Happy Birthday Us!!

This time you find me lying in my tent thinking that I really should get up soon... It's only 7.30 in the morning but already its beginning to get hot in my tent. I can also see the silhouettes of a number of creepy crawlies taking their morning walk across my tent...I'm very grateful for a well zipped up door that keeps them out! I should mention that one of them is a rather handsome preying mantis...but I'd still rather he stayed on the outside of my tent than coming in to visit!!

I can see the sun rising through the thin skins of my tent and feel its heat on my legs...yep, I'm going to have to move soon. But as ever, I'd just like to lie in bed for a few more minutes... I thought I'd use them to tell you a bit about yesterday.

Yesterday was a pretty special day. It was exactly 5 years since Dignity was inaugerated as a charity! I wasn't involved then, but in 2008 I first met the people that make up Dignity in the UK before heading out to Zambia for the first time. Yesterday, I had the priviledge of meeting with the UK Dignity team and the Zambian leadership team (minus a few who couldn't make it) in Kalweo, Bernard's village.

We sat in one of the school rooms of the small nursery Bernard and his wife run. We spent the day looking at the importance of good character and how God works is us to make us more like Jesus - filling us with the good characteristics his Spirit brings (love, joy, kindness, self-control...) in place of those characteristics that run so strongly in our nature that are destructive (jealousy, anger, immorality...). We discussed the need to get a good balance of the many responsibilities we juggle and explored teamwork and communication through some commedy games.

My "fun" highlight of the day had to be the sight of 8 people on the third stage of the 3 legged race...by this time they were racing 3 legged, carrying eggs on spoons in one hand and a bowl of water on their head!

My "serious" highlight of the day was all the conversation and discussion we had around learning how to support and encourage each other, even when we are in different countries, hearing stories of lives changed through the work we are all a part of and having the opportunity to pray with these men and women who are giving of themselves daily to bring true and lasting hope, the hope that Jesus gives, to their own nation.

Ok, so I'm going to have to get up now...it's getting too hot in here already. I can also hear everyone else up and about so I'd better get up so I'm not keeping everyone waiting to set off in a bit. Today we're off to help Jon and Jude with some practical jobs at their new house - currently still a building site!! A very different day to yesterday...

I'll be sure to sit down again soon and share with you some of the stories we heard yesterday and some of the challenges faced here by those amazing folks we have the joy of working with. They are encouraging, inspiring and thought provoking! But for now...that's all folks! x

one week later

So this time last week I was in Heathrow waiting to fly out to Zambia...I'd written to you in the morning from the comfort of my bed in Manchester. It's been quite a busy week since then...

Right now I'm sat in Loza lodge, a nice little place with a pool and some yummy food... Team 1 and 2 have just got back together after going on separate adventures and have been busy swapping stories.

For my part, I've spent the last week in a village called Lumpampa just outside Serenje. We were helping Gervais and Margaret run a 3 day training conference helping people understand what life might look like when we love God and love our neighbour.

I've really enjoyed getting back into the swing of things...it's been a bit of a baptism of fire...straight off the plane, lots of driving for a day or two and then into a village! Much of it was as I remembered...long drop toilets, chickens wandering by while you have a wash and lots of little kids asking "how are you" closely followed by "I am fine!" before you've had chance to answer. I'd forgotten most of the Bemba I knew (which never was much) but I've had fun trying again!

So, we've been staying in Lumpampa, camping out in the village and running some training sessions. Our focus is on helping people understand that their life is no mistake, that God has placed them in their village for a purpose and it's through them, not outsiders, that real change will come to their community. We talk about the church as a body, we discuss how each of us has an important part to play, no matter how small we may feel. We try to help people understand how God loves them and is calling them to be his people in the places they live. It always amazes me how some of the things I take so for granted, having known them for so long, are a new revelation for many we talk to. 

I'm excited to hear how the people we have spent the last week with will grow over the coming weeks , months and years. Some may go home and take no action - that's fine, it's up to each of us to chose how we live our life. We cannot tell anyone what they have to do. Others will go home, gather some people in their village and make some plans to start a Life! Group in their village. This is simply a group of people, meeting on a regular basis to study the bible, pray and share their everyday lives. As they do so, it is our hope that they will grow in faith and in their love for God and their love for their neighbour. As this happens, we believe lives will be changed, both now and for eternity. It sounds like a simple idea, and really it is, but it's a new thing for the places we work. I hope and pray it will lead to a new hope in many villages around Lumpampa.