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.