Living in Zambia isn’t always easy. I have my good days, but I also have my bad days. There are days when I jump out of bed and am ready to face whatever challenges come my way, but also days when I hit snooze on my alarm five times and am still reluctant to climb out of my mosquito net and try to prepare myself for whatever challenges I am going to face that day. I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but when I am having a bad day, I am so thankful, and so blessed, that I can walk through the double doors of my church and feel peace.
I walk through the doors and there are always smiling faces and people ready to greet me and ask me how I am doing.
There are always people willing to laugh with me, and sometimes at me, as I try to navigate a culture that is still almost completely foreign to me.
My church community is something that I never expected. Every day that we have a program, I know that I will smile. Every day that I go to school, I know that my students will teach me something new. Every day that I get to spend time with the amazing and talented people in my praise team and my choir, I know that I will be happy. Every day that I get to make new connections, I know that I will never forget my time in Kanyama. And every day that I make a new friendship, a real friendship, I am thankful for everything that has led me to this point in my journey.
Things haven’t been easy, but that’s okay. I will continue to struggle and I will continue to feel overwhelmed, but I will also continue to make memories that I will never forget, even once I leave.
Olivia Orth - Home 