What an amazing day it was!! From beginning to end, it has been a wonderful day!! We started early this morning with a full breakfast and prayer. Jet lag wasn't really a problem for most of us because last night's rest was so peaceful and refreshing. The place that we are staying at is called Kaps Villa and Lodge. We were all awakened a little earlier than scheduled because there are turkeys, chickens and roosters walking freely around the property and roosters actually begin crowing waaay before sunrise! None the less it was a very peaceful night's rest that led into a great first day here in Ndola.
After group prayer together and a little praise and worship led by Dave Clark, we loaded up on our bus and headed to the school. The day started a little slow as many of the folks arrived late. Though the day began slowly I was reminded how God was still the center of the trip. We had a wonderful group of women attend. Disciple-making is about the "FAT" men and women (Faithful, Available, Teachable). As the day went on more people began to trickle in. And with the women in our sessions we had pure worship and great classroom participation. They were older than I expected but their maturity in the faith and hunger for the word is inspiring and encouraging to simply be a good steward of what we have been given. These women were pastors wives and church leaders. As we engaged with these wonderful women I realized how much expectations can hinder us and keep us from seeing the better thing that God has!
When we finished teaching at one of the satellite locations we drove to the main campus of North Rise University to see what the university looked like. It is on a huge piece of land that they are still planning on developing and growing to be greater. They have a banana plantations and there are also mango trees everywhere. We got to see the beautiful sunset in the west which reminded me of home being westward and how God removes our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). I'm so thankful that we made it here safely and that God's faithfulness is evidently here with us. There's beautiful people and sights everywhere and God made them/it all. I'm thankful to be His witness from Memphis to Ndola to Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth!
