Precious little bundle

Malene hugging kids!

Yesterday 5 of us from home went to our little bush church.  Malene, Naomi and I took part in the kids church, such a privilege, I basically played my guitar and got to hug kids for the next 3 hours, its a hard job but someone has to do it!


We then went to our friends hut for lunch.  It took about half an hour to walk there through the bush to her remote hut, it was baking hot and I got a little sunburnt. 

Lunch including "snot"

Lunch was Nshima (pap/sadza), beans, ocra (aka snot) and mini yellow eggplants.
Our friend hasnt enough food for the next few months, she has planted some seeds but there wont be enough, she knows this but still shares what she has even though she is looking after 7 kids and her aging parents, she believes they will get through and God will provide, so she shares.
This blew my mind a little.

This is a real photo from yesterday with no added effects

On the way home it rained torrentially, we got absolutely, to your underwear, soaked.  I loved it!





 When we reached the car, one of my guardians was there with a friend and their 7 children. The road had totally corroded in the hours worth of rain and it was literally like driving in a river with pot holes bigger than a bus and bumps that meant speed was not an option. I was handed little Ben through the window, he is 17 months old and is HIV+, as I held this little bundle of precious cargo tightly for fear of whiplash, he somehow fell asleep.
My heart melted and I remembered God really doesnt forget anyone, not even a poorly little mite on a rainy day, not a hard working mum with too many mouths to feed and not enough food in the middle of the bush-bush in Africa.
He loves, He cant help Himself.

Again Im challenged to live with the Attitude of Gratitude.
I am so much happier when Im thankful for what I do have, than when I think about what I do not.
My friends here have life and joy in the middle of desperate surroundings, I want to learn this.

Thoughts this Christmas

So Ive been told its Christmas, Im not sure if I believe people, its 30*C most days, not a drop of snow in sight, no winter socks needed for bedtime, no scarves and gloves, Jack frost isnt nipping at my toes.
As I sit with my ice cold guava squash, Im thinking "What is Christmas about when you are far from home and the ones you love?"

some of my Kaniki family in Zambia 

Seeing as its Christmas, Jesus' birthday, I thought Id attempt to try and answer a question Ive often been asked....

ZoeJoy, what do you mean when you say You meet with God?
I mean, you talk about being friends with Him? what does that look like, feel like?

For me its a relationship that has grown like any other friendship.
I talk to Him and over the years Im learning what His voice sounds like when He talks back.
What it feels like when He is trying to get my attention.

Sometimes when I read the bible its like certain words jump off the page, not in a wooooow-strange way, but its like they make my heart feels alive and I know He is speaking to me.

When I sing to him, (Christians love to sing!) I try and visualise He is there and sing to Him, to allow Him to use my imagination (which He created btw) and see what He is doing or wants to show me.  This helps me enjoy Him.

When I talk to him (pray) I also like to visualise He is there and interact with Him there, often He likes to just sit and listen and be with me, sometimes He speaks there too.

This week I am trying to learn about what chills me out and calms me because I realise when I give myself the space to do this, often this is where I find I meet Him easiest.

Its Christmas, the place where we celebrate Jesus' birth.
Why dont you give yourself the space to find out why Christians are so into Him this coming year.
(Id recommend an Alpha course-most churches run them).

Have a great Christmas, 
Have a great time with family and friends.
Thanks for your friendship with me.
ZJ

ps "eight" is still available on i-tunes.  These are all songs Ive written when spending time with Him.

www.itunes.apple.com/gb/album/eight/id560137363

Crazy days

So How do you describe a day like today?

First we had Kids church which was as fun as it always is.  My little friend had brought her pet for the day with her, yes it is a locust.  She happily played with it throughout church.

Then we went to meet with those we had gathered for prayer for the crops.
Because of family illness my messenger didn’t get to invite the village, which when I arrived was a small relief, the thought of thousands of people was quite terrifying. 
She had managed to gather 15 of my KOP guardians together.  Ah, friendly faces.
These ladies are proper poor, hand to mouth, no small change, feeding families on nothing, going to bed hungry regularly poor, they live on what they can get with open hearts and open homes.

We started with a few Bemba songs and of course dancing and whooping.
I then explained a little that Jesus loves to heal people, because He loves them and asked if anyone would like us to pray to Jesus.  A dozen or so eager hands went up.
So we split into 2 teams and prayed, briefly, no fancy words just asking God for each ones conditions to get better. Then got them to try it out, see if anything had gotten healed.

“I had pain in my neck and shoulder and now I can do this" as she swings her neck from side to side vigerously and rolls her shoulder round."




                                        “I couldnt see more than this, (about 5-10 metres) my eyes were cloudy and now I can see clearly”,
“What?” I say,
“so where can you see to now”, I take her to the door, “Can you see that ant hill over there?”,
“Yes I can”,
“Can you see Mrs. Chomba’s washing on her clothes line?”,
“Yes and I can see the Avocados in the Avocado tree”, (this is about 50 metres away and I can just see them clearly).

