Back to Life

It is nearing the two week point since my return to Zambia, and I’m finally getting a moment to reflect upon it.  So much has happened that I can hardly begin to tell you everything, but I’ll tell you the highlights.

My return to the Bible college was a JOYful one.  All of the students were so happy to see me, and I received hugs from everyone.  Timothy’s hug was the biggest and included a few tears of relief.  It was good to see him again and to know that he is enjoying pursuing his dreams to be a doctor.  He is currently working towards retaking his high school standardized exams by studying at a better school in Lusaka. 

Something which multiple people have expressed to me is that when I left to go back home due to my illness “it felt as though we were having a funeral.” Without any significant communication, and the lingering doubt of my return, it felt as though I had left them forever.  It even felt as though I had died.  And for some of them, I’m sure there was significant concern whether or not I would live!  In a place where getting critically ill most often leads to death, I imagine some were wondering if I would survive this illness which caused me to have to leave them. 

So, to my friends in Zambia, I have come back to life!  As each day passes, I too feel as though my life has been given back to me.  After months of what felt like a purposeless existence of sleeping and feeling sick, returning to my calling here feels truly like I have come back to life.  These last few weeks back in the classroom have been so fulfilling.  Each day I’m amazed that I’ve been blessed to be able to come here long-term to get to know these students and to have them challenge my own thinking.

The phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder” applies perfectly to my five months absence.  It seems that rapid growth has happened in my relationship with many of the students.  Several have opened up to me with personal concerns; others have initiated in-depth conversations about theology and life.  I have been teaching some of the single students to play the card game “Phase 10” and I feel like I now have great friends to laugh and fellowship with. 

Our God is faithful, and in all situations he works things together for good.  I’m so grateful for the ways he has transformed a frustrating situation into a joyful one, and that he has allowed me to come back to life in Zambia. J