the morning’s celebration would honor the 72 tribes in Zambia.  So many tribes that the teachers organizing this beautiful celebration had grouped them into regions of the country to represent each as best as possible.  Northern, Southern, and Eastern tribes would showcase their culture through dance and drama.  The children from this small Chibolya school were about to represent their culture and heritage proudly.  The professional drummers had arrived.  The students were dressed in tribal costumes for the event and were prepared to deliver.  They knew the dances and chants and came for a day of traditional celebration. 

Today was going to be an amazing day.  It was our last day to come alongside and work with the Zambian staff at Mapalo Trust School.  Almost a year earlier, the Zambian staff had requested the support of teachers to work with them to improve learning outcomes for their students.  Today was the compilation of our two weeks of teaming.  Today our Zambian colleagues and students turned the tables on us.  Today we would be the students.  Our team of teachers looked forward to a morning of learning from the students and staff.  Our Zambian students and teachers had prepared a learning opportunity that we could not have imagined even a few days earlier.

My mind raced as I considered how to answer this beautiful girl’s question.  “What tribe are you?”  I quickly thought about the heritage of my mother, born of parents that both came from Germany.  I could say the German tribe.  I considered my father’s side of the family. Somewhere down the family tree, someone went to the United States from Ireland and another from Sweden.  How do I explain the United States’ “melting pot” to this young girl?  I didn’t know any dances, traditions, or people from my “home” countries.  I looked at her and wrongly responded.  “I don’t have a tribe.”

 She could not possibly comprehend or process my response.

I pondered her question throughout the day and shared it with our team that night over dinner.  Now that I have had time to consider this girl’s question, I have a much better answer (isn’t this always the case!)  I wish I had replied, “I am a child of God.  I represent the High King of Heaven.” 

When Chuck and I took a vision trip to work with the Mapalo teachers last September, and now again with our team of 5 teachers, we represented our faith family and claimed our heritage as children of God.  Our team was an extension of the identity of the One True God we chose to serve. 

John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”

Romans 9:8 “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”

1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

Dear Father in Heaven, Thank you that no matter what my biological family situation is, I am not a cultural orphan.  Skin color, wealth, achievements, health, and personal or family standing do not determine my tribe.  My tribe is one of faith.  It is a tribe of diversity, including people from all ages, walks of life, and all nationalities.  I can look to the one who not only created the universe but also loves and knows me intimately.   God the Father, who gave his only son, so that I, so that you, so that all who believe and call upon his name can have everlasting life with Him.  God, my Heavenly Father, you are my heritage.  I worship and praise You for all that You have done for me.  Thank you, Lord, that I can boldly proclaim, “I am a child of the Most High King.  I am from the tribe of  Heaven’s King Jesus.”

In Jesus’ precious name, I pray,  Amen.

 

One unpacked suitcase still lays across the bed while another is laid out in preparation for our upcoming trip to Zambia.  Still experiencing jetlag due to last week’s return from our school in Lisbon, Portugal, we find ourselves focusing on packing and preparing for the Africa trip. While we still have many items to complete and check off, the reality is that planning the trip is moving smoothly. The cloudy, or maybe I should say murky, situation is knowing exactly what our team will DO upon arrival. It’s not that this hasn’t been considered. It’s actually quite the opposite. After much pondering, puzzling, and deliberating, we now realize we must wait to know. After fifteen years of experience with professional development, this is the most challenging assignment I have experienced. Supporting school staff from a culture unlike North American and European cultures demands observation and waiting. We praise the Lord that through the work of the Holy Spirit, the curriculum for this needy school has been purchased, sorted, and packed. Money was raised to build much-needed preschool and kindergarten classrooms, and we hope to see the progress of the building during our time at the school. Our team’s schedule for teaming and working with the staff each day has been organized and shared. 

So, what is unprepared? We still don’t know exactly HOW we will teach reading.  How will we introduce students to reading who have never held a reading book? How will the students understand our American English accent when they are used to British English mixed with their tribal language of Nyanga? And most importantly, how will we ensure that we respect the Zambian collective culture when our team’s only experiences are teaching in an individualistic culture? How can we unite both worlds to make a difference for this wonderful but poverty-stricken school’s dedicated, hardworking staff and students?

We have prayed that, as a team, we will set aside our predetermined teaching expectations. We must be willing to go with minds prepared to be learners. We must have hearts willing to learn from staff and students. We must allow the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and minds to a new work we have not yet envisioned.  And we must be willing to wait for this to occur at the right time. 

Yes, I, the planner, the visionary, the one who works on the details until the last minute before presenting, am at peace in the wait. I praise the Lord, for this is not of me but of His work in my heart. If it were the normal me, I would have power points prepared, handouts packed, and working away on my computer daily. But, there will be no computers, internet, or copy machines. Instead, our team and I must pray for relationship-building and inspiration that can only come from the Holy Spirit. How can I be at peace when so much is invested in this process? I rely on the fact that my Lord has been faithful in the past; therefore, I can trust in His leading for the future.

The Spirit of the Lord gave wisdom and skill for the work of the Tabernacle. Exodus 35:30 – 36:1 “Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship,…He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver – by any sort of workman or skilled designer. Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.”

The Spirit provides the leadership of His choosing in His timing. Num 27:18 “So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.”

1 Sam 16:13 “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.” 

Ecc 2:26 “For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom, and knowledge and joy,”

Moses was fully aware that he depended entirely on God’s guidance.  Exod 33:15 “And he said to him,  “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”

Christ himself foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit or helper. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” 

John 16:7 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

The physical temple was destroyed long ago. However, we are encouraged that as believers in Jesus, the Holy Spirit resides within us.  1 Co 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” 

Yes, the teaching process might not yet be clear, but we can move forward with peace, knowing He will provide the wisdom and skill needed in His perfect time. We know with confidence that we will be forever changed because of this experience.

Please join us in prayer for this Zambian ministry.

Dear Father,

Thank you for this priceless opportunity to share time, talents, and resources with our dear colleagues in Zambia. We praise you for your goodness. We thank you in advance for the success and the outcomes of this precious fellowship of educators. In boldness, we come before your throne, asking for your blessing on this partnership and that the outcomes of this collaborative work will change the lives of these students forever. We pray that you will bring forth leaders from this school who will serve you and display integrity and compassion. We are aware, Lord, of our dependence upon you. We ask that you will do a great work and, through these students, bring forth positive and lasting change for the Zambian people.

In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

We will appreciate your prayers for our team: Chuck, Jess, Kristin, Linda, Stephanie, Tina, and Mapalo School Headmaster, Shelly