“My legs were so painful all the time and now I can do this” as she jumps up and down, up and down (she is 72 years old too).

From the 15 ladies, 13 were instantly healed of one or more condition.

I love it when Jesus gets our attention.
So i tell them how they can be friends with God and about Jesus.
They all respond and ask God to be the boss of their lives.

Then we all asked God to double this years expected crops so that life this year can be a little easier.

Crazy days are becoming normal...

Bumper Harvest.....

This week I thought Id write about next week.  Not that there isnt enough to tell you about but because next week is a biggeee.

Yesterday whilst reading the bible i felt it would be a good idea to gather the local village to pray for bumper crops.  That as they have now all planted their seed that God would do a miracle and grow big, much more than expected amounts of maize this season.

So today the KOP team and I have arrange that everyone will be invited, thats between 7000-9000 people, to the village mothers meeting place (that was easy as its Mrs. Chomba) next wednesday at 10.30am.  We also decided I should give a small talk about how the village doesnt have to stay a place of scraping it together to make ends meet, full of alcohol addictions and prostitution with an unusually high HIV/AIDS rate and that children from here could not only finish school (very rare from here) but that they could grow to be world changers if the village all pulled and worked together and if God broke in.

This village is the one on the border of Dr Congo that is historically a very dark and poor place.

So Im asking for your prayers in advance of doing something a little crazy and dangerous.  That I would speak in a way that encourages change and belief that things can be different.  That I would win people to working together and that God would indeed answer our prayers not only for the harvest but that He would continue to heal illnesses and bring hope when we ask Him.
Feel free to pray with us next week.
ZJ

Along came a spider and sat down beside her

Last thursday I woke to a very sore blob on my thigh.  By lunchtime it was extremely painful and a line of redness was tracking down my leg.
After a swift visit to the Mary Begg Clinic/Hospital (one of the best in the whole of Zambia), I had it confirmed that I had indeed been bitten by a spider.

 A few mornings before i had been waken by the dog playing with a reasonably sized one on my bedroom floor, it had seemed to have killed it so I went back to sleep.
After much research it appears I was bitten by one of these beasts

A zambian baboon spider...

or an African wolf spider.....


I got diagnosed many tablets and cream and had a couple of injections.  After 6 days of feeling really quite ill, my skin was on fire, blisters of pus, fevers and at times in and out of consciousness.
I am now glad to report I am back on my feet, even if its limping.

Today I am grateful for 

Dr Lion (yes, that really was his name) and the team at Mary Begg
That I had the sense to get it checked out when I did
Pernille, Malene, Anne-Mette and the team who have cared for me here in Zambia
Friends overseas who have talked with me, written emails, sent photos to entertain me, prayed, let me process and loved and cared for me from there. I am so grateful to have friends like you.

I Thank God for you all.

Archie and I taking it easy

Well Baked

Its been a tiring couple of weeks.

• We have started a kids church in the village on the border of Dr. Congo, (great fun and exhausting)

• you will have met my new dog, Mackie, last week, 

• we are working on ideas for developing the Orphans Project next year (we are opening a bike fixing business for our older kids in February 2013) 

• we have seen 9 people healed by God after prayer in the last 2 weeks.

And I have also started baking bread everyday because its easier, cheaper than shopping in town and they taste nicer.

Today's Oat and Carrot rolls

Yesterday was the last day of school for some of my kids and Brian, one of the grade 12’s came to see us in the afternoon.  As he came in the door he dropped to his knees and clapped his hands (both signs of respect here) and emotionally explained whilst kneeling how grateful he was that he had achieved his dream of finishing school. 
He is an orphan from a very poor background who has been staying at one of our 3 “older kids houses” in town and attending one of the local high school for the past 3 years. Brian has done really well at staying focused on his dream of becoming someone and having enough education to get a good job and provide for any family he may have in the future. 

It was very touching to see him now, a grown man so aware, mature but also so grateful.
 
Here is Brian with Mrs Chomba.

Mackie

So I got the puppy...
Her name is Macchiato, Mackie for short.
I got her from the local SPCA (not Royal)
She is cute and soft and snuggly and I think Im in love!

so here she is.

 She is 4-6 months old and has big ears! Apparently she will grow into them!

Bush and Trees

We have been out to the bush-bush for the past few weeks, out to villages that in a few weeks will be completely cut off by road because already the "roads" are being eroded fast by the rains. Traveling to remote huts on “roads” that at times are scary to drive on, steep angles that take courage to attempt to navigate and potholes that could give you whiplash has been a great privilege. We have been taking fertilizer to a few of our families to help with their maize harvest after receiving a donation from some children in England and giving out food parcels.
Yesterday Mrs Chomba commented that I drove like a man which I think was a compliment!
Bringing fertilizer is great as it helps families towards self sufficiency.

