First of all I have to say that there is no possible way for me to fully express my experiences in Africa.
I can do my best to tell you about the things I saw & felt but you will never understand unless you experience.
So on that note.... I almost don't even know where to begin!!
I do know that never in my life has my heart felt so hopelessly broken but so full of love.
Everyday I came into contact with people who suffered unparalleled amounts. It was hard for me to just see everything, let alone understand that what I was seeing was their reality.
Yet, i've never met a more loving & spiritual people. These people gave me their love immediately & so easily. This love that I received from the people of Zambia literally overpowered me... I will admit that I often have a hard time saying I love you to people in my life who I maybe shouldn't, but with the people in Zambia it was the most honest & heartfelt thing. I could easily tell people I loved them & mean it with every cell in my body.
I don't think that I would have had the experience I did in Africa alone without it coupled by the amazing Kathy Headlee Miner. This woman is honestly the biggest inspiration to my heart and I'm pretty sure an angel on earth! Kathy taught me to really notice what caught my attention & not to judge it, just pay attention. This was SO hard! But Kathy always told us (my team) that we were overqualified for this journey in Africa & our own life - just take a breath and know it's not to much. One day we would understand why we needed to see & experience the things we did. Heavenly Father is the only one with the answers and he is willing to share them with us if we just ask!
One of the biggest lessons I learned and am constantly trying to remember is to live in the now.
Right here, right now. Now is the only time that I have control over - the past is gone & thinking about or worrying over the future doesn't change a thing!! I only have power over the now. Realizing this was powerful. The now I experienced in Africa hurt. A lot. I would try to use different methods to remove myself from the now & what I was seeing - Kathy was so brilliant & took away our ipods as a method to avoid the escape & distraction they would provide.
It was interesting to learn & hear from my team members all the different ways they had of taking themselves out of the present and coming to learn my own way of not dealing with the now. I know now that I want to change my coping mechanisms & work through things!!
I always want to live in the now.
Okay well that is not even a small fraction of everything Africa has brought to the forefront of my mind but I think enough to let process! (This is really proving to be a great therapy to try and explain all this.) I promise to keep updating with the different things i've learned & experiences that changed me. Thanks for taking the time to read this & better yet care!!
Another important thing I learned in Africa: the world is a better place just because you exist!
The picture that touched my heart before Africa
And now even more - meet Philip & Kennedy!
The two from the picture :)
Meeting them only made the picture more special for me.
It is the most touching story!!
