(you can see all my blogs about Africa by clicking here)

Since I’ve been back, people ask me all kinds of questions about Africa. The most obvious one is “How was it?”

It’s tough to answer. It was good. It was also hard. I missed my family something fierce. I also saw some of the most incredible things. I met the most incredible people. I saw some really hard things. An 11 year old boy carrying around his baby sister, who was covered in filth. Kids walking around barefoot everywhere. A guy at a market wanted to sell me stuff in exchange for my socks.

I honestly don’t know how to answer it yet. The question is too broad.

What I do know though is something I mentioned above. I’ve never met such extraordinary people who just want to help others. Some of the people who we traveled with around Zambia had come out of their OWN POCKET over $6,000 just to be able to go and help others. I can’t imagine! I couldn’t do that. But they can. They are made to do this. God gave them hearts to help people joyfully and without agenda. From the team of people from outside Africa to all the amazing World Vision people that we met there…wow, I was just blown away.

Today’s post encompasses one last visit to the Makonkoto school before we left to head to Twachiyanda. On the way we stopped at a clinic in Kanchomba to learn about the stuff they are dealing with. Which is bad. So awful.

Austin wanted one last chance to just hang with the kids, so we stopped by and had a blast!

This first picture is again outside my front porch at the Lakeview Lodge. I really was fond of that place. So peaceful and beautiful. Other than the spiders.

Africa-0683

Africa-0689

 

Fred from the World Vision ADP in Sinazongwe gave us gifts before we departed.

Africa-0697

 

I got this RAD little zebra plate!

Africa-0705

 

Malaria pills. Eww.

Africa-0706

 

Before heading to the school we stopped at a health clinic that Austin and Hoops of Hope helped build. The caretakers there are amazing.

Africa-0713

Africa-0715

 

I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but I love this kid Austin.

Africa-0718

Africa-0723

Africa-0726

 

Another of my favorite images from the trip.

Africa-0732

 

This kid on the right is supposedly named Sam…he’s all personality. I wish I had gotten to hang with him a bit more.

Africa-0733

Africa-0734

 

See, there’s Sam again in the red shirt. Sooooo happy. All of them were really.

Africa-0735

Here’s a quick video of us entering that classroom…it was pretty amazing!

Africa-0736

Africa-0737

Africa-0738

Africa-0740

Africa-0745

Africa-0746

Africa-0747

 

Can’t even tell you how much I love these photos of the kids from these classroom windows as we left.

Africa-0754

Africa-0755

Africa-0756

Africa-0757

Africa-0758

Africa-0759

Africa-0762

Africa-0763

 

The girl on the left sticking her butt out was SO VERY PROUD of that haha. I showed her the photo and she laughed hysterically 🙂

Africa-0767

 

On to Kanchomba.

Africa-0771

Africa-0776

 

At a stop to grab some food for a visit we were making, I spotted this kid hanging by himself. I hesitated to snap a photo because I don’t like being someone who just exploits people for the sake of a photograph, but I eventually took it anyways. It’s one of my favorites from the trip.

Africa-0777

Africa-0779

 

Meeting the ADP head for Kanchomba.

Africa-0781

Africa-0782

Africa-0783

Africa-0784

Africa-0785

Africa-0786

Africa-0787

Africa-0788

Africa-0791

Africa-0811

Africa-0793

 

This used to be the medical clinic in which this region did a lot of work. The roof is gone now, there are holes in the walls and it’s unusable.

Africa-0794

Africa-0796

Africa-0797

Africa-0799

Africa-0801

Africa-0802

Africa-0803

Africa-0804

 

The building behind this is still okay, so that’s where most of the care is being done.

Africa-0800

Africa-0807

 

The medical staff explains how bad things are. No vehicles to transport patients who need desperate help to other hospitals. No electricity. Not much help. And a bad water supply nearby.

Africa-0808

Africa-0814

Africa-0815

Africa-0816

Africa-0817

 

This is where on average 25 women give birth every month.

Africa-0818

 

This woman delivers babies and does the best she can, but she’s actually not even qualified to do most of what she does. She has no help. She also has an amazing heart.

Africa-0819

Africa-0822

Africa-0823

Africa-0824

 

One of the hardest parts of the trip was a visit to this house. They lost their son a few years ago and we were bringing them food to help out and also to hear their story.

Africa-0827

Africa-0828

Africa-0834

Africa-0830

 

This man and wife had a little boy who was only a few years old. Their water supply is a nearby pond which animals also use to drink and to go to the bathroom. Their son got a case of diarrhea and was dead in three days. If they would have had a proper medical clinic or even a vehicle to get him help, he probably would have lived. It was just diarrhea. Such a sad story, I can’t even imagine.

When they were done telling the story…Austin asked if he could pray for them. He went over to sit by the man and put his hand on him. It was incredibly moving. I tried to capture it best I could. Everyone was in tears.

Africa-0833

Africa-0835

Africa-0836

Africa-0840

Africa-0845

 

And in the midst of all that sadness and hurt, I spotted this little girl and was almost knocked over by her cuteness.

Africa-0838

 

Oh my.

Africa-0842

Light Me Up With Your Thoughts

Connect With Me Directly

[email protected]

(480) 220-1604