Its the season for Imfongo, a small plum like fruit, that dries up your saliva as soon as you put it in your mouth but is everywhere and people love.  I found one of my 5 year old boys up the tree next to my hut office so high I was terrified he would fall but he shim-med down with pockets stuffed full of the orange red fruits as if he was an expert.

 

 I realised this week on a deeper level how amazing my team are as we visited a very down mother of 7 who was in a very low state, they spent good time encouraging her and talking to her in such a gentle and loving way, as I sat and watched I felt just happy to be here with such great people.

Do pray for us next week as we prepare to run a kids church in Kamalasha, the village 2km away that is on the border of the Dr. Congo and where about 200 of our kids live.

Saying Thank You matters

Albertina and Me

My Friend Charity (previously referred to as "Charlotte")

          

I asked "what would you like to take home", she said "YOU" I said "I dont think I will fit in the bag",  she said "lets try!!"

Today at KOP we had a "Fun and free clothes for you afternoon" for the guardians of the Orphans we look after.

These ladies live hand to mouth and have opened their homes to look after others, even tho they don't really knowing where the next meal is coming from.


Saying THANK YOU matters because often we can feel taken for granted, overlooked, exhausted and unloved. 
Often the truth is we are loved and valued by those around us, but how are we to know unless it is spoken and demonstrated.

Be the person to voice your gratitude, it lifts people and is contagious.  

I dare you to tell the people around you this week something you are grateful for each day.

It turns out.....

 It is funny how living away from familiar things brings out parts of your personality you didn’t realise were there.

In the last week I have made 2 sets of curtains and homemade Lemon Curd (from Momma's recipe).

It turns out that I can sew and I enjoy it, turns out that I like things decorated sparse and clean, where I didnt think I liked a particular home style, starting from a blank canvas it turns out I like natural tones.  

Turns out that I also like dogs and not just cats (Im now looking for a puppy in earnest).
Turns out I work better when others are around (so now Im sharing an office with Andreas).
Turns out that Joy and Peace can be found in a place to settle and call home.

Wanna buy a great album?

www.itunes.apple.com/gb/album/eight/id560137363

 -   all proceeds go towards me being in Zambia working with Orphans

Deadly Squash

I was strangely reassured this morning when I read my half empty squash bottle!
I have to ask what did it taste like before this warning!!

Did that just happen?

From this week I have a home help, her name is Catherine and she is officially amazing!  To explain, although I dont really need a home help, by employing her I am giving her a job and helping to feed her family. 
I officially moved into my own apartment on monday, a nice 2 bedroom place on the end of the AQ building (for those who know where that is). With Catherine’s help, it looks great and I am settling in nicely.  Having somewhere to call home and to entertain feels good already.

Catherine was not feeling well last week, she had a sore throat and by wednesday had completely lost her voice. 
For about six and a half years I have trying to take opportunities to pray with people to ask God to heal them of various illnesses, so far with few visible results.
So on wednesday I asked Catherine if I could pray and ask God to make her better, she whispered yes,
I prayed and then she started to whisper “thank you for PRAYING.....  AH... HE DID IT....I CAN SPEAK..... I HAVE MY VOICE BACK”
Im pretty sure I was more surprised than she was! She grabbed my hands and we jumped up and down in surprise and excitement.

Even tho I come from a church where we have regularly seen God heal illness (the Kings Arms, Bedford, UK), it was amazing that He did it for us in Kaniki, Africa.

So Im gonna keep praying and see what else He wants to do here.
He is amazing and I love that He loves us and the details in our lives.

Yes I am.

 So to quell questions of am I actually in Africa, here are some photos taken this week in a village down the road.

 Chasing games are always fun

This is Zambia.

Flying Solo

There comes a time in everyones life where its time to go it alone.  The moment you take off the stabilizers on your first bike or start to swim without your arm bands on as a kid, the day you think you are grown up enough and move out into your first flat, the first time you do a job without your student badge on.

This week, Gemma and Tim leave Kaniki to go home for 3.5 months.
Gemma has been running the Orphans Project very well for over a year and is going home to have her first child.  Even tho I feel weaned, she has let me slowly take the reins on my own, the thought of not having her around to ask advice or bounce things off is quite daunting.

They are also my English buddies, I will be the only Brit in a sea of Zambians and Danes.
No-one else will know who Noel Edmunds is or What Jim’ll fix it is (some of you are thinking thats a good thing).
A funny Scottish or Brummy accent will not be recognized and a full English will mean both  of your parents were born in the UK.

So I wanted to take this opportunity to join with Heaven and stand to my feet (in true Kings Arms fashion) to applaud Tim and Gemma’s last 2.5 years of incredible work here in Kaniki, the lives of many short term teams they have changed by how they have led and by just being their lovely selves, the orphans and families they have encouraged and fed, the communities changed by the houses, schools and churches built and for sharing their house and lives with little old me in the last month.

Here’s to flying solo and new adventures opening the school for orphans on their return.

You both have left an amazing legacy and I cant wait to meet little Water/Wind/Hammer.
(their surname is Mills)